The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-06-19

ed land. The tribe there and along the
river was the Mandas, or Frogs. In
Evesham the Indians there were
known as the Edgepillocks, and there
seems to have been a small tribe
known as the Rancocas. Another tribe
near Burlington was the Assunpink.
The Delaware river was called by them
Lenapewikittuck, or the River of the
Lenape, and was in the very heart of
their settlement.
From the earliest times this county
has been noted for its agricultural
wealth and for the variety and excel
lence of its food products. The In
dams were keen hunters and fishers.
To the hunters was ever accorded high
honor in the tribes, and their idea of
heaven itself was 1.-THE Happy Hunt
ing Grounds" When the hunter died
he was buried with all his weapons of
the chase ready for use in the world to
come.
These kings OF the forest had their
own kings highway across the county
and made yearly trips b the seashore
and river. This Indian trail can still
be traced in places. At Tuckerton is
an island several acres in extent made
from the shells of CLAIMS which they
had gathered. These CLAIMS were dried
and brought inland for use during the
winter. We have accounts of how the
Indians would bring to Burlington as
many as five or six deer in one day.
We find a great many pestles and
mortars of Indian make indicating
that they ground grain for food, and
the thousands of arrow heads without
barbs, used only in the chase, bear
mute testimony to the extent and dir
gence OF their hunting.
Near Mount Laurel is site notable
for the number of fireplaces to be found
there, which with the Indian relics
scattered over field after field indicate
a town of considerable size and per-
manence. The Indians were appar
emily great traders, and when our fore
fathers came up the Delaware thew
were surprised to find many peach trees
already growing in this country. The
peach tree is not indigenous and it is
supposed that the Indians had gotten
the peach stones for planting from the
Spaniards in Florida. Another evil
dence of wide spread trade is shown by
the fact that here in New Jersey have
been found various stone implements,
made from peculiar reddish stone
which is found only in South Dakota,
and used principally for pipes. / have
also seen small metal box, originally
enameled, and very much like the re-
liquary that is used in Roman Catho-
lie churches. 1t was found on the
chest of the skeleton of an Indian
chief which was dug up on Burlington
island. Their architectural ability was
limited to the erection of bark cabins
or skin wigwams. OF art they knew
little as shown by the decorations on
fragments of pottery. AS sculptors
they have given us only some totem
emblems of the fish, turtle and wolf.
and very few human faces. | have
heard of some rare attempts at writing
but these are very rare indeed. They
knew something of weaving, but un-
fortunately in Burlington county we
had no rock shelters such as are found
in north Jersey to protect their perish
able products, and practically every
thing OF wood, reed, skin and feather
has been destroyed. Bows, arrows,
spears, canoes, moccasins, baskets and
feather work all are gone.
The men of the tribe gave their time
to hunting, fishing, trading, and per
haps gambling. They had no beasts
OF burden, and the heavy work was
done mostly by the women and child
rem, whether at home or on the trail.
Fortunately for them the soil was verv
light in many places and easily cult
waited, SO that even when it was
''tickled with their stone plows il
laughed with harvest"
There is no mention in our annals
such as the terrible starving time" in
Virginia, nor when as in New england
the Indian graves were rified of their
stores OF corn, SO great was the need of
food. On the contrary there are evil
dences of great plenty of food.
Some of the local Indian names are:
Assiscunk creek, muddy or dirty
creek; Absecumb bay and town,
beach or place of swans.
Burlington island was called by the
natives Matinicunk.
Peahala-place of ducks.
Shackamaxon-p place of cells.
Some places in the county where
relics are found:
Pensauken station-Scattered relics
on south branch of Pensauken creek.
due east of Pensauken station.
Helling hill-Mr. Chambers reports
scattered relics on the north branch of
Pensauken creek from Lenola to He'll
ings hill with villages sites at the
Evesboro road and at Hellings hill.
FellowshipAThere is burial place
near Fellowship on the south branch
of Pensauken creek.
Moorestown-At Indian spring, near
Moorestown, are scattered remains.
South of Moorestown is a village
site. Implements of all kinds were
found here in abundance, showing an
extended occupation of THE region,
Occurring in the same layer and mixed
with the implements usually associat-
ed with the historic Indian are MANY
crude argillite blades. Harry Chamb-
ers, who has located and reported this
site, has several rubbed argillite i'm
PIGMENTS, heart-shaped, with short
stems. A number of steatite pots were
found nearby.
Riverton-Scattered relics are found
between Riverton and PALMYRA.
Mount Laurel-All about Mount
Laurel are signs of an extensive camp
site. Axes, arrow points, wampum ~
and pottery are ploughed up here. A
small pot of algonquin type about G
inches in height and 6 inches in
diameter at the mouth was found by
Mr.. Chambers.
Brown station-Camp site near
Brown station. Axes, arrow points,
etc., are found along Haynes creek.
umberton-Scattered relics are
found on the banks of Rancocas creek
at and near Lumberton.
Centerton-A cache near Centerton,
by Mr.. Harry Chambers of
Moorestown, contained about two
dozen net sinkers and several other
implements.
Mount Holly-Scattered implements
ETC., occur at Mount Holly and along
Rancocas creek and its south branch. |
Excellent trumpet-shaped pottery pipes |
have been found in the vicinity; one |
in the possession of Mr.. William |
Wright of Mount Holly, is decorated !
with representations of deer.
Woodlane-Camp site at Woodland
on headwaters of Assiscunk creek.
Burlington-There is a large village
site at Burlington on Assiscunk creek. /
hhotk obtained collection from, THE