A Fourth of July 1759 Indian Conference
"On July 4, 1759, . . . Trent, Ward, and George Croghan (now deptuy agent to the superintendent of Indian Affairs, found themselves once again in conference with the Indians of the Six Nations, Shawnees, Delawares and Wyandots at the Forks of the Ohio. Their lighting and smoking of the pipe of peace was convincingly hopeful to renew and brighten the chain of friendship, as the British promised the natives to drive the French out, " writes Jason Cherry in his excellent book, Pittsburgh's Lost Outpost, Captain Trent's Fort, pages 87-88.
But the other promise of not staying themselves and taking over the area was not met. There was no 4th of July Independence from the Europeans. The French were being driven out. The English were staying. And in much larger numbers than the departing French. Would helping the French really have stopped this demographic invasion?
There was another English speaker of note at this meeting. Alexander McKee and his father Thomas McKee. He was an assistant to George Croghan.
All of these go-betweens have a huge story to tell.
Let us get a more complete list of who attended this 4th of July Indian Conference at "Pittsburg."
Who was at this July Conference?
This picture by Benjamin West of a much later conference Oct 1764 in Muskingham under Bouquet might give a sample of what the 4th of July conference looked like in "Pittsburg."
These Indians wished to know the intentions of the English, and what was done at the Easton Treaty, etc.
In July a great conference with all the Indian tribes of the Ohio was held at Pittsburgh, by:
George Croghan, Deputy Agent,
Col. Hugh Mercer, commanding Fort Pitt,
Captain William Trent,
Captain Thomas McKee, (For many years Chief Indian Trader on the Susquehanna. He built Fort McKee. Alexander McKee was his son.)
{Blog Author's note: We know his son was most likely there. He had assisted Croghan on a supply train that arrived in Pittsburgh in June 1759. Prior to May 1759 attack on Thomas Bullitt's supply train to "Pittsburg," Croghan and Alexander Mckee in April 1759 "escorted 28 horses laden with Indian goods and military supplies from Carlisle to Fort Pitt. They and their cargo arrived safely at the British garrison [mostly just Virginia Regiment and other provincials] on June 18, [1759]." Source: page 31, A Man of Distinction among Them, Alexander McKee and the Ohio Country Frontier 1754-1799, authored by Larry L Nelson. ]
Captain Henry; Montour, interpreter. We believe this is a punctuation error. Andrew Montour was also known as Henry.
It lasted from July 4th to 11th, 1759.
King Beaver was the principal speaker of the Indians.
Guyasuta (Kiashuta), was present.
Source
That's it.
That's our Lead Story.
Compiled by Jim Moyer first researched in June 2023, updated 620pm 8/13/2023
Post dated to July 4, 2022
Notes
A selection of George Croghan's letters and journals relating to tours into the western country--November 16, 1750-November, 1765 .. by Croghan, George, d. 1782 Publication date 1904
missing pages 314, 316-317 . . stops at page 312
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