PROCEEDINGS OF COMMISSIONERS FROM 6 PROVINCES MET AT ALBANY ANNO 1754 ON WILLIAM SHIRLEY Esqr Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over his Majesties Province [LS] of the Massachusetts Bay in New England. To Samuel Welles, John Chandler, Thomas Hutchinson, Oliver Partridge,. and John Worthington Esqrs. Greeting WHEAREAS in pursuance of Letters from the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners for Trade and the plantations dated the 28 of August & 19 of September 1753 to the Governor of several of his Majesties plantations in North America a General convention of Commissioners for their Respective Governments is appointed to be held at the City of Albany in the Month of June next for holding an Interview with the Indians of the Five Nations and making them presents on the part of the said Governments usual upon such occasions in order to confirm and Establish their antient attachment to his Majesty and their constant Friendship to his Majesties Subjects on this Continent. And whereas the great and General Court or Assembly of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay aforesaid have elected and appointed you to represent and appear for the said Province at the Convention aforesaid for the purposes above mentioned; as also for entering into Articles of Union and Confederation with the aforesaid Governments for the General Defence of his Majesties Subjects and Interests in North America as well in time of Peace as in war. Now I do by these presents impower and Commissionate you the said Samuel Welles, John Chandler, Thomas Hutchinson, Oliver Partridge, and John Worthington as Commissioners (or any three of You) to appear for and represent the Province of the Massachusetts Bay aforesaid at the proposed Convention of Commissioners, to be held at the City of Albany in the Month of June next then and there to concert, with the Commissioners (from all or any of his Majesties British Governments) that may be there convened, such Measures as may be judged proper for the Purposes aforesd and to agree upon the same; and herein you must observe such Instructions as are herewith delivered you, or may from time to time be given you by the Great and General Court or Assembly of this Province. Given under my hand and the Publick Seal of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay aforesaid the nineteenth Day of April 1754 in the twenty Seventh Year of his Majestys Reign. By His Excellency's Command J. Willard Secry. &c A true copy Attst Province of New Hampshire [L S] W. SHERLEY OLR PARTRIDGE George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland To all to whom these Presents shall come Greeting WHEREAS We have Ordered a Sum of Money to be Issued for Presents to the Six Nations of Indians and to direct our Governor of New York to hold an Interview with them for delivering those Presents, for Burying the Hatchet and for renewing the Covenant Chain, with them and inasmuch as the Attempts that have been made to withdraw them from our interest appear to us to make a General interview more Particularly Necessary at this time, and that all our Colonys whose Interest and Security is connected with, and depend upon those Indians should be present at, and join in such Interview Know Ye therefore That we reposing much trust and Confidence in the Integrity and Ability of the Honourable Theodore Atkinson Esqr. the Honoble Richard Wibird Esqr two of our Council of our said Province, The Honoble Meshech Weare Esqr Speaker of the General Assembly of our said Province, and Henry Scherbourn Junr Esq. also a Member of our said General Assembly, have by and with the advice of our trusty and well beloved Benning Wentworth Esq. our Governor and Commander in Chief of our Province of New Hampshire aforesaid, named, made, constituted, and appointed And we by these presents name, make, Constitute and Appoint the said Theodore Atkinson Esq Richard Wibird Esq. Mesech Weare Esq. and Henry Sherburne Esq. our true and undoubted Commissioners hereby giving unto them full power and Authority as well as our special Command to repair to our City of Albany, or other place where the said Interview may be held and carryed on, and there by the whole or the Major part of those of them that shall be present at the said Interview, for us and in our name together with such other Commissioners as shall be Regularly appointed from our other Colonies and provinces in America to attend at the said Interview to agree upon consult and conclude what may be necessary for Establishing a sincer and lastly Friendship and good Harmony with the said Six Nations of Indians, and if necessary, for us and in our Name to sign everything so agreed upon and concluded, and to do, and transact all matters and things which may appertain to the finishing the abovesaid work. In Testimony whereof we have caused the Seal of our said Province of New Hampshire to be hereunto affixed Witness Benning Wentworth Esq. Our Governor and Commander in Chief of our said Province of New Hampshire in New England this third Day of June 1754 and in the Twenty Seventh Year of our Reign. B. WENTWORTH HEN: SHERBURNE Jun'. Sigilum Conecticut ences CONNECTICUT THOMAS FITCH Esqr Governor and Commander in Chief of his Majestys English To William Pitkin Roger Wolcot Junt & Elisha Williams Esquires Greeting. WHEREAS you are by the General Assembly of said Colony nominated and Appointed to be Commissioners in behalf of said Colony to meet such Commissioners as are or shall be appointed by his Majesty's other Governments in America, at a General Interview at Albany on the fourteenth day of June next and Join with them in concerting proper Measures for the General Defence and safety of his Majesties Subjects in said Governments and the Indians in Alliance with them against the French and their Indians. Therefore in pursuance of said Act of Assembly, you the said William Pitkin, Roger Wolcot Jun' and Elisha Williams Esqrs are Commissioned Authorized and impowered in behalf of this his Majesties Colony of Connecticutt to meet the Commissioners appointed by his Majesties other Governments in America at Albany on the 14th day of June next, and in Concert with such Commissioners from his Majesties other Governments as shall meet there to consult proper Measures for the General defence, and safety of his Majesty's Subjects in said Governments and the Indians in his |