Witham Marshe was the representative of the colony of Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...

 at the negotiation of the Treaty of Lancaster

Treaty of Lancaster

The Treaty of Lancaster was a treaty concluded between the Six Nations and the colonies of Virginia and Maryland. Deliberations began at Lancaster, Pennsylvania on June 28, and ended on July 4, 1744....

 in 1744. He noted that the Iroquois

Iroquois

The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...

 were heavy drinkers, however they were careful to remain sober while negotiating important treaties.

He became the crown's secretary of Indian affairs, serving under Sir William Johnson, after the death of Peter Wraxall

Peter Wraxall

Peter Wraxall was a British official in the province of New York.Born in Bristol, England, Wraxall was the son of John Wraxall, a merchant. Peter became a seaman after his family suffered financial hardship. He traveled to the Netherlands and Jamaica before finally settling in New York...

in 1759.