History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 117

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162

USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches > Part 117

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They were more thickly settled in some portions of the county than others. Along the Great Valley, and in the region of Pequea, Lancaster Co., they were numerous; in other parts of the county they were more evenly distrib- uted, except west of White- Clay Creek, where they are said to have been rather sparse. Their wigwams were generally clustered five or six in a place, on the south sides of the hills, and near springs of water. Some of these clus- ters were of considerable size, and known as Indian towns or villages. There were a considerable number of these in the county; one of them stood on the farm late of John R. Kinsey, deceased, in Upper Oxford township, and an- other in London Britain township, near the Baptist church. Their usual employments were hunting, fishing, manufacturing baskets, and cultivating small patches of Indian corn. They had paths leading from point to point, some of which afterwards became public roads for the set- tlers. One of these paths, extensively traversed, led from Pequea, where they had a large settlement, to the head- waters of the Chesapeake Bay. It ran on the ridge divid- ing the waters which flow into the Delaware from those which flow into the Susquehanna, and in its whole course did not cross a single stream of water. The path is now what is known as the Limestone road, running from the Pequea Valley through the townships of Sadsbury, High- land, West Fallowfield, Upper and Lower Oxford, and East Nottingham, and into Cecil County, Md. There is no record in the county offices of this road, and it is supposed never to have been laid out by authority of law, but to exist by prescription. It has been called the Limestone road for a long period of time, and is mentioned in the public records by that name as an existing public road as early as the year 1731. It passed by a fine spring a mile east of the village of Rising Sun, in Maryland, which was used as a camping-ground in their journey. Here William Brown felled the first tree in settling Nottingham.

They had also a village or town, consisting of about thirty wigwams, near two fine springs at what is called In- diantown, in Wallace township. They had abandoned to some extent nomadic habits, raised some corn and tobacco, and planted fruit-trecs. Their principal subsistence, how- ever, was obtained by hunting and the catching of fish, which were abundant in the Indian Run and the Brandy- wine. When Daniel and Alexander Henderson purchased the land, in 1733, on which the town and burial-ground of the natives were placed, they promised them that the latter should never be disturbed. This promise was faithfully

421

THE INDIANS.

kept by them and their children. It is now part of a cul- tivated field. This graveyard occupied a little more than a quarter of an acre, and contained about one hundred graves. These Indians removed shortly after Braddock's defeat, when the feeling against the natives was bitter, to what is now Crawford or Mercer County, in this State.

About the year 1697-fifteen years after the arrival of William Penn-a tribe of the Shawnese, or Shawanese, came from the southward, and desired leave of the Cones- togoe Indians, and of Governor Markham, to settle on Pequea Creek, which was granted, the Conestogoe Indians becoming security for their good behavior. These Shaw- nese, or Shawanese, Indians extended their settlements within the present limits of Chester County. They had a large town about where the village of Doe Run now stands, where seems to have been the eouneil-house of the nation ; and they also settled in considerable numbers in the neigh- borhood of Steeleville, on the Octorara Creek.

The Indian chiefs frequently visited Philadelphia, on which occasions they were always entertained, presents made to them, and they were provided for during their stay, and on their journey home.

They generally brought presents with them, consisting chiefly of skins and furs ; in return for which the authori- ties gave them goods suitable for their use. The following account from the colonial records of such an exchange made with Shekokonickan, a chief of the Indians ou Brandywine, and others on a visit to Philadelphia, will serve as a speci- men :

" The Treasurer and Secretary were ordered to take an account of the real value of their presents, and to provide some English goods exceeding that value, by about one-fourth or a third part at most. and then the Council adjourned to the afternoon," " POST MEREDIEM. The skins delivered by the Indians in the morning, having been num- bered and weighed as ordered, they were found to be thirty-eight summer deer skins, one good buck in the hair, two bear skins-total value, eight pounds, six shillings. What is prepared and now de- livered them in exchange, are eight Stroud-water coats of the best sort, ten pounds of lead, six pairs stockings, ene dozen tobacco boxes, one dezen tobacco tengs, twelve pounds tobacco, three dozen pipes, and one red stroud to the Queen-total value, ten pounds and twelve shillings."

A tribe of Indians, known as the Okehockings, were originally seated near Ridley and Crum Creeks, within the present limits of Delaware County. About 1701 they were removed, by direction of William Penn, to another tract higher up on Ridley Creek, which had been granted to Griffith Jones, but given up by him.

The following entry occurs on the minutes of the com- missioners of property, under date of the 7th and 8th of 10th month (December), 1702, viz. :

"The Ockanickon or Crum Creek Indians, having removed from their old habitations before the Proprietarys departure, by his erder: seated by Caleb Pusey, Nicholas Pyle, Nathaniel Newlin, and Jes Baker, on the tract in Chester County formerly laid out to Griffy Jones but now vacant.

"But the said Indians expressing great uneasiness at the uncer- tainty of their settlements, pressed, and several times urged the neigh- bering Friends, that they might be confirmed in some particular place under certain metes and bounds, that they might no more be like dogs, as they expressed themselves."

The following warrant of survey was accordingly issued to the surveyor of Chester County :

" BY THE COMMISSIONERS OF PROPERTY."

[L. S. }

" Whereas, Pokias, Sepopawny, Muttagoeppa and others, ef ye nation called Okchecking Indians in Chester county, with their families, upon their removal from their late settlements near Ridley and Crum Creeks, have by the Proprietor's order and appointment, been seated on another certain tract in ye said county, and on the said Ridley creek, neare ye head thereof, formerly surveyed to Griffith Jones, but by him left and acquitted, and now belonging to ye Proprietary ; io which place the said Indians request we would grant them a certain settlement, under sure metes and hounds, to them and their posterity, in pursuance of the Proprietors engagement in that case, made before his departure, who granted them, as 'tis credibly affirmed to us, five hundred acres in ye said place. These, therefore, are in pursuance of the said grant, to authorize and require thee te survey and lay out to the said Pokhais, Sepopawney, Muttageoppa and others of ye said nation, called ye Okekecking Indians, who were lately seated lower on ye said ereeks, and their relations, and te no other whatsoever, the full quantity of five hundred acres of land in one square tract, in such place within the aforesaid traet, as the said Indians shall desire; which said five hundred acres, we do hereby grant te the snid Pokhais, Sepopawney, Muttagooppa, and others of the said nation called the Okekecking Indians, who were lately sented as aforesaid, and to their relations, and to no other whatsoever ; tu take and to hold, te them, the said Indians for settlement, and to their posterity of the same nation of Indians (and no other) forever; Provided, always, that the said Indians, nor any of them, shall not give, grant, er at- tempt to sell, or anyway dispose of any of the said five hundred acres of land hereby granted, to any person whatsoever; but at such time as the said Indians shall quit er leave the said place, it shall be sur- rendered to ye Proprietary without any further claim of the said In- dians, or nny person whatsoever, by er under them their title er pre- curements ; and make returns into the General-Surveyer's office. Given under our hands, and the seal of the Province, at Philadelphia, the 15th of ye 10th me., 1702.

" To ISAAC TAYLOR,

" Surveyor of the Co. of Chester.

" EDWARD SHIPPEN, " GRIFFITH OWEN, " THOS. STORY, " JAS. LOGAN."

In pursuance of this warrant a tract of 500 acres was surveyed for their use in the southern part of the township of Willistown, on the east side of Ridley Creek. The Indians occupied it for a number of years, how long has not been ascertained, but they had all left it and removed beyond the limits of the county some time previous to the year 1737. According to the terms of the grant the lands, on the Indians quitting them, returned to the proprietary.

On the 1st of August, 1737, the proprietary issued a warrant for the whole 500 acres to Amos Yarnall and Mor- decai Yarnall. These purchasers made a division of the traet, Amos Yarnall taking 196 aeres and allowance of the eastern and southern part, and Mordecai Yarnall the re- mainder, about 276 acres and allowance. The surveys were returned to the secretary's office, and patents granted to them for their respective portions by Thomas Penn, on the 29th of January, 1738.

Drafts were made of the division between Amos and Mordecai Yarnall. The draft of Amos Yarnall's portion has upon it this indorsement :

" A draft of Ames Yarnall's part of a tract of land situate in Willis- town, in the county of Chester reserved by the late Commissioners of Property, for the use of certain Indian natives and their childree so long as they should continue to dwell on the same ; but they baving now long since left and entirely deserted it, the whole tract was, by war- rant from the Proprietaries, dated the first day of August, in the year

422

HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

1737, granted te Amos and Mordecai Yarnall, who having divided the same betwixt them, a return of this tract in pursuance of the warrant aforesaid, was made inte the Secretarics office, on the 24th day ef Jan- mary, in the year 1738, in order that the same may be confirmed by Patent to the said Amos Yarnall.

" BENJ. EASTBURN, " Surveyor-General."

The draft of Mordecai Yarnall's portion contains a sim- ilar indorsement.

On the drafts of surrounding grants this tract is called " The Indians' Lands." As already observed, it was situated in the southern part of Willistown township. It is difficult to describe its exact location so as to be intelligible to the reader. A reference, however, to the map of Chester County, with the following explanation, may serve to give an idea of its boundaries.

The northwest corner was in or near Ridley Creek, be- tween the paper-mills of John B. Duckett and of Casper S. and Harvey S. Garrett, and near the Garrett homestead ; the west line ran in a southeast course, crossing and recross- ing the creek, and passing near Albin Garrett's saw-mill; the southwest corner was a little south of the West Chester and Philadelphia road ; the northeast corner was about one- third of a mile south of Willistown Friends' meeting-house, and the southeast corner about half a mile north of the William Penn tavern, and near the road leading from the William Penn to Willistown Friends' meeting-house.

A point on the property of Albin Garrett, known as the "Indian orchard," no doubt marks the spot where the Indians had their wigwams or cabins. It is about one acre in extent, and entirely free of timber, although nearly surrounded by woods. It was doubtless cleared by the Indians.

The Indians, after the sale of their lands, continued to occupy them until needed by the settlers, and gradually abandoned them as the whites advanced and took possession. Considerable numbers, however, remained in the county, inhabiting the woods and unoccupied places, until the breaking out of the French and English war, in 1755, about which time they generally removed beyond the limits of the county, and took up their abode in the valleys of the Wyoming and Wyalusing, on the Susquehanna. At the making of the treaty of St. Mary's, in 1820, there were present some chiefs of the Nanticokes, one of whom, who had withstood the storms of ninety winters, told the commissioners that he and his people had once roamed through their own domains along the Brandywine.

After the death of William Penn the Indians never found in any who filled his station that steadfast friend which he had always proved, yet the protection of the law was generally enjoyed by them, and the whites who pre- sumed to injure them were punished.

The Indians heretofore spoken of were those known as the Lenni Lenapes, or Delawares, the occupiers of the soil at and after the settlement by the white races. Besides these there was another confederation of Indian tribes, known originally as the Five Nations, whose domain ex- tended from the borders of Vermont to Lake Erie, and from Lake Ontario to the head-waters of the Alleghany, Susquehanna, and Delaware Rivers. These Five Nations called themselves the Aquanuschioni, or united people; by

the Lenni Lenapes they were called the Mengwe, or Mingoes, and by the French, the Iroquois. The nations composing this confederation were the Onondagas, Cayugas, Oneidas, Senecas, and Mohawks. In the year 1712 the Tuscaroras, being expelled from North Carolina, were adopted as a sixth nation, and thenceforward the confederation was known as the Six Nations.

They were distinguished for their height, strength, and symmetry of person ; were brave, but ferocious and cruel when excited in savage warfare. In eloquence, in dignity, and in profound policy, their speakers might well bear com- parison with the statesmen of civilized assemblies.

The Five Nations had at some period in the past con- quered the Lenni Lenapes, reduced them to a state of vas- salage, and exacted from them an acknowledgment of fealty, which excluded them from engaging in war, and they occu- pied their former hunting-grounds by permission from their conquerors. They were in this condition when the shores of the Delaware were first visited by Europeans.

The Lenni Lenapes alleged that by treaty and voluntary consent they had agreed to act as mediators and peace- makers among the great nations, and to that end they had consented to lay aside the implements of war, and to hold and keep bright the chain of peace.

The Five Nations, on the other hand, alleged that the Lenni Lenapes had been conquered by their arms, and were compelled to this humiliating position as the only means of averting impending destruction.

The Lenni Lenapes, although the permanent occupiers of the soil on the shores of the Delaware and its tributa- ries, were frequently subjected to the intrusion of parties of the Five Nations, who occupied portions of the Lenape country as their occasions required. The Minquas, whose name was borne by the Christina River, were among the warlike tribes that most frequently visited the Delaware for trade. These Indians, as a tribe, belonged to the Five Nations. They resided npon the Conestoga, but their visits to the Delaware for purposes of trade or to fish were frequent.

It will thus be seen that the early settlers on the Dela- ware had two classes of Indians very different in character to deal with, the one a constant inhabitant of the country, whose presence was familiar to them and caused no uncasi- ness, the other an occasional visitor, whose stay among them, when the object of it was not well understood, ex- cited apprehensions for their safety.

This peculiar relation between the Lenni Lenapes that occupied the soil and the Five Nations, who claimed juris- diction over it, tended greatly to embarrass and complicate the negotiations of the proprietary government for the pur- chase of lands.

The Indians with whom the treaty was made under the elm-tree at Shackamaxon, soon after the arrival of William Penn, were the Lenni Lenapes. In 1701, Penn also met in council the chiefs of the Five Nations, with those from the Susquehanna and the Potomac and the Shawanese chiefs, aud formed a treaty of peace with them. Regulations were also adopted to govern their trade, and former pur- chases of land were confirmed. Treaties were subsequently frequently made with them.

423

SLAVERY.

At a treaty held at Philadelphia in July, 1742, Cana- patego, a chief of the Onondagas, thus reprimanded and taunted the Delawares, who were present, for continuing on lands they had sold :

" We conquered you ; wo made women of you ; you know you are women and can no more sell land than women."

Io the course of time the Delawares were enabled to throw off the galling yoke imposed on them by their con- querors, and at a treaty made in 1756 Teedyuscung, their chief, extorted from the chiefs of the Six Nations an ac- knowledgment of their independence.

The last of the Lenni Lenapes resident in Chester County was " Indian Hannah," as she was usually called. The circumstance of her being for many years the sole sur- vivor of her people (in this section of country) entitles her to a notice which the merit of her character alone would not have procured. She was one of a family that called themselves Freeman, and inhabited for a number of ycars one of a small cluster of wigwams near the Anvil tavern, in Kennet township. After the deatlı of her rela- tives she went and dwelt in a log house near the present Northbrook Station on the Wilmington and Reading Rail- road, on the lands of Humphry Marshall, or, as she con- sidered it, on her own land, it being on the one- mile reser- vation on the Brandywine. During the summer she traveled much through different parts of the county, visit- ing those who would receive her with kindness, and selling her baskets. As she grew old she quitted her wigwam and dwelt in friendly families. At length she became a public charge on the township, and on the opening of the Chester County poor-house, in November, 1800, she was taken to that institution, the only pauper from Newlin township. She died March 20, 1802, at the age of seventy-one years.

SLAVERY.

Slavery existed in Pennsylvania from a very early period, and appears to have been first introduced by the Dutch and Swedes, prior to the granting of the province to Wil- liam Penn. As early, however, as 1712 an effort was made to restrain its increase by the passing of an act by the col- onial Assembly to prevent the further importation of negroes into the province. This law, however, from commercial considerations, and regardless of the dictates of humanity or the best interests of the province, was subsequently re- pealed by the home government, which had a veto upon the acts of the colonial Assembly. Some years subsequently another act was passed, imposing a prohibitory duty on their introduction, but this also was repealed by the Crown. England at that time pursued the traffic in negroes with eager avarice. Those imported into Pennsylvania were chiefly from the West Indies, as it was found that in trans- porting negroes from Africa directly to the more northern provinces, their health suffered more than when gradually acclimated by being taken first to the West Indies and thence farther north. The price of an imported negro man about the middle of the last century was £40, Penn- sylvania currency, and from that upwards to £100.

The Society of Friends took early action against the in- stitution of slavery .* In 1696 the members were advised

by the Yearly Meeting " not to encourage the bringing in any more negroes," and it also gave wholesome advice in respect to their moral training. In 1711 the Quarterly Meeting of Chester declared " their dissatisfaction with Friends buying and encouraging the bringing in of negroes," and in 1715 " that Friends should not be concerned here- after in the importation thercof, nor buy any." In 1730 the same meeting adopted a minute that cautioned Friends "against purchasing imported negroes, it being disagreeable

- to the sense of the meeting, and that such as are likely to be found in the practice be cautioned how they offend therein," and in 1761 a member was dealt with for having bought and sold a negro; but, having made the proper acknowledgment, was not disowned. The subject, from this time onwards, appears to have frequently engaged the attention of the society, and constant and successful efforts were made to induce members to liberate them or to agree to do so at a certain age, although the simple holding of slaves was not considered a sufficient cause for disownment until 1777.

In 1780, the force of public opinion against the institu- tion-chiefly brought about by the action of the Society of Friends-was such, that on the 1st of March of that year an act of Assembly was passed for its gradual abolition. This law provided for the registration in the office of the clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions of each county, prior to the 1st day of November of that year, of all persons held as slaves for life, or until the age of thirty-one years, in accordance with existing laws, and declared that all such should continue to be slaves; but that all persons born after that date should be frec, except the children born of such registered slaves, who should be servants until they attained the age of twenty-eight years. A subsequent law provided for the registration of all children born of slaves within six months after their birth, and only the children thus\registered continued to be servants until the age of twenty-eight years.

In accordance with these laws, a careful registry was made in the office of the clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions in Chester County, in a book provided for that purpose, of the name, age, sex, and time of service of each person held as a slave, and also of the name of the owner and the township where he or she resided. In order to show the manner in which this registry was made, the fol- lowing entries taken therefrom are given :

"Thomas Potts, of Coventry township, returns :

"1. A negro man named Cudge, aged fifty-eight years, a slave for life."

"2. A negro man named Ben, aged twenty-four years, a slave for life.

"3. A negro hoy named Peter, aged seventeen years, a slave for life. "4. A negro ehild named George, aged nine months, a slave for life.

"5. A negro woman named Moll, aged thirty-four years, a slave for life.

"6. A negro woman named Sall, aged nineteen years, a slave for life.

" Evans Evans, of L'ondon Britain township, returns :

# In 1688 the Germantown, Pa., Friends protested against slavery, and gave their reasons for being "against the traffick of men-body."

But neither the Monthly Meeting at Dublin, the Quarterly Meeting at Philadelphia, nor the Yearly Meeting at Burlington (to whom in snecession the matter was referred that year), came to any determi- nation in the case.

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

"I. A negro woman named Rachel, aged thirty-eight years, a slave for life.

" 2. A mulatto boy named Cæsar, aged sixteen years, a slave for life.

"3. A negro girl named Sue, aged thirteen years, a slave for life.

"4. A negro boy named Samp, aged nine years, a slave for life.

"5. A negro boy named Frank, aged seven years, a slave for life.

" 6. A mulatto female child named Sal, aged four years, a slave for life.

" Abel Hodgson, of East Nottingham, returns :

"1. An Indian servant man till he attains the age of thirty-one

. years, named Jam, aged twenty-eight years.

"2. An Indian girl named Sarah, aged twenty-four years, a slave for lifo.

" 3. A negro man named Cæsar, aged twenty-five years, a slave for life.

"Samnel Futhey, of West Fallowfeld township, returns :

" 1. A mulatto woman named Jince, aged twenty years, a slave for life.

"2. A mulatto girl named Dinah, aged one year and nine months, a slave for life.

"3. A mulatto girl named Sall, a slave until she attains the age of thirty-one years."

We have made an analysis of this registry and deduced therefrom the following facts : The total number of slaves registered was 495, of whom 472 were slaves for life, and 23 until the age of thirty-one years. Of the whole number, 410 were negroes, 83 mulattoes, and 2 were regis- tered as Indians. Of those held for life, 243 were males and 229 females ; and of those held for years, 13 were males and 10 females. Of the whole number, 207 were over the age of eighteen years, and 288 were under that age. The oldest male slave registered was George, aged seventy-five years, belonging to William Moore, of Charlestown (now Schuylkill) township, and the oldest female slave was Nanny, aged seventy-eight years, belonging to John Evans, of London Britain. The youngest registered was Tom, aged one month, belonging to John Bowen, of Goshen. Thirteen were of the age of sixty years and upwards, and 9 were under one year of age. The greatest number held by one person was by William Moore, who returned 10 slaves for life. Each slave was registered as having but one name, except eleven who were honored with surnames.

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 117

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Number of Pages: 1162

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162