USA > Delaware > Narratives of early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey and Delaware, 1630-1707 > Part 26
USA > New Jersey > Narratives of early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey and Delaware, 1630-1707 > Part 26
USA > Pennsylvania > Narratives of early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey and Delaware, 1630-1707 > Part 26
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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GAB. THOMAS.
340
NARRATIVES OF EARLY PENNSYLVANIA
[1098
The History of West-New-Jersey.
WEST-NEW-JERSEY lies between the Latitude of Forty, and Forty two Degrees;1 having the Main Sea on the South, East- Jersey on the North, Hudson's' Bay on the East, and Pensil- vania on the West.
The first Inhabitants of this Country were the Indians, being supposed to be part of the Ten dispersed Tribes of Israel; for indeed they are very like the Jews in their Persons, and something in their Practices and Worship, for they (as the Pensilvanian Indians) observe the New Moons with great De- votion, and Reverence: And their first Fruits they offer, with their Corn and Hunting-Game they get in the whole Year, to a False Deity or Sham-God, whom they must please, else (as they fancy) many Misfortunes will befal them, and great In- juries will be done them. When they bury their Dead, they put into the Ground with them some House-Utensils, and some Money, (as Tokens of their Love and Affection) with other Things, expecting they shall have Occasion for them again in the other World. And if a Person of Note dies very far from the Place of his own Residence they will carry his Bones home some considerable time after, to be buried there. They are also very curious, nay, even nice in preserving and repairing the Graves of their Dead. They do not love to be asked twice their Judgment about one Thing. They are a People who gen- Jerally delight much in Mirth, and are very studious in observ- Ving the Vertues of Roots and Herbs, by which they cure them- selves of many Distempers in their Bodies, both internal or external. They will not suffer their Beards to grow; for they will pluck the Hair off with their own Fingers as soon as they can get hold of it, holding it great Deformity to have a Beard. They are very loving to one another; for if three or four of them come into a Christian's House, and the Master of it
1 West New Jersey extended from Cape May on the south in about 39º N. to what was called, by the deed of agreement of 1676, the northernmost branch of the Delaware River. The line of division between West and East New Jersey -although a subject of dispute-ran from the latter point on the Delaware southeasterly to Little Egg Harbor.
'On the east of East Jersey but not of West Jersey.
341
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happen to give one of them Victuals, and none to the rest, he will divide it into equal Shares among them: And they are also very kind and civil to any of the Christians; for I my self have had Victuals cut by them in their Cabbins, before they took any for themselves. Their chief Imployment is in Hunt- ing, Fishing, and Fowling, and making Canows, or Indian Boats, and Bowls, in all which Arts they are very dexterous and ingenious: Their Womens Business chiefly consists in planting of Indian Corn, and pounding it to Meal, in Mortars, with Pestils, (as we beat our Spice) and make Bread, and dress their Victuals, which they perform very neatly and cleanlily. They also make Indian Mats, Ropes, Hats, and Baskets (some of curious Workmanship) of their Hemp, which there grows wild, and Natural, in the Woods, in great Plenty. In short, the Women are very ingenious in their several Imployments as well as the Men. Their Young Maids are naturally very modest and shamefac'd: And their young Women when newly married, are very nice and shy, and will not suffer the Men to/ talk of any immodest or lascivious Matters. Their Houses are, for the most part, cover'd with Chesnutt Bark, but very close, and warm, insomuch that no Rain can go through. Their Age in Computation may be compared with the Christians. Their wearing Habit is commonly Deer-Skins, or Duffles. They don't allow of mentioning the Name of a Friend after his Death; for at his Decease, they make their Face black all over with black Lead; and when their Affairs go well with them, they paint their Faces with red Lead, it being a Token of their Joy, as the other is of their Grief. They are great Observers of the Weather by the Moon. They take great De- light in Cloaths of various Colours. And are so punctual that if any go from their first Offer or Bargain with them, it will be very difficult for that Party to get any Dealings with them any more, or to have any farther Converse with them; And moreover it is worthy of Remark, that when a Company of them are got together, they never interrupt or contradict one another, 'till two of them have made an end of their Dis- course; for if never so many be in Company only two must discourse at a time, and the rest must keep Silence. The English and they live very peaceably, by reason the English satisfies them for their Land.
1
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NARRATIVES OF EARLY PENNSYLVANIA
[1606
As to the manner of their Language, it is high and lofty, with a Short Sentence. Their way of counting is by Tens, as to say Two Tens, Three Tens, Four Tens, Five Tens, etc.
I shall now proceed to show something of the manner and way of Discourse that happens between them and the Neigh- bouring Christians that use to deal and traffick with them, or when they meet one another in the Woods accidentally, one a looking for his Cattel, and the other a Hunting the Wild Deer, or other Game, by way of Questions and Answers. I shall put the Indian Tongue on one side of the Leaf, and the English just opposite. Their Discourse is as followeth.
The Indian Tongue.
Quest. Hitah takoman?
Answ. Andogowa nee week- in.
Quest. Tony andogowa kee weekin?
Answ. Arwaymouse.
Quest. Keco kee hatah kee weekin?
Answ. Nee hatah huska wees youse og huska chetena chase og huska orit chekenip.
Quest. Chingo kee beto nee chase og youse etka chekenip.
Answ. Hadopa etka nisha kishquicka.
Quest. Keco kee hata kee weekin?
Answ. Nee hata orit poonk og huska horit haloons etka nesket og marchkec ochqueon. and blue Machcots.1
The English of it.
Quest. Friend, from whence com'st?
Answ. Yonder.
Quest. Where yonder? Answ. My House. Quest. Where is thy House?
Answ. Arwaymouse, which is the Name of an In- dian Town.
Quest. What hast got in thy House?
Answ. I have very fat Veni- son, and good strong Skins, with very good Turkeys.
Quest. When wilt thou bring me Skins and Venison, with Turkeys?
Answ. To morrow, or two days hence.
Quest. What hast thou got in thy House?
Answ. I have good Powder, and very good Shot, with red
1 Match-coats, made of match-cloth, a coarse kind of woollen cloth.
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GABRIEL THOMAS'S ACCOUNT
1698]
(O huskia orit.)
Quest. Kee namen neskec kabay og marchkec moos etka opeg megis?
Answ. Mata namen megis nee namen neskec kabay un- dogwa tekany.
Quest. Kee namen march- kec moos undogwa tekeny? Answ. Mogy.
Quest. Kee squa og eny- chan hatah?
Answ. Mogy.
Quest. Kacha hatah?
Answ. Neo.
Answ. Four.
Quest. Boys or Girls?
Quest. Benoingtid etka squatid? Answ. Nisha benointid og nisha squatid. Quest. Tongtid enychan ha- tah? Answ. Mogy.
Answ. Two Boys and two Girls.
Quest. Hast got a young Child? Answ. Yes.
Quest. How old?
Answ. Four months.
Quest. How old art thou?
Answ. Fifty years old.
In the next Place I shall give an account of their way in counting or numbering; which is as followeth.
The Indian Counting.
Kooty, nisha, nacha, neo, pelenach, Kootash, nishash, choesh, peskonk, telen. Nishinchkan, nachinchkan, neochinchkan, pelenchinch- kan.
The English of it.
One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten.
Twenty, Thirty, Forty, Fif- ty, etc.
Quest. Etka aroosise?
Answ. Neo kishow.
Quest. Etka aroosise kee?
Answ. Pelenacheenckan ka- tingan aroosis.
(Very well.)
Quest. Did'st thou see black Horses and red Cows, with white Sheep?
Answ. I saw no Sheep: I did see black Horses yonder in the Woods?
Quest. Did'st see red Cows yonder in the Woods? Answ. Yes. Quest. Hast thou a Wife and Children? Answ. Yes.
Quest. How many hast?
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NARRATIVES OF EARLY PENNSYLVANIA
- [1675
The Names of some of the Indians.
Anachkooting, Bussabenating, Okonycan, Potasko, Quin- damen, Lames, Alpoongan, Kohonk, Hiton, Temeny.
The Dutch and Sweeds inform us that they are greatly de- creased in number to what they were when they came first into this Country: And the Indians themselves say, that two of them die to every one Christian that comes in here. Reader, I shall not insist any farther upon this Subject, because what is deficient or short here, is inserted already in the preceding History of Pensilvania; for the Natives both of that, as well as of this Country, speak the same Language, and live after the same manner; for my chief aim, in the next place, is to ac- quaint thee how, and after what manner the Christians live there. And I hope I have pleased thee so far, as it may prove a means to encourage me to give a larger Description here- after.
The next who came there were the Dutch; which was be- tween Forty and Fifty Years agoe,' though they made but very little Improvement, only built Two or Three Houses, upon an Island (called since by the English) Stacies-Island; ? and it remained so, till about the Year 1675, in which King Charles the Second (or the Duke of York, his Brother) gave the Coun- trey to Edward Billing,' in whose time, one Major Fenwick ‘
' At least seventy-five years before.
' Matinneconk, Stacys, or Burlington Island of about 400 acres in the Dela- ware River, just opposite Burlington, New Jersey. It is mentioned in the records of the Swedes and Dutch on the Delaware. Peter Jegou, a Frenchman, seems to have acquired it about 1668. In 1678 Robert Stacy, one of the Yorkshire com- missioners, leased it from Governor Andros for seven years. In 1682 it was vested in the town of Burlington for the support of education.
' Edward Byllynge, who did not acquire West New Jersey directly from Charles II. or James, the Duke of York, about 1675, nor yet so simply as Thomas states, but by the more involved chain of title, with consequent disputes: (1) Charles II., the whole of New Jersey to the Duke, at the English conquest of New Netherland, in 1664; (2) the Duke, the same to his favorites Berkeley and Carteret, in 1664; (3) Berkeley, his moiety, West New Jersey, to John Fenwick, in 1674, in trust, as later alleged, for Byllynge. Cf. pp. 179, 180, ante.
" Major John Fenwick (1618-1684), the Quaker founder of Salem and Fen- wick's colony, the first permanent English settlement in West Jersey, in 1675, was the second son of William Fenwick (1581-1647), of Stanton Hall, lord of a
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5
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345
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went thither, with some others, and built a pretty Town, and call'd it Salam;1 and in a few Years' after a Ship' from London, and another* from Hull, sail'd thither with more People, who went higher up into the Countrey, and built there a Town, and called it Burlington, which is now the chiefest Town in that Countrey, though Salam is the ancientest; and a fine Market- Town it is, having several Fairs kept yearly in it; likewise well furnished with good store of most Necessaries for humane Support, as Bread, Beer, Beef, and Pork; as also Butter and Cheese, of which they freight several Vessels, and send them to Barbadoes, and other Islands.
There are very many fine stately Brick-Houses built, and a commodious Dock for Vessels to come in at, and they claim equal Privilege with Burlington for the sake of Antiquity; tho' that is the principal Place, by reason that the late Governor
manor in Northumberland. He studied law at Gray's Inn, London, 1639-1640, and perhaps longer; was described in 1649 as a member for several years of John Goodwin's Independent congregation in London, established in 1645; as early as 1648 he had married Elizabeth (d. about 1655), daughter of Sir Walter Covert, knight of Slaugham, Sussex, and was located as a farmer dealing extensively in sheep on an estate at Brockham, in Surrey. About this time he was commissioned as major in the army of Parliament, but it is not clear that he saw much military service. In 1652 he entered upon an additional estate at Worminghurst, in the adjacent county of Sussex-to which he changed his residence-possibly as the tenant of Gulielma Maria Springett, then aged eight, who had inherited from her father, Sir William Springett, Worminghurst Place, the most important house with large park and considerable lands in that parish, later (1677) the home of her and her husband, William Penn. In 1662 Fenwick had taken a second wife, Mary Burdett, and had become a Quaker. In 1674 (March 18, 1673/4) he made the purchase of West New Jersey from Sir John Berkeley for £1,000. In the subsequent settlement of the dispute with Edward Byllynge over the sale, effected through the mediation of William Penn, Fenwick in 1675 (February 10, 1674/5) relinquished to Byllynge's assignees nine-tenths of his purchase. The other tenth he retained and during the succeeding five months was busily en- gaged in exploiting its sale and in arranging to emigrate. Having disposed of over 150,000 acres, in tracts of from 500 to 20,000 acres, to about fifty purchasers, chiefly in London, he set sail from London late in July, 1675, in the ship Griffin. with a colony of about 150 persons, including his three daughters and ten ser- vants. He arrived at the site of Salem in September of the same year, laid out the town and for the remainder of his life was concerned with the development of his colony.
1 Salem.
* The Kent, Gregory Marlow, master.
3 In 1677. "The Martha.
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[1698
NARRATIVES OF EARLY PENNSYLVANIA
Cox,1 who bought that Countrey of Edward Billing, encouraged and promoted that Town chiefly, in settling his Agents and Deputy-Governors there, (the same Favours are continued by the New-West-Jersey' Society, who now manage Matters there) which brings their Assemblies and chief Courts to be kept there; and, by that means it is become a very famous Town, having a great many stately Brick-Houses in it, (as I said before) with a delicate great Market-House, where they keep their Market: It hath a noble and spacious Hall over-head, where their Sessions is kept, having the Prison adjoining to it.
Likewise in the said Town there are very many fine Wharfs and large Timber-Yards, Malt-Houses, Brew-Houses, Bake- Houses; and most sorts of Trades-Men (whose Wages are upon the same Foot with the Pensilvanians), viz. Cloath-Workers, who make very good Serges, Druggets, Crapes, Camblets (part Silk or Worsted, and part Camels Hair), and good Plushes, with several other Woollen Cloathes, besides Linnen.
There are many Fair and Great Brick Houses on the out- side of the Town which the Gentry have built there for their Countrey Houses, besides the Great and Stately Palace of John Tateham Esq; ' which is pleasantly Situated on the North side of the Town, having a very fine and delightful Garden and Orchard adjoyning to it, wherein is variety of Fruits, Herbs,
1 Daniel Coxe (1641-1730), M.D., Cambridge, 1669, of London, physi- cian to the queen of Charles II., and to Queen Anne, member of the Royal Society, before which he read papers, was a large landed proprietor in the colonies and, although he never came over, was one of the foremost promoters of undertakings there. In 1687, after the death of Byllynge (d. 1685) he acquired the latter's interest in West New Jersey and became the governor. He moved the seat of government to Burlington, started whale and cod fisheries, and initiated other helpful enterprises in the province. In 1692 he sold his West New Jersey prop- erty to the West New Jersey Society.
. "The West New Jersey Society, to whose officers and members Thomas in- scribes this History of West-New-Jersey, consisted of about forty-eight members, largely non-Quaker London merchants with head-quarters in London. The Society purchased West Jersey from Dr. Coxe in 1692, and governed it until 1702, when the whole of New Jersey became a royal province.
" John Tatham (d. 1700), gentleman, of Burlington, a rich man for that time and place, evidently a Roman Catholic, having at his death seven slaves, a silver crucifix, a silver plate of Saint Dominic, and other silver, a wooden cross with the image of Christ, and a collection of books, many of them being of a Catholic character. He was the New Jersey agent for Governor Daniel Coxe.
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GABRIEL THOMAS'S ACCOUNT
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and Flowers; as Roses, Tulips, July-Flowers, Sun-Flowers (that open and shut as the Sun Rises and Sets, thence taking their Name), Carnations, and many more; besides abundance of Medicinal Roots Herbs, Plants, and Flowers, found wild in the Fields.
There are kept also in this Famous Town several Fairs every Year; and as for Provisions, viz. Bread, Beer, Beef, Pork, Cheese, Butter, and most sorts of Fruit, here is great Plenty and very Cheap; all those Commodities are to be bought every Market-Day.
A Ship of Four Hundred Tuns may Sail up to this Town in the River Delaware; for I my self have been on Board a Ship of that Burthen there: And several fine Ships and Vessels (be- sides Governour Cox's own great Ship) have been built there.
There are also two handsom Bridges to come in and out of the Town, called London and York-Bridges. The Town stands in an Island, the Tide flowing quite round about it. There are Water-Men who constantly Ply their Wherry Boats from that Town to the City of Philadelphia in Pensilvania, and to other places. Besides there is Glocester-Town, which is a very Fine and Pleasant Place, being well stor'd with Summer Fruits, as Cherries, Mulberries, and Strawberries, whither Young People come from Philadelphia in the Wherries to eat Straberries and Cream, within sight of which City it is sweetly Situated, being but about three Miles distance from thence.
There are several Meetings of Worship in this Country, viz. the Presbyterians, Quakers, and Anabaptists: Their Privilege as to Matter of Law, is the same both for Plaintiff and Defend- ant, as in England.
The Air is very Clear, Sweet and Wholesom; in the depth of Winter it is something colder, and as much hotter in the? heighth of Summer than in England. Commonly (with them) the Days differ two Hours in length from ours here. The longest Day in Summer is shorter by two Hours than the long- est Day in England, and the shortest Day longer by two Hours than with us here.
As for Corn, they have Wheat, Rye, Pease, Oates, Barley, Rice, etc., in vast quantities: Also Indian-Corn, Pease and Beans, likewise English Hemp and Flax, which prospers there exceedingly. Eating Roots, Pumpkins, Cashews, Water-Mel-
.
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NARRATIVES OF EARLY PENNSYLVANIA
[1698
ons, Muskmellons, Cucumbers, Squashes, Carrots, Artichokes, Potatoes, Turnips, Garlick, Onions, and Leeks grow there in greater Plenty than in England. And for Herbs, they have Cabbages, Coleworts,1 Savoys,1 Lettice, Purslane, and other Sallads in abundance; beside Wild Herbs which are there very common, as Penny-Royal, Mint, Mustard, Sage, Rue, Tansey, etc., and likewise there are choice Phisical Roots, as Sassafras, Sarsaparilla, Black-Snake-Root, Rattle-Snake Root, and Poake Root, with divers others, which there is great store of.
Of Fish, they have Whales, Sturgeon, Cod, Scale-Fish, Cole and Hake-Fish, large Mackeril, Flat-fish, Rock, Shadds, Cattes, Eels, Perch, and many other sorts in prodigious Shoals: And Wild-Water-Fowl, as Geese, Ducks, Swans, Divers, etc., are very numerous, even beyond all expectation. As to Land- Fowl, Turkeys, Geese, Pheasants, Partridges, Pigeons, Wood- cocks, Blackbirds, etc., they are there in extraordinary great abundance, and very large. There is also that uncommon and valuable Bird (being near the bigness of a Cuckoo) called the Mocking-bird (known, but not very well in England, being so very Nice and Tender, that they usually die by the way) with several other Charming and Curious Birds, too tedious here to specifie.
As to the Wild Vermin, There are Otters, Beavers, Foxes, Mush-Rats Minx's, Wild-Cats, Rackoons, Pollcats, and also that cunning Creature the Possom, particularly mention'd and distinguish'd in the annex'd Account of Pensilvania for its remarkable Qualities, whither I refer the Reader, not in the least being fond of Tautology. This Creature is about the bigness of an English Cat, being of a light gray colour. Like- wise there were some Wolves and Bears, but now they are very rare to be seen, by reason the Indians destroy them (as before). Also that strange Creature the Flying Squirril, men- tion'd in the foregoing Book. There are great numbers of Wild Deer, and Red Deer also; and these wild Creatures are free and common for any to kill and take. And for Wild Fruits, there are Chesnuts, Filberts, Hickery-Nuts, Grapes, Mulberries, Strawberries, Rasberries, Huckleberries, and Craneberries, with several sorts of Plumbs, and all those Fruits in great plenty be- ing free for any Body to gather.
1 Of the cabbage family.
349
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Now I am a coming to the Planted Fruit-Trees, as Apples, Pears, Apricocks, Quinces, Plumbs, Cherries, Gooseberries, Cur- rants, and Peaches, from which last they distil a liquor as in Pensilvania, much like Rumm or Brandy, in the taste; and all those Trees will come to bear in a little more than half the time, they do in England, the Soil is so rich; they have great plenty of the aforementioned Fruits, which are exceeding de- licious. These, as also many other Fruits that come not to any pitch of Perfection in England, are the Natural Product of this Country, which lies warmer, being more befriended by the Sun's hot and glorious Beams, which without doubt is the chief Cause and true Reason, why the Fruit there so far excells the English. They have likewise great Stocks of Horses and Hogs, raised in the Woods; of the latter of which I have seen some of a Prodigious Weight that only fed there, their Horses are very hardy, strong, and of good Spirit for Labour or Travelling; they commonly go unshod (which in many Years saves much Money). Their Plow-shears require but small Reparation, wearing out but little. They Harrow their Ground with a Wooden-tyned-Harrow, and twice over does the business.
Of Bees also they are well provided, and abound in Sheep naturally very sound, and that stand'well, the Rot, Scab, Mag- gots, etc., rarely invading them; they usually bring forth two Lambs at once, and their Wooll is very fine, white, and thick; they have great Stocks of Cattle, as Cows, Oxen, etc. Their Oxen commonly weigh well.
Tame Fowl there are (almost) incredible in numbers, viz., Geese, Turkeys, Hens, etc.
In this Country also is great Plenty of working Timber, as Oaks, Ash, Chesnuts, Pine, Cedar, Walnut, Poplar, Firr, and Masts for Ships, with Pitch and Rosin, of great Use and much Benefit to the Countrey. Here are several good Navigable Rivers, besides that famous River Delaware (which I have mentioned elsewhere, and where the Tobacco is excellent) being deep enough for Vessels to come in: First, Prince Mor- ise's River,1 where the Sweeds used to kill the Geese in great numbers, for their Feathers (only) leaving their Carcasses be- hind them; Cohansey River, by which they send great store
1 Maurice or Prince Maurice River, in the southern part of New Jersey, flowing into Delaware Bay.
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NARRATIVES OF EARLY PENNSYLVANIA [1698
of Cedar to Philadelphia-City; Allaway-River; Salam1-River, which runs by Salam-Town (of greatest Antiquity;) Naman- River, Rackcoon-River,2 which had its Name from the great numbers of those Creatures that always abound thereabouts; Old Man's River; Manto-River;' Woodberry-River; Great Eggharbor River (up which a Ship of two or three hundred Tuns may sail) which runs by the back part of the Country into the Main Sea; I call it back, because the first Improvement made by the Christians, was Delawar River-side: This Place is noted for good store of Corn, Horses, Cows, Sheep, Hogs, etc., the Lands thereabouts being much improv'd, and built upon: Little Egg-Harbor-Creek, which take their Names from the great abundance of Eggs, which the Swans, Geese, Ducks, and other wild Fowls off those Rivers lay thereabouts: Tim- ber-River, alias Glocester-River, which hath its Name (also) from the great quantity of curious Timber, which they send in great Floats to Philadelphia, a City in Pensilvania, as Oaks, Pines, Chesnut, Ash, and Cedars. This River runs down by Glocester-Town, which is the Shire-Town; And Newton-River,5 that runs by Newton; Cooper-River;' Pensokin-River; ? Northampton-River,8 with several others, at a convenient dis- tance upon the Sea, the Shores whereof are generally deep and bold) of less Note, as Wissahiskonk-River,' that runs down into the great River Delaware, by Burlington. The Countrey inhabited by the Christians is divided into four Parts or Coun- ties, tho' the Tenth part of it is not yet peopled; 'Tis far cheaper living there for Eatables than here in England; and either Mch or Women that have a Trade, or are Labourers, can, if industrious, get near three times the Wages they commonly earn in England.
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Courteous Reader, As yet I have given thee no Account of East-Jersey, because I never was there, so in reality cannot properly or pertinently speak to that Matter. I will not pre- tend to impose any thing on the World, but have all along, and shall still declare nothing but Verity; therefore one Word of that by and by. I might have given thee a much larger Ac-
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