1730 -- PROPERTY
              SURVEY

Truly unique icons are among the rarest of finds in early Pennsylvania survey maps.  We have such an icon in the map produced by surveyor John Chapman on behalf of "Nicklos Depues".  So what's the significance of this singular icon that appears under the letter "p" in the recorded surname?  We already know that cartographers of the period had previously developed a set of icons specific to Indian towns, missionary towns, forts and mills.  Apparently, surveyor Chapman decided that an Indian trading post required a new type of locational icon.

Also notable in this survey map is the parcel's property size, cited as a mere 86 acres.  This observation then begs the question:  "Why are a paltry 86 acres being surveyed when this merchant, just three years earlier, had concluded the purchase of a 3000-acre tract?"  As it turns out, surveyor Chapman had the sad duty of informing Dupui that his earlier expansive purchase was regarded as illegal per turn-of-the-century Pennsylvania law:

that if any person presume to buy any land of the natives within the limits of the province and territories without leave from the proprietary thereof every such bargain or purchase shall be void and of no effect.

A quandary, to be sure, but as Dupui had already established his area trading post facility, he had no choice but to accede to the surety of a new survey and to accept a new, albeit inferior, real estate arrangement.  Three years later, in September 1733, Dupui would finally tender payment for this particular parcel and its adjacent islands (procured from the Penns' land agent, William Allen), for the token sum of five shillings.

Purely as an matter of interest, it should be noted that the aforementioned icon appears on the survey map at a place that actually corresponds to the location of a fresh-water spring (confirmed by both recourse to LiDAR mapping and by a subsequent site visitation).  Further, the western boundary of Dupui's parcel coincides with the position of the aptly named Mill Creek, the waterway upon which Dupui established his local grist mill operation.