Indian Inhabitants

Delaware Indian

After the Susquehannocks left the valley the Delaware and Shawnee Indians migrated from Philadelphia. The Delaware, who called themselves the “Lenni Lenape” had been pushed out of their original homelands in Ohio, Tennessee, and Kentucky by the Europeans, and then pushed even further across Illinois and what is now Missouri. In search of stability and protection, and having already been made subject to the Iroquois in 1720, they accepted the Iroquois offer to use the Susquehanna Valley as a hunting ground, where like the Susquehannocks they were able to find success as farmers of corn, squash, beans, sweet potatoes, and tobacco. They also manufactured pottery, dressed deer hides and made beads or wampum.

Although some describe Shickellamy as having the tact to deal with the Delaware Indians, others claim that the Delaware were scorned by Shickellamy. This is due in a large part to the bad reputation of their chief, Sassoonan, who was also known as Allummapees. Upon Allummapee’s move to Shamokin he had been introduced to “firewater” or alcohol and had very quickly become addicted. Seldom was he sober enough to keep up with his leadership duties and as a result allowed disorder to infect his tribe and lost Shickellamy’s respect. In efforts to promote his own authority Shickellamy claimed that the Deleware cheated the blacksmith, drank too much, and were led by “an inebriate”, Sassoonan. When Sassoonan died in September 1747, Shickellamy, Weiser, and their comrade Logan, spoke with the Philadelphia officials and were able to prevent Pisquitomen, Sassononan’s heir from assuming authority.

Regardless of the extent of Shickellamy’s scorn, one can be certain that the Delaware were unhappy with their subjection by the Iroquois. In 1720 the Iroquois had denied them of the right to make war or sell land and as a result they were bitter, angry with their lack of authority, and tired of being pushed around.