Proposition to the Oneidas - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC03107.01891
From Archive Folder	The Livingston Family Papers [005] 1679
Title	Proposition to the Oneidas
Date	30 October 1679
Author	Kendall, William (ca. 1621-1686)
Document Type	Government document
Content Description	Kendall states that he is writing to discuss recent incidents of Oneida Indians destroying and plundering colonial settlements, and abducting some women and children. He explains that he is willing to forgive these actions as long as the Oneida agree to cease all attacks, and obey the law that obliges all Indians to stand still and lay down their weapons upon contact with a white man.
Subjects	American Indian History Women's History Children and Family Wartime Pillaging and Destruction Military History Global History and Civics Diplomacy Treaty Peace
People	Kendall, William (ca. 1621-1686)
Place written	Albany, New York
Theme	Native Americans; Government & Politics; Women in American History; Children & Family; Agriculture
Sub-collection	The Livingston Family Papers
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Transcript	Show/hide I am come from Virginia being as all these countries under our great King Charles, to speak to you, upon occasion of some of yours having entered our houses, taken away and destroyed our goods and People, and brought some of our women and Children Captives in your Castles contrary to your faith and promises, and is also a breach of your Peace made with Colonel Coursey without any Provocation or Injury in the Least done by us, or disturbing you in your hunting trade, or Passing until you were found taking our Corn, out of our fields and Plundering and burning our houses. Though your Actions already done, are Sufficient Reasons to Induce us to a Violent war against you which might Engage all our Confederated English neighbours, subjects to our great king Charles, yet upon the Information the governor here hath given us, that you have quietly and Peaceably, delivered to him, the Prisoners you had taken from us, Who are also Returned in Safety to our Country, and your excusing [th]e Same, We are therefore willing and have and do forgive all ye Damages you have done our People (though very great) Provided you nor any Living amongst you or coming from you, for the future do not offend or molest our People or Indians Living amongst us, Which if it shall appear that you do not truly Perform, then we Expect full Satisfaction for all the Injuries that you have already done us to the utmost farthing. And one of your Squaws being taken alive in our Country, and now Returned here, being freed, I Return her to you. And whereas you have still a Christian Girl of our Parts with you, doe expect, that you likeways free & Return ye Same. We have a Law in our Country, that all Indians coming near a Christian any where, must Stand Still, and lay down there Arms, as a token of there being friends, otherwise are Looked upon and taken or destroyed as Enemies, and having many of our People in the woods abroad every way, we doe acquaint you (therewith) that if your People shall go to war towards our Parts against any Indians not in friendship with us that you forbear to come near our Plantations.

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