Chester County History Center - Halliday Jackson Collection

A full transcription of the manuscript’s title page provides a summary of the contents of this volume: “Civilization of the Indian Natives Exhibiting a brief view of the friendly conduct of William Penn toward them in the early Settlement of Pennsylvania, the subsequent care of the Society of Friends in endeavouring to promote peace and friendship with them by Pacific Measures. And a Narrative of the proceedings of the Yearly Meeting of Friends of Pennsylvania New Jersey and parts adjacent since the year 1795 in promoting their improvement and Gradual Civilization. Together with a sketch of the manners and customs of the Seneca Nation.” In his preface, Halliday Jackson expands on changes in perceptions of Native Americans by those interested in their history. He notes that the Native Americans had been seen as either romantic or cruel and barbaric, “but in this [manuscript] will be found the conciliating language of peace and mutual friendship and a disposition manifested on the part of the natives to … peaceably betake themselves to the innocent employments of the pastoral and agricultural Life.” An extended table of contents offers readers a section-by-section guide to the 23 parts of the first 200 pages of this manuscript. For example, Section 9: “Settlement and intercourse of friends among the Seneca Nation.” And Section 10: “Sketch of the manners customs and situation of the Seneca Indians as observed in the year 1798.” Topics often carry over from one section to the next. The second section of approximately 200 pages focus on the “Civilization of the Indian Natives” as observed by the Quakers who lived among them. Comments relate to the development and progress of agricultural pursuits, milling, the weaving of cloth, and other everyday activities. The final pages of “Civilization of the Indian Native …” are titled “Conclusion containing a recapitulation & some general remarks.”

This handwritten manuscript, which is also present as a typescript, contains Halliday Jackson’s observations in a wide variety of areas relating to Seneca Native Americans who lived on the Allegany and Cattaragus reservations, including their clothing, the work of men and women, parenting, crops cultivated, the construction and appearance of houses, religious observances, funerary customs, marriage traditions, and food preparation. In addition, Jackson records what the Senecas looked like, their colorful face paint, and how they fashioned their hair.

The caption title on the first leaf of this manuscript cites just one year even though Halliday Jackson writes about his observations of the lives of members of the Native American Seneca tribe from 1810 to 1818. He notes how proud the women were of their progress in spinning and blanket making. Men were encouraged by the Quakers in their planting of seeds for growing grain. Additionally, they learned about salting pork, which they had not previously done. The Quakers promoted the education of Seneca children, including in the English language, and cautioned adults against the use of strong drink. In 1811, Jackson notes that the Native Americans started to use wagons to transport produce; hitherto, women had carried it on their backs. At one point, the Native Americans expressed their concern that the Quakers had sinister motives for their visits. Jackson writes otherwise, saying the Quakers were deeply interested in the welfare of the Seneca.