THE COVENANT CHAIN

The sailing ship that was the symbol of the British in the Two Row Wampum is also an essential element of the Silver Covenant Chain. It is that ship which was being tied to the Confederacy, first by a rope held in people’s hands, then to a tree, then to a rock and finally by a chain linked to the heartland of the Confederacy at Onondaga.

It is sometimes said that the three rows of Wampum which separate the sailing ships and the canoe on the Two Row Wampum are the three links of the Covenant Chain: Peace, Respect and Trust. These three keep the vessels close as well as at a respectful distance.

The history of the Covenant Chair, from the beginning, was explained at the Treaty of Lancaster in 1744 by Canesatego on behalf of the Confederacy:

Brother, you come out of the Ground in a Country that lies beyond the Seas, there you may have a just Claim, but here you must allow us to be your elder Brethren, and the Lands to belong to us long before you knew any thing of them.

It is true, that above one hundred years ago the Dutch came here in a ship, and brought with them several Goods, such as Awls, Knives, Hatchets, Guns and many other Particulars, which they gave us; and when they had taught us how to use their things, and we saw what sort of People they were, we were so well pleased with them, that we tied their ship to the bushes on the shore; and afterwards, liking them still better the longer they stayed with us, and thinking the bushes too slender, we removed the rope and tied it to the trees; and as the Trees were liable to be blown down by high winds, or decay of themselves, we, from the affection we bore them, again removed the rope, and tied it to a strong and big rock, (here the Interpreter said, they mean the Oneida country) and not content with this, for its further security we removed the rope to a big mountain (here the Interpreter says they mean the Onondago Country) and there tied it very fast, and rolled Wampum around it; and to make it still more secure, we stood upon the Wampum and sat down upon it, to defend it, and to prevent any hurt coming to it, and did our best endeavors that it might remain uninjured for ever. During all this time, the new-comers, the Dutch, acknowledged our Rights to the Lands, and solicited us, from Time to Time, to grant them pans of our Country, and to enter into a League and Covenant with us, and to become one People with us.

After this the English came into the Country, and, as we were told, became one people with the Dutch. About two years after the arrival of the English, and English Governor came to Albany, and finding what great friendship subsisted between us and the Dutch, he approved it mightily, and desired to make as strong a League, and to be upon as good terms with us as the Dutch were, with whom he was united, and to become one People with us. And by his further care in looking into what had passed between us, he found that the rope which tied the ship to the great mountain was fastened with Wampum, which was liable to break and rot, and to perish in a Course of Years; he therefore told us, he would give a Silver Chain, which would be much stronger, and would last us for ever. This we accepted, and fastened the Ship with it, and it has lasted ever since.

(Treaty minutes, Pennsylvania Council Minutes, June 16, 1744, 4:706-709)