But, it would not last for long. Constructed of field stone, it would have been covered in stucco and it still retains its slate roof. The woman was able to flee, but, stricken by grief, drowned herself in the quicksand. Gnadenhutten Massacre of the Delaware Indians during the American Revolution. The most famous account of the Swamp Angel originates with a man named Isaac Gaines, aka Loop Hill Ike, a real-life folk hero and legendary witch and monster hunter during his era. They became known as the Conestoga Indians and they lived more or less in peace with their European neighbors through the end of the French and Indian War. Additionally, watering daily with s, This website uses cookies for functionality, analytics and advertising purposes as described in our. Those not in the village at the time of the massacre were taken to the workhouse (jail) in Lancaster city for their own protection. Susquehannock descendants numbered more than 400 in the early 21st century. It is very elusive, preferring to hide out of sight in the hemlock woods; however, the legend says that if you do happen to catch a Squonk, it wont be long before you find yourself with a puddle of tears in place of the beast. Smiths fascination with the Susquehannock is reflected by the prominent figure of the Susquehannock man included on his map of the Chesapeake Bay. It might have been a Squonk! Thank you for saying that local news matters! Watch the WVIA documentary Peoples of the Susquehanna River. Their firstEuropean contact was in 1608 when Captain John Smith, from Jamestown, Virginia, was exploring the northern end of Chesapeake Bay. Smith described the Susquehannocks as great and well-proportioned men who seemed like Giants to the English. Based on archaeological evidence, they were no taller than the average modern day American but more robust than Smiths explorers. Pottery of this form and size were used by the Susquehannock as common food vessels at meal time and as containers to store small personal items such as needles, fish hooks, spoons and other items made of antler, bone and wood. Although the Susquehannock controlled the fur trade for nearly a century, they were in constant conflict with other Indian tribes, especially the Seneca of western New York State. Around 1677, the Susquehannocks moved to New York and intermingled with their Iroquois relatives. Pig-like with a saggy skin covered in warts and blemishes, the Squonk spends much of its life weeping. Most simply described as a mishmash of animals, the Giwoggle was called upon by local witches to wreak havoc and mayhem on farmers who offended them. For the French, they were known as the Andastes; for the Dutch and Swedish they were the Minquas, (Jennings . Others moved to New York, joining with theSeneca and Onondaga, who had a long tradition ofadopting defeated enemies into their tribes. The Kettle Creek Monster, West Branch Dugong, or Susquehanna Seal is a marine creature that dates back over a century. TheSusquehannock people, also called the Conestoga by the English, werean important Iroquoian-speaking tribe that formerly lived on Susquehanna River and its branches, from the north end of the Chesapeake Bay inMarylandacrossPennsylvaniainto southernNew York. Many of the trails the STS follows retain their original names, such as the Twin Sisters Trail or the Elkhorn Trail. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. If you journey to this section of the Greenway in search of the Water Witch, think twice. Throughout the historical period they were at war with the Iroquois, who conquered them in 1676 and forced them to settle near the Oneida tribe in New York. It is limited to the lower 48 states of the U.S. but also includes those First Nations from Canada and Mexico that had important roles (Huron, Micmac, Assiniboine, etc. Success! Wikipedia, Byways & Historic Trails Great Drives in America, Soldiers and Officers in American History. The Curtis Act of 1898 dissolved all tribal governments in Oklahoma and ordered the allotment of communal tribal lands by giving 160-acre tracts to individual households. Dick Shovel The idea of the Susquehannocks being giants was likely further enhanced when the malnourished Europeans stood next to the well feed Indians. Has the Susquehanna Seal of Clinton County relocated to new waters? Campers have access to a marina, shopping, restaurants and cultural attractions within a short drive. The Great Shamokin Path Alana can be reached at, The Blue Collar Bookseller review: Colleen Hoover, Man charged for alleged rape of young girl, Police seize nearly $2 million worth of counterfeit items in Clinton County, End of an era: Local folks recall memories of Lycoming Mall, Dog saved by staff at local animal hospital; owners charged. One of the most common causes of toma, Start Gardening This Summer and Reap the Rewards | Successful Harvesting for Beginners, Gardening is a rewarding experience that brings with it many benefits, from improved physical and mental health to the joy of harvesting fresh produce. A tragic end came to the Conestoga, when two weeks before Christmas, in 1763, they were attacked by a group of vigilantes from the Harrisburg area. They called the area Drumore after Dromore, a place in Ireland where many Scotch-Irish families emigrated from, including the Long and Neel families. Reports of the creature became less and less frequent in the later 1800s, many believing it to have died or escaped to the ocean through underground caverns. This year February had the most unusual weather. The story of this strange creature is thought to have its roots in Pennsylvanias lumber history. The Great Island Path Explore the archaeological digs that help us understand the Susquehannock culture from the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission Native American Archaeology Contact Period. It is said that he called upon the aid of the spirit to break a witchs curse, summoning her by burning a plant called foxfire. This involved clearing the forest by burning down trees and planting crops in their ashes. The people lived in villages of longhouses containing several hundred people, but in the summer, they were nomadic for hunting and gathering and built temporary camps of birch bark wigwams. Know of any other Greenway ghouls and legends? The weight and bulkiness made it extremely difficult to transport the canoes over land. After cross-referencing the location on an 1864 township map, I believe the property once belonged to Elijah Levi. They traded with other tribes along the Erie River innorthern Ohio and the Huron and Neutral people of southern Ontario, Canada. During sustained European contact in the 1600s, the Lenape were a powerful tribe estimated to have numbered over 20,000 people. Like other Iroquian tribes, they planted maize, beans, and squash in spring. Despite the Treaty with the Lenape, peaceable relations between Revolutionary America and the American Indian peoples of the Ohio Country did not last. Archaeology of the Lower Susquehanna River reveals that American Indians had utilized its resources for thousands of years. ).This history's content and style are representative. They established their towns along the Susquehanna because of the fertile soil and waters that facilitated travel and trade and provided them with a constant supply fish and waterfowl. Less than two weeks later, the Paxton Boys returned and slaughtered the 14 Indians at the workhouse. During the sixteenth century and carrying forward into the years of colonization the Susquehannocks were the most numerous people in the Susquehanna Valley; in fact it is estimated that their population exceeded six thousand in the 1640s. A friend of Maurers who had also seen the creature described it as a small submarine about to surface. This is the history of the land in which we live and prosper. Tread carefully next time you paddle your way through this section of the Greenway. The only account of a person catching a Squonk comes from the book. Meanwhile, members of the tribe that had migrated into Texas had grown and, by 1828, numbered between 150 and 200 families living in the eastern part of the state. The Susquehannocks canoes were heavy and strong. Reports of the creature became less and less frequent in the later 1800s, many believing it to have died or escaped to the ocean through underground caverns. According to Henry ShoemakersSusquehanna Legends, They say, that is the old mountaineers, that the Water Witch was an Indian girl who suddenly changed her mind towards her lover. After the lands were allotted, the government sold surplus land to non-Indians. The Susquehanna Path Loop Hill Ike isnt around to be the hero these days! Her work is focused on promoting trails and communities within our vibrant and connected Susquehanna Greenway, Alana can be reached at ajajko@susquehannagreenway.org. Get the latest Job listings in your email! Later, after successful trading, they acquired firearms and ammunition. Our next Greenway legend is another Clinton County native, and even holds the title of Official Monster of Clinton County.. The article outlines the archaeological dig of a supposed site of Susquehannock Indians. Since that fateful day, she would appear over the swamp in a glowing orb. Would you be surprised to know that the Native American tribe known as the Susquehannocks never referred to themselves by that name? After the Lenape were defeated, they became subservient to the Susquehannock and referred to them as uncles.. Please enable scripts and reload this page. These lands, consisting of about 1,000,000 acres, were located west of the MissouriRiver and north of the Kansas River. Getting Started Susquehannas Mystery Thing (Northumberland County). Often scores of people pass over them every day without ever knowing. Rather than controlling the elements, this Water Witch, being the symbol of something ever flowing knows a persons destiny. "Susquehannock" was not the name these people used for themselves; it is an English interpretation. Today, there exists no descendant Susquehannock community. Evidence of their habitation has also been found in northern West Virginia. Early relationships were friendly between the Lenape and the Dutch. The Lenape claimed to be the "parent" from which numerous . In warm weather, the men wore only a loincloth and the women a wrap-around skirt. In 1608, Captain John Smith and his small crew of adventurers set out in an open boat to explore the Chesapeake Bay. Next, click the bio link for more information about Wagner and how to purchase an 18" x 24" matte print. At about 50 yards, it sank out of sight. The signers included five Susquehannock war chiefs who probably made their "mark" on the original document, but whose names are phonetically spelled as Sawahegeh, Aurotaurogh, Scarhuhadih, Ruthcuhogah and Wathetdianeh. The survivors were placed in the Lancaster jail for their own protection but two days after Christmas, the Paxtang Boys returned and killed every man, woman, and child, in what an observer call the most horrible massacre that was ever heard of in this, or perhaps an other province.. The brothers brought along a divine long pole (Kohta Falaya), and each night they would place the pole in the ground. The remaining Susquehannocks, often called Conestogas, stayed and their town remained an important activity center for many years where many treaties were negotiated and signed, yet the population declined. You have permission to edit this article. The name Susquehannock is thought to have been an Algonquin word meaning the "people of the Muddy River." The Susquehannock was a confederacy of up to 20 smaller tribes, who occupied fortified villages along the Susquehanna River.They traded with other tribes along the Erie River in northern Ohio and the Huron and NeutralOhio and the Huron and They are thought to have split off from the Iroquois Mohawks around the year 1300. Smith only traveled up the Susquehanna a few miles, where he met a delegation of Susquehannock representatives just north of the rivers mouth. It is unknown what the Iroquoian-speaking Susquehannocks called themselves, but the name that graces the river, the people, and the state park is derived from the name, Sasquesahanough, given to Captain Smith by his Algonquian-speaking American Indian interpreter. The floors are constructed of wide wood planks. Partly cloudy. Smith claimed one warriors calf measured 27 inches in circumference. This involved clearing the forest by burning down trees and planting crops in their ashes. A friend of Maurers who had also seen the creature described it as a small submarine about to surface. You may not get the fortune you hoped for! Their communities were located along the Susquehanna, especially in Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, and York counties. Having influence with the Gods, the deserted one had her made into unchanging water; and in her helpless state, she mocks the petty aspirations of mankind., being the symbol of something ever flowing. The Treaty of Greenville in August 1795 ended the war, and the Lenape surrendered most of their Ohio lands. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. The curator of the North Museum, Dr. John Price, and State anthropologist, W. Fred Kinsey, as well as other experts on the Susquehannocks supervised the dig. Send your story to. In the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, General Anthony Wayne defeated the Lenape and other Ohio-American Indian peoples. It might have been a Squonk! Having influence with the Gods, the deserted one had her made into unchanging water; and in her helpless state, she mocks the petty aspirations of mankind.. Inside the walls are horsehair plaster and one room has a large cooking fireplace with panel doors to close when not in use keeping out the cold. A creature with many names, this elusive legend has been said to lurk in the waters of the Susquehanna River near Lock Haven in Clinton County. The Tuscarora Path An article in the Daily Democratfrom February 27, 1897, describes the travels of a creature that existed before the valley was settled, making its way up the river and settling in the area between present-day Lock Haven and Kettle Creek. Warfare and disease eventually overwhelmed the Susquehannock. The local hero Loop Hill Ike also reappears with this legend, tasked with hunting down witches, ghosts, and monsters. By 1700 there were only 300 Susquehannock remaining and their rapid decline continued until the last 20 were massacred by a mob of colonists in 1763. That seems to fit right in with all the myths, lores, and stories that I have heard over the years. Even the sound of their speach as you described. 300.) As Halloween approaches, nows the time to brush up on your Greenway ghouls and legends. There were several sickle makers in Drumore, crafting sickles and scythes in small blacksmith shops and larger sickle mills. During 1697, some Susquehannocks returned to the lower Susquehanna Valley area and . Like many Native Americans, the Susquehannock social organization was centered almost entirely about female ancestry. Warpaths 2 Peacepipes When Texas gained its independence from Mexico in 1836, President Sam Houston sought friendly Lenape services, and several members of the tribe became scouts and helped to protect the frontier from hostile western tribes. Her spirit would even help you if you went to the swamp and asked, and thus it became known as the Swamp Angel. It is very elusive, preferring to hide out of sight in the hemlock woods; however, the legend says that if you do happen to catch a Squonk, it wont be long before you find yourself with a puddle of tears in place of the beast. By 1640, theSusquehannock had amonopoly on European firearms, further increasing the tribes power. They were an independent people and werenot part of any confederacy into the 1600s. Low 39F. Click the link to read more about Urban and his life. However, tensions between the tribe and the people of Maryland would continue until 1652 when a peace treaty was signed inreturn for arms and safety on theSusquehannocks southern flank. In 1859, the U.S. government forced the remaining Lenape onto a reservation near Anadarko, Oklahoma. Mulching and Watering These firearms were carefully not traded to Iroquois or Lenape tribes. They were a hunter-gatherer tribe, and also domesticated horses which were used for the buffalo hunts. They soon became the most heavily armed of all the Eastern Indian tribes. Thought to live mostly in the trees, Albatwitches prefer to keep to the shadows, and are said to make their presence known by a sound like a cracking whip (perhaps branch-breaking). By 1860, the Delaware had reached a consensus to leave Kansas, and the tribe purchased land from Cherokee Nation and established their headquartersnear present-dayBartlesville, Oklahoma. The Drumore Sickle had a reputation for its quality and affordable price which drove the English competition out of the market. Upon opening the sack, he finds nothing left but a wet spot. Instead of front paws, it had bird claws, and instead of back feet, it had horse hooves, which confused trackers trying to follow it. SUSQUEHANNOCK HISTORY [Note: This is a single part of what will be, by my classification, about 240 compact tribal histories (contact to 1900). It would be the late 1880s before machines like the McCormicks Reaper would replace the sickle and scythe on the farm. Native Americans in the Susquehanna River Valley, Past and Present, The Stature of the Susquehannock Population of the Mid-16th Century Based on Skeletal Remains from 46HM73, Aiden Lair Lodge and Theodore Roosevelts Midnight Ride to the Presidency, How the Susquehannocks became known as the Conestoga Uncharted Lancaster, https://www.facebook.com/dennis.wallace.353250/photos_albums, Native American Shaft Polisher from Stamans Run in Washington Boro Uncharted Lancaster, In the News: Live from the CodeBar Podcast featuring Uncharted Lancaster, 4,000-year-old emoji discovered on Susquehanna River island. Lenape Men removed all facial hair, and older men wore long hair, but warriors usually had a decorated scalp lock that stood straight up from the head like a crest. The Iroquois Confederacy established Shamokin in 1724 and by 1763 the Andastes were extinct. Gardening is a great way to spend time outdoors and get in touch with nature. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Susquehannock, Bucknell University - The Bucknell Environmental Center - Susquehannock, Susquehannock - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Susquehannock - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Her spirit would even help you if you went to the swamp and asked, and thus it became known as the Swamp Angel. Evidence of these mischievous beings has even been found in local Native American culture. The Susquehannocks were armed with flint-or stone- tipped spears and arrows, along with heavy war hammers and stone axes. 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