1757, October 8, Willanawa’s Talk

Wee the Cherokees have always received good Talks from our Brother the Governor of South Carolina, till this Last, which is Concerning the Spilling of Blood, Wee hope Neverthelefs, that we shall ever for the future, have Contrary Talks, Wee hope our Ears will always be Open, to hear what Our Father King George, and our Brother in Carolina says to us. The Governor of Chotee is present, and hears my Talk, He Loves his People, As his Father King George Order’d him, to Love and Regard all the English & Cherokees, who are Brothers and all his Children, The … Read more

1758, October 15, Fort Loudoun

Sir two Days ago j recived you Excellency’s Letter of the 28th of August, with another for Old Hop. Accordingly yesterday j went to Chotee and delivered it to him he told me, he was very glad to hear from you, and desired me to acquaint your Excellency that you Might depend on him, and that he would do always his best Endeavours, to keep Peace & Harmony between the English, & his People, that he was very Sorry, for what had happened but he could not help it. As Mr. Beamer’s Son was with me, he gave him a … Read more

1758, November 6, Fort Loudoun

Sir J recived your Letter of the 2 of Octr. And Since j had the Honour to write you Excellency last, Every Body has been very Quiet in these Parts. Few Days ago old Hop invited me to go to his Town, accordingly j went; as j was riding throw their Towns j was Sruprised to See all their House Shewt up, and no Man, When j camd to Chotee j asked the old Man what was become of all the Men, for j had seen but three of four, he answered they are all gone hunting but, said he, … Read more

1758, July 31, Fort Loudoun

Sir J am Sorry to acquaint your Excellency, with Things that j heard this Morning, which trouble me much, and may ruin me intirely. Elliot brought back again a Certificate which he recived for payments last Winter when they were going to kill the Stears, the Butchers told me they had nothing to put the meat in after is was Salted and would be Spoiled they desired to have large Casks made for the porpas, which j did, Seeing that they could not do without it. The assembly would not accept it, as he Says. When j ordered last fall … Read more

1759, November 22, Fort Loudoun

Sir On the 19th Currant at night Macknamar Arrived here by him I was honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of 12th Currant next Day Captain Demere delivered the Talk to the Carpenter who Exprefs great pleasure at your Excellencys promise to take off the Black beads, as he has upon all occasions Since his Return Showen great desire of Being invited to meet your Excelly Capt Demere added to the talk that you would be pleased to Meet him with the Warriors of the middle Settlements at Keewee. Those have sent the Carprean Invitation to be of there party when … Read more

1757, October 11, Fort Loudoun

Sir I am very Sorry that I had forgot to Mention to you Excellency, the Receit of the Letter of the 10th of August & that of the 21st of July, with a Pokett compass. It is impossible for me to describe how tormented I am Every Day with the Indians. Some bring their Guns to be mended & it must be done because the Carpenter told them it should be So, and you promised him; Some bring Hatchets to be mended other Padlocks to have keys made to them; others want Salt, others sometimes Meat, & great many other … Read more

1758, May 20, Fort Loudoun

Sir hearing the beginning of last Month, that Stores and Provisions were coming to the Fort, I sent Ensn. Coytmore with a Party, to Escorte them Safe hire, on his return, he brought me, your Excellency’s Letter of ye 20th of April, he told me that he left there Mr. Turner with the little Carpenter, who is waiting there for the wagon with the Presents, and will have them divided there, so they will not be under my care here. Mr. Turner has Sent great Many Goods here to give to the Indians that will be Willing to go to … Read more

1758, April 10, Fort Loudoun

Sir Lieut. Col. Honorth arrived here the 5th instant and deliver’d me a Letter from your Excellency. I am afraid he sha’nt carry but few Indians with him from these Towns, for great Many are gone Towards the Frence Fort, or to the North. On the 3rd instant a Gang of 21 Indians from Satico, (who went away from the Fort, the 9th ultimate) arrived here, they brought with them two Scalps, they did Stay Some time, and seeing no Presents, they went away dissatisfied. I have enquired since of a Man that has been with them at Satico if … Read more

1758, July 30, Fort Loudoun

Sir on the 20th jnstant arrived here the Express with Letters from your Excellency, and according your orders, the next Day j Sent to Chotee, to acquaint old Hopp and the rest of the Warriours, that j had Letters to Communicate to them, and desired them to appointd the Day and Place where we shoul meet. old Hopp sent me word, that he should be glad to see me ar Chotee on the 21_h accordingly j went with Ensn. Coytmore and Dr. Anderson, and in my way j took little Carpenter with me. when we came there, old Hopp Said, … Read more

1758, June 24, Fort Loudoun

Sir As Mr. Elliot is going to town j take this opportunity, to acquaint your Excellency, that on the 25th ultimate, john Brown and McClain, another Villian like him, j being afraid to be talen up Stold Horses & went away, a little Distance from the Fort, they met a Soldier Thos. Thompson of my Company who was looking after a Horse, they persuaded him to go with them to look after Beavers Traps, great Search was made after the Soldier, and jndian the night after said that Brown had hired him, to go with him down the River for … Read more

1758, September 30, Fort Loudoun

Sir A few Days after enfion Coytmore went from hence Richard Smith the Linguifter came here from Fort Cumberland with a letter to Old Hop from the late Governour Mr. Glen to invite the Cherokees to go to War with the General against the French. They debated on the Subject a few Days, at last the Little Carpenter said he would go; and fixed on the twentieth of August for his Journey. He beat up for Volunteers, and went away with thirty. I received a Letter from your Excellency the Difturbances between the People in Virginia and thefe People have … Read more

1759, November 23, Fort Loudoun

Sir I have Received your Dispatch of the 12th Instant and immediately I sent for the Little Carpenter, to give him your Excellency’s Talk: He seem’d to be well pleased when he heard that you was taking away the Black Beads from the string of white Wampum that you gave him, but finding that your Excellency was not mentioning to him that you wou’d be glad to see him, he grew thoughtfull on which we put at the bottom of your Talk that when you shou’d be at Keowee, you wou’d send for him with the rest of the Warriors. … Read more

1759, December 4, Fort Loudoun

Sir I have Received your Dispatches of Nov. 23d that your Excellency sent b John Elliot: Some time before I had sent Macklemore with a Letter, but when he came to Highwafsee, he hearing that a great many indians were on the Path, in their way to Keowee, he was afraid to go further, and came back again. Mr. Elliot arrived here the 30th Ult. And the Little Carptenter was sent for immediately, when he heard that your Excellency wou’d be glad to see him, he said that his Gang was not yet come from hunting and shou’d be very … Read more

1759, December 7, Fort Loudoun Letter 1

Sir As the Little Carpenter is going down this Day to Keowee to see your Excellency: He has desired me to write by him, he sets off without speaking to Old Hop and the rest of the Heardmen because he thinks that they are not well intentioned, and he did not choose to have any talk from them. I do sincerely believe that his intentions are good, but it is hard to judge of Indians sincerity. I believe he wishes that your Excellency wou’d appoint him Governor in the Room of Old Hop, to have the Management of these People … Read more

1759, December 7, Fort Loudoun Letter 3

Sir This will be delivered by the Carpenter who setts out this morning with a firm Resolution of accomodating matters with your Excellency, he Expects that the Transgrefsors will be Demmanded and has just told me that his Voice will be for Delivering them. He may at first plead for them as he Affects popularity; but I am Confident he will fall in to all your Excellency’s measures. he goes without speaking to, or Reccuring any mefsage from Old hop. And Says that he only wants for Orders from Your Excy. to take upon thim the Execution of the Old … Read more

1760, January 25

Sir I received the 15th instant your Letter of the 29th Ult. I attempted severall times write to your Excellency, after the Little Carpenter went down, but I was always prevented by the treachery of our Indians. Sometimes by the path being way laid, that no Letters shou’d be carried down; finding all was in vain, I sent for the Seed, who had lately come from Warr, and had brought threejndians Prisoners, and five Scalps; and asked him whether he was going down to Keowee, he told me he shou’d be very glad to go to wait on your Excellency, … Read more

1759, December 12, Fort Loudoun

Sir I have Received a Letter from Lieut. Coytmore of the 6th Instant by John Arcy, by which he acquaints Me, that your Excellency’s Orders were: that Old Hop shou’d b informed that the Little Carpenter, of any other Head Man, shou’d be appointed, to come down to Keowee with Power to settle matters, as shou’d be found requisat to make things Straight, as He himself was present. Accordingly I sent for him to come to the Fort, and that I had a Letter to communicate to him; but the Old Fellow sent me severall excuses, saying that it was … Read more

1759, December 7, Fort Loudoun Letter 2

Sir This well be delivered by the Carpenter who Setts out this morning with a firm Resolution of accomodating matters with Your Excellency, he Expects that the Transgrefsors witll be Demmanded and has Just told me that his Voice will be for Delivering them he may at first plead for them as he Affects popularity, but I am confident he will fall into all your Excellency’s measures, he Goes without Speaking to, or Receiving any mefsage from Old Hop and Says that he only waits for orders from Your Exey to take upon him the Execution of the Old Fellows … Read more

8 May 1759, Fort Loudon

We have been to y French fort and no Succefs. Y reason of it wafs, while 42 of our brefkost Younge fellows was waiting about the fort, and y rest of us within Eight Mile of it with our canoes at camp, gooding Stole one of the cannos and wone of our people that wafs Lurking About y fort See the French Indians beat him, the outside of y fort, he stole away with him 2 of our jndians Bundles, y French and Indians purfued our People from y fort on the information Gooding Gave Them. We Left our Cannoes … Read more

16th Century French Exploration of North America

Arx Carolina

An AccessGenealogy Exclusive: Richard Thornton’s study of the Sixteenth Century French Exploration of North America – replete with maps and images – Much of the research in this report was drawn from two books by former Congressman Charles Bennett of Florida, which were interpolated with the author’s personal knowledge of Georgia coast – while fishing, canoeing, sailing and camping in the region between Darien, GA and Jacksonville, FL. The author was born in Waycross, GA, is a Creek Indian and is an expert on Muskogean culture. The first book by Bennett, Three Voyages, translated the memoirs of Captain René Goulaine de Laudonniére. The second book by Bennett, De Laudonniére and Fort Caroline, translated the memoirs and letters by other members of the French colonizing expeditions. These books are supplemented by the English translation of Jacques Le Moyne’s illustrated book, Brevis narratio eorum quae in Florida Americai provincia Gallis acciderunt,” Le Moyne was the official artist of the Fort Caroline Colony, and one of the few who survived its massacre by the Spanish.