The Dupui General Store Ledger: 1743-1793HOME • HISTORY • COMMODITIES • CUSTOMERS • RUM & WHISKEY • SLAVERY • WAR • ACCOUNTS • MAPS • ESSAYS
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____________ War  The history of war is replete with accounts of both nefarious and noble behaviors. Both could be expected. From war profiteering to virtuous acts of mutual self-defense, all such conduct could be observed through the lens of the characters that came to the fore in times of conflict. Here are the key personalities associated with Dupui's store in times of conflict and war: |
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LAPOWINGO -- Instrumental in arranging the infamous Walking Purchase, Delaware chief Lapowingo declared merchant Nicholas Dupui to be a "good friend" (while having less than kind words to say about another area merchant, Daniel Brodhead). |
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TEEDYUSCUNG -- Teedyuscung initiated his hostilities in Northampton County with a vicious attack that saw the slaughter of innocent Moravian missionaries at Gnadenhutten. At issue, what event triggered this chief to go to war? Why were his first three attack episodes directed exclusively at missionary communities? |
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BENJAMIN FRANKLIN -- This American founding father issued the first set of wartime orders to our region's military commanders during the French & Indian War. What were they told to do? What advice was offered? What was Franklin's overall role in this war, and how did his decisions impact the local settlers? |
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SAMUEL DUPUI -- History has its dark side, and Samuel Dupui, in this spell-binding first-hand account, has captured the moment-by-moment heart-breaking horror of war on the Pennsylvania frontier. |
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CONRAD WEISER -- Although hailing from Womelsdorf in Berk's County, Colonel Conrad Weiser, commander of the First Ballation of the Pennsylvania Militia, owned property within ten miles of Dupui's establishment. How did this famous Pennsylvania statesman and diplomat manage to acquire strategic land holdings so far from home? |
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DANIEL BRODHEAD -- Known primarily as a Revolutionary War general, area resident and merchant Daniel Brodhead had an illustrious career ...and yet he also ran the most corrupt administration ever known in the Pennsylvania land office. Interested in the sordid details? |
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JAMES YOUNG -- A great deal of what we know about the history of Pennsylvania French & Indian War forts is attributable to James Young, Commissary General of the Muster. In our area, he reported on the disposition of local military bases such as Fort Hamilton, Fort Depue and Fort Hyndshaw. Let's see what he says about Dupui's fort... |
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ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS -- On 14 April 1756, Robert Hunter Morris,
Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, declared war
against the Delaware tribe of Indians and others "in
Confederacy with them". Who were these other unnamed
tribes? What does his Proclamation tell us about the state
of the war in Dupui's neighborhood? |
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JAMES BURD -- In touring and assessing our
neighborhood forts, Colonel James Burd had the final word on
their ultimate disposition. What decisions would he reach
regarding the garrisons at Hyndshaw's fort and Dupui's fort?
Did he have kind or harsh words for Dupui's plantation? |
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NICHOLAS WETTERHOLD -- Commissioned captain of the First Pennsylvania Regiment on 21 December 1755, and stationed at Dupui's fort, Nicholas Wetterhold had a history of issues related to the off-duty militiamen in his command (who on one occasion had reportedly murdered Indian guests). |
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JOHN VAN ETTEN -- Known for his many acts of bravery, Capt. Van Etten is best recalled for his efforts as a Pennsylvania "ranger", as a militiaman often on dangerous scouting patrols that saw numerous hostile encounters with Indians. His own home and barn were burnt to the ground, and his travails saw the taking of scalps... |
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JAMES HYNDSHAW -- Having built the fort some ten miles upriver from Dupui's fort, sawmill owner James Hyndshaw was a man who commanded respect (all the more so after having purchased a 107-gallon hogshead barrel of rum for his men). What else does Dupui's ledger tell us about this man? |
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LEONARD DEN -- Ambushed, killed, gutted and disembowelled on a trip to secure provisions from Dupui's fort, the gory and gruesome details of this militiaman's death ultimately found themselves published in the Pennsylvania Gazette. |
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