Middletown transcript., 1868-09-19

and the peninsular Indians existed brisk
trlfiac in skins and furs, for the rich pro-
ductions of the more favored land. AT
length emissarics were sent abroad by the
Iroquois, who stirred u strife, not only
between the Delawares, Illinois and Len
ma Lcnape, but also among the Kqskara-
waocks, Ozimies and Yockwoghs, them
selves, the three most populous of the six
copfederated tribes.
As was designed, war was the result of
these intrigues, long continued, cruel and
bloody. Not only was the federal union
broken up, but the six tribes composing
it, and the Unalachtgo, Unamies and Min
81 tribes composing the Lenna Lenape, to-
gether with the whole of the Munsey or
Delaware nation, we're completely subju-
gated by the Iroquois and made TO pay an
annual tribute to their conquerors, This
tribute was paid until the time of PENIS
first treaty with the Chihohocics, in De
ccmber, 1862, and was chiefly in luxuries
afforded by the waters of the two greet
bays.
En- pds$0nt, [ will here take occasion tu
remark, to the immortal honor and glory of
that just man, William Penn, of this trca-
ty, Noltaire wrote it was the only one
made without an oath, and the only one
which had never been broken" More
over, in June, 1744, at pow-wow held
in Lancaster, Penna Nctawatwees, chief
of the Turtle or head tribe Of Delawares, an
Indian of rare integrity and wisdom, aud
to whom was intrusted the custody of all
| the wampum, belts, treaties and archives
of the nation, declared that the Dutch
Governor of New y ork had besought the
nation to place their lands on the Susquc-
hanna in his hands for safe keeping, and
advising them not to sell their lands to
| Onas (Penp), as he would make bad use
of thcm--that the nation did as the Gov
crnor requested, who Immediately went to
England and there sold the same himself
to William Penn and kept the price there
of; and that when Penn came to America
to take possession of the lands, and dis
covered the wicked fraud, he generously,
Il second time, paid to the nation the price
at which they were held. Hear ye this,
ye traducers of the truest and best friend
the Indian ever knew, and forever aft
held your peace.
At the period of this universal conquest
by the Five Nations, from a point on the
Appoquinimink river, now known as the
q" Lower Granary," to another point on the
head waters of the Sassafras, there ran
an Indian trail, for communication be-
| tween the shores of the two great Bays.
This trail was in use many years
after the settlement of the country
by the pale-faces," before good road
were plenty; and in some places relics o.
its existence may still be observed in thu
worn and quilted deprcssions, and by thJ
spear and arrowhcads occasionally found
Between the head waters of Duck Greek
and the Chester River was a second, and
from the Bohemia River to the higl
ground on the Delaware, near where New
Castle now stands, ran a third trail
Hence, the first named vas always know
as the g Middle Portage" At point
near the present locality of st. Ann.
Church. bus on the north side of the ia.
vine, the trail suddenly turned to The
nortl west, extending to an elevation no
far from the present site of the village o
Warwick, where it again as suddenly
changed its course to the southwest, anc
pursued direct course to the Sassafras
The first named of these two angles wa.
called by the early settlers, ''lIansor
Post" and the other the "Mound
because an Indian Sachem was there bur
!. led beneath the canopy of huge Syca
more.
Both were trading posts around whicl
struggled few log cabins ald back huts
From the Mound, trail also struck off tt
the Bohemia With the encroathment o
: the white settlers and the introduction o
an emgrant civilization, the aborigine
rapidly disappeared, some by the rayage
of disease hitherto unknown to them, bu
chiefly by emigration to the North, wher
they joined the populous tribes of thei
conquerors.
About the year 1907 a primitive ro a
e was opened through the Wilderness frcu
the g Post" in northerly direction uni
it struck the Bohemia and Delaware trail
and within the subsequent two years All
: other was opened all the way througl
from the g Lower Granary'' to the Sassa
u fras. The place of intersection was calle
t " Harrison's Corner" or more commonly
It the "Corners." As additional clearing
: were made and brought under rude cult
S walton, and cabins began to appear abou
: the g Corners" the sturdy yeomanry be
: gan to cast about them for suitable nam
c for the new settlement, and which no,
boasted of a g cheap store a smithy, an
it place Of entertainment for man an
c beeste." Some jealous feeling had bee
e aroused at the q POST by the successfr
If rivalry of the g Corners, - which subside
IF with the waning fortunes of the formt
W and the announcement that the latter WI
l. to be.christened by the name of Middl,
1t town, to perpetuate the memory of the Ii
/ dian Middle Portage.
: A strong and vigorous settlement W;
II growing at the g Mound" and covetin
= the title or presuming upon strength an
L numbers, it insisted that the g Corer,