Fort Wayne in 1790

INDIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATIONS

VOL. 7 NO. 7

FORT WAYNE

IN

1790

BY

M. M. QUAIFE

GREENFIELD, IND.

WILLIAM MITCHELL PRINTING CO.

.1021

INDIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATIONS
VOL. 7 NO. 7

FORT WAYNE

IN

1790

BY

M. M. QUAIFE

GREENFIELD, IND.

WILLIAM MITCHELL PRINTING CO.

1921

NOTE

The following journal of Henry Hay — son of the "Major
Hay," who was captured at Vincennes with General Ham-
ilton, by George Rogers Clark — presents an intimate view
of life at Fort Wayne in the winter of 1789-90. It was orig-
inally printed by Mr. Quaife in the Proceedings of the Wis-
consin Historical Society for 1914, under the title: "A
Narrative of Life on the Old Frontier." On account of its
peculiar interest to Indiana it is reproduced here, by per-
mission of Mr. Quaife and the Wisconsin Historical Society.

INTRODUCTION

Probably the vast majority of Americans think of the Revolu-
tionary War as lasting from 1775 to 1783. It is true the
Treaty of Paris marks the formal conclusion of the struggle.
But it does not mark the conclusion of angry debate with the
mother country, nor the evacuation of American territory by
British soldiery. Neither Great Britain nor the United States
adhered scrupulously to its treaty obligations, and the former
manifested no intention of evacuating the Western posts, lying
within the borders of the younger nation. The real reason for
this was commercial. On the fur trade depended the pros-
perity of Canada. To control the fur trade the British must
control the Indians. Hence the obligation to evacuate the
upper posts was disregarded, and for a dozen years after the
conclusion of the Treaty of Paris the major portion of the
country northwest of the Ohio River continued to be treated
as British territory. The Indian tribes of this region were
then numerous and powerful. Relying upon the British for
material support they waged bloody warfare upon the Ameri-
cans in the vain hope of confining the advancing tide of set-
tlement to the south side of the Ohio. The government of the
Confederation was almost a nullity. Its successor, the feeble
Federal government, distracted by the many problems pressing
for solution, was exceedingly averse to accepting the gage of
battle thus thrown down. When at length it did, three suc-
cessive armies and five years of painful effort were required to
humble the belligerent tribesmen. Thus the Revolution in the
West may not unfairly be said to have lasted a score of years,
and to have closed only with the Jay and Greenville treaties.

296 Fort Wayne in 1790

A variety of reasons exist for publishing the Journal which
is presented in the following pages. The incidents recorded
day by day by this British partisan, sojourning in one of the
chief of the hostile towns, shed a ghastly light upon the forays
which goaded the American bordermen to madness and their
government into reluctant war. A perusal of the details pre-
sented by our journalist — the heart of the American prisoner,
pierced with a stick and preserved "like a piece of dryed veni-
son ;" the plight of the captive, John Witherington, separated
from his wife, "7 months gone with childe," and seven children,
who had fallen into the hands of other bands of barbarians ; the
destruction of forty souls, men, women, and children ; the all
night dance of savage triumph in celebration of such atrocities
as these — prepare the reader to appreciate the indignation with
which the militant author of The Winning of the West wrote
of this period in our history.

Whether justly or not, the harassed American borderers as-
cribed to Great Britain the real responsibility for their intoler-
able plight. The present day opinion of well informed students
of the subject inclines to acquit the home government of any
positive agency in the matter. But the present day scholar, pos-
sessing sources of information denied to contemporaries and
entire immunity from the gory scalping knife and tomahawk,
may consider the subject calmly and philosophically; the Amer-
ican borderer's opinions were based upon the acts of Great
Britain's agents in America and the visible facts of the situation
on the frontier. Whatever the real motives of the home gov-
ernment in the premises, the conclusions drawn by the fron-
tiersmen from the information at their command were not
unreasonable. Whoever would understand the enthusiasm of
the frontier for war with England in 1812 must take account

Fort Wayne in 1790 297

of the conditions revealed by such documents as the one
which follows. When the Delawares threaten to remove to
the Spaniards, and, "not go to war against the Americans any
more," the authority of McKee, the British Indian agent, is
invoked to restrain them. When it is believed that the trader,
Lasselle, is to be burned by the natives because of his sup-
posed sympathy with the Americans, the affair is reported to
Major Murray, the British commandant at Detroit; and Las-
selle's good character is finally established by a certificate
signed by all the villagers — living in the heart of the modern
Indiana — that he is "a good loyalist" and "always for support-
ing his King." A trader going to the Wabash must have a
British pass ; one who speaks disrespectfully of the British offi-
cials at Detroit is reported to those authorities therefor ; while
the author of our Journal, a British partisan, dares not ven-
ture his "carcass" among the Americans at Vincennes.

Some interesting views are afforded by the Journal of the
conditions affecting the conduct of the fur trade. The calling
of the trader was one of toil and privation, his life constantly
liable to forfeiture at the hands of the elements or of the fickle
and impulsive red man. The sordid rivalry of the traders ; the
situation of Chevallier, "continually exposed to the malice and
treachery of the Indians about him," the degenerating influ-
ence of the wild life, exhibited in the renegade, Montraville ;
the menu of acorns on which La Fontaine lived for five days
in succession; the lying report about Lasselle, designed to
compass his destruction ; details such as these incline one to
give the journalist's dictum that it was "a Rascally Scrambling
Trade" a more general application than was intended by its
author.

For the general reader the chief interest of the document

298 Fort Wayne in 1790

will lie, probably, in its picture of the life of the old French
and Indian trading post, Miamitown. As I pen these lines my
eye strays for a moment to the advertisement, on the page of
a half-opened magazine, of a great manufacturing establish-
ment of Fort Wayne ; and as with a sudden rush I seem to
realize how wide is the gulf which separates the life of the
city at the forks of the Maumee today from that of its prede-
cessor of a century and a quarter ago. The St. Joseph and
St. Mary's still unite to form the Maumee, and still the spring-
time flood, which drove the French habitants to their garrets
and made the canoe the only vehicle of transportation from
house to house, recurs to plague the modern city. But in all
else the imagination can scarcely conceive a wider gulf than
the one which separates the Fort Wayne of today from the
Miamitown of 1790.

Our journalist presents, as with a moving picture film, a
cross-section of life from what is commonly considered the
most romantic period in the history of the old Northwest. To
the critical eye of the conquering Anglo-Saxon the French
settlers were slothful, vicious, and indolent. That there was
a measure of truth in this judgment need not be denied. But
the characteristic vivacity and gaiety of the French spirit shows
nowhere to better advantage than when set off by such hard
material conditions as those portrayed in the following pages.
A careless reader of the Journal might well gather the impres-
sion that social diversion was the chief business of its charac-
ters. Feasts, dances, and ceremonies follow one another in
close succession. The settlers assemble for midnight mass
and for morning and evening prayers on Sunday, called there-
to by the lusty ringing of cowbells. The musicians play the
flute and fiddle indifferently for drinking bout and mass, and

Fort Wayne in 1790 299

at times go reeling from the one to the other. A "Pigg" is
stolen for a joke and the victim composes a ballad on the sub-
ject. The order of the "Friars of St. Andrew" is organized
for purposes not sanctioned by the rules of St. Benedict, fur-
nishing the subject for another ballad. Not even the flood-
ing of the town suffices to quench the gaiety, for before the
flood has subsided the ladies are taken for a row on the river
to the accompaniment of fiddle and flute.

Interesting, too, are some of the quaint customs of the time.
Men appear at a ball wearing fur caps adorned with "Black
Ostridge Feathers" and "amasingly large" cockades of white
tinsel ribbon. On New Year's day the journalist makes the
round of the village kissing all the ladies "young and old."
That temperance reform had as yet made its appearance at the
forks by the Maumee can scarcely be affirmed. On December
25 our journalist and his companions became "infernally
drunk ;" at an entertainment the following evening all except
the writer became "very drunk ;" the next evening the cele-
brants are "damned drunk ;" and the following forenoon finds
them again at their cups. On the occasion of another evening
party it is deemed worthy of record that none of the men
became drunk, "which is mostly the case in this place when
they collect together."

The original Journal is the property of the Detroit Public
Library. For furnishing the copy here presented acknowledg-
ment is due Mr. Clarence M. Burton of Detroit, a valiant laborer
in the local historical field. The document is a small volume
having a calfskin cover. It bears upon both sides the name of
P. H. Hay but within the journalist preferred, apparently, to
sign the name Henry. Without positive knowledge in the
premises, I am inclined to think that P. H. Hay and Henry
Hay were one and the same person, an opinion shared by Mr.

300 Fort Wayne in 1790

Burton. Pierre Hay was born and baptized September 1 1,
1765. The records of St. Anne Parish contain no further men-
tion of him, but Henry is mentioned as a witness at baptisms
in 1787 and 1792.

The father, Jehu Hay, was a Detroit citizen of much promi-
nence in the generation of the Revolution. A native of Penn-
sylvania, he enlisted in the Sixtieth American Regiment during
the French and Indian War, and in 1762 was sent to Detroit
with a detachment of troops. He served there during Pon-
tiac's War and later entered the Indian Department. In 1776
he was made deputy Indian agent and major of the Detroit
militia. In this capacity he acted as Governor Hamilton's chief
assistant in the latter's contest with George Rogers Clark for
the control of the Northwest. Upon the triumph of the latter,
Hay, like Hamilton, his leader, was consigned to a Virginia
dungeon. Toward the close of the war, having been released
from captivity and returned to Quebec, he was appointed lieu-
tenant-governor of Detroit; he had actually performed the
duties of his office for only a year, however, when his career
was cut short by death, in 1785.

The nature of Henry Hay's mission to Miamitown is no-
where stated in the Journal. Apparently he was in the pay of
William Robertson, the Detroit merchant ; there seems to be
ground, too, for the conjecture that he was acting in some
public capacity for Major Murray. Possibly the missing pages
would have supplied the explanation, but its absence does not
affect materially the historical interest attaching to the
document.

Miamitown, where Hay passed the winter, was in 1790 the
most important center of the Miami Indians. Situated at the
junction of the St. Mary's and St. Joseph rivers, and com-

Fort Wayne in 1790 301

manding the important Maumee- Wabash portage, it was one
of the vital strategic points of the Northwest. Recognizing
this the French, in their expansion over the interior, in 1722,
established a fort on the St. Mary's, at the beginning of the
portage. In 1747, as the result of an Indian conspiracy, Fort
Miami was burned to the ground. It was shortly rebuilt, at the
junction of the St. Mary's and St. Joseph's, and was occupied
successively by French and English garrisons until the sum-
mer of 1763, when it fell before the followers of Pontiac.
The garrison was not restored thereafter by the English, but
the French habitants continued to reside here, and the traders
to resort to the place. As one of the chief centers whence the
Indian war parties issued forth against the border settlements,
when the American government at length determined upon a
course*of retaliation, Miamitown was at once marked for chas-
tisement. Over the festive traders a dire fate was impending.
The Americans believed that they were engaged in hounding
the savages on to their work of devastation and torture. The
traders on their part denied this, and probably with truth, for
the conditions of Indian warfare and the successful prosecution
of the fur trade were mutually antagonistic. This fact in no
wise altered the American belief, however, and General Har-
mar, commander of the army about to be launched against
Miamitown, was promising, in the event of a successful issue
of the campaign, to attend to the case of "the villanous
traders."

When the American army at length approached, in October,
1790, the natives drew back a short distance in anticipation of
the blow. Miamitown was burned and a series of bloody con-
flicts ensued. The stream whereon but a few months before
the Canadian ladies had been rowed to the music of violin and

302 Fort Wayne in 1790

flute now ran red with the blood of the soldiers. Eventually
the Americans retired, the net result of the expedition being a
"mortifying failure."

Harmar's expedition inaugurated a five-year period of war-
fare by the American government for the reduction of the
tribesmen. Through it all, the site of Miamitown at the forks
of the Maumee was a principal goal of endeavor. St. Clair
was ordered to establish a large military station here in 1791 ;
instead, he led his army to one of the most terrible defeats in
American military annals. In 1794, a third American army at
length succeeded. Miamitown was once more ravaged. Fort
Wayne was constructed, and therewith the name of the grim
conqueror became permanently attached to the place. With
this change, this introduction to Hay's Journal may properly
conclude.

JOURNAL FROM DETROIT TO THE
MIAMI RIVER

Left Detroit 9th. December 89, in company with Mr. Leith,1
and attended by a French man and a negro. Got this night
within y2 mile of Adam Browns,2 slept in a deserted House,
found it difficult to get a canoe to cross River aux Ecorse.

10th. Left this place about J/2 past 8 o'clock. Crossed the
River Huron very well, from that proceeded to River au Ro-
zain3 w[h]ere arrived about J^ past 4 o'clock in the Evening,
found the roads very bad, creeks high, owing to the great falls
of rain ; slept at Capt. Bennacs4 Justice of the Peace of this
new -Settlement who received us very well — saw my uncle
Baptist Reaume5 who promised to send my Maire into Detroit
immediately.

lGeorge Leith, a prominent Detroit trader. In 1788 he was represented to a
government investigating committee at Quebec as a man "of liberal education
and highly respected in the settlement [Detroit]." Michigan Pioneer and His-
torical Collections, XI, 633. A number of his letters are printed in Indiana Maga-
zine of History, V, 138 ff.

2According to one account of Pontiac's Conspiracy Adam Brown was at
Detroit as early as 1763. He resided at Brownstown for a long time, later
removing to Maiden. In 1793 and 1794 he furnished supplies to the British
authorities for use on the Maumee. See Mich. Pion. & Hist. Colls., VIII, 366;
XXXV, 63, 64; XXXVI, 358.

3The modern Raisin. On Thomas Hutchins' map of 1778 the name appears
as "Au Rosine."

4Probably J. Porlier Benac, captain of the Raisin River militia company.
After Jay's Treaty Benac was one of those who elected to remain a British sub-
ject. See Ibid, VIII, 410, 498; XXIV, 248.

5 Pierre and Hyacinthe Reaume, brothers, came to Detroit in 1726. They
became the progenitors of a numerous line of descendants, who from Detroit
spread over the Northwest. Baptiste Reaume was evidently the brother of Hay's
mother, whose maiden name was Marie Julie Reaume.

303

304 Fort Wayne in 1790

nth. Left Capt. Bennacas this morning about 8 o'clock; it
was with difficulty that we crossed the River Rozin the Water
being very high — Rain this morning, which turned out into
snow afterwards. Found the Roads damned bad about half
way, arrived at the Foot of the Rapids at McCormicks about
sun sete — found myself very tired ; found Mr. Arthur McCor-
mick here going out Trading —

1 2th. Left Mr. McCormick about 10 o'clock, stopped at
Cochrans at Roch de Bout6 gott a Venison Stake & proceeded
to the Prierie des Maske7 were we made a large fire & en-
camped, found the roads pretty passable.

13th. Left this place this morning about 8 o'clock and pro-
ceeded to Glaize,8 w[h]ere we arrived about ^2 past 3 o'clock
— we were received very graciously by Mr. McDonnell who
lives there ; he gave us good venison stakes & cyder — grogg &c.
for Dinner ; — Roasted venison for supper. &c.

14th. Left this place about n o'clock; but we were obliged
to send our little baggage on to the little Glaize about three
miles from this bigg Glaize which [a] canoe crossed us over —
and we swam our Horses — the water was very high. Slept this

6Roche de Bout was the name given by the early French travelers to a
rocky point projecting into the channel of the Maumee about a mile above the
modern Waterville, Lucas County, Ohio. It was also the name of an Ottawa
village in the immediate vicinity. Wayne's decisive victory over the tribesmen in
the battle of Fallen Timbers, August 20, 1794, occurred a short distance down
the Maumee from Roche de Bout. See C. E. Slocum, History of the Maumee River
Basin (Defiance, O., 1905), 461; F. W. Hodge (ed.), Handbook of American
Indians (Washington, 1907).

7Prairie du Masque was a camping station a short distance above the Grand
Rapids of the Maumee; so called from the fancied resemblance of the grass-
covered bank to the form of a woman. The early American settlers, with uncon-
scious humor, transformed the name into Damascus. Slocum, op. cit., 553.

8At the junction of the Au Glaize River with the Maumee; commonly called
by the American Grand Glaize, or Glaize. Fort Defiance was built there by
Wayne in 1794, and later the place became the site of the modern city of Defiance.

Fort Wayne in 1790 305

evening about 8 Leagues from the place we sett out from upon
a Hill — Mr. McDonnell and one Blanchet9 an ancient
Canadiafn] Trader came with us as far as this and slept with
us ; Mr. McDonnell had a horse load of Indian goods and was
going to trade them at the Indian wigwams a few miles in the
woods — a small distance from the place we encamped we met
with some Indian Hutts which Mr. McDonnell visited, on his
coming an Indian asked him if he was hungry ; answered yes,
then says he I'll roast a Rackoon for you & asked w[h]ere
he intended to encamp that he might know w[h]ere to bring it
—Mr. McDonnell told him— Mr. McD. told us his story. I
believe the Indian wanted to do it, but Leith did not. — How-
ever'about 8 o'clock in the evening, just after we had supped,
we perceived a fire brand coming thro' the woods, which proved
to be the Indian with a roasted Rackoon cut up in a wooden
dish which he delivered to Mr. McDonnell. He seemed to be
a very merry fellow, he left us about 10 o'clock — left, his
wooden dish, it being their custom, they come for it when they
find you are gone. — Haile and raine this evening & part of
the night.

15th. Parted with Mr. McDonnell & Blanchet this morning
about 8 o'clock — rain and hail till 11 or 12 o'clock, found the
Road very bad. slept at [illegible] about 7 leagues and a half
from the Miami Town — a little snow this evening.

16th. Left this place this morning about J/£ past 9 o'clock

9Possibly Joseph Blanchet, a French-Canadian trader who assisted in the
ransoming of O. M. Spencer at Grand Glaize in 1792. See A True Narrative of
the Captivity of the Rev. O. M. Spencer by the Indians in the Neighborhood of
Cincinnati, written by Himself (New York, 1834 [?])•

306 Fort Wayne in 1790

and arrived at the Miami Town10 about 10 o'clock, found the
roads very bad. I visited Mrs. Adamhers11 family.

17th. Wrote to Detroit to my brother Meredith & Baby,
gave them an account of my jants & this place etc — visited a
couple more of the french familys at this place found them very
decent & polite — particularly at Mr. Adamhers who gave me a
very friendly invitation to their house sans ceremonie.

18th. Wrote Mr. Robertson,12 with respect to my Y* pay
certificates not being able to send them in by Mr. Sharpe13
who left this place for Detroit this day — but promised to get
them made out the 25th Inst & forward them in by the first
opportunity — We have had most delightful weather ever since

lOThe site of the modern Fort Wayne, Indiana. According to Capt. John
Armstrong, a member of Harmar's army which raided the place in the summer of
1790, there were seven distinct villages in the vicinity of the junction of the St.
Mary's and the St. Joseph rivers. One of them was the Miami village, in the
fork of the St. Joseph and the Maumee. Here the French traders lived. See
H. S. Knapp, History of the Maumee Valley (Toledo, 1872), 66.

UProbably the name should be spelled Adhemar. La Balme, who plundered
the traders at Miamitown in 1780, lists one "Admer," a merchant, as "a dan-
gerous man." This meant, of course, that according to La Balme's information
he was loyal to the British cause. In March, 1779, one Adhemar who had been
sent by Hamilton to Miamitown with ten perogues and thirty men to get provi-
sions forwarded from Detroit, was captured by George Rogers Clark. In 1788
St. Martin Adhemar was appointed one of the commissioners of the newly-created
District of Hesse. William Robertson, the spokesman of the Detroit traders who
memorialized Lord Dorchester against the new act, gave as the objection to
Adhemar that he was settled at Vincennes "in the American states." See Mich.
Pion. & Hist. Colls., XI, 622, 632; Illinois State Historical Society, Transactions,
1909, 132; Illinois Historical Collections, VIII, 194; for a brief sketch of Adhe-
mar's career, see Wis. Hist. Colls., XIX, 159.

i2Probably William Robertson, a prominent merchant, who settled at Detroit
in 1782. See Mich. Pion. & Hist. Colls., XI, 627 ff; Wis. Hist. Colls., XIX, 272.

loGeorge Sharp, also prominent as a trader at Detroit. Robertson describes
him as "of liberal education and highly respected." Mich. Pion. & Hist. Colls.,
XI, 633. Sharp was with Matthew Elliott when the latter ransomed O. M. Spencer
at Grand Glaize in 1792. The picture which Spencer draws of him on that
occasion is far from flattering. For further facts about Sharp, see Wis. Hist.
Colls., XIX, 279, 291.

Fort Wayne in 1790 307

our arrival here. I think upon the whole this is a very pretty
place — the River that this town is built upon is called the River
St. Joseph which falls into the Miami River very near the town
at the S. W. end of it. This day a prisoner was brought in
here ; Rather a elderly man was taken better than a month ago
at a place called the little Miami — the Americans are now
making a settlement at that place14 — this man was engaging to
work for one John Phillipps, one of the settlers, was out in a
field about two miles from his masters, saving fother for the
cattle when he was taken — last Spring was the first time they
came to it. Lower down the river towards the falls of the
Ohio about five miles from this settlement where the Ameri-
cans are now very busy building redoubts & block Houses ever
since last Summer — they have three companies of regular Con-
gress Troops — the number not known15 — Those three com-
panies came from three different places viz : — Capt. Pratt16
from Fort Pratt, Capt. Strong17 from Muskingum, the other he
does not know his name came from the Fall of Ohio, this
place is called Licken18 after a small river about the width of

l4This was Columbia City, founded in November, 1788, three-fourths of a
mile below the mouth of the Little Miami. Its projectors fondly hoped to see it
become the metropolis of the surrounding region, and for a year or more their
dreams seemed in a fair way of being realized. But the greater natural advantages
of the site opposite the mouth of the Licking river destined this point, where Cin-
cinnati was shortly founded, to be the site of the future metropolis. In 1873
Columbia City, still a small town, was annexed as a suburb to its successful rival.

l5The settlement of Cincinnati was begun in the late autumn of 1788. The
following summer Fort Washington was constructed at this point by a force of
troops sent down the Ohio from Fort Harmar for this purpose.

l6Lieut. John Pratt, enlisted from Pennsylvania.

l7Capt. David Strong, enlisted from New York.

l8The Licking River. Apparently Hay's informant was unfamiliar with the
more imposing designation Losantiville given by the Kentucky pedagogue, John
Filson, to the infant settlement. This hybrid, compounded for the occasion from
Greek, Latin, and French elements, was intended by its compiler to signify "town
opposite the mouth of the Licking." In 1790, at the behest of Governor St. Clair,
Losantiville gave place to the modern Cincinnati.

6

08 Fort W\yne in 1790

this which comes from Kentuck and falls into the Ohio. This
place has been commanded lately by one Major Dotty,19 who
is gone up to Muskinghum for his health as supposed; the
Governor (St. Clair) was expected down in his place for a
short time.20 Capt. Strong, he supposed comn'd in the absence
of the major until the arrival of the Governor. The full com-
pliment of the subaltern officers of the compy's he thinks were
present for their appeared to him to be a great many of them
— particularly in Capt. Strong's he thinks he saw at least three
of them. He never was w[h]ere the troops are but one Sun-
day, therefore cannot give a certain account. This man is an
Irishman born in the County of Tipperary came to America
about Twenty years ago — never served with them or for them,
lived the greatest part of the war in Virginia at a place called
Fort Quire County21 a country place — they had a Court House
there — came down to this place (the little Miami) in July last.
Last place he came from was Stantown22 Augusta County — in
Virginia. Aged about upwards of Forty, lost his father and
mother very young. The Indians who took him are Dela-
wares — did not use him ill nor did they took him with that
intention, only to learn intelligence of what those People were
about; he has his liberty, is to live with us the whole Winter
as a servant and in the Spring the Indians have promised to
take him safe back. It seems that he would prefer remaining

l9Maj. John Doughty, commander of the force which built Fort Washington.
On December 28, 1789, General Harmar, descending the Ohio from Fort Harmar,
reached the new fort, and named it Washington "on account of its superior excel-
lence." Fort Washington now became the military headquarters of the North-
west. On being relieved by Harmar, Major Doughty took command of Fort Har-
mar, which guarded the new settlement of Marietta.

20Governor St. Clair reached Cincinnati on January 2, 1790.

21 Fauquier County.

22 Staunton.

Fort Wayne in 1790 309

in this country had be but his cloaths and some money to the
amount of Ten Pounds Virginia Money which Mr. Phillipps
owes him. He was allowed from him for his work 40/ that
currency per month and provisions — Virginia money is the
nearest to sterling of any money in this country except Halli-
fax is 6/ to the Dollar. Visited Mrs. Adamher and family
this morning — This evening, also visited Mr. Rivarr's23 — Miss
Rivarr is a very pretty girl, inclined to be stoute, very fair,
black eyes, but rather aukward. un peu a la Paysan.

19th. Froze hard last night. Ice comes down the river But
still a very fine day — This day arrived here the Little Turtle241
a chief of the Miamiae with his war party consisting of about
fifteen or sixteen — they had made two prisoners (a negro and
a white man) the negro was left with a few whites at the Little
Miami. They rest went out looking for more, they left their
baggage & four Horses — during which time the Americans
came on them, retook the negro, plundered the baggage, horses
&c. The Indians made off & joined the others. Went and
paid a visit this afternoon to Mrs. Adamher — drank Coffee

23The papers captured from La Balme upon the destruction of his force
near Miamitown in 1780, contained a list of the French inhabitants of the place,
including one Rivard. Illinois State Historical Society, Transactions, 1909, 132.
Rivard is also mentioned in a letter from Detioit to David Gray at Miamitown,
March 23, 1785. Indiana Mag. of Hist. V, 142, 143.

24Little Turtle was born on Eel River in 1752, and died at Fort Wayne in
1812. One of the ablest leaders the red race has produced, he was an inveterate
foe of the Americans until the Treaty of Greenville, of 1795. He bore a leading
part in the negotiations over the treaty, contending stoutly for the interests of
his race. Convinced of the hopelessness of further resistance he pledged a
religious observance of the treaty. Until his death, eighteen years later, this
promise was kept, and Little Turtle was a firm friend of the whites. His great-
est military exploit was the destruction of St. Clair's army in 1791 by the war-
riors under his command. He opposed making a fight against Wayne in 1794,
and consequently the leadership of the red men in the battle of Fallen Timbers
passed to his kinsman, Blue Jacket.

310 Fort Wayne in 1790

with her. She showed me a further mark of her Politeness &
attention, by telling me as it was very difficult to get cloaths &
Linnen washed at this place, begged I would send her mine
that her Ponnie wench should wash them.25

20th. Little rain & snow last night which has made it very
slippery. Rather a darking day. Saw this day the Rifle Horn
& Pouche Bagg belonging to the American that was murdered
by the Indians. It seems that he was rather an elderly man &
very tall — had some money both Silver & Paper of Virginia. I
find that this man was immediately killed after he was taken
by one of the party who struck him twice or thrice in the back
an side, in consequence he said of having some of his own
relations killed lately. This is their way of retaliating; the
young fellow that had taken him offered to hinder the other,
but could not he was in too great a passion.

Paid a visit this morning to one Mr. Payetts26 family, think
nothing of Miss — She's very brown.

Passed an agreeable afternoon & evening at Mrs. Adamhers
in company with Mrs. & Miss Rivare & Mrs. Ranjard ; I played
the flute and sang. Mr. Kinzie27 the fiddle, & all the ladies
except two sang also, Mrs. Ranjard has a fine voice. We
drank tea & coffee about Yz past 4 o'clock & a light supper

25A pani (panis, pawnee, paunee, etc..) was a slave of the Indian race. This
designation was due to the fact that most of the Indian slaves belonging to the
Algonquian and other Indians of the Great Lakes and the Middle West were
procured from the Pawnee tribe. Handbook of American Indians.

26Possibly the same person who La Balme's list of the inhabitants of Miami-
town in 1780 designates as Paillet.

27This was John Kinzie who has acquired posthumous fame as the reputed
"father" of Chicago. For a sketch of his career, see M. M. Quaife, Chicago and
the Old Northwest (Chicago, 19 13), 145-52. When Harmar's force destroyed
Miamitown the summer following Hay's sojourn there, Kinzie apparently re-
tired, with others of the traders to Grand Glaize. The captive, Spencer, speaks
of his bouse here in 1792, and describes Kinzie as "a Scot, who, in addition to
merchandyzing, followed the occupation of a silversmith, exchanging with the

Fort Wayne in 1790 311

about 9 o'clock and then broke up. The French settlers of
this place go to prayers of a Sunday, morning & evening, at
one Mr. Barthelmis28 which is performed by Mr. Payee; the
people are collected by the Ringing of three cow bells, which
three boys runs about with thro' the village, which makes as
much noise as twenty cows would. I went this afternoon to
their prayers it being Sunday. A little snow this evening.

I forgot to mention the 19th inst. that on the arrival of the
warriors the other side of the river, the Gree30 ordered a
Pirogue (which happened to be just arrived from the forks of
the river with wood) to be unloaded by some of the french
lads who stood on the bank, and sent one of them over with it ;
on their arrival he Billetted them like Soldiers so many in
each House according to the bigness of it, and took care to
trouble the families as little as possible — we had six ; — This he

Indian his brooches, ear-drops, and other silver ornaments, at an enormous profit,
for skins and furs." Spencer, op. cit., 30. Kinzie later established himself at
Pare aux Vaches on the St. Joseph River, near the forks of the Chicago-Detroit
and the Chicago-Fort Wayne Indian trails. In the spring of 1804 he removed
to Chicago, where Fort Dearborn had been constructed the previous summer.
Except for the four years from 1812 to 1816, this was his home until his death
in 1828.

280ne of the oldest inhabitants of Miamitown. His name is included in the
"census" of Indiana of 1769, and also in La Balme's list of the inhabitants of
Miamitown in 1780. See Illinois State Historical Society, Trans., 1909, 132;
Indiana Historical Society, Publications, II, 439, 440.

29Probably the priest, Louis Payet, who was born at Montreal in 1749, and
came to Detroit in 1781. He made trips to the missions at Vincennes, Cahokia,
and other outlying points. See Wis. Hist. Colls., XVIII, 493.

30Le Gris was the French nick-name of the Miami chief Na-ka-kwan-ga, or
Crippled Ankles. The name appears as Nah-goh-quan-goh in the treaty of Green-
ville, and Naquakouande in a speech of 1773. (Mich. Pion. Colls., Vol. 19, p. 310).
Antoine Gamelin, who visited Miamitown in April, 1790, on an embassy for the
Americans, speaks of him as "the great chief of the Miamis." American State
Papers, Indian Affairs (Washington, 1832-61), I, 94. His importance among the
Miami is sufficiently evident from the following pages. He was prominent in the
warfare with the Americans which closed with Wayne's victory of Fallen Tim-
bers, and in the negotiation of the Treaty of Greenville the following year.

312 Fort Waynf in 1790

ordered in a very polite manner, but quite like a general or a
commandant.

2 1 st. Monday. The weather rather mild and foggy — much
inclined towards rain. This morning Mr. Leith told me the
Gree was going off immediately after breakfast with his peo-
ple a hunting — & that this hunt was to bring in meat for me,
and that consequently I should be under the necessity of giving
him a small two gallon keg — which I did ; as rum is very dear
at this place no less than 40/ a gallon. I borrowed it to be
returned at Detroit. The reason I gave them the rum now is,
that they may not drink it about the village ; it being against
Major Murray's31 positive orders to give Indians rum at this
place or sell &c, And as I'm for supporting those orders as
much as lay in my little power was my particular reason for
giving it to them at present ; for they no doubt will not expect
anymore — If they do I must say they shall not get it from me,
— not only to prevent quarrels which might happen in the vil-
lage if they got drunk and also supporting the Major's orders,
but its an expense to myself which I shall not be able to sup-
port. Capt. Johnny Shawnee Chief32 arrived yesterday morn-
ing; from his village according to the message we sent him
by an Indian woman which we met on our way here, the day
before we arrived. The Gree introduced me yesterday to his
Son, my brother and old play fellow as he called him. And
this morning when a[t] breakfast after I had given him the
rum, he & his wife both directed me to look at my brother what
a dirty fellow he was. — He also introduced me to his grand

3iMajor Patrick Murray, Sixtieth Regiment, British commander at Detroit at
this time.

32Captain Johnny was a Shawnee chief of some importance. A number of
his speeches are preserved in Mich. Pion. & Hist. Colls., XX, 385, 519; XXIV, 597,
598; XXV, 242-44, 690-92.

Fort Wayne in 1790 313

daughter who had formerly made me some small Indian Pres-
ent, which I had repaid with rings — his own and only daughter
died some years ago, whom he said had been my very great
friend.

I was shown this morning the Heart of the white Prisoner I
mentioned the Indians had killed some time ago in the Indian
Country — it was quite drye, like a piece of dryed venison, with
a small stick run from one end of it to the other & fastened
behind the fellows bundle that killed him, with also his Scalp.

Another party of the Miamies and one Shawanie came in
from war This day with one scalp the[y] danced over the
River, one with a stick in his hand & scalp flying ; it being
their custom. — Some of the warriors came over in the evening,
to our House. It was rather a dirty morning; it thawed very
much ; we had a little rain — however it turned out a pretty
clear afternoon.

22nd. Tuesday. Very fine beautiful morning. Froze very
hard visited Mrs. Adamher this afternoon

23 Wednesday. Very fine morning more like Spring than
fall weather, grass quite green — not the least frost last night —
I never observed 'till this morning that a Man may easily walk
over this River it being very shallow, Very few Indians here
at present — most of them are gone a hunting. There are two
Villages at this place one on this side the River & one on the
other — the former belongs to the Gree — the other to Paccan33
who's now in Illinois, but in his absence is Commanded by his

33Pacan was for many years head chief of the Miami. As a young man, in
1764, he rescued Captain Thomas Morris from impending torture at Miami-
town. See Wis. Hist. Colls., XVIII, 366, 367; Thomas Morris, Miscellanies in
Prose and Verse (London, 1791), 22, 23. For a stirring speech of Paean's in
behalf of the English, in 1781, see Mich. Pion. & Hist. Colls., XIX, 595, 596. To a
speech to Sir Wm. Johnson, in 1773, is attached the name "Pakane Junr.," who is
probably the man who signed the Miami Treaty of 1809.

314 Fort Wayne in 1790

nephew one Mr. Jean Baptist Richerville, son to one Mr.
Richerville of Three Rivers in Cannada by an Indian woman —
This young man is a Trader here — his Father has wrote for
him to go to him which he means [to do] next Spring. His
mother is now gone into the Indian Country {dans les Terre as
the french term it) to trade; She lives with him when she's
here — the young man is so very bashful that he never speaks
in council, his mother who is very clever is obliged to do it
for him.34

This evening the Gree's Brother arrived from his hunting
Ground — his name is the Deer. He formerly was great Chief
of this Village but chose to give it up to his Brother — he's very
clever — his Brother never does anything without consulting
him. — Capt. Johnny left this place this morning for his Village.

24th. Thursday. Very fine day — but cold — froze hard last
night. Several Potewatomies arrived here this afternoon with
skins, meat &c. Visited Mrs. Adamher was pleased to desire
I should send her any linnen or any thing else that I may
want to mend. She asked me to go with her to the midnight
mass — and also asked me if I would play the flute which I did.
Mr. Kinzie & myself went to Mrs. Adamhers about 11 o'clock
— he brought his fiddle with him — we found a french man
there who played with us.

25th. Came home this morning about two o'clock from
mass ; Mr. Kinzie & myself called first at Mrs. Adamhers on

34Richardville, or 'Peshewah" (Pin-ji-wa — The Wildcat) was born near
Miamitown about the year 1761, and died at Fort Wayne in August, 1841. His
later career indicates that he bravely overcame the bashfulness of which Hay
speaks. From the death of Little Turtle in 1812 until his own death in 1841,
Richardville was head chief of the Miami. At the time of his death he was
accounted the richest Indian in North America, his weaith being estimated at
half a million to a million dollars. See Handbook of American Indians; Knapp,
History of Maumee Valley, 361-64.

Fort Wayne in 1790 315

our return home, who gave us some venizon stake and roasted
rackoon — Played the flute & Kinzie the fiddle with the french
man this Morning at Mass; being a particular desire of the
Peoples. We left our instruments at the House w[h]ere
prayer is said. I cannot say much indeed for the Trade of this
Place their's but few skins comes in, and almost every individ-
ual (except the engages) is an Indian trader, everyone tries to
get what he can either by fowle play or otherwise — that is by
traducing one another's characters and merchandise. For in-
stance by saying such a one has no Blankets another no
strowde or is damned bad or he'll cheat you & so on — in
short I cannot term it in a better manner than calling it a
Rascally Scrambling Trade &c &c.

Somehow or other I lost a Silk Pocket Handkerchief this
morning coming home — which I never expect to see — and my
Brother Johnnys35 fine travelling knife stole last night, which
I also give for lost.

Very hard frost last night, a great deal of ice floating down
the river this morning, there was also a small Boredage indeed
one place so wide and strong that several boys were sliding
upon it, however its not extraordinary quite the contrary — for
the fine weather we have had here ever since our arrival &
which still continues is very much so & what I have never yet
seen in this Country — however at this moment (1 o'clock) it
has much the appearance of Snow which is much wanted for
the Indians hunts — for deer and rakoon.

Play again this afternoon at Vespars.

35john Hay became later a prominent citizen of Cahokia, Illinois. R. G.
Thwaites and L. P. Kellogg, Revolution on the Upper Ohio (Madison, 1908),
130.

316 Fort Wayne in 1790

26th. Got infernally drunk last night with Mr. Abbott36
and Mr. Kinzie — Mr. A. — gave me his daughter Betsy over
the bottle. Damnation sick this morning in consequence of
last night's debashe — eat no breakfast — Kinzie & myself went
to mass and played as usual. — Mrs. Ranjard gave us a cup of
coffee before mass to settle our heads.

Very little frost last night — a very mild day — but rainy and
disagreeable — and muddy in the bargain — very little ice float-
ing this morning.

Mrs. Grie having made us a present of a very large Turkey
Cock weighing about 30 pounds, we proposed having a Dinner
among us Englishmen here.

Mr. Abbott fetched some Maderia & Mr. Kinze a Piece of
fine newly corned pork — upon which we made a most excel-
lent dinner at J/£ past 3 o'clock after Kinzie & I had played at
Vespers as usual —

After K — and I went to see Miss Rivarre & found the miss
Adamhers there, the old people were out of the way.

George Girty37 arrived here this day from his wintering

36james Abbott was born in Dublin in 1725. On coming to America he first
settled in Albany, removing to Detroit about the year 1763. He engaged exten-
sively in the fur trade, conducting operations at Mackinac, Green Bay, Prairie du
Chien, Fort Wayne, Ouiatanon, and Viricennes. He was the father of Robert
and James Abbott, leading citizens of Detroit in the first half of the nineteenth
century, and of Samuel Abbott of Mackinac. James Abbott Jr. married Sarah
Whistler at Fort Dearborn in the spring of 1804, thus furnishing the first
recorded marriage at Chicago. Elizabeth Abbott, the "daughter Betsey" of the
diarist, was born at Detroit in 1777, married James Baby, and died at Sandwich
in 1812. See P. Casgrain, Memorial des Families Casgrain, Baby et Perrault du
Canada (Quebec, 1898), app. G.

37George Girty was the younger of three brothers — Simon, James, and George
— who for a full generation were objects of loathing and terror along the Ameri-
can frontier. Natives of Pennsylvania, the brothers were captured, along with
the other members of the family, by an Indian raiding party in the summer of
1756. Reared by the Indians, George Girty married among them, and became prac-
tically an Indian himself. He died near Fort Wayne, Indiana, shortly before the
outbreak of the War of 181 2. See C. W. Butterfield, History of the Girty s
(Cincinnati, 1890).

Fort Wayne in 1790 317

ground which is only four miles from here — its called the Dela-
ware Town — he desired I should write in to Capt. McKee38
by the first opportunity to acquaint him that in consequence of
the Miami Indians upbraiding the Delawares with telling them
that the Ground they occupied now is not theirs and that upon
which the Delawares answered, they were great fools to fight
for lands that was not theirs and consequently would not go
to war against the Americans any more ; but that they will for
a certainty leave the Country and go down to the Spaniards
and put themselves under the protection of that Government.
That he had already sent word in some time ago that they were
talking of going which he hardly believed at that time — but at
present can safely say that there is not the least doubt of it. —
Begs at same time that Capt. McKee may not make mention
that. this Intelligence came thro' him — and that if Capt. McKee
would Immediately send in a String of wampum to hinder
them from taking such a step it would no doubt immediately
stop them. Turned out a pretty good afternoon.

27th. Sunday. Kinzie & myself were invited to sup with
a Mr. Barthelmie (the man of the house w[h]ere prayer is
said) last night, with Mr. and Mrs. Adamher — Mr. de San-
laren39 a french gentleman a Trader at this place who formerly

38Alexander McKee, like the Girtys, was a native of Pennsylvania, who sided
with the British in the Revolutionary War. He became an agent in the British
Indian Department, where his influence over the natives, which he employed to
incite them against the Americans, made his name one of sinister omen to the
frontiersmen until the close of the Indian wars in 1795. For a sketch of McKee,
see Wis. Hist. Colls., XVIII, 434-

39Probably Celoron, one of the sons of Pierre Joseph Celoron, formerly
commandant at Detroit. During the Hamilton-Clark campaign on the Wabash,
Celoron was sent by Hamilton to take command at Ouiatanon, a short distance
below the modern Lafayette, Indiana. Clark sent a detachment to capture him,
whereupon Celoron beat a hasty retreat up the Wabash. He met Hamilton's
army at the mouth of the Maumee, en route to capture Vincennes; Celoron here
so conducted himself that Hamilton later charged him with treachery. See
Thwaites and Kellogg, Frontier Defense on the Upper Ohio (Madison, 1912),
281; Illinois Historical Collections, VII, 130, 179.

318 Fort Wayne in 1790

was an Officer in the french Service before the taking of
Canada &c. &c. and Mr. Baptist Lassell — we had a roasted
Turkey and to my great surprise and indeed every one else we
had a roasted Loine of Veal — a kind of wilde sallad which
they have here all winter on the other side of the River which
was very good & also some very [good] coeombers pickels
cheese &c. Grogg the only drink. — everything served up in
the french Stile — The miss Adamhers came and joined us after
supper from Mr. Rivarres. Gentlemen & Ladies every one
sung a song — after which I proposed walking a minuet with
Mrs. Adamher which was accepted of & followed by a Smart
Gigg Kinzie the fiddler. Then (K. & Miss Adamher relieved
us & play the Piper & So on — until about 11 or 12 o'clock
when it was proposed on cachet, by Mrs. Adamher to give
Kinzie a bouquet as it was the Eve of St. John — his name
being John which was done in the French Stile — a man was
posted at the door with a loaded gun ready to fire when
ordered. — Mr. Adamher carried the bouquet on a plate which
was made in this manner viz : A large cake with a stick in
the center and some blue ribbon tied about it and three charges
of powder and ball on the plate also. I proceeded in front of
Mr. Adamher playing the freemasons March (Come let us
prepare) Mr. K. being a freemason & just as Mr. Ad — deliv-
ered him the bouquet with the Common compliment upon such
an occasion, I immediately stepped forward opened the door
and gave the word fire which was done, I then took the three
charges of Powder & Ball of [f] the Plate and thro' them into
the fire successively, which made three very good explosions
— Kinzie got very drunk and so did every one except myself
— K. was obliged to sleep at Mr. Adamhers — was too drunk to
go any further — so much for last nights business.

Fort Wayne in 1790 319

Rained all last night and continued so to do — a very great
fogg this morning — the weather very mild, in short the most
unaccountable weather I have ever yet experienced at this time
of the year — if it continues the Fur Trade will be very bad this
year and no doubt its impossible for the Indians to hunt in this
kind of weather ; they may get a few Rackoon, Otter & beaver
with Traps. They only kill a few deer & Bears in this wett
weather particularly Bears — but not equal to as when the snow
is on the ground.

Played as usual at mass. Kinzie told me this morning that
Mr. Abbott requested that I should dine with him to-day. —
which we did and had a good Tea Pye & a drink of Grogg.

28th. Monday. Last night I supped sans ceremonie at Mr.
Rivarrs about 5 o'clock. — After which we repaired to Mr.
Adamhers, and from that went according to appointment at
Mr. de Selerons were we danced 'till about 1 1 o'clock — it being
St. John's day & Mr. de S — a freemason, a bouquet was pre-
sented to him — upon which he and Mr. Adamher got damned
drunk. — Visited the ladies this morning, also Mr. de S. who I
found drinking with Adamher and some others — did not stay
long as they wished me to drink at so unseasonable an hour as
1 1 o'clock in the morning — but promised to joine the Corum in
the afternoon.

Made out my Half-Pay certificate this day — was sworn by
Mr. Leith — Mr. Ironside40 made out the Bills of Exchange for
me ; So that every thing is now ready to send to Mr. Robertson

40George Ironside, at this time a leading trader of the Maumee Valley, was
born in 1760, and died at Amherstburg in 1830. For many years he was in the
British Indian service. He was an M. A. of King's College, Aberdeen. In 1792
he had a house at Grand Glaize. O. H. Spencer, whom Ironside befriended
during the former's captivity there, speaks highly of his humanity and hospitality.
See Spencer, op. cit.; Mich. Pion. & Hist. Colls., XVI, 737.

320 Fort Wayne in 1790

at Detroit by the first opportunity. [Page missing.] time; but
having eat a good dinner upon a young wild Turkey with a
couple of glasses of Port Wine, drove it off immediately. This
evening about five the Gree & his Brother in Law, the Little
Turtle arrived from their wintering Place ; they drank tea, also
maderia Grie who came in after them and who presented us
with a couple of Turkeys — The Grie told me his young men
would be in in a few days, that they came first to inform us
of it. — It being near the New Year, and a common custom
among them to flock in about that time from their wintering
places, to Salute, and of course expect some little matter.

30th. Wednesday. Bad cough all night — the same today —
Little or no frost last night — Very mild day — but cloudy and
Dark — very muddy &c. —

The Grie & Turtle visited us this morning. — Began to raine
about 2 o'clock this afternoon and continued 'till near 10 or
11 o'clock.

31st. Thursday. Little Snow this morning, and rather cold
— Very little or no frost. — The Grie and Turtle Breakfasted
with us this morning. — The sun begins to Peep, all the appear-
ance of a fine day. — The day did not turn out as I expected —
it got cloudy about 1 o'clock & a little Snow. — Cold. Began
to freeze about 4 o'clock this afternoon

1 January 1790 Friday —

Most Beautiful Sun Shiny day — Froze hard last night. High
wind & pretty cold &c &c.

It being New Year the Indians who are in great number,
more so indeed than I could ever have thought, also the
Woman — came into the house in great numbers by three o'clock
this morning which prevented Ironside & me from Sleeping —
one lady came to shake hands with me when in bed. — The

Fort Wayne in 1790 321

House was quite full at Breakfast time — The Grie & Turtle
came to visit us & breakfasted with us as usual.

I forgot to mention that last night about 5 o'clock I was sent
for by the Grie with Mr. Ironside. When I went to him, he
informed me that his Son my Brother as he calls him, had
sent me in something to eat, which was a Carcass of Venison
& four or five Turkeys which he begged I would accept — His
Son could not come in on account of his rather young child
being unwell.

The Grie asked me this morning for a bottle of Rum, I was
rather loath at first to give it him, but having informed me it
was only for the reception of myself or any few friends that
might come to see him — as he has always been accustomed to
it, I told him that in case he should have it, and that I expected
he would not make a bad use of it — He answered that he had
more respect for the recommendation I had brought him from
Major Murray than to do any thing of the kind — for says he
who's to protect you from any insults that might be offered to
you by any hot headed Indian but myself — and should I get
drunk — I know myself not capable of it.

Visited most of the Principal families of this place this
morning & kissed all the Ladies young and Old — The Grie
did not keep his promise with me — he was rather drunk
towards the evening.

2nd. Jany. Saturday. Danced last night at Mr. Adamhers
— no other strangers but madam Ranjard & Kinzie & myself —
During the time we were dancing a french man arrived from
Marie Louisas40^ Trading Place about 25 Leagues from here —

40iMarie Louisa was the baptismal name of the youngest sister of The
Little Turtle. Her Indian name was Ta-kum-wa, or The Parrakeet. Ta-kum-wa
literally, as the Shawnee Tecumtha, means going across, or crossing over. The
parrakeet was very common in Indiana at that time, and the Miamis evidently
gave it this name on account of its parrot beak.

322 Fort Wayne in 1790

this M. Louisas is mother to yo[u]n[g] J. Baptist Richerville
mentioned in my Journal some days ago. He brought word
that Mr. Antoine Lassell (who is traveling at a place called le
Petit Piconne41 Six Leagues from the Ouias)42 is made Pris-
oner by the Ouias Indians — supposed for having wrote a let-
ter some time ago to Fort Vincennes apprehending them of a
Party of Indians that intended to strike there — that this Party
was in consequence of it taken Prisoner by the Americans at a
Post43 — that Lassell had also mentioned that one of the Party

4iAntoine Lasselle had been a resident of Miamitown for nineteen years at
the time this journal was written. When General Harmar destroyed the place
the following October, Lasselle followed Little Turtle's band to the new Miami
village on the Little Glaize. He was an active partisan of the British-Indian
cause, and served, garbed as an Indian, in Captain Caldwell's company of Canadian
militia which fought against Wayne at Fallen Timbers. Too corpulent to keep
pace with his dusky allies in their rapid retreat before the points of Wayne's
bayonets, Lasselle concealed himself under a log, thinking to make his escape after
nightfall. He was discovered, however, and promptly tried as a spy. The story
is told that, finding the trial going against him, he gave the Masonic signal of
distress, whereupon Colonel Hamtranck, president of the court-martial, threw his
influence in his favor, resulting in a verdict of acquittal. Whatever the truth
as to this may be, Lasselle, together with his brother Jacques, shortly afterward
secretly entered Wayne's employ, and labored zealously to bring the Indians to
conclude a treaty of peace with the Americans. See J. P. Dunn, Indiana (Bos-
ton, 1888), 436 — 40; W. A. Brice, History of Fort Wayne (Fort Wayne, 1868),
app. 16, 17; Amer. St. Papers, Ind. Affs., I, 494.

42Petit Piconne is an unique corruption of Ki-ta-pi-nong, meaning the town
at the mouth of the Tippecanoe (Ki-ta-pi-ka-na) river. This is the name of the
buffalo fish. At this time there was an important Indian village here, where
resided a number of French traders. The Ouias was a village in the vicinity of
the old French post Ouiatanon, near the site of Lafayette, Indiana, Ouiatanon
was founded by the French after 1722; there had been no garrison here since
Pontiac's War, but it was still an important center of the Indian trade. These
places were raided by an American army under Gen. Charles Scott in June, 1791,
and again in August, by a force commanded by Gen. James Wilkinson. See
Amer. St. Papers, Ind. Affs., I, 131 — 33; "Ouiatanon," in Indiana Historical
Society, Publications, II, 319 — 48.

43Vincennes. The post which the French established here in the first half
of the seventeenth century was designated "poste au Ouabache," or, more com-
monly, simply "au poste." The early American settlers transformed this into "the
Post" or "Opost."

Fort Wayne in 1790 323

was Son to the Indian who burnt an American Prisoner at the
Ouias last Summer. — The Indians having understood that the
Americans meant to Burn this Indian, is the reason they have
fallen upon Lassell and mean to burn him — his men are also
prisoners — they will of course plunder him &c. — I'm sorry for
it and so is every one at this place — tho' he certainly has
brought [it] upon himself —

This morning after Breakfast — Mr. Adamher Mr. Leith &
myself with all the Principal traders of the place collected our-
selves in this house and met the Grie which was sent for for
that Purpose — After he was made acquainted with the matter

and his Advice asked — he answered that he was extremely
sorry to hear such news, and that he had always given his
advice to the people here how they should act when they went
into the Interior Parts of the Indian Country — but that the
french had frequently gone without letting him know or asking
his advice ; And that particularly Mr. Lassell who altho' he had
advised not to go to that part of the country did absolutely go
without acquainting him of it — for says he, had he mentioned
it to me I should have sent one of my Chiefs with him, or
given him a belt, as a Guard and which would have prevented
any thing of this kind happening — However says [he] no time
is to be lost as I am now immediately going off to my winter-
ing Camp I shall detach three faithful warriors of mine with a
belt from me to inquire into this matter which if true will
effectually put a stop to it — (if it has not already taken place.)
Mr. Dufresne a french trader who is concerned in that part
of the Country — gave him about two fathoms of Smoking
Tobacco — Virmillion Provisions &c — Mr. A. Lassell has all

324 Fort Wayne in 1790

his goods from Mr. Baby44 which concerns me much on his
account if any thing should happen. — As Mr. 'Kinzie means to
go to Detroit on Monday next I wrote this day to the Major
with respect to this affair — and to Capt. McKee with regard
to the Delewares. —

Beautiful Day — froze hard last night — Wrote Mr. Robertson
of Detroit this day inclosed him my bills of Exchange and
certificates for my ^ pay Wrote my brother also.

3 January Sunday. The Grie & Little Turtle went off on
horse back for their wintering Camps, after breakfasting with
& thanking us for the reception they received from us during
their stay — I gave them a bottle of Rum. For it must be
observed that they have nothing here to live upon — everything
they possess & have is in the woods ; they all come in in the
Spring to the amount of four or five hundred —

Began to raine a little this Evening — Not the least frost last
night — Thaughed all day.

4 Jany. Monday. Mr. Kinzie went off for Detroit at day
break this morning. Raine all last night, which turned into
Snow towards morning. — Very disagreeable dirty day — the
Snow & Raine which we had last night has created a great
quantity of mudd — wind a little high and sky Cloudy. — Danced
and Supped at Mr. Adamhers, sans ceremonie as usual last

44The Baby family had long been prominent in Detroit and Canada. The
founder of the Detroit branch of the family was Duperron Baby, who was born
at Montreal in 1731 and came to Detroit twenty years later. In 1760 he married
Susanne Reaume. He was the father of no less than twenty-two children, several
of whom achieved prominence. A natural daughter by an Indian mother married
the chief, Blue Jacket, who figures in Hay's journal. The eldest son, James Baby,
married, as we have already seen, Elizabeth Abbott. Another son, Francis, mar-
ried Elizabeth Abbott's sister, Frances. Duperron Baby died at Detroit in 1789.
Whether Hay's allusion is to him or to one of his sons must be left to con-
jecture. See Mich. Pion. & Hist. Colls., XV, 704-6; Casgrain, op. cit., app. G;
Thwaites and Kellogg, Revolution on Upper Ohio, 44.

Fort Wayne in 1790 325

night. — Little Snow this afternoon — Last night while we were
dancing at Mr. Adamhers his Pigg was stolen out of the Penn.
— this is the 3d he has lost in the like manner the last one
before this was stolen on the very same day last year. — How-
ever this one turned out to be a good story which is as follows
— Mr. De Seleron & two or three french men & Mrs. Ranjard
were in the secret — it was Seleron & two others who took him
away — Mr. Leitjh as a Justice of the Peace having every reason
to suspect White People as well as myself, gave me a search
warrant thro the Village attended by Mr. Ironside & one La
Chambre a french man, we had almost gone thro' the whole,
when we came to Mr. De Selerons were we found Mr. Adam-
her & the people who had taken, they were telling him the
story when we entered the House to Search. — we were imme-
diately made acquainted with it — but stile continued our
search to the other house we had not been at, keeping the
secret, we even went to Mrs. Adamhers — own house & found
the Poor woman very much affected at it, it being their only
support when the fresh meat is killed, and what hurt her
more was, that she intended to kill it tomorrow, and that the
like had happened to her last year — however about an hour
after she was very agreeably made acquainted with the joke
and I never in my life saw such in a womans countenance
when they told her of it — Mrs. Adamher is a woman who is
amasingly fond of playing her jokes upon other people, she's
always serving some one or other a trick ; for which they were
fully determined to play her this one, which we premeditated
upwards of three weeks ago.

After I had made my report to Leith — Ironside & myself
undeceived him about Y/2 an hour after at which he laughed
very much. Its a good joke and it will at the same time put

326 Fort Wayne in 1790

those people on their guards who are apt or may intend to
make robberies.

5th. January Tuesday. Very fine day, but cold, the weather
quite changed. — Began to freeze very hard about 2 or 3
o'clock this morning. — Ironside & myself having mentioned
last night that it would be a good thing to steal the Hogg back
again from those that stole it which they heard ; and mounted
a Guard over him one of the party actually slept in the Penn
with it —

This day about 2 o'clock arrived here one Tramblai from
the Ouias — He left Mr. Ant. Lassell very well at the Little
Piconno the 29th December, and contradicts everything that
we heard the 1st. Inst, with respect to that Gentleman, so far
from it, that Mr. Lassell writes Mr. Adamher by this Tram-
blai that he never Traded better nor easier, that the Indians
are perfectly quiet in that part of the Country — Such a
Damnable lying Report, I never experienced before in my life,
— because in general, altho' Indian Reports are never to
believed, there is always something similar to what is re-
ported— but in this affair not even a single quarrell happened
— The Grie seemed to put but very little confidence in it — I
believe the french People here mean to send an express imme-
diately to prevent this message being sent.

6th. January. Wednesday. Froze hard last night — & very
cold all night. Turned out quite mild about 10 o'clock and
began to snow very hard. — all appearance that the winter is
now setting in. — am much afraid Kinzie will not get to Detroit
by water. — After snowing about a couple of hours pretty
smartly — it began to raine & continued 'till 10 o'clock this
Evening.

7th. January Thursday. It began to blow amasingly hard

Fort Wayne in 1790 327

last night about 11 o'clock & froze very hard. — Very cold
winday day — a great deal of Ice floating down the River. —
This afternoon about 3 o'clock arrived the Indian sent to
apprise the Grie respecting Lass-ell's affairs — they were just
going to set out when he arrived their. He presented the Grie
with a Carrott of Tobacco, telling him — here's what your
Brother, the french sends you & desires me acquaint you with
the good news they have received, & that you need not trouble
yourself with sending your message.

The three Indians pitched upon by the Grie — were The Little
Turtle, The Little Turkey & Le Jollie.

8th. Jan'y. Friday. Very fine Sun Shiny day — Pretty Cold.
— a great quantity of Ice floating down the River — Froze hard
last night. — Invited all the principal people of this place to
play cards with me this Evening.

9th. Jan'y. Saturday. This is the coldest day we have had
since my arrival. But very fine over head — Wind began to
blow excessively hard about day break & continues so to do.
I seated for the first time yesterday upon a marrai about ^4
mile at the back of the village — this marrai falls into a creek
which goes by the name of le Rouisso de Rioll. which falls into
the Miami — This creek takes its name from a Frenchman who
once had a hutt close by it.

Supped this Evening at Mr. Dufrennes in company with
some of the Principal French of this Place & then we all went
and played cards with Mr. Abbott.

10th. Jany. Sunday. A most excessive cold day, quite se-
vere— but very fine over head. — River closed some time in the
night — Indians walked across this morning — Turned quite
milde this afternoon. Dined with Mr. Abboitt, Leith also, Mr.
Ironside being unwell could not go. We were joined in the

328 Fort Wayne in 1790

afternoon by Miss Adamher, Rivarre, De Seleron & Lassell ;
we drank six Bottles of wine ; the two first Gentlemen pre-
ferred drinking Grogg. It must be observed at same time that
we three had already drank four bottles before any of the wine
drinkers came in. — We were all pretty merry. — It began to
Snow about 9 or 10 o'clock this Evening.

11 January Monday. A great quantity of suow fell this
last night and still continues to fall. — Its very mild at the same
time. Turned out fine weather about 4 o'clock this Evening.

12 January Tuesday. Froze hard this morning about day
break — Turned out a very fine Sun Shiny Day — Tramblai re-
turned this day to Little Piconno. — This day the roofe of the
House got on fire — lucky it was not in the night or we should
all been burnt.

13th. Yesterday about 2 o'clock arrived here Mr. Antoine
Lassell accompanied by a french man & one Blue Jackeltt45 a
Shawanie Chiefe. He is come in consequence of the report
spread about him, which we received the 1st. Instant. — He
was made acquainted of it by the following Letter which he
received the night before he came off viz.

45Blue Jacket, an influential Shawnee chief, was born about the middle of
the eighteenth century. After Little Turtle, he was probably the most prominent
leader of the Indians in the destruction of St. Clair's army in November, 1791.
Since Little Turtle counseled peace when Wayne appeared on the Maumee three
years later, the chief command in the battle of Fallen Timbers fell to Blue
Jacket. Defeated, he yielded to the Americans and was one of the signers of
the Treaty of Greenville the following year. According to the Handbook of
American Indians he disappears from sight after signing the treaty at Fort Indus-
try, 1805. Other accounts represent him as again raising the hatchet against the
Americans in 1812, and as present at the River Raisin massacre, January 22,
1813. See Mich. Pion. & Hist. Colls., XV, 6292, 693; Casgrain, op. cit., 100.

Fort Wayne in 1790 329

From La Riveere a Languielle46

6th. January,

1790.
My Dear Friend

Yesterday Evening arrived here two Indians sent by the
Grie to the Ouia to desire the Indians of that place to take you
Prisoner and take you to the Miami Town, saying that you
had writ a bad letter respecting them to the Americans. — It
seems its one La Lache a Uuia Indian {half blooded) who has
reported this against you among the Ouia's and other winter-
ing Camps ; That the Soldier47 & The Porcupine two Chiefs of
Riviere a Languile have sent the messengers back to the Grie,
saying that they would inform themselves of the matter — that
as far as this they had not heard anything of the matter but
thro La Lache who is a great Rascall — The messengers did
not intend to stop here, but having a letter from Young Mr.
Coco Lassell from Mr. Durfrense was their Reason for stop-
ing — This letter was apprising young Coco of such a report
being here which Mr. Dufrense sent by a Ponnie lad who I
suppose mett with these people & gave it to them, which is a
lucky circumstance for you. — The Soldiar & the Porcupine
desired me to write you immediately in case some rascalls
w[h]ere you are might hear of it and use you ill. — They de-
sire me at the same time to tell you ito write to the Grie or to
make the Petite Face or any of the Principal Indians acquainted

46Eel River. Logansport, Indiana, is situated at its junction with the
Wabash. The Indian to^vn was strung out along Eel River for several miles
above its mouth.

47"The Soldier" is the literal translation of Ci-man-ka-nis-si-a, who was chief
of the Eel Rivers. The name is made Sha-me-kun-ne-sa in the Treaty of
Greenville.

330 Fort Wayne in 1790

with it and desire them to send by you Strings of Wampum to
the Grie to undeceive him of this matter.

I am &c.,
Jacque Godfroy.48
Mr. Lassell could not bring any Strings with him from little
Piconno because the Chiefs were not at home, but he stopped
at La Riverire a Lanjerielle48* from which place he has brought
a string accompanied with a paper mentioning the meaning of
it — from the Soldiar & The Porcupine to the Grie. But he has
brought with him the following certificate, signed by all the
french Traders, and Indians then present at the Little Picon-
no, viz —

We citizens of the little Piconno certify that the bearer An-
toine Lassell is a good loyalist and is always for supporting his
King.

his
Diaum X Payette

mark Lamoureux

X his
Jean Cannehous his

mark Etienne X Pantonne Henri Rainbeare

mark
Jacque X Dumay his

his mark Toop X Maisonville

mark

48Probably Jacques Godfroy Sr. He figured in the events attending Pon-
tiac's siege of Detroit in 1763, and the following year saved the life of Capt.
Thomas Morris. He was at Miamitown when Harraar fell upon it in October,
1790, and carried to Detroit an account of the ensuing battles. The following
spring his goods, to the value of £500 were destroyed by the American army
that raided the Wea villages. See Mich. Pion. & Hist. Colls., VIII, 283—85;
XXIV, 106, 107, 166, 273; XXXVII, 448, 453; Thomas Morris, op. cit.

48|Lanjerielle is an evident miscopy of L'Anguille, the French name of
Eel River.

Fort Wayne in 1790 331

his
Lamoureus X fils his

mark Piere X Clairmont

mark

his
Jean X Coustan
mark

his his

(Little X Egg) (The X Sirropp)

mark mark

(Ouia Indian) (Peria Indian)

The Two considerable Indians of the little Piconno for the
Present.

The following is what the two above Indians say to the Grie —

The Grie.

We are much surprised that you harken to the Doggs of the
Villages, and if the above news were True we should send you
sensible men to acquaint you. Its La Lache who is a bad In-
dian & a Runner from one Village to another — He does not
belong to our village — we beg you will not believe those bad
Birds, who goes from one village to another creating very bad
things & disturbances — as the Little Face, Chief of this village
of the little Picanno is not here ; he gave us power to act in his
absence.

A True Copy taken by me this 13th day of January 1790.

Henry Hay.

Very fine warm day, Rather inclined to raine —

332 Fort Wayne in 1790

This day Mr. Lassell sent of [f] a messenger tp the Grie de-
siring his presence at this place immediately. This has been a
very curious matter altogether — However Mr. Leith and my-
self are of opinion that one Persons name has been taken for
the other. There is one Fouche a french man, who has no
doubt acted exactly in this manner as Mr. Lassell was Repre-
sented to us to have acted, on the isit. Instance. Mr. Lassell
nor does any of us believe that The Grie had anything to do
with it, quite the contrarie, we are of opinion its some other
Indians who has an antipathy against Mr. Lassell & who
changed the name of Fouche to his, purposily to hurt him, and
that those Indians made use of the Gries name in hopes of
carrying on the matter to their wish.

A great thaugh this day —

141th. Thursday. Very fine day — a little frost last night ;
In consequence of the great thaugh we had yesterday the snow
has melted off the Ice & the Water coming over it froze so
hard last night, that it afforded me the pleasure of Skating
upon the River this morning — Turned out a very warm beauti-
ful day — Thaw's a good deal and I'm afraide will carry off
the Ice. — Wrote the Major49 this day an account of Mr. Las-
sells arrival at this place and every thing respecting his affairs
as mentioned in this Journal yesterday.

15th. Friday. Rain'd very hard most part of the night,
Very high wind, &c. A very disagreeable day — a little frost
this morning which makes it very slippery. I never experi-
enced such an Evening as this at this time of the year — It be-
gan to Thunder & Lightening about 6 o'clock, Then it began
to Blow & Raine as if heaven and earth was coming together
which lasted itill about 1 1 o'clock.

49Major Murray, commandant at Detroit.

Fort Wayne in 1790 333

16th. Played cards last night at Mr. Dufrenes in Company
with all the principal People of the Village, did not come home
untill this morning about 4 o'clock rather Drunkish — Froze
hard about day breake — Rather an obscure day, not very
cold. —

This day the Grie arrived abouit 2 o'clock. This Evening
Mrs. Adamher and Mrs. Ranjard made a Bouquet which we
all Presented to Mr. Dufresne in Honor of St. Antoine, he
bearing that name — It was then carried from that to Mr.
Adamher, Mr. Rivarre, Mr. Barthelmies, Mr. Selerons & then
back again to Mr. Dufresne we danced in each house, the
Ladies being with us.

17th. Froze hard last night — Most beautifull day. — This
evening we had a Dance at Mr. Dufrenes by Mr. Anto'n Las-
sells invitation were all the Descent Ladies of this place were
Present. — Signified to the Canadians this day my wish for
them ito fire three Vollies to morrow in consequence of its be-
ing Her Majesties Birth Day, which they unanimously assented
to, to my utmost expectations.

1 8th. Jan'y. Her Majestys Birth Day.50 God Bless her—
We accordingly fired three Vollies as was proposed yesterday.
I gave them (the word of Command myself — Posted Mr. Adam-
her as an Officer on the Right & Mr. de Seleron on the left — -
Gave the young fellows a Gallon of Rum — a bottle to the Grie
at his own Request — The Snake51 & some of the Principal
Shawanies are here — I made them & the Grie acquainted with
the Reason of the Rejoicing.

soThe birthday of Queen Charlotte of England was May 19. I am unable
to suggest an explanation of Hay's apparent error in this respect.

5lThe Snake was chief of a band of Shawnee whose village in 1792 was in
the vicinity of Grand Glaize. O. M. Spencer, who saw him on the occasion of a
visit to Blue Jacket, describes him as "a plain, grave chief, of sage appearance."
op. cit., 29.

334 Fort Wayne in 1790

About 2 o'clock this afternoon I was apprized by Mr. J. B.
Lassell that the young Canadian Volunteers intended to come
& thank me & give me a Vollie in the front of the House — I
immediately went home & they appeared in about a %. of an
hour ito my great surprise with a Drum & the fiddle we had in
the morning; they were headed by one of the Serjeants I
made in the morning. — After they had fired their Volley, they
begged I would head them & march to the Houses of Mr.
Adamher Mr. Seleron & Mr. Leith to pay them the same com-
pliment which I did. — I proposed to Mr. Leith that he and I
should give dance this Evening which he assented to, conse-
quently Mr. Ironside & myself immediately went round to all
the Ladies & Gentlemen of the place and invited them.

19th Sunday. I never enjoyed myself at a Dance better
than I did last night. The Gentlemen & Ladies all appeared
dressed in their best bibs & Tuckers, & behaved very descently
not one of the men the least in Liquor, & which is mostly the
case in this place when they collect together — As Mr. Leith
never walks a minuet I opened the Ball with Mr. Adamher —
When Mrs. A. — entered the room I desired the fiddler to
play, God save the King. I made Tangrie for the Ladies, and
Grogg for the Gentlemen. Between 10 & 11 o'clock we gave
them Coffee, which Mrs. Adamher was so good as to make
for us. — We danced some Dance Ronby, one particularly a very
curious one — It was sung by Mrs. Rangard, the chorus was
rather Bawdie — that is a good double intendre which was —
Avee sons grand viesous viesous, avec sons grandpasse par-
tous — at the end of the first chorus ; the plant a foot, the 2d
two feet — the 3d a knee the 4 both knees, 5th and elbow, 6th
bothe, 7th your head and 8th your bomb — so that the last sum-
mons the whole up — your right foot plant, then left, 1 knee, 2d
knee, 1 elbow, 2d elbow, your head & your bombe.

Fort Wayne in 1790 335

As this is three nights now that I have danced, I find myself
very tired this morning, my feet much swelled — And what with
dancing, catching cold & given the word of Command yester-
day I am quite hoarse. — I forgot to mention that yesterday was
rather a disagreeable day — very muddy, misty, & now & then
a little raine — began to Snow last night about 11 o'clock. —
This is a very mild day. — Rather cloudy & Thick. — Mr. Lassell
sett off this morning for Little Piconno, The Grie & Blue
Jackett also for their different wintering Camps.

One Robidos a french man which Mr. Lassell sends express
to Detroit, is likewise sett off this day.

Mr. Adamher & Mr. De Seleron made their appearance at
the Ball with very fine fur caps on their heads, adorned with
a quantity of Black Ostridge Feathers — Cockades made with
white tinsell Ribbon, amasingly large — As their was a great
deal of Mudd — Mrs. Payette who is an extraordinary large
woman was sent for in a Carte, accompanied by her Husband
& Daughter — Began to Snow again about 10 o'clbck. — & Con-
tinued till the evening. Spent this Evening at Mrs. Cicotts in
Company with Mrs. and Miss Payette.

20th Wednesday. Began to blow excessively hard last night
about 11 or 12 o'clock — froze very hard; this is the coldest day
we have had yett. Payed a few visits this morning and Dined
sans ceremonie, with Mr. Dufresne. — Went and drank coffee
about 4 o'clock this afternoon with Mrs. Adamher ; The cold
seem to increase as the sun setts.

21 Thursday. Froze very hard & excessively cold all night.
— Something milder this morning — The Suns out which makes
the weather very fine over head. — It became rather cloudy &
thick about 10 o'clock, & in the Evening a very large ring
round the moon — however about 8 o'clock it cleared up &

336 Fort Wayne in 1790

began to freeze pretty smart but not so cold as yesterday-night.

22 Friday. Very fine day, not the least cold. It Thaws a
good deal. — Young Mr. Lassell caught a Rabbit this morning
in one of the snares he had laide for the purpose.

Several Putewatomies arrived this afternoon with Peltry &
a great quantity of meat — viz. Venison, Rackoons, Porcupine,
Bare & Turkeys &c. the most of which Mr. Abbott bought ;
the Blanket its what the Indians want most at present & no
one else except Mr. Dufresne has any at this Post but Mr.
Abbott. — Beautiful Evening, not the least cold.

23 Saturday. Most beautifull day, quite warme — Seated
about Y2 an hour this morning on the River. Thaws a good
deal which will soon carry off what little snow we have on the
ground.

The Grie & Son arrived this afternoon from his wintering
camps — He immediately sent for Mr. Ironside & me ; when we
went to him, he addressed himself to me — Son says he, here is
my Son your Brother who has brought you a little meat to
make you some broth which he beggs you will accept, I should
not says he have come myself, but my Son who is very bashfull
asked me to come with him.

24th Sunday. Very fine day, quite warm but dirty under
foot owing to the great thawings.

We played cards & supped at Mr. Adamhers last night, there
was a good many Gentlemen their. The Gries Son's present
consisted of four Turkeys, two leggs and two sides of Venison
exceedingly fatt. Sent a Turkey in a present to Mrs. Adamher
— The Grie & Son breakfasted with us this morning according
to invitation.

2$th Monday. Very fine day — Froze hard last night. Spent
the last Evening at Mrs. Scicotts — Mrs. Payett & Daughter

Fort Wayne in 1790 337

were their — Mr. B. Lassell, Francis Lassell52 & Mr. J. B.
Richerville & myself went together — the fiddler came in about
7 o'clock and we danced 'till about ]/2 past 9 o'clock, then we
broke up — took Mrs. Payett home & played her the Cuckold
March. Frome that we adjourned to Mr. J. B. Lassells with
the fiddler, w[h]ere we drank Grogg, & from that we went
and Serenaded the young girls & women of the Village.

Turned out cloudy & Gloomy about 12 o'clock and con-
tinued so 'till the Evening & most part of the night —

26th. No frost last night. This morning early it began to
blow very hard & Snowed a little — Played cards last night at
Mrs. Cicotts & serenaded the women again about 11 o'clock.
Mr. Adamher informed me this [day] that a letter came to him
yesterday directed to the Grie and to the Pishezv (this last is
Mr. J. B. Richerville) from the Porcupine & Soldier Chief of
La Riviere a Languielle, telling them to have an eye over their
young men & not to believe any false reports that goes about
the county, that everything with respect to Lassell was totally
false, & for the future not to believe those false reports, that
they may depend upon it when ever any thing occurs they
would send notice of it themselves, and never to hearken to any
thing any one says except when it comes from people of char-
acter and chiefs who may be depended upon — for they cannot
tell a Lye —

The Grie breakfasted with us this morning & went off imme-
diately after for his wintering camp. Begins to freeze about 2
o'clock, a very fine Evening.

52Francis Lasselle was a nephew of Antoine; his father, Jacques Lasselle
was Indian agent at Miamitown from 1776 until 1780. When La Balme attacked
the place in the latter year he fled by boat down the Maumee River with his
family.

338 Fort Wayne in 1790

27th. Wednesday. Very fine day — froze very hard all Night ;
left off blowing about 8 o Clock last night. We had a little
hopp last night at Mr. Adamhers sans ceremonie. Turned out
thick & cloudy about 1 or 2 o Clock — and about 5 began to
blow very fresh — freeze hard and a little Snow — The Gros
Loup (a Mohicken Indian who has lived amongst the Miames
ever since his Infancy), gave me a love letter which he picked
up in some place or other — Its dated New Madrid, May 6th,
1789 signed by J. S. Story and directed to Miss Betsey Gray,
Ipswich Massechusech.

This is my mothers Birth day — God bl'ess her — 42 years of
age.58

28th. Thursday. A very bitter cold day, froze hard all night.
Yesterday Evening arrived here a Mr. Lafontenne54 a Trader
who left this about 36 days ago — He went down the Wabache
River then turned into the woods towards White River &
their traded with the Indians. — he made 80 Deer Skins and
about 500 Rackoons. — which he brought upon the horses he
took out his goods upon — however he did not trade all his
goods away, for he fetch'd some back — Its very extraordinary
that meat was so difficult to be had that he & the Indian that

53Marie Julie Reaume was born at Detroit in 1748. She married Jehu Hay
and became the mother of several children in addition to our journalist. She died
at Detroit, March 23, 1795. In 1793 Henry Hay petitioned for 5000 acres of land
by way of a pension for his mother, which was granted. See Mich. Pion. & Hist.
Colls., XX, 691; XXIV, 557-

54Probably Francis La Fontaine, who had been engaged in the Indian trade
at Miamitown at least since 1780. According to La Balme's information, La Fon-
taine was then in charge of the warehouse of Charles Beaubien, the principal
trader of the place. Beaubien had married the mother of J. B. Richardville, the
Marie Louisa of Hay's Journal. Enraged over the plundering of their ware-
house, Beaubien and La Fontaine incited the Indians to make the attack upon
La Balme which resulted in the destruction of his little force. La Fontaine had
a son, Francis, who married a daughter of Richardville and upon the death of
that chieftain in 1841 succeeded him as chief of the Miami.

Fort Wayne in 1790 339

was with him were five days feeding- on acorns on their return
home. The fifth day in the Evening he sent the Indian on the
look-out for Indian hutts to purchase meat, who fell in with a
large Rackoon Tree which he cutt down & found five in it,
which was a great resource ; nothing extraordinary in the
Indian Country.

29th. Friday. Exceedingly cold all night, rather cloudy &
thick this morning, about 10 'Clock began to snow. — Messrs.
Adamher, Dufresne & La Fontenne played cards here last
night — Turned out rather milder this afternoon ; about 8
o'clock this Evening it began to blow & Snow very hard —
The snow drifted a good deal — The wind did not continue long.

30th. Saturday. Very fine day over head — a great deal of
Snow fell this last night — Not quite so cold as yesterday morn-
ing.— Began to freeze about 5 o'clock this evening — very clear
sky.

31st. Sunday. Mild snowy morning, took a ride on a car-
riolle this day with Mr. J. B. Richerville, as far as Mr. James
Girtys House which is about two miles — Several Indians ar-
rived this day from different places with peltry — This after-
noon about 4 or 5 o'clock arrived here Mr. George Girty
from his wintering camp with two loaded horses of Peltry.
Brought with him his wife & two sisters in law (Indians) — He
confirms the intention of Delawares going to the Spaniards in
the spring, but says not many of them. Snowed the whole
blessed day & part of the Evening.

1st February. Monday. Snowy morning & very mild. Mr.
G. Girty returned this day to his camp; Mr. Ironside accom-
panied him & returned in the evening with his horses loaded
with Peltry. — The Snow did not continue — very gloomy day —

34-0 Fort Wayne in 1790

Mr. James Girty55 told me this Evening that Capt. Johnny
Chief of the Shawanees was collecting all the Indians together
to a Grande Council — 'He also shew'd me a red scalp which he
got from a Delaware Indian ; the meaning of this Scalp he
does not know as yet, but it seems it must be sent into Detroit
by the first opportunity.

2d Tuesday. Frooze exceedingly harde last night — Cold &
Snowy morning — Turned out a very fine Sun Shiny day about
y2 past 1 o'Clock — Still continues to freeze hard — Wind N.
Several Ottawas came in this morning from hunting, & brought
their furr with them — Mr. Cicotts man arrived this morning
from their excursion to la Riviere a L'anguille. Left Mr. Ci-
cott about three Leagues from here, his Horse having given
out ; This man is to return to him immediately with a fresh
one. Mr. Abbott, a Trader, of this place one of our disaffected
subjects has been I'm told trying to traduce his brother
Traders, by telling the Indians that every trader here was a
Soldiar that the Goodfs] they had was not theirs & that they
were selling for other people — but, says he is quite different
with me every thing that I have here is my own & I owe no
one anything whatsoever —

It seems that he collected some Indians this day at his House
& told them that every Trader here has a pass & that they
were obliged to have one, but as for him he had no such thing
as a Pass, {which by the by is the case).56 I'm further in-

550n James Girty see supra note 36. For a comprehensive sketch of his
career, see Thwaites and Kellogg, Frontier Defense on Upper Ohio, 234, 235,
O. M. Spencer gives an unpleasing account of Girty's brutality toward him while
a captive at Grand Glaize in 1792. op, cit., 43.

56For a contemporary account by William Robertson of the practice of
issuing passes to those wishing to trade out of Detroit see Mich. Pion. & Hist.
Colls., XI, 639. Robertson stated that at that time, (1788) passes were no longer
required. Hay's statements on the subject seem to contradict this.

Fort Wayne in 1790 341

formed that he spoke to the Indians of Major Murray & Capt.
McKee in so disrespectfull a manner that they are determined
to send Strings of Wampum into Detroit immediately to
informe them of it. There is several other things that has
passed which has not as yet to come to my ears. Mr. Cicott
arrived about 3 o Clock this afternoon.

3d. Wednesday. Froze very hard all last night — Cold morn-
ing Wind N. Rather thick over head. Spent the Evening last
night at Mr. Dufresne's played cards. — Mr. Abbott proposed
my going with him as a Companion in the Spring to Port Vin-
cennes — I told him I could not think of venturing my Carcass
to such a place as that, among a parcel of renegards — This day
about 12 o Clock arrived here Mr. Kinzie from Detroit which
he left the 23d of last month — Received a letter from Major
Murray and another from my Brother — also one from the
Glaize from Mr. Sharpe acquainting me of his being obliged
to leve my horse at that place as he had given out ; and was in
a bad condition — However Mr. Kinzie informs me that he's in
a fair way at present owing to the good care of Mr. McDonnell
who stays at the Glaize. —

Mr. Kinzie tells me the Major is very well pleased with my
conduct, for having informed him of what passed at this place
& a great deal of party work at Detroit, Damn'd glad I'm not
amongst them. I look upon it that I'm far better off at this
place, tho' ever so much out of the World. Haile and Raine
this Evening about 7.

4th. Thursday. Snowed and froze hard from 12 o'clock last
night & till this morning early — Began to snow again about 8
o'Clock & still continues. Cleared up about 3 o'clock this after-
noon— freezes hard this Evening, Very Winday. Several In-
dians, (Principally Shawnee) arrived this Evening with a
quantity of Peltry. The Snake has passed three days with us

342 Fort Wayne in 1790

here — He returned to his Camp this afternoon. — As we began
some few days ago to establish a society, call'd the Most Light
Honorable Society of the Monks, we have this Evening com-
pleated it — Mr. Leith is appointed Grand Master and Commis-
sary— Hay Secretary, J. B. Richerville, J. B. Lassell, Francis
Lassell, Geo. Ironside & J. Kinzie, La Chambre, Musician to
the Society. Rules are to be drawn out for which hereafter no
one will be allowed to be a member without he gives his Honor
that he will truely & voluntarily stick by them, and support
them with all his might &c &c &c.

5th. Friday. Little snow this morning early. Rather thick
over head. The weather much milder; but still pretty cold —
Saw Mr. Cicott yesterday — nothing in that part of the Indian
Country that he's been in. — Turned faire about ^2 past ten
o Clock. The sun out. — Mr. Ironside & James Girty are
gone down this afternoon to the Shawanee's village about 3
miles from here to try & get their peltry.

Turned exceedingly cold about 12 o'clock — Very high wind
— N. W. Mr. J. B. Richervilles mother arrived this day from
her wintering camp — Went & paid her a visit about 1 O Clock —
She has been a handsome woman —

6th. Saturday. Supped last night with J. B. Lassell, Kinzie,
Richerville & F. Lassell were there — we played cards till ^2
past 1 oClock — Froze much harder & the cold much keener this
last night than it has been this winter. Very beautifull Sun
Shiny day & quite calme. Very mild Evening.

7th. Sunday. A Little Snow this morning — High wind — S.
Quite mild — It Thaws. Snow & very high wind this Evening.

8th. Monday. Cold morning — Froze very hard most part of
the night. The Rules of our Community (which is now call'd
the Friars of St. Andrew) are drawn out by the Grand Master

Fort Wayne in 1790 343

and this day to be copied and translated into French by the
Secretary. This Evening Mr. Leith collected the Friars of
St. Andrew and made them acquainted with the articles they
are to abide by, after which each member got a copy of them.

9th Tuesday. Froze very hard all night & exceedingly cold
— It continues very cold — altho' the Sun is out. Wind W. and
very Strong all day, this day is absolutely the Coldest we have
had this winter as far as this, & its the opinion of every one
as well as myself.

10th. Wednesday. Froze hard last night ; Very fine clear
day over head, but still very cold. Wind W. but not so strong
as yesterday. Not quite so cold this Evening as the last.

nth. Thursday. Much milder than yesterday; Rather
Clowdy & Thicker over head. — It was an excessive cold night
notwith-standing. Visited Mrs. Adamher this afternoon —
Copy'd off the two french songs that she made ; respecting her
Stolen Pigg, — And the Miamies Recollects.

1 2th. Friday. Very fine day over head, Rather colder than
yesterday, Not very cold this last night ; it began to freeze hard
about day breake. This afternoon arrived here one Claire-
mont from the Petit Piconno, says Mr. Lassell arrived theire
about 15 days ago. Nothing extraordinary in that part of the
Country — was 8 days on his way here.

13th Saturday. — very beautiful! day, not the least cold. —
Some Indians have lately been near the Ohio — on this side of
it it seems they fell in with a Party of Americans, killed some
of them & stole their horses, and took a negro Prisoner, one
of those Indians a Shawanee who goes by the name of the
Horse Jockey was wounded in the breast & hand by his own
Tomyhauk which the American had wrested from him. The

344 Fort Wayne in 1790

Indian however got the better & killed him. The above ac-
count we got several days ago.

This morning about Yi past 10 oClock a Party of warriors
of the Shawanies Nation brought in a Prisoner — They took
him on this side of the Ohio at the mouthe of Kentuck.

The Party that took him were out hunting last Spring, dur-
ing which time some Miamis went to war and returned a dif-
ferent road they went & passed by this hunting party, the
Americans pursued them & fell in with the Hunters & killed
several of them women & Children &c. one Joseph Sovereigns
who had been a Prisoner from his infancy was killed at that
place; — These People went out last fall to revenge themselves
& took this Prisoner who was out hunting much about the
same place w[h]ere their own people were killed. Mess.
Leith, Ironside & myself went down to the Chilicothe village
of Shawanese57 — They were then in council — that is the young
man who took the Prisoner was given a very minute Report
of all what passed — which they are obliged to do — This party
is not of this village, they belong to the Messessinoue58 Vil-
lage. The Reason for bringing him here is, that he's given to
a man of this village.

Little Raine & Sleete this afternoon, turned out Snow this
Evening.

14th. Sunday. Very disagreeable day. It thaws very much.
— The Prisoner will not be hurt — Black Bairde Chiefe of the
Chilicothe Village is not at home; Theire will be a ceremonv
whe[n] he arrives to adopt this Prisoner — I forgot to mention
that when they came in with him yesterday, he held in his hand

57Two miles below Miamitown.

58The modern Mississinewa. The Miami name of the stream is Na-ma-tci-
sin-wi, meaning 'it slants," i. e., there is much fall in the river.

Fort Wayne in 1790 345

a Shishequia which he kept ringing in his hand, (its made of
deer's hoofs) singing out lowde the words Oh Kentuck. His
face was painted as black as Divils — which will be rubbed off
as soon as he is adopted by one of the Roy'l Family — He'll be
washed & cleaned up &c. When they came into the Town they
stopped at a French mans house — Several Indians of their ac-
quaintance went up to them & shook hands with them & the
Prisoner, which was a good sign respecting the latter ; — For
we were apprehensive that they would burn him, as they went
to war upon a revenge. They have its seems got a good many
Horses this Trip. — Mr. Kinzie & Mr. James Girty went down
this afternoon to see this Prisoner ; Kinzie informed him that
he need not be upon any apprehension for his life & that he was
very lucky in being in hand that he was ; Kinzie asked him
where he was borne he answered Richmond in Virginia, that
he left that place a little better than a month that he came thro'
the Wilderness to Kentucky to get a debt that was due him in
that Country that he was Several' days in Kentucky — & not
more than two at the mouthe of the River, when he was pro-
posed by two other young men to cross the Ohio & hunt Turkey
saying there was a great number of them, they had not been
crossed but a very little time after separating themselves in
different parts of the wood, when he perceived the other two
making for the River, he did the same, but too late for they
had already got into the Canoe & were actually crossing over,
he attempted to take the woods but could not, the Indians had
him between them & the River, however he tryed what he
could do, & attempting to look round he received a knock in
the forehead with a War Billet, (which was thrown by one of
the Indians with an intention of hitting him in the Neck) he
was immediately seized by another Indian, the other called out

346 Fort Wayne in 1790

net to hurt him ; which they did not, — The Chiefe who was
out hunting heard of a prisoner being taken sent word imme-
diately that he should not be hurt — Its about fifteen days ago
since he was taken — They have washed his face — but not his
boddy, which will be done & also cleanly dressed when the
Chiefe Black (Bairde) arrives, a Belt of Wampums is now
making which will be thrown over his head when he's adopted
& which he'll ware. He's being lately from Virginia shews very
plainly that he was not in the action last Spring, and that some
evil minded people who wanted to hurt him in the mind of
the Indians — He's quite a young man, his name is McMullen.

15th. Monday. Rained, Hailed, Thunder'd & Lightened
about day breake this morning as if heaven & Earth was com-
ing together — Still Rains — Did not raine much after 10
o'Clock, but Springkled which made it very dis-grable — The
weather much changed, we were obliged to open the windows
almost all day. — Dined with J. B. Richerville in company
with J. B. Lassell, F. L. & Kinzie.

1 6th Tuesday. What with Thaw & Raine the Snow is
almost off the Grounde. Rained pretty smart this morning —
Rained very hard all day —

17th Wednesday. Yesterday being Mardi Gras the Friars
of St. Andrew, supped together at Mr. Richervilles. Mr. Iron-
side being unwell could not come. They sang a good many
songs & retired to their cells in good time — The water has
risen exceedingly this last night — at least 12 feet. Break-
fasted this morning at Mr. J. B. Richervilles — Rained most
part of the night.

1 8th. Thursday. Water much higher, it now runs thro the
Village in such a manner that it separates it in three parts —
the place that it runs in at, is quite rappid ; This part of Vil-

Fort Wayne in 1790 347

lage is quite low & small rising ground on each side, occasioned
by the great flood last year, when it seems the people were
obliged to desert their houses & take for the Rising Hills in the
woods & their encamp. The water is now within two feet of
being level with the bank of the River which is not less than
eighteen feet high, the River is at present about twice as
broad as it was, before the water began to rise. Weather quite
Milde but Clowdy. Water enough in the River for the
Rebecca59 to Swim in. The rappid so very strong, that its as
much as two men can do to bring up a Canoe.

We are obliged to make use of Peerogues or Canoes to go
to see those people who live on the other two Islands occa-
sioned by the water — Sun shined about 4 o'Clock, turned a
beautifull Evening untill about 8 or 9 o'Clock when it became
Clowdy & Thick. After sun sett Mr. Leith, Ironside, Kinzie
& myself and some french men, carried a long flatt piece of
Timber & placed it across the narrowest part of the run & fall
which enters from the River for the purpose of crossing more
at our ease, as we are often obliged to be going backwards &
forwards from our house to that of Mr. Leiths — it makes a
very good Bridge.

19th. Wednesday. Raine this morning early — Pretty smart
— a thin sleety raine continues which makes it very disagree-
able— Rather a Raw day. Water still Rising. This after-
noon about 2 o'clock arrived here from Detroit one Jerome a
french man in Mr. Leiths employ with a Horse load of Blankets
and Robedoux who left this for Detroit 19th. Jany on Mr. A.
Lasells affairs — They came as far as Roche de Bout in Slays —

59The "Rebecca" was a government armed vessel of 136 tons, built at Detroit
in 1782. When used as a merchant vessel she carried a complement of fifteen
men; when equipped as a war vessel, thirty-five men. Mich. Pion. & Hist. Colls.,
XXIV, 12.

348 Fort Wayne in 1790

Received letters from my Brother, Meredith, Baby & Mr. Rob-
ertson— the last respecting one Chevalier at Petit Piconno,
which Mr. Robertson had heard was dead, but no such thing.
The ice began to float down the River about 3 o'Clock this
afternoon but soon stopped. 8 o'Clock the River is quite
choacked up with Ice & the water Rising very fast, its now
equal with the Banks of the river. 9 o'Clock some of the Ice
entirely over one part of the Bank. — My Horse which Mr.
Sharpe left at the Glaize is dead, — not owing to the fatigue
he got, but a small worme which has killed a great number of
Horses — he was fatt when he died. Played cards at Mr.
Dufresne's this Evening, with Mr. and Mrs. Adamher.

20th Saturday. — Began to raine this morning about day
breake excessively hard & left off about 8 or 9 o'Clock — A
great fogg this morning. Our bridge across the Run carried
off — The Ice has totally choaked up the entrance of Run so
much that it answers in lieu of the bridge, the River is choaked
up in the same manner, a Person might easily cross the River
upon it. — Fogg cleared up about 10 o'Clock & began to blow
pretty fresh. — Went to Mr. CicOtts this day to inform myself
Respecting Piere Chevallier trader at Tipiconno for Mr. Rob-
ertson, from one Cleremont who lately came from that place
but he could not give me so good an account of him as Mr.
Cicott who went theire himself this winter — he says some
time in December last this Chevallier was robbed by the
Potuwatomie Indians, in the night when asleep owing to his
not making his door fast, that he got some of his goods back,
and that what they got was not considerable — Mr. Cicott says
that its risking Property too much, to let him have it, as he
lives in the woods with only one man with him continually
exposed to the malice & treachery of the Indians about him —

Fort Wayne in 1790 349

that he means to come to this place very early in the Spring
and will send in a few packs to Mr. Robertson.

1 1 o'Clock. Wind seems to increase — About 3 o'Clock this
afternoon the Ice floated down the River & the Run all in a
body, I don't think I ever saw a grander sight; a number of
Loggs & Trees, stumps of trees &c came down upon it. The
River is now pretty clear except the run which is full from
the mouthe till about halfway. The water which ris imme-
diately on the ice's going, is — now lowering much — I must
observe that a little time before the Ice went off that two
Miami Indians walked over it, a third was on his way when
the Ice began to move, he was obliged to return immediately ;
The Ice made a great noise when it came down. The water
touched Mr. Payett's step into his house and very near that
of Mr. Cicotts — The Ice was by large lumps jumbled up
together which occasioned the noise, as they Ran one over the
other. — Rather Raw this Evening. — Raine from 7 to 9
o'Clock.

21" Sunday. Beautifull morning. The River quite clear of
Ice — The Run still choaked up — Water about four feet lower.
— about 10 or 11 o'Clock the Run got clear of Ice. About 1
or 2 o'Clock it began to raine & continued 'till the Evening. —
A Great deal of Ice came down this afternoon, a good deal of
it went thro' the Run — Water rise a good deal this afternoon. —
a great quantity of Ice at the bottom of the Run, a great quan-
tity of Wood, Old Trees &c. came down with the Ice this Even-
ing. This evening I was sent for by Mr. J. B. Lassell to be a
witness to his marriage with Miss Rivarre. Mr. Adamher,
Mr. De Seleron and Mr. Barthelemie were also witness. —

22nd. Monday. The finest day I have seen for some time —
A good deal of Ice still floating. — The Centre of the Run

350 Fort Wayne in 1790

choaked up. — a great quantity of Trees, Stumps &c. floating
down this morning — Froze a little last night. 12 o'Clock — Mr.
Leith got the people to make a Bridge with the loggs that
floated into the mouthe of the Run — Very little Ice floating
at Present.

23rd. Tuesday. Damn'd disagreeable day. Rained most
Part of the night, Thunder a little at a distance ; Snowed about
day breake. Yesterday rote Meredith, Jack Robertson, Wm.
Robertson & my Brother, and this morning wrote to Thorns.
McKee.60 Not the least sign of Ice on the River. Raine most
part of the afternoon — Thunder & Lightning about 5 o'Clock,
& rained exceedingly hard. Mr. Ironside shewed me how to
know when the Lightning & Thunder is near — As soon as it
lights you Count the number of Seconds between it & the
thunder, & each second, its 11 20 feet off — multiply this by
the number of seconds, divide by 3 & it will give you yards
and by 1760 & it will give you the distance in miles should it
be 10 far.

24th. Wednesday. Some time in the night Mr. Kinzie came
in to informe us that the water was rising very high that it
was already at his Step — He came in again about day breake
& told us it was entirely in his House, desired he might bring
his apprentices here & also stay himself with us — The water
is amasingly high obliged to make use of a canoe to fetch Mr.
Leith here, the water rising close to his Door — Mrs. & Miss
Payee obliged to fly theire House about 12 o'Clock in the
night & take refuge at Mr. Barthelmies, Mr. & Mrs. Cicott
were obliged also to go up to their Garrett. Mr. Lorains, Mr.
Lafontaine Houses & Mr. Kinzie's Shopp where he works is

60Son of Alexander McKee, and for many years in the British Indian
Department.

Fort Wayne in 1790 351

an Island of itself. A river runs on each side of them the
same at Mr. Leiths, but the last will soon be overflooed — 9
o'Clock, Its at present not far from our own door — Obliged
to cut down Picketts & make a road thro the different yards,
the Streets and Bank entirely overflooed — Blows excessively
hard — Raine most part of the Morning — Our House quite
surrounded with water — Runs amasingly in the cellar — Mr.
Leith obliged to desert his. — Every House almost in the
village is in the same Predicament — we are all obliged to put
our trunks & things in the lofte — We are now Prepared for
its coming in the House — Mr. Leith & Kinzie put up a stove
in the loft of the Company's House — Mr. Ironside & myself
joined them this afternoon — The water came into the house
about 3 o'Clock, a good deal came up from the cellar. After
Supper which was about 6 o'Clock Mr. Leith returned to his
own Garrett. Mr. Ironside & myself got under way in the
Canoe to return to our Garrett, but we were very unfortunate,
just as we came into the rappidest part of the water, a whirl
Pool very near oversett the Canoe, Mr. Ironside who was
steering, slipped backwards & fell into the water, the canoe had
then greate way & lucky enough arrived close to the upper
part of the Picketts of the Grave Yarde which I immediately
took hold of & held fast by them standing on the ribbon,
pushed the Canoe off immediately with the lads that were
in it, who got down the Current in time to save him. He says
when the canoe came up to him, he was just gone — The lads
took him into one Mr. J. Morris — & came immediately back for
me — I got some dry clothes for him at Mr. Adamhers. —
Water not rising much.

25th. Thursday. Water very little higher than it was — Blue
and froze excessively hard this last night — Very fine sun

352 Fort Wayne in 1790

shiny day. As I'm not overfond of Canoes I do not mean to
return to the Compys House. — Breakfasted at Mr. Adamhers
& I'm engaged to dine there also. 11 o'Clock, Water seem-
ingly Rising —

26th. Friday. Very little frost last night. — Gloomy day —
Water rose a little last night & is still rising. — Canoes goes
thro several yards ever since the day before yesterday. There
is not above three Houses that you can walk to without wet-
ting yourself or going in a Canoe. Went in a Pirogue with
J. B. Richerville & F. Lassell & paid a visit to Mr. Leith in
the Friponne,61 also to Mrs. Cicott in her Garrett — This last
House has at least water half way up to the Garrett Floor —
Sun shined about ^ past 12 o'Clock. Pd. J. B. Lassell a visit
alone. The water had obliged Richerville to quit his House &
go to his mother's, Her House is very high from the Earthe,
which prevents the water coming to it as soon as the others.

27th. Saturday. Wind began to blow very hard last night
about 10 o'Clock & continued the most part of the night. —
Froze very hard — Water lowered a little — Very fine day — 1
o'Clock — Water still falling. High wind this afternoon, S. W.
About Sun sett the wind dyed away & it became a perfect
Calme ; A very beautifull Evening — Water has fallen about 4
inches at least this day.

28th. Sunday. Froze very hard last night. Water fallen
about 15 Inches since last night. Very fine Sun shiny day —

6lProbably this term is used in the sense of warehouse. Toward the close
of the French regime in Canada royal storehouses were established 'at Quebec
and Montreal. Because of the officials peculations that developed in connection
with their administration both the storehouse at Quebec and the one at Montreal
became popularly known as La Friponne, or The Cheat. See Francis Parkman,
Montcalm and Wolfe (Boston, 1885), II, 24. It seems probable that the term
passed into more or less general use as the designation for storehouses at the
French posts.

Fort Wayne in 1790 353

Our floor quite dry — Payed a visit to Mr. Abbott this after-
noon in comp'y with Miss. Adamher, Dufresne & Coco Las-
sell — from that we went to see Mr. Lafontaine. — Coco got
damned drunk — After those visits, J. B. Lassell, J. B.
Richerville & Francois Lassell & myself gave the ladys a row
upon & down the River, the fiddler played a few tunes and
myself on the flute.

1 March. Monday. Water has fallen at least two feet since
yesterday — Froze hard and snow'd a good deal this morning.
10 o'clock Its now thawing which makes it very dirty &
disagreeable — Water still falling very much. — 6 o'clock —
Little Raine & Sleete this Evening — The snow entirely gone.

2d. Tuesday. Very dark disagreeable day — Water fallen
greatly, the Bank entirely dry — but very much worne away —
particularly opposite to Blue Jacketts door its not above five or
six feet wide — before it was at least 10 or 12. Mr. Leith &
Kinzie have moved back to us this morning. Yesterday after-
noon Mr. Ironside & Myself moved our baggage down from
the Lofte. — This day The King of the Shawnee called the
(Wolfe) Capt. Snake & another Chiefe of the same Nation
came to this place — that a meeting should be made of the Prin-
cipal Traders & Inhabitants of the place, which was done — He
then got up and spoke as follows — Fathers & Brothers here
assembled, this is to acquaints you that we are now going to
gather all our straggling nation together and build a village
a little distance up from here — for which we have to request
you will let us have a little Tobacco & Vermillion — by & when
our village is Built we shall hold a grand Council & informe
you of our Wants — What we want now is to rise the hearts
of our young men. And you may be assured you shall lose
nothing by it, for we mean to cultivate the land and rase a

354 Fort Wayne in 1790

good deal of corn & will recompense you for your present
kindness to us — The people all of a voice announced that
they approved very much of theire coming to live together in
one place — And gave them what they wanted — The String
of Wampum was given to Mr. Adamher — The Chillcothy
tribe of Shawaneese who have their village a little distance
down from here are not to move. — Raine, Snow & Northerly
Wind this afternoon. Snow's and freezes very hard this
Evening.

3rd. Wednesday. Excessively cold all night & continues to
be so — blowed also very hard all night &c Ice floating down
the River this morning — Water quite low, the entrance of the
Gully dry. Amazingly cold all day & blew very hard — Two
of the Shawanee Chiefs went off this day ; Snake remained —
Capt. Johnny came up this day from his Village.

4th. Thursday. Froze hard all night. A little snow — not
near so colde this morning as yesterday — Rather an obscure
day. No wind. Its very curious how the water has rise &
spread itself in this Country in about thirty years — There is
an old French woman in this place of the name of Barthelmie
who says she recollects when the banks of the River were so
near one to another and consequently the River so narrow,
that at low water the children used to jump over it. Seated
this morning at the Bottom of the Gully opposite Mrs. Payees.
Turned out a very fine afternoon — Thaw's very much. Snake
gone home.

5th. Friday. Froze hard last night. Windy, dark day —
Thaws a good deal. To shew what rascalls their is in this
place — one Lucie a Canadian who was in Mr. Abbotts service
was seen carrying off a Bundle of Hay this morning by Mr.
Leith & J. Forsythe which he stole out of the Friponne, thro'

Fort Wayne in 1790 355

the window. — (The Property of Mr. Leith's) The fellow at
first denied it, but when he found there were such convincing
proofs against him, he acknowledged it, by saying there was
no harme in taking a little Hay. It's some time now that the
Hay has been Perceived going damned fast; Mr. Kinzie has
at the same time a good deal of property in the said House' —
Mr. Adamher however has sent him a summons to appear
before him at Mr. Leithes desire. The fellow appeared is
obliged to get security for his good behaviour hereafter.

Raine most part of the afternoon. This afternoon, the Lit-
tle Turtle, the Grees wife & Brother arrived here with some
other of their family from their wintering & hunting Ground.
The Grie has been sick but is now getting better.

6th. Saturday. Raine & high wind all night — Very dirty
disagreeable darke Clowdy day, Wind blows very hard. 4
o'Clock. Begins to freeze very hard.

7th. Sunday. Froze excessively hard all last night. — Very
cold Windy day. This morning the Little Turtle, The Gries
Brother &c. left this for their home — Sent a pound of Tobacco
to the Grie with my Compliments. This afternoon Mr. Leiths
pierogue arrived here from Roch de Bout, which left this the
24th Feby.

8th. Monday. An excessive cold day, Wind blows very hard
&c A great deal of Ice floating down the River. Clowdy & a
little Snow in the morning — but turned out very clear in the
afternoon.

9th. Tuesday. Very fine Sun Shiny day — not so cold as
yesterday and very calme. The River full of floating Ice.

Three months this day I left Detroit.

10th. Wednesday. Very mild day — Very thick over head —
a great deal of Snow fell this last night. This day the Chili-

356 Fort Wayne in 1790

cothy young men came down from the place where The Town
is to be built, they have already finished the Council House,
which is by all accounts a very long one. This afternoon one
Shirelock arrived here from his wintering ground, (he trades
for Mr. Leith) in consequence of one Montroills stealing his
Propperty to the amount of Twenty Eight Bucks he has
brought the fellow with him — This Montroille is a fellow who
has abandoned himself totally & lives amongst the Indians,
those kind of people are of the worst, they are very pernicious
to the Trade who fill the Indians Heads with very bad notions
& think nothing of Robbin the Traders Property ; when they
have an opportunity, such Rascalls ought to be dealt with very
severely and totally excommunicated from the Indian Country.

nth. Thursday. Rather cold this morning, but still thick
and Clowdy over head. Montroille appeared this morning
who ownes the deed. Shirelock told him it was no more of
his business that the property he robbed was Mr. Leiths &
that it lay in his Breast what should be done to him — He
makes great promises and says that he will hire himself to
Mr. Leith & work out what he Robbed ; Mr. Ironside told him
he would speake to Mr. Leith about it. I believe this matter is
now settled the man is to work out the value of what he
stole — Turned out a very fine day about 12 O'Clock.

1 2th. Friday. Sott up all night with Mr. Adamher & some
more Gentlemen at Mr. Lorrains who has been very ill near
Eight months. He fell in a kind of a Trance last Tuesday
afternoon about 4 o'Clock and continued so untill this day at
12 oClock and died — during the time he was in this situation
he took no nourishment whatever, his Eyes were shut, had
no hearing, kept constantly blowing & now & then coughed a

Fort Wayne in 1790 357

little. — He was the oldest Inhabitant of this Place & Environs,
he has been here &c 40 years62 —

Very disagreeable dirty day, It thaws very much. A good
deal of Raine this Evening.

13th. Saturday. Very fine day, but very muddy & dirty
under foot ; Blows excessively hard. Mr. Lorain was buried
this day. The young Volunteers of the place gave him three
Vollies at the request of some of the Pincipal People here, in
Honor to his services rendered to the King of Great Britains,
and long Residence in this place. I shewed them how to Pro-
ceed respecting the manouvers, the word of Command was
given by one Vivie who has been a Drummer in the late 84th.
Regt. 1 B'n

14th. Sunday. Very beautifull day quite calme — Froze a
little last night & a little snow before day Breake. This day
Mr. Geo. Girty came down from his wintering Camp. Snake
came down also to day from his village, he dined and got very
drunk at Mr. Abbotts. It seems that that Gentleman wants
Snake to accompany him to the Post, but he'll find himself
mistaken for the other would not go with him upon any
account.

15th. Monday. Very fine day, a little frost last night —
Wind rather high.— Sherlock & Geo. Girty returned this day
to their wintering place. Turned thick & Clowdy about 1
oClock — and quite calme — A very dark Evening.

1 6th. Tuesday. Rained most part of the night — Thunder
at a Distance, about day breake — A great number of Pigeons

62The census of 1769 includes Lorraine's name among the nine heads of
families then at Miamitown. In 1763 he, or another of the same name, was at
Ouiatanon when the savages overpowered the English garrison. Lorraine and
another Frenchman were instrumental in saving the lives of the captives. See
Indiana Historical Society, Pubs., II, 335, 440.

358 Fort Wayne in 1790

flying about this morning. Very calme but clowdy & thick.
Began to Raine about 11 oClock & continued all day — The
water has rose a good deal since last night.

17th. Wednesday. St. Patrick's — Rained excessively hard
all night & still continues to raine a little — Water rose since
last night at least ten feet & still rises very fast, it now runs
into the Gully — Blows pretty fresh. I'm much afraide that
we shall1 have a second flood. Left off raining about 11 or 12
o'Clock. Turned out a very fine afternoon and Evening.
Sent Mr. Abbott a String of Potatoes.

1 8th. Thursday. Raw, Clowdy day. Froze very hard last
night. Water has rose very high, even with the bank — Mr.
Payees People obliged to quit theire House — and its equal
with the step of Kinzie & Cicotts doors. However I believe
the Frost will stop its progress. Cleared up about io'Clock and
turned out a very fine afternoon & Evening; Water still rose
all day, altho' there was a Frost, — about a foot.

19th. Friday. Very beautiful! day; Froze hard last night.
Water has rose very little, Its almost at a stand. — Water be-
gan to fall a little this afternoon —

20th Saturday. Very fine morning, rather heazy. Wind at
S. warme ; Very little Frost last night, the water had fallen
about 5 inches & better since yesterday afternoon.

2 1 st. Sunday. Very beautifull day. Quite warme & Calme
— Not the least frost last night; The water falls very slowly,
not a foot since yesterday. A party of Shawanees arrived from
war at their village the 19th instant. — They have brought
three Prisoners & a negro man. It seems that another party
of them attacked a boat wherein there was an officer & about
21 men. They killed every one of them; Sank the Boat & hid
every utensill they found in it, in the woods. They also took

Fort Wayne in 1790 359

nineteen persons near Limestown which they have all Pris-
oners except 2 or 3. The first party were the Chilicothy Peo-
ple — & the others the Picowees. One of the above Prisoners
told Mr. Kinzie this morning the General St. Claire came
down the Ohio, to the Bigg- Miami, about Christmas last. This
man's name is John Witherington, comes from a place called
Limestown. They also got a great quantity of Linnen out of
this Boat — It seems that their was several other parties out,
some of the Catawas or Cherokees were out also ; at any rate
their was at least 40 souls taken & killed. This John Wither-
ington's family is separated from him, he has a wife 7 months
gone with childe & 7 children, which some of the other Parties
have got Prisoners.63

22 Monday. Clowdy morning, very hard shower of Raine
in the course of the Night ; Very calme — water falls so very
slowly that its hardly perceivable — The Miamias of the oppo-
site side danced from 7 oClock last Evening untill this morning
at day breake ; they were taken in what they call their Natt,
which is with them, like the Colours of a Regiment, with us ;
they take it out to war with them, and when they return, there
is a ceremony of taken it into the Council House, Chiefs House
or Place where they keep theire Trophies. It seems that this
Natt has been out ever since last fall. Thus custom prevailes
amongst all the Indian Nations. But there are a number of
Tribes who have not those Natts.

23rd. Tuesday. Clowdy day. Quite calme & not the least
cold — A little raine last night — water fallen a good deal
since yesterday. — An Indian, a Miami arrived last Evening
from the Post, brought a letter to Mr. L. Dubois from one

63For accounts of similar raids upon the Americans in the vicinity of Cin-
cinnati at this time see Amer. St. Papers, Ind. Affs., I, 86 — 91.

360 Fort Wayne in 1790

Perret Gamlains, Notary Public of that place ; Nothing extra-
ordinary in that part of the Country ; the Garrison consists of
upward of one Hundred men, & officers &c. This Indian has
passed the winter about the Environs of Post Vincennes.

Their seemingly is a very great want of Provisions in that
place — the Garrison the same, They are obliged to kill the cat-
tle belonging to the settlers.64

24th. Wednesday. Very Clowdy morning, but turned out
a very fine day about 12 or 1 oClock. Water fallen greatly;
The Gully clear of water, but very muddy — Geo. Girty re-
turned this day from the woods. One John Thompson who
was taken amongst the 19 mentioned the 21st Instant — came
here this day — He informed me that their was a great talk
of raising men to come against the Ind's ; However General
St. Clair who is now at the Bigg Miami with two boat loads
of goods, means to call the Indians together at a Council at
Post Vincennes — But if the Indians do not come to a settle-
ment with them, they mean to fight them. He says that he
understood about Christn — [torn] A War was [torn] be-
tween [four leaves missing] this morning of which a descrip-
tion is here with inserted in this Paper — Waited upon all the
people of yeplace this morning, and bid them farewell. Dined
at Mr. Adamhers & received the letters of that family, thanked
them for the politeness and attention they paid me during my
stay at the Miamies. Settled with Marie Louisa, respecting a
Horse which she is to purchase and send in to me by her son
Mr. J. B. Richerville. Left the Miamis about J/£ past 12
oClock. had the pleasure at the same time of being told by
Mr. & Mrs. Adamher that I was much regretted by every one
in the village. Stopped about 9 leagues below the Miamis abt

64During the winter of 1789-90 the inhabitants of Vincennes were in a con-
dition bordering upon starvation. See Dunn, Indiana, 269.

Fort Wayne in 1790 361

5 oClock in the afternoon; stopped a leake in our Peerogue,
made a fire and put up our tent ; Began to raine about 4
oClock ; Rained very hard almost all the night.

2d April Friday. About l/2 past 2 oClock got under way, the
Rain being over & moon lighte. Stopped at 11 leagues below
the place we slept at last night ; at the Indian Wigwaum from
whom we got the Rackoon last fall going out ; The two french-
men that are with us bought some sugar for Tobacco — The
Ind n gave Mr. Leith & me a large piece, for which we gave
him some Bread in return ; Mr. Leith promised to send him
some Tobacco. Arrived at the Glaize at Mr. McDonnels about
4 oClock this afternoon — hich is 30 Leagues from the Miami
Town. Just before sun sett Messrs. Sheppard & Sharpe ar-
rived from Detroit, they left their Peerogue in the morning
and walked up — They left Detroit the 24th. March. As they
left the letters in the Pierogue we can not get them till tomor-
row morning.

3d. Saturday. I cannot help mentioning how very hospita-
bly we were received by Mr. McDonnell who gave us the best
he had — he was also so obliging as to give me several cakes
of Mapell Sugar one of which is for Richard with his Com-
pliments— he likewise gave me a few Turkey wings. We
parted with him & Messrs. Shepherd & Sharpe about y2 past 8
oClock. Met with Mr. Shepherds pierogue about 2 leagues be-
low the Glaize Mr. Leith took his letter out of Mr. Shepherds
Trunk & I took one from my Brother out of Mr. Sharpes,
agreeable to their desire — Arrived at Mr. J. Cochrans about
24 past 5 oclock which is 15 leagues from the Glaize. Stopped
a little & got a little maderia & grogg, from where proceeded
down the Rapids,65

6oApparently the concluding portion of the Journal has been destroyed.
In its present condition it closes abruptly at this point.

••

Indiana Historical Society Publications

CONTENTS OF VOLUME I

No. i. Proceedings of the Society, 1830- 1886.
No. 2. Northwest Territory.

Letter of Nathan Dane concerning the Ordinance of 1787.

Governor Patrick Henry's Secret Letter of Instruction to George
Rogers Clark.
No. 3. The Uses of History. By President Andrew Wylie, D. D.
No. 4. The National Decline of the Miami Indians. By John B. Dillon.
No. 5. Early History of IniDianapolis and Central Indiana. By Nathaniel

Bolton.
No. 6. Joseph G. Marshall. By Prof. John L. Campbell.
No. 7. Judge John Law. By Charles Denby.
No. 8. Archaeology of Indiana. By Prof. E. T. Cox.
No. 9. The Early Settlement of the Miami Country. By Dr. Ezra Ferris.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME II

No. 1. The Laws and Courts of Northwest and Indiana Territories.
By Daniel Wait Howe.

No. 2. The Life and Services of John B. Dillon. By Gen. John Coburn
and Judge Horace P. Biddle.

No. 3. The Acquisition of Louisiana. By Judge Thomas M. Cooley.

No. 4. Loughery's Defeat and Pigeon Roost Massacre. By Charles Martindale.

No. 5. A Descriptive Catalogue of the Official Publications of the Ter-
ritory and State of Indiana from 1800 to 1890. By Daniel Wait
Howe.

No. 6. The Rank of Charles Osborn as an Anti-Slavery Pioneer. By George
W. Julian.

No. 7. The Man in History. By John Clark Ridpath.

No. 8. Ouiatanon. By Oscar J. Craig.

No. 9. Reminiscences of a Journey to Indianapolis in 1836. By C. P.
Ferguson.

No. 10. "Old Settlers." By Robert P. Duncan.

Life of Ziba Foote. By Samuel Morrison.

No. 11. French Settlements on the Wabash. By Jaccb Piatt Dunn.

No. 12. Slavery Petitions and Papers. By Jacob Piatt Dunn.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME III

No. 1. A History of Early Indianapolis Masonry and of Center Lodge. By-
Will E. English.

No. 2. Sieur de Vincen.nes, the Founder of Indiana's Oldest Town. By
Edmond Mallet.

No. 3. The Executive Journal of Indiana Territory. Edited and annotated
by William Wesley Woollen, Daniel Wait Howe, and Jacob Piatt
Dunn.

No. 4. The Mission to the Ouabache. By Jacob Piatt Dunn; pp. 78.

No. 5. Fifty Years in Pharmacy. By George W. Sloan; pp. 27.

No. 6. Caleb Mills. By Charles W. Moores; pp. 280.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME IV

No. 1. Diary of William Owen. Edited by Joel W. Hiatt.
No. 2. The Word "Hoosier." By Jacob Piatt Dunn.
John Finley. By Mrs. Sarah A. Wrigley.

Indiana Historical Society Publications — Continued

No.

No.

No.

No.
No.
No.

No.

William Henry Harrison's Administration of Indiana Territory.

By Homer J. Webster, A. M., Ph. M.
Making a Capital in the Wilderness. By Daniel Wait Howe.
Names of Persons Enumerated in Marion County, Indiana, at the

Fifth Census, 1830.
Some Elements of Indiana's Population; or Roads West, and Their

Early Travelers. By W. E. Henry. -
Lockerbie's Assessment List of Indianapolis, 1835. Edited by Eliza

G. Browning.
The Scotch-Irish Presbyterians in Monroe County, Indiana. By

James Albert Woodburn.
Indianapolis and the Civil War. By John H. Holliday.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME V

No. 1. Lincoln's Body Guard, with Some Personal Recollections of
Abraham Lincoln. By Robert McBride.
Internal Improvements in Early Indiana. By Logan Esarey.
The Sultana Disaster. By Joseph Taylor Elliott.
An Indiana Village (New Harmony). By John H. Holliday.
The Pioneers of Morgan County; Memoirs of Noah J. Major. Edited
by Logan Esarey.

No. 6. The Life and Services of Gen, Robert S. Foster. By Charles W.
Smith.

No.

2.

No.

3-

No.

4-

No.

5-

CONTENTS^ OF VOLUME VI

No. 1. Proceedings Tenth Annual Meeting c the Ohio Valley Historical
Association. Edited by Prof. Harlow Lindley; pp. 270.

No. 2. Journal of Thomas Deani; Voyage to Indiana in 181 7. Edited by
John Candee Dean; annotated by Randall C. Dean; pp. 75.

No. 3. Early Indiana Trails and Surveys. By George R. Wilson; pp. ni.

No. 4. Minutes of the Society, 1886-1918. 1.22 pages.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME VII (In Preparation)

Sieur de Vincennes Identified. By Pierre-Georges Roy; pp. 130.
Morgan's Raid in Indiana. By Judge Louis B. ^Ewbank; pp. 50.
Reminiscences of the Early Marion County Bar. By William Watson

Woollen; pp. 28.
The National Road in Indiana. By Lee Burns; pp. 28.
Early Indianapolis. By Mrs. Laura Fletcher Hodges; pp. 30.
One Hundred Years in Public Health in Indiana. By Dr. W. F.

King; pp. 24.
Fort Wayne in 1790. By M. M. Quaife.

pp. T2.
Separate numbers can be had at 50 cents each.

No.

1.

No.

2.

No.

3-

No.

4.

No.

5-

No.

6*

No. 7.

Uniform volumes, 8vo cloth, uncut, with continuous paging and complete
index. The earlier numbers have been reset in the same style as the later ones
and the volumes are now uniform throughout. Volume $1.50. Number 50c

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