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OSL PETITIONERS TO MEIGS

New Philadelphia Septr. 5th. 1812

To the Honerable Return Jonathan Meigs
Governor of the State of Ohio

We the under Signed inhabitants of the Tovm of New Philadelphia and its Vicinity and County of Tuscarawaras Humbly pray that your excellency will grant in such measures as will Secure us from the danger which the inhabi- tants of this County Lay -- under an account of the Indians which Reside here or within three Miles of us in the town of Goshen though we dont fear them too much that live there but we believe that the harbour those from the Lakes which are our enemys which to our certain Knowledge go to & fro from this out towards the british Line and back there is one here Now that was seen at Malden by one of the returning Volunteers who Knew him when he saw him out there and Now has been Seen sculking through the Woods here he formerly resided here though the Indian Inhabitants have been threatned of their lives by those there is four or five of those Wild one about here Now and the inhabitants are Moving away much to their disad- vantage and to the County on account of these spying about through the County the People here declare that if there is Not Something done that they Will shoot all the Indians that they come across which Might Lead to some ill consequences Not having any authority Vie therefore thought pro- pper to inform Your Honor of it and have your advice what would be best to do there in Goshen Still declare that they will be friendly but harbour one We believe those of our enemys Three of our Companys of Militia have gone out of this County and have [illeg.] slowly all the guns that w ere to be found -- that is [illeg.] that went on the frontiers and Now we are Left without arms and amunition and but few able bodyd. inhabitants we had to furnish our detachment that went out to the fronteers with powder and Rifles that we have None Left to defend ourselves; we your Petitioners think that in the present Crisis all those Indians that want to be friendly should be removd. off to some place of Safety or be forbidden to harbour any other Indians this promise they did make but do not Keep it but if your honor gives us liberty to Kill all those that are spying about the county we will risk those few familys in whom[?] we would be glad to have your advice concerning this and Your Petitioners shall ever pray

Inhabitants of N. Phila.

[Here follow the names of the petitioners.]