The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-10-22
Indian Walk Of 1897.

On Saturday last, says the Bucks County
Hteiligencer, party Of gentlemen inter
ested in historical researches visited the
Indians in 1877, by Marshall, Yeates and
Jennings, had its starting point, on the
Durham Road, in Wrightstown. As to
the exact point from which the walk be-
gan there has been some difference oftradi-
ton and opinion, some authorities placing
the location at the junction of the Dur
ham and Pennsville roads, just above the
meeting house others at Ryans corner,
on the township line, half a mile below
and still others, who depend entirely on
hearsay, at the great chestnut tree by the
roadside, a short distance east Of the toll
gate The most authentic accounts are
quite positive in fixing upon the first-named
place Thomas Warner says that Edward
Chapman told him that he had swung on
the branches of the old chestnut tree at
the northeast corner, when a boy, not less
than 100 years ago. Edward Chapman
died in 1853, aged ninety-two years.
George Warmers belief derived from the
same source, is that the tree stood on the
opposite or southwest corner, but a few
yards distant from the spot indicated by
his brother Thomas. Benjamin Wiggins,
who has given some attention to the sub
iect, believes the crossroads to be the ac-
tual place Of beginning. This belief Is also
confirmed by documentary evidence that
admits Of little doubt and is sustained by
the verbal testimony Of cotemporary wit
h.,
directly after the walk, and found among
| the Penn papers long atterward, marks the
| beginning Of the walk at Ryan's corner
and traces the entire course, but in this re-
spect it is entirely erroneous A copy of
this map was shown to the company by
Spencer BonsalI, of Philadelphia. After
| looking over the vicinity and comparing
notes, the visitors assembled in the Friends
school house, which had been kindly opened
for their use. Here paper was read by
William J. Buck, giving a description Of
the first Or trial walk made in 1875 by di-
rection of Thomas Penn, for the purpose
of marking out road and seeing how
much distance could be traversed in a day
and a-half Every effect was made to keep
this trial walk secret from the Indians
and others, and It's very existence was un-
known except to few for Il long time at-
terward 1t is believed to have been made
by Edward Marshall, in May Of 1885, just
before an official council with the Indians
at Pennsburg. The real walk, in Septem-
Der, 1877, began at the chestnut tree in
Wrightstown at sunrise on the 10Th, and
ended at noon on the 20th, at point on
the Lehigh near Mauch Chunk The en-
tire distance traversed was a fraction over
sixty miles From this point the Indians
expected that line would be drawn to the
nearest point on the Delaware, near the
Water Gap, but the white men instead
made this line run at a right angle to the
first course, striking the river many miles
above at the Lackawaxen BY this means
the Indians were defrauded out Of about
l 200 square miles of land, and it was not
long before hOstilitieS broke out. \ paper
containing some "reminiscences Of Solomon
Jennings. one Of the walkers, was read by
Prof Rcichel, Of Bethlehem. These ex-
ercises were altogether Of on informal char
acter, and much Of the time was devoted
to social conversation. Among those pre-
sent were John Jordan, Jr., Townsend
Ward, Spenser Bonsall, William j. Buck
and j. Gillingham Fell, of Philadelphia
Professor w. c. Reichel, of Bethlehem
Dr. |. n. Evans and DR.. w. T. Robinson
of Hatboro Judge Chapman, Judge Wat
son. Joseph Fell, DR.. Cernca, George q
Marls, Benjamin Wig:ins, Thomas War
ner, George Warner, George Warner, Jr.
Edmund s. Atkinson, Colonel W. W. II
Davis and Heary I. Darlington, of Buck:
County Several ladies were also present
The occasion was very pleasant ont
throu1hOut