Three Rivers
Hudson~Mohawk~Schoharie
History From America's Most Famous Valleys

COL. GUY JOHNSON TO IT GOV. COLDEN,
[From N. Y Col. MSS.]
Guy Park Augt 2d. 1774

SIR,
Since I had the honor of Writing to you last, I have received his Excellency Genl Gages Orders Appointing me to the Superintendency of Indian affairs till his Majesty's pleasure is known, concerning which he has Likewise wrote to the Secretary of State as Sir Wm. Johnson had done agreable to desire of the Indians sometime before his death;-

Having been much indisposed for some days past it was not sooner in my power to write to you on a matter complained of by the Indians at the late Congress respecting the conduct of their old Antagonist Geo: Klock; It would take up too much of your time to enter at present into the relation of his repeated Offences, these were highly aggravated by the circumstance of his seducing one of their People to accompany him last Winter to England and Exhibiting him as a Show, but Lord Dartmouth having sent in quest of Klock, he returned hastily to America, & defrauded the Indian of his Money on the Passage, of this the Indian complained & went (with some others) to his House where they took part of that Cash away, and insisted on his signing a Release for part of the Lands of their Village included in the Patent to Van Horne and Livingston which all the other Proprietors had long since done,-He at length promised to comply & appointed a time, but when their Chiefs attended for that purpose with a Justice of the Peace, they were refused admittance, & Shortly after he went to Albany from whence he transmitted an Affidavit of his Danger with a View to have the Conajoharee Indians Indicted by the Grand jury, 'tho' Sir Wm. Johnson had given them a strict Caution against offering him any Insult, promising that the Affair should be laid before Government as it had been before, tho without effect, he having refused to Execute the Release, Klock has since returned to his House where he keeps close, so that the Indians have nothing to expect from his Justice, & thro' repeated disappointments are in doubt of relief from. Government, this has induced some of their People to throw out threats, which I have hitherto prevented them from putting into execution, but the Neighbours are much alarmed & have lately proposed to Petition your Honor, requesting that he may be compelled to satisfy the Indians, or that some step be taken for freeing the Neighborhood from the apprehensions occasioned by his quarrel.-- The Copy of the Speech made by the Conajoharees which I now enclose, will explain their sentiments, but I am concerned least some accident should happen as I can't see bow they can be relieved, & he now gives out that he has Mortgaged, or sold the Lands in dispute. I could however wish I was enabled to promise them some relief, whilst I ant endeavoring to prevent mischief, as their public complaint to the rest has made it a matter of serious concern

I had the pleasure to conclude the Treaty (which was interrupted by the death of your Worthy friend Sir William Johnson) in a satisfactory manner, and Deputies are sent from each of the Nations to accomodate the Breach to the Southward, but those Tribes who took up Arms there, are using all their influence to form a strong Association there, which it shall be my utmost endeavors to prevent by seperating their Interests.

I shall be glad to be honored with a Line on the subject of this Letter, and I beg Leave to assure you of the perfect Esteem with which I am

Sir,
Your most Obedient and most Humble Servt
G JOHNSON

Sir Jn° Johnson offers
his best respects. The Honble
Lt Governor Colden.