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1727 -- INDIAN TRADING POST AT
SHAWNEE-ON-DELAWARE
Nicholas Dupui, like all of us, was a
product of his time. Hailing from a region of New
York earlier ravaged by the Lenape/Delaware Indians
(the Esopus Wars of 1659-1663), he didn't exactly
have a warm and fuzzy spot in his heart for these
Indians. Accordingly, when he set out to establish
an Indian trading post in the heart of Penn's Woods,
foremost on his mind was the need to set up shop
adjacent to some other tribe... any other tribe...
just not next to the Delaware Indians.
Obviously, one couldn't just amble into Pennsylvania
merely hoping not to encounter one's historical
nemesis -- after all, the Delaware Indians were
almost everywhere in the region. So, to effectuate
his planned course of action, advance strategic
planning would be required, and reliable
intelligence from the Indian trader community would
need to be gathered. Fortunately, his family had
been in the mercantile trade for some time, and had
routinely provided suitable wares to Indian
traders. Intelligence would be collected and
assessed.
In due course, Nicholas Dupui fortuitously
encountered Indian trader John Mathers (who had
built himself a cabin above the "Pahaquela Mountains
on Analomink Creek"), right next to the ancestral
home of the Shawnee tribe. They worked out an
arrangement whereby Mathers would introduce Dupui to
the Shawnee (with Mathers also providing the
requisite Algonquin language translation services so
that the desired land purchase might thereby be
consumated). With the tacit understanding that
Mathers would thereafter depart for parts unknown,
sated by a large supply of coinage in his purse,
Dupui had arrived at an executable plan of action.
A barrister would next be engaged to formalize the
legal niceties attendant to real estate
transactions. In timely fashion, an "indenture" for
some 3000 acres would emerge (with a
uniquely-conceived clause that would force the
Shawnee to forever defend Dupui against all other
Indians):
Indian Deed to Nicholas Depui
"This indenture, made the 18th day of September, in
the year of the reign of our Soverent Lord George the
Second, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France
and Ireland, King, defender of the faith, Anno Domini
one thousand seven hundred and twenty seven, Nicklas
Depui, of Kizenick, in the county of Ulster, yeoman, of
the one part, and Indian owners and possessors of the
said tract of land hereafter of the other part,
witnesseth that the said Indian owners, possessors of
the said land aforesaid, for and in consideration of to
them, the said Indian owners and possessors, well and
Truly to them in hand paid by the said Nicklas Depui, at
and before the ensealing and delivery of these presents,
the receipt of which they, the said [
] and every of them doe and doth, aquit, release and
discharge the said Nichlas Depue, there heirs, executors
and administrators and assigns, Have granted, bargained
and sold, released and confirmed the said Nichlas Dupui
all the said tract of land lying in Pensalvena, in the
county of Bucks, joining to the Dellaway River,
beginning by Peter Ribble on the south side of the land
by the North of a creek and thereover, and runs up
southwesterly eighty chains; from thence Northwest so
far as the top of the high mountains, and from thence
all along the said mountains as the coast runs, so along
till we come over against Peghgoquery, and thence with a
southeast line so as the river runs, including all the
Islands and lowlands appertaining to the said tract of
land belonging to the heirs of Sir William Pen,
Containing Three Thousand Acres more or less, together
with all the Intress, woods, timbers ande underwoods,
with all and all other privileges and advantages
whatsoever, all manner of mines, minerals and quarrys,
pastures and privileges whatsoever; all these the said
Indians and every of them, their rights and interests,
property, claim of in the said tract of land belonging
or in any manner of way appertaining, and reversion and
reversions, remainder and remainders thereof, and of
every pusell there of to have and the said tract of land
hereby granted, bargained, sold, released and confirmed,
with these and every of these appertenances, unto the
said Niclas Depue, their heirs and executors &
admenstrator or assigns forever, free from any claim to
be maid by us or any of us, or any other Indians
whatsoever, and we will and ever warrant and forever
defend the said Nichlas Depue, there heirs, executors,
administrators and assigns in a quiet, peaceable
possession thereof against all other Indian or Indians
whatsoever.
"In witness
whereof we, the said Indian owners and possessors,
hereunto set our hand and seals the day and year above
written.
"Signed, sealed and
delivered in the presence of us.
WAUGOUNLENNEGGEA C. (Seal.)
PEMNOGQUE V.
(Seal.)
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