Tuesday 16 [February, 1773], met captain Killbuck, spoke on many
subjects. In our discourse he told me,
that some years since, two Presbyterian ministers visited them—that they did
not incline to encourage their continuance, yet their visit had such effect,
that they had been thinking of it ever since.
He said, that they intended to have both a minister and schoolmaster,
but would not have Presbyterians, because their ministers went to war against
them, and therefore did not like to be taught by them now, who were before for
killing them. It was plain that Indian
prejudice was very great and unreasonable.
Replied that the Moravians never fought against them, therefore they
might receive them. His reply was, that
Moravians did not belong to our kingdom, being from Germany, and could not save
their people alive in time of war. Upon
this he related the distresses and dangers of the Moravian Indians last war,
and how they were preserved at Philadelphia.
Adding, that for all the assistance that the Moravians could give, their
Indians might have been killed. Hence
argued, that it did not signify to be of that religion, that could not protect
them in war time. He said, they intended
to go to England and see our king, and tell him that they would be of the same
religion that he is, and would desire a minister and schoolmaster of his own
choosing. Told him that his speech
pleased me, but thought they were too poor to accomplish it, and feared they
would get little assistance. He said,
that they had near forty pounds already, and intended to make an early hunt,
which would enable them to go in the fall.
To effect this, captain Killbuck and Swallowhead were chosen messengers
to Sir William Johnson while I was there.
Encouraged their designs, willing to resign the civilizing them to his
majesty's directions: but am persuaded, that the service of the church of
England, as it now stands, will never be prescribed for Indians; for nothing
would disgust them more than to have a religion, which would consume the
greater part of life, only to learn its ceremonies.
It struck me as
remarkable that, even though the Delawares had an aversion to the Presbyterians
due to the frequent Indian-colonist conflicts that often raged throughout the
backcountry, they were strongly influenced by the message of Christ that the
Presbyterian ministers had brought to them.
Of course, some of what influenced Killbuck and others to promote the “Christianizing”
of their culture was just plain self-preservation (hence their rejection of the
Moravian’s religion because of its pacifism).
Nevertheless, it is wonderful to see that these Indians were willing to
work to obtain enough funds to support a preacher and a teacher.
Thursday 18, Afternoon, conversing with
Killbuck, he told me that the young men were desirous to hear me preach, consequently
concluded to preach next day. In the
evening, had an opportunity to converse with Joseph Peappi, who would interpret
for me; but I told him that I would give only five pounds for a month; he said,
he used to have seven pounds. Indians,
from the greatest to the least, seem mercenary and excessively greedy of gain. Indeed they are so lazy, that they are
commonly needy, and must be more so, if they do not cultivate their lands; deer
grow so scarce, that, great part of the year, many of them rather starve than
live. Mr. Evans, who is a trader in this
town, told me, that Iast summer some were supported by sucking the juice of
green cornstalks. 1
“Pepee”
a greedy man? Say it ain’t so! Perhaps Jones is being a little harsh in his
criticism of the interpreter. Maybe
Pepee needed the additional funds to support his family or others who were in
his care. Pepee would not have been able
to labor for the support of his family, being away from his home, which would
have necessitated his request for more funds.
Still, £5 a month was pretty good money in those days.
Friday 19, expected to preach, but
Killbuck told me that they were not yet fully united in the point—Had reason to
think that the king was not much for it, though he said little—Neither do I
conclude that Joseph was very desirous of it, for the traders often told me
that the Moravians taught their Indians to disrespect other societies, and I
could wish that there were less grounds for the report. Asked Killbuck if he knew the reason why they
were not united for my preaching? he seemed to intimate, it would have been
otherwise, if I had come last fall, while they were in the notion of it: but
found, by conversing with him, there is a jealousy in them, lest we should have
some design of enslaving them, or something of that nature. He told me that an highland officer took one
of their women as his wife, and went with her into Maryland about Joppa: and
they heard, there he sold her a slave like a negro. This he said, a gentleman in Philadelphia told
him: and as they never saw the squaa [sic] afterwards, they were ready to believe that the report was true. If this case is so, and this gentleman could
only see that by his means he has prejudiced
the heathens against us, am persuaded he would mentally retract his
intelligence with a degree of sorrow. Replied,
that I never heard it before, yet was persuaded that it could not be true, that
she continued a slave; for if the officer was guilty of such a crime, the law
of our land allowed no Indians of our country to be slaves, and the magistrates
would surely set her free. But he said,
their people did not know our law, therefore such reports made them afraid of
us. He further said, "What is
become of the woman, she never came back to us again?" Replied, that I
could not tell, may be she did not choose to come, or she might be dead. By this time, was much discouraged, and by
hardships and want of provisions my health and strength were greatly impaired. No meat could be had here for love or money. Bought milk at nine-pence a quart, and butter
at two shillings a pound, but not near sufficient could be had. From the king, had bought the rump of a deer
dried, after their custom, in the smoke to preserve it without salt, which made
it so disagreeable that little could be used. Indeed, I had coffee, chocolate and tea, but
sugar was so scarce, that it could not well be used. Desires called for a land, where famine doth
not raise her baleful head, therefore on Saturday 20, inquired for a pilate
[sic] to accompany me towards Ohio. The season was severely cold, so that the king
and captain Killbuck would not suffer me to go, for they said the weather was so
cold, that it would kill even an Indian.
Indeed the season was so intensely cold, that attempts to travel were
impracticable. My continuance here was
very disagreeable; for though the traders of this town were civil, yet they had
no taste for religion, so that I was alone without suitable sustenance, waiting
the permission of Providence to depart homewards. 2
Here in this passage we see what troubles
misinformation can cause amongst people groups as they attempt to interact with
one another. It’s easy to see why both
sides were somewhat suspicious of each other, based on the recent history of their
interactions with one another. Most
likely this story of the “enslaved squaw” was some sort of urban legend but it
was enough to prejudice the Delaware against Jones’ ministry amongst them. Couple that passive resistance with the
scarcity of foodstuffs and it is easy to understand why Jones refers to his
stay at Newcomer’s Town as “disagreeable.” It is interesting to note that he was in possession of coffee, tea, and chocolate. I think this is a good point for those involved in living history of that time period: since Jones was able to to obtain those items in an Indian village in the Ohio country in the early 1770's, it could not be remarkable for anyone portraying a persona from that geographic locality and time period to have those same items in their pack.
Sabbath 21, this was a remarkable cold day—
some part of it was spent conversing with Killbuck on several particulars,
concerning the belief of the Delaware Indians.
'Twas asked, whether they believed that there is a God who created all
things? He replied, that this was their
common belief. The second question was,
whether they believed that when any person died, their soul went to a happy
state, or to a state of misery? Replied,
this they also believed. The third was,
whether they knew that God would by his great power raise up all the dead to
life again at the end of this world? His
reply was, that this they knew nothing of, ‘till lately they had heard it among
the Moravian Indians. These Indians have
been so long acquainted with us, that it is not easy to determine what they
have learned of us.
This day liberty was granted to preach as
often as I pleased, but not having my interpreter, could do little for Killbuck
would not accept of Joseph, for, he said, I might as well not speak as to have
him, for instead of saying what I said, Joseph would say what his own heart
thought. Though I had better thoughts of Joseph, soon
perceived that Killbuck had such an aversion to him, that if he was used for an
interpreter, nothing could be done. This
was the only time that opened for doing good, and this opportunity was chiefly
lost, for want of Mr. Owens my old interpreter; therefore all that was said as
preaching, was in the council, using Killbuck as an interpreter, who was
capable in common affairs, but knew little concerning religion. To day the king and council concluded, that no
more rum should be drank in this town or nation, and that there should be no
more gaming or dancing only at their triennial feast. This made me think of the laws of New Jersey
about horseracing, in which there were such reserves, as evidently demonstrated
that some of the assembly loved the sport. 3
Once again we
see mistrust and prejudices “train wreck” Jones’ attempts to preach the
life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ before the Delaware Indians at this
village. Perhaps this should cause us to
reflect on our own hearts and ask ourselves if we promote discord and conflict within
our own homes, churches, etc. Do we erect
our own impediments to the advance of Christ’s kingdom by our lack of love for
others? Lord, help us to distrust our
own supposed “infallibility!”
Christ, not man, is King!
Dale
1)
David Jones, A Journal of Two Visits Made to Some
Nations of Indians on the West Side of the River Ohio in the Years 1772 and
1773 (Burlington, NJ: Isaac Collins, 1774), p. 73-5.
2)
Ibid., p. 75-7.
3)
Ibid., p. 77-8.
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