The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-09-15
For The Cecil W hi:
For The Cecil Wing.
Historical Researches that Quilp Made
rs Il Bohemian.
CHAPTER II.
TRACES OF THE INDIAN TRIBES

The Indian tribes that inhabited Ceci
county and the country contiguous thereto
at the time of the first settlement of th'
These words, in the Indian language, seen
to be Synonymous with tie English wore
Aborigines, for they are said to have meant
when translated into English, "he origina
people," This general name appears tt
have been applied to many distinct tribes
all of whom spake in dialects of a common
language-the Algonquin.
There was an obscure tradition among
the Lenni Lenape, that, in the Ear distant
past, their ancestors had emgrated east
ward from the shores of the Mississippi
and had conquered and exterminated the
race that once inhabited the country west
OF the Allegany Mountains and the traces
of whose existence are yet plainly seen in
the lofty mounds that are still extant and
so profusely scattered over the valley of the
Mississippi and the valleys of its tributaries
The Lenni Lenape was divided into three
principal divisions, the Unanais or Turtle
tribes, the Unatachtgos or Turkeys, and the
.Nonseys or Wolf tribes.
The six nations, with whose history
every school boy is acquainted, occupied
the country south of the great lakes and
about the head waters of the Susquehanna
and Delaware rivers.
Among the many tribes of Indians that
once lived within the limits of Maryland, and
whose existence is now almost unknown
| Though their name, it is reasonable to be-
lieve, will never be forgotten), was the
Chesapeakes. Long before the settlement
at st. Mary's they were small tribe, and
appear to have been absorbed by the Pow
hatans in Virginia. Their name, it is pro-
bable, will live as long as the blue waters
of our beautiful bay go murmurng on to
mingle with Atlantic's waves.
The Ioacomicos lived upon the St. Mary s
at the time of the landing of the first set
tiers there. AT an early period the Mata-
peakes lived upon Kent Island, and their
name is perpetuated by being applied to a
small stream. The Andustakas lived in
the vicinity of Wilmington and along the
Christiana creek. But the tribe that APP
pears to have been the most powerful within
the limits of the State of Maryland, and to
have had dominion over this country and
the country on both sides of the Susque
hanna for many miles above its mouth, were
the Susquehannocks. They were a bold
and warlike people, and some times in
vaded and made war upon the Yoacomicos
and Powhatans. One of their principal
villages was on the site now occupied by
Havre de Grace, and the country on the east
side of the Susquehanna as far as the site
of North East village is said to have been
one of their principal resorts and to have
been thickly studded with their villages.
Their domain was once invaded by the
Powhatans from Virginia, who attacked
them where Havre de Grace now stands,
slaughter and pursued as far as the mouth
of the Seven River, where Annapolis now
stands. They received Captain Smith with
great kindness when he was thrown in con-
tact with them while on his celebrated voy-
age of exploration and discovery to the
head Of Chesapeake Bay.
We find, by reference to Bozman's his
tory of Maryland, that the Eastern Shore
Indians gave the Colony at St. Mary's much
trouble, and that the following order was
passed by the council on the 2Sth day of
May, 1859:
Whereas it is found necessary forth
with to make an expedition upon the In
dams of the Eastern Shore upon the pub
| lie charge of the province; it is to that end
thought fit that a shallop be sent to Vir-
ginia for to provide twenty corslets (steel
| plates for the covering and protection of
the chest, barrel of POWDER four round
| lets of shot, a barrel of oat meal three
| trkins of butter, and four cases of lot ecat-
ers;: and that five able persons be pressed
to go with the said shallop and necessary
| provisions of victuals be made for them,
and that pinnace be pressed go to Kent
| (kent Island) sufficiently victualed and
J manned, and there provide four hogsheads
of NEAL and likewise that a pinnace be
sent to the tSusquehdnnocks sufficiently
vctualed and manned, and thirty or more
| good shott, with necessary officers, be
of the shott be allowed after the rate of
| 100 pounds of tobacco per month, &c., 81"
This war appears to have been caused by
the efforts of the colonists to keep the peace
between the Susquehannocks and the more
peaceable tribes of Piscatoway and Patux-
ent, and probably the Yoamacoes, with
whom the Susquehannocks had never ceased
to wage hostilties since the first settlement
of the English in Maryland. The colonists
appear to have spent the Summer in making
preparations for this warlike expedition
| against their foes but their courage was
not equal to the task of invading their
country amid the storms and SHOWS of the
following Winter, and the enterprise was
abandoned. There appears to have been
many hostile ncursons of the Indians into
the territory occupied by the early settlers
about this time and many rumors of wars
that no doubt kept them in state of al
most constant excitement and alarm.
About 1914 the Swedes, then living at
New Castle and along Christiana creek,
are charged with hiring three of their SOL
diers to the Susquehannocks for the pur-
pose of instructing them in the use of fire.
arms, which they obtained from the Dutch
at New Netherlands and probably from the
| Swedes at New Castle.
However, after much tribulation, and it
would appear without much bloo1shed, the
colonists of Maryland concluded to make a
treaty of peace with the Susquehannocks
The Indians, it seems, were not only will
ing, but anxious, that treaty of peace
should be concluded. Accordingly at a
court held at St. Marys, on the 2Sth day
of June, 1862, it being the first court held
after the change of the government
Richard Bennett, Edward Lloyd, William
Fuller, Thomas Marsh and Leonard Strong
were appointed and authorized to treat with
the Indians. These commissioners met the
Susquehannocks at the river Severn, now
the city of Annapolis, where there was a