USA > Pennsylvania > Bradford County > Athens > A history of old Tioga Point and early Athens, Pennsylvania > Part 6
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9 Name used by Dutch for Delaware.
10 Minquas or Andastes.
11 See N. Y. Col. Doc., Vol. I, p. 13. 12 See Vol. I, p. 61.
32
OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS
the States General, states that he "ransomed from the Minquas," one item on Hendricksen's petition telling "that he traded for and bought from the inhabitants three persons belonging to this company, which were employed in the service of the Mohawks and Mahicans, giving for them kettles, beads and merchandize."13
Another account14 of these men says that they "accompanied a hostile party of Iroquois from Fort Orange, who were on a warlike expedition, presumably against the Carantouannais (Spanish Hill) ; who, on taking the Dutchmen prisoners, treated them kindly, suppos- ing them to be French, allies and friends of their Huron allies; and this, although one of the Carantouannai was killed in the encounter."
Modern historians, as well as Champlain, believe these were the first white men seen by the Indians of this region ; the first to discover and descend the northeast branch of the Susquehanna ; and, let us add, the first known to visit Te-a-o-ga. After being prisoners of the Car- antouannais about a year,15 they descended the Susquehanna to Nes- copeck, and, taking the trail over the mountains, met Capt. Hendrick- sen on the Delaware. These men then, whatever their names, were the discoverers of the upper Susquehanna. They saw the river from its head waters; they told of "a tribe of Indians called Canoomakers, who lived on the shores of a Versch Water (lake), from which a river appears to flow southerly, emptying into Delaware Bay." This lake was, by map-makers, confounded with larger ones reported, and, as may be seen on the map, made a strange confusion, uncorrected for a hundred years.
The Susquehanna !16 "The Beautiful River of Pennsylvania !" Who would not be proud to lay claim to her discovery? Her praises have been sung in prose and poem, and even the local poets have risen to their best heights in contemplating her beauties. At the close of this chapter will be found some selections from "Corallana," an unpub- lished poem by "Minor," a young man of Tioga Point one hundred
13 When Block returned to Holland the last time he left his yacht Onrust to Cornelius Hendricksen, who seems to have been the first European navigator known to have set his foot on the soil of Delaware and Pennsylvania. Apparently he explored the Delaware as far north as the Schuylkill, and it is thought he ransomed these prisoners very near the location of Philadelphia. See Brodhead's Hist. N. Y., p. 79. After his explorations Hendricksen returned to Holland and was at once taken to The Hague to report.
14 See Colonial Hist. N. Y., Vol. I, pp. 13 and 14, evidently free translations from Champlain.
15 Gen. Clark thinks, from Hendricksen's map, that they were taken to the village of the Minquas, at North Towanda, known as Oscului. This was a smaller town than Caran- touan, about three acres, on the high bluff at the mouth of Sugar Creek.
16 While Susquehanna is an Indian word its true meaning is unknown. A little inves- tigation proves that the river had many names, each with an appropriate meaning. Colden, a very early writer, gives Co-hon-go-run-to, which may mean "a river in the woods" or "one which serves as a door." Heckewelder gives Gahonta, the river on which are extensive flats. Lewis Morgan gives Ga-wa-no-wa-na-neh, an Iroquois word, meaning great island river. Beauchamp says Susquehanna is an Algonquin name, first syllables uncertain meaning, hanna means river. Heckewelder says that the Lenape called the North Branch M'chewamisipu (same meaning as Gahonta), and the West Branch Quenischachgekhaum, the river which has the long reaches. Heckewelder also gives the meaning as muddy river. Beauchamp gives a Canadian-Delaware name with the same meaning, A-theth-qua-nee. Cusick gives Ka-hun- seh-wa-tan'-yea, the name also given to the Potomac by the Indians. A. Cusick has Kah-na- seh-wa-de-u-yea, sandy, or Kah-na-se-ne, nice sand. Evidently different names were given to different portions of the stream, few of them as sweet as the present name. Professor Guss, in an elaborate analysis, gives the meaning as "brook stream," or spring-fed stream.
33
ÉTIENNE BRULÉ, EXPLORER
years ago, who was said to have written some of the best fugitive poems of his day.
Yet the right of discovery must be a divided honor. It has generally been carelessly given to Capt. John Smith, on his own authority, as per his publication and map of 1612. Unquestionably, his river was the Susquehanna, but his own map indicates that he could not have gone much, if any, farther north than the Virginia State line, and many historical students think he was not as far, having made his maps from information given him by Indians.
There yet remains a long distance to the place where the Dutch- men turned off ; which, however, was explored only two or three years later by a man who should be recognized as a great explorer and dis- coverer, and one might say the discoverer of the Susquehanna, Étienne Brulé, sometimes called Stephen Brulé, which is a pity ; it is certainly foolish to anglicize his given and not his proper name. Butterfield attempts to prove that the three Dutch prisoners did not see the Sus- quehanna, and, therefore, that Brulé was the first explorer, but we pre- fer to rely on General Clark's decision.
His biographer (C. W. Butterfield) says of Étienne Brulé and his explorations :
"Few, if any, of the early events properly belonging to American history are of more importance after the discovery of the New World than the explora- tions and discoveries of Étienne Brulé. He wrote nothing, and his verbal re- citals, taken from his own lips by Champlain, Sagard17 and Le Caron, are not calculated to awaken at once the thought that they border on the marvelous."
Butterfield claims that previous to his narrative Brulé had but once been credited with being the first to reach any of the countries, lakes or rivers of which he was the real discoverer or explorer.18
Éstienne Bruslé (as Champlain writes it) was born in France about 1592, and came to New France in 1608 with Champlain, who spoke of him in his early narratives as "the young lad." Brulé soon made friends with the Indians, and, by Champlain's request of an Al- gonquin chief, he was allowed to live among them, learn their lan- guage, ways, etc. Champlain was glad of this opportunity, wishing to use him as an interpreter. The boy was a close observer, and was charged to become familiar both with the people and the country. He proved an apt pupil, was kindly treated, and rejoined Champlain on the latter's return from France in 1610.
The experiment of life among the Indians proved so successful that when Champlain returned to France the second time, Brulé, as well as some other young Frenchmen, was sent again among the sav- ages ; and on Champlain's second return Brulé became his trusted inter- preter on a regular salary.
17 Sagard wrote "Histoire du Canada."
18 The author takes this opportunity to give credit again to the investigations and writings of Gen. John S. Clark of Auburn, who made known to us all concerning Brulé in connection with his discoveries some years before the publication of Butterfield's Mss. We have followed up every suggested clue of Gen. Clark's, reading Champlain in the original French, etc. Brulé surely was a wonderful explorer, but we have dealt with him only con- cerning the Susquehanna, and commend our readers to Butterfield's book, "Brulé's Discover- ies and Explorations," for further information.
34
OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS
Champlain soon became the friend of the Hurons, who were en- gaged in war against that invincible foe, the Iroquois. The Hurons were greatly pleased to have as allies the Frenchmen, with their super- ior arms. As to Champlain's active assistance we will give our own absolutely literal translation from the edition of 1870.19
"The seventeenth of August I arrived at Cahiagué20 where I was received with great gladness by all the savages of the country. They had received news that a certain nation of their allies (the Carantouannai), who lived three good days beyond the Entouhonorons (Onondagas), wished to assist them in this expedition with 500 men; and make an alliance and pledge friendship with us, having a great desire to see us, and that we should make war altogether." 21
Champlain goes on to say :
"I was glad to have found this opportunity to learn news from this country, which is only seven days from where the Flemish go to trade at the fortieth degree; whose savages (Mohawks), assisted by the Flemish, make war upon them, and take them prisoners and treat them cruelly. But they told us that last year (1614), during war, they (the Carantouannai) took three of aforesaid Flemish, who assisted them (Mohawks).22 Nevertheless they did not fail to send them back-without having done them any ill-believing they were of our party (i. e., French), having never seen a Christian.22 This nation (of proposed allies) is very warlike-there are only three villages which are in the midst of more than twenty others, on which they make war. Not being able to have the help of their friends (the Hurons) unless they pass through the coun- try of the Entouhonorons (supposed general name for Iroquois, meaning men alone), which is thickly peopled; or take a very roundabout route."23
After Champlain's arrival the Hurons resolved to dispatch mes- sengers to secure the promised allies. Champlain thus tells the story (our own translation continued) :
"This deliberation having been taken, they dispatched two canoes with twelve of the strongest savages, and one of our interpreters,24 who begged me to allow him to make the journey, and by that means see their country and make the acquaintance of the people who inhabited it. They left the 8th Septem- ber (1615)-We continue on our road against the enemies-the country is full of forests"-
19 Champlain's "Voyages de la Nouvelle France " was published in Paris, originally in two volumes, the second (from which narrative of Brulé and map are taken) was dedicated "To the most illustrious Cardinal, Duke of Richelieu, Chief Grand Master and General Sur- Intendant." The extracts and maps are from the second edition, published in 1870, under the patronage of the Laval University at Quebec.
20 The chief Huron village near Lake Simcoe.
21 Butterfield, on page 56 of "Brulé's Discoveries," adds a note, saying Champlain's memory is at fault concerning promise of allies, but the above translation seems to prove to the contrary, Champlain not even suggesting that said promise was made to Brulé's party.
22 It is supposed these were the Dutchmen already mentioned.
The Italics are our own. This is a most interesting fact of historical importance; it will be remembered it was seven years only after the settlement of Jamestown, and five after the coming of white men to the Hudson, 1614.
23 Here the editor of Champlain introduces a note of great interest, saying that the name of these allies, "Carantouannai," was probably only a special name, a tribal, or a vil- lage name of the Andastes nation; and he quotes as follows from the Jesuit Peré Rague- neau's "Relation des Hurons, 1647-8," Chap. VIII, "Andastoé est un pays au delà de la Nation Neutre éloigné des Hurons en ligne droite pris de cent cinquante lieues au Sud-est, quart de Sud des Hurons. Ce sont peuple de langue Huronne, et de tout temps alliéz de nos Hurons. Ils sont tres belliqueux, et compte en un seule bourg treize cent hommes portants armes." Literal translation: "Andastoé is a country below the Neuter Nation, distant from the Hurons in a straight line nearly 150 leagues to the southeast by south of the Hurons. They are a people of the Huron tongue, and from all time allied to our Hurons. They are very warlike, and count in one single town thirteen hundred men bearing arms." Champlain's editor adds that, from an attentive examination of old maps and from Ragueneau's writings, he concludes the Carantouannai or Andastes were established near the Susquehanna, to- wards the southeast of Pennsylvania. ("Southeast" seems an error.)
24 Brulé.
35
1206034
EXPEDITION TO CARANTOUAN
And thus it happened that Brulé was the first civilized man known to have traversed that part of New York State, and, as will be shown, the first, except the three Dutchmen, to visit Tioga Point.
It is unnecessary to follow Champlain and the Hurons, whose destination seems to have been the fort at Nichol's Pond, town of Fenner ; our interest lies with Brulé and his escort, whose destination, as we have seen, was Carantouan. There is every reason to believe that General Clark's decision as to the location of this town is the cor- rect one ; i. e., in Athens Township, on what is now known as "Spanish Hill." Various minor histories give Spanish Hill as located at Waverly, Tioga County, New York, but, while it is close to Waverly, it is really in Pennsylvania. It will be more fully dealt with in the next chapter.
The story of Brulé and his Huron escorts having been recorded, particularly in the writings of Champlain, again we will make use of a literal translation, leaving to the reader to decide some vexed questions, much discussed by present day historians.
It was in 1618, three years later, that Champlain and Brulé were reunited at Three Rivers. Some Indians arrived there, of whom Champlain says :
"They had with them Estienne Bruslé, one of our interpreters who had lived among them eight years.25-he was the one whom I had sent and given a charge to go toward the Entouhonorons to Carantouan, and to bring back with him the 500 warriors whom they had promised to send to assist us in the war in which we were engaged against their enemies .- I asked him why he had not brought the succor of the 500 men, and the reason of the delay, and why he had not advised me; and he then told me about the matter, (of which it does not seem out of place here to make a recital,) being more to be pitied than to be blamed for the misfortunes that he had received in executing the commission. He began by telling me that since he had taken leave of me to go on this jour- ney and execute his commission, he started with the 12 savages whom I had chosen here to guide him, and to act as escort because of the dangers that he had to pass. That they proceeded to aforesaid place Carantouan, but not without running a risk, as they had to pass by the country and lands of their enemies ; and to avoid evil designs, they made their way through woods, forests and brush, heavy and difficult, marshy bogs, and deserts very frightful and unfrequented, all to avoid danger and an encounter with their enemies.26 And in spite of this great care Brulé and his savage companions while crossing a plain, could not avoid encountering some hostile savages returning to their village; who were surprised and defeated by said party, some being killed on the field, and two taken prisonners, whom Brulé and his companions took with them to Caran- touan, where they were received by the inhabitants with great affection and all gladness and good cheer, accompanied by dances and feasts, as they were accus- tomed to feast and honor strangers. Several days passed in this good reception ; and after the said Brulé had told his mission, and made known the reason of his journey, the savages assembled in council to deliberate on sending the 500 warriors-The resolution having been made to send them, they were charged to assemble, prepare and arm, to leave, and come to join us where our enemies were only 3 short days journey from Carantouan, which said village was provided with more than 800 warriors; well fortified after the fashion of those before described, which have high and strong palisades, well joined together, and their
25 This very evidently alludes to the time since 1608 spent by Brulé among the Indians, though several writers have made it appear that it was eight years after 1615 before Cham- plain again saw Brulé.
26 Butterfield carefully traces their route as skirting Lake Ontario to mouth of Niagara River, thence through the counties of northwestern New York, and finally through the well known ones of Steuben, Chemung and Tioga.
36
OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS
lodges in the same manner,-These men were very long in getting ready al- though they were urged by Brulé to advance, he representing that if they de- layed too long, they would not find us at place agreed, as it happened that they did not arrive until two days after our departure from the place which we were forced to abandon -. Which led Brulé with the 500 men he had accompanied, to retreat and return toward their village of Carantouan, where having returned Brulé was constrained to stay and spend the rest of the Autumn, and all of the Winter, awaiting an escort with whom to return (to Champlain) and while wait- ing such an opportunity, he employed himself in exploring the country, visiting neighboring nations and lands, and in passing the length of a river which dis- charges on the coast of Florida (?)27 where there are strong nations28 who are powerful and warlike, who make war on one another. The climate is very tem- perate and there are a great number of animals and game to be hunted. But to traverse these countries, one must have great patience for difficulties which are to be met in its wildernesses. And, continuing his way along said river as far as the sea, past islands and lands near it, which are inhabited by several nations, and a great number of savages who nevertheless were very natural (kind) loving much the French nation before all others. But those who knew the Dutch complained of them, that they (Dutch) treated them very roughly, Among other things that they remarked is that the winter there is very mild and that it snows very seldom, and when it does, is not more than a foot deep, and melted at once on the ground, And after he had traversed the country, and discovered what was noticeable, he returned to Carantouan to seek an escort to return to us. After some stay at Carantouan five or six savages resolved to make the trip with Brulé, and on their road they met a great number of their enemies, who charged upon them briskly, and caused them to fly, and to be- come separated from each other."
After this Brulé had many serious experiences among the Iroquois, by whom he was imprisoned, and came near suffering death, but was finally reunited with Champlain at Three Rivers in 1618. Naturally, Champlain was greatly pleased with Brulé's important discoveries, and although he made some errors in his map of a succeeding date, it shows the results of Brulé's explorations.29 We here give a copy of a portion of this map as it originally appeared in early editions of Champlain. There are many imperfect copies of it in various books. It will be well to note the town of Carantouan often omitted, but here given. The numbers are a part of those given by Champlain, or his editor, with a corresponding explanatory index, as follows :
58 Pluisieurs rivières des Virginies qui se deschargent dans le Golfe.
Translation-Several rivers of Virginia which empty in the gulf. 60 Poincte Comforte, 62 Chesapeacq Bay, 89 Village renferma de 4 Pallisades ou le sieur di Champlain, fut à la guerre contre les Antou- honorons.
27 Champlain here is no doubt confused. As to Champlain's statement that Brulé found the mouth of the Susquehanna in or near Florida, many historical students have con- sidered the matter and decided that he must have traversed not only the river but Chesa- peake Bay, even to the ocean; or at least seen the bay with its tides, and either decided for himself or learned from the Indians that it opened into the ocean.
28 Andastes.
29 And thus, as Benjamin Sulte, the Canadian writer, expresses it, "Georgian Bay and the Chesapeake were connected by Brulé in the spring of 1616, but there were no news- papers in those days, consequently there was no fame-no eclat-around the poor explorer. He played the part of Stanley in Africa, but he added neither a title to his humble rank of interpreter, nor a penny to his purse. At the age of twenty-two he had achieved a great Canadian work." (It is rather amusing to call it a "Canadian work." Why not as well New York or Pennsylvania?) This man's exploits should interest all the residents of our valley, and it is to be hoped that the young people will read more of the true, but exciting, story of his experiences, as found in a book in Athens Library, "Brulé's Discoveries and Ex- plorations."
37
CHAMPLAIN'S MAP
Translation-Village enclosed by four Palisades where the Count de Champlain was at war against the Antouhonorons.
The dotted line is supposed to represent the route of Brulé and party. This map is found in the edition of 1632, which is dedicated : "To the most illustrious Cardinal Duc de Richelieu Chief Grand Master and General Superintendent of the Commerce and Navigation of France." Our translations and extracts are from the Quebec edition of 1870.
General Clark gives some explanations of these early maps as follows :
"The Adrian Block map of 1614 contains the first information relating to north east branch of the Susquehanna, Capt. Hendricksen in 1616 incorporated
Hurons
Lacs Louis
93
Lanation neutre
Awo cols
Antonoronons
Carantouar nais
Virginia
58
58
C Charles
C. Henry
SECTION OF CHAMPLAIN'S MAP, 1632
part of Block map into his chart and extended the river to flow into Delaware bay, claiming the discovery of three new rivers, etc. De Laet in 1633 in his map indicated the same river but made it take the place of the Delaware. Champlain in 1632 placed Carantouan in the precise position of the Capitanesses of the Block, Hendricksen, and De Laet maps, and also makes the river a tributary of Delaware Bay. Not until about 1659 was the discovery made that this river was in fact the upper Susquehanna, and that the Indian tribes indicated on these maps, were residents in its vicinity. Then a large part of map was moved to west by Visscher, another map maker30 and connected with the lower Susque-
30 See Winsor's "Narrative and Critical History."
38
OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS
hanna, After studying the maps and Indian tribes as indicated, you will have no difficulty in the identification of Tioga Point at the confluence of the two branches as indicated by Hendricksen, and the Capitanesses in the precise po- sition of Spanish Hill."
Otsego Lake, the source of the Susquehanna, owing to Kleynties' account, was, for a hundred years, depicted as a large lake lying east and west.
Smith's map of Virginia, published 1612, might be mentioned as giving the mnouth of the Susquehanna River.
The next map of interest to readers of this history is one "of the Middle States and Great Lakes," in the possession of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (Morris of Fairhill papers). Unfortunately, it has no name or date, but must have been made by a Frenchman, as all names are in French. While largely like that of Champlain it has one interesting record not found on his, as follows, "Portage de Andastes," and this is from the upper Chemung to head waters of the Ohio. On this the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers are assigned their real position, Tioga Point not named. Thus the results of ex- ploration are the discovery of the Susquehanna and the evolution of correct maps. And hereafter it may be said that the three Dutchmen and Étienne Brulé were the first white visitors to Tioga Point, of whom there is a known record.31
The maps of Pennsylvania should next engage attention, the ear- liest of which is said to have been made in London in 1690. This is very rare and was included in the Pennypacker collection, lately put on sale, and has not been examined by the writer.
There is a long period between this and the next known map, which was made by Lewis Evans, and called the "Map of Middle Brit-
AOvonquage
Owes
Tutgroes
Cayuga
Oseningo
Owegy
Tokiakon
Nanticokes)
Candoniza
Tolocka Matchasaung
Cushetunk Mts.
Delaware's
10
A Nescopeck
Shamokin .
39
EARLY MAPS INCLUDING TIOGA POINT
ish Colonies."32 This was the result of Evans' journey with Conrad Weiser in 1743, and is sometimes called the "Map of Pensilvania, New Jersey and New York, and the three Delaware Counties." The ac- companying portion of one of these Evans' maps is from a sketch made by Rev. David Craft, source unknown.
A little later, 1748, the Province of Pennsylvania offered induce- ments to map-makers, and Lewis Evans evidently made several, copies of which may be found in library of the Historical Society of Penn- sylvania, no new discoveries seemingly being made in this locality. One was entitled "A Map of Pensilvania, New Jersey & New York, and the three Delaware Counties." The Chemung River has this legend : "Cayuga Branch nearly as large as Schuylkill." The Pennsylvania archives show that Evans issued proposals for a map in 1748, the ob- servations for which were evidently made at public expense. His in- structions, as given in Vol. II, page 47, begin by saying the aim of his journey is to gain intelligence of southern and western bounds of Pennsylvania, then not yet settled. He was particularly enjoined to observe soil, branches (creeks) and rivers, places fit for forts, etc .; mines, quarries, etc., and where advantageous settlements might be made on ground the Indians could be prevailed upon to release. The entire instructions are very interesting, but too lengthy for insertion here. Evans' special requirement was 100 guineas, also traveling ex- penses, provisions, medicines, attendants or guides, and release from possible imprisonment.
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