MDDM 65 Sir William Johnson

Mon Jul 22 07:41:33 CDT 2002

631.19 No telling if they'll ever take the West Line west of Allegheny. All is in the hands of Sir William Johnson.

Winter 66-67..

On December 31, 1766, the thermometer registered "in the air 2o degrees below zero," with the temperature in the tent not much better at "10 degrees below zero."  The next day was almost as bad.  The "Thermometer in the Air 12 degrees below zero...in the Tent 9 below zero."  As late as March 13 the temperature hovered around 7 degrees.

Even with the arrival of spring, there was still no word from the Indians.  On April 9, 1767, Mason wrote: "The Gentlemen Commissioners ... had not received any positive answer from General Johnson, whether the Indians will permit us to continue the West Line or not."  If anyone could reach an agreement with the Indians, Superintendent of Indian Affairs Sir William Johnson could.  Johnson, who was called Warraghijagey by the Iroqois, meaning He-Who-Does-Much, was an adopted and greatly loved member of the Mohawk tribe.  

Nevertheless, it wasn't until June 2, 1767, that Mason reported Johnson "had made an agreement with the Indians for to let us continue the West Line."  But permission granted only if deputies from the Six Nations of the Iroqois accompanied the survey party.

Judith St. George.  _Mason and Dixon's Line of Fire_  pp 54-55