64 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



October 1747, " that a gunsmith be sent to each of the tribes fol- 

 lowing, viz: The Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas, 

 and two men with each gunsmith, to continue until next spring, 

 and tliat goods valued at £360, New York currency, be sent with 

 them." 



In the laws of the colony of New York mention is frequently 

 made of these blacksmiths. V>y order Cornelius Van Slyck jr 

 and com])any resided in th(^ Sc^neca country, Sep. 1, 1741, to 

 Sep. 1, 1742, mending arms, etc. to prevent French plotting. 

 About the s?ame time Peter Lansing and Barent Staats jr were 

 fournjonths in the Cavuga countrvon the same business. In 1745 

 Garrit H. Veeder, the Oayuga blacksmith, was paid £60, with 

 something for sundries. Ryer Booen went to Onondaga with 

 goods, two men and a gunsmith, and was there from November 

 1747 to Mav 1748. 



Hendrick Herkemer, gunsmith at Onondaga, with two helpers 

 and materials, was paid £70 for services from October 1748 to 

 Mav 1749. The Seneca blacksmith had the same. It was cus- 

 lomary to spend about six months in this service. Others are 

 mentioned but it will suffice to speak of William Prinlup, black- 

 smith at Onondaga in 1750. He was a favorite there for some 

 years and his name is still borne at that place. 



This matter receives special attention here because it has been 

 customary to speak of the anvils and blacksmith's tools which 

 have been found as French. Few^ or none of them were. The 

 Onondaga anvil, which Father d'Heu said belonged to the French 

 party, the Onondagas asked permission of the English to retain 

 but a few years before. The latter had furnished it and a smith. 

 In the Seneca countrv alone did French smiths work, as far as 

 records go, and that but for a short time. It is probable one 

 mav have been with the French colonv at Onondaga lake in 1756 

 but there is no clear proof of this. 



The Ii'oquois were not willing their dependents should have 

 equal advantages with them. In 1750 the Shawnees and Nanti- 

 cokes wished a smith at Wyoming, as well as at Shaniokin Pa. 

 and sent their reqnest by Cammerhoff and Zeisberger. The 

 Onondagas positively refused this. 



