Crogan settled permanently in Augwick in 1754, and built a stockade fort, and must have been some kind of an agent among the Indians, disbursing presents to them for the government. In December of that year he wrote to Secretary Peters, stating the wants of his Indians, and at the same time wrote to Governor Morris as follows:
“I am Oblige to advertize the Inhabitance of Cumberland county in ye honours Name nott to barter or sell Spirituous Liquors to the Indians or any other person to bring amongst them, to prevent ye Indians from Spending there Cloase, tho I am obliged to give them a bag Now and then my self for a frolick, but that is Attended with no Expense to ye Government nor bad consequences to ye Indians as I do it Butt onst a Month. I hope your honour will approve of this Proceeding, as I have Don itt to Prevent Ill consequences attending ye Indians if they should be always be kept Inflamed with Liquors.”
That Crogan and his Indians were of some service would appear from the fact that the assembly passed a law exempting him from arrests—for debt it is supposed—for ten years, and commissioning him a captain in the Colonial service. The supposition that Crogan was a spy in the service of the French was based upon the idea that he was a Roman Catholic, inasmuch as he was born in Dublin, Ireland. His loyalty was first brought into question by Governor Sharpe, in December 1753, who wrote to Governor Hamilton, informing him that the French knew every move for defence made in the Colonies, and asked his opinion of Crogan. In answer, Governor Hamilton said: “I observe what you say of Mr. Crogan; and, though the several matters of which you have received information carry in them a good deal of suspicion, and it may be highly necessary to keep a watchful eye upon him, yet I hope they will not turn out to be any thing very material, or that will affect his faithfulness to the trust reposed in him, which, at this time, is of great importance and a very considerable one. At present I have no one to inquire of as to the truth of the particulars mentioned in yours but Mr. Peters who assures me that Mr. Crogan has never been deemed a Roman Catholic, nor does he believe that he is one, though he knows not his education, which was in Dublin, Ireland, nor his religious profession.” To keep the Indians loyal, he advanced many presents to them and the company of Indians he commanded was fitted out at his own expense; and it was the attempt to get what he advanced on that occasion that led to his quarrel with the commissioners and his resignation.
From Philadelphia, Pa., he went to Onondago, in September, 1756, and soon after was appointed deputy-agent, and again he took an active part in Indian affairs. After the French had evacuated Fort Duquesne, in 1758, Crogan resided for a time in Fort Pitt. From there he went down the river, was taken prisoner by the French, and taken to Detroit. Soon after his liberation he went to New York, where he died in 1782.
Thus ended the career of George Crogan, who was an old acquaintance of George Washington.
EXTRACTS FROM AMERICAN-IRISH HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHIES.
BY DR. MICHAEL F. SULLIVAN.
The history of a people, like the history of the literature of a people, depends upon the historian’s accumulation and verification of knowledge and the manner in which this knowledge is presented to the reader.
It would be an extraordinary thing, indeed, if all writers of history and biography were to speak and write the truth; it would still be a most remarkable condition if many people would overcome their prejudices and recognize the truth when they saw it.
It is lamentable to see how persons of the best intentions will let themselves be deceived when they have taken a false position and try to maintain it.