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Digital Paxton: Digital Collection, Critical Edition, and Teaching Platform

Walking Purchase Collection

The following 58 manuscripts are available at Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens and at the Huntington Digital Library. The Walking Purchase collection contains correspondence and documents related to the Walking Purchase and the 1756-1758 Councils of Easton retained by the office of Pennsylvania's governor William Denny. Materials include abstracts, depositions, letters, maps, memoranda, notes, extracts, petitions, proceedings, responses, speeches, and various miscellany.

The Walking Purchase was an alleged agreement between the Penn family, the original proprietors of the Province of Pennsylvania in the colonial era, and the Lenape Native Americans (also known as the Delaware Indians). In 1737, Thomas and John Penn, Proprietors, presented the Delaware Indians with what they said was the 1686 treaty that entitled them to a tract extending "as far as a man can goe a day and a half." They then hired several men who ran, not walked, for a day and a half along a set course in the Lehigh Valley; this yielded a territory the size of Rhode Island (nearly 1,100 square miles or 1.2 million acres). The Delaware Indians tried to challenge the deal, only to be forced off their ancestral land in 1742. Their land was quickly sold off to settlers who poured into Pennsylvania, netting the Penn family a considerable fortune. Despite several inquiries at the Councils of Easton (1756-1758) as to the legality of the original Walking Purchase treaty it was declared authentic and on June 23, 1762, Chief Teedyuscung signed a statement acknowledging the legality of the Walking Purchase.

Special thanks are due to Gayle Richardson, Catalog Librarian and Archivist at the Huntington Library, who created the Walking Purchase Collection cataloging record and finding aid.

Materials are arranged roughly chronologically below.

Contents of this path:

"Oversize map in Plexiglass case. The map is related to the boundary dispute between New York and New Jersey. The New York commissioners suspected that the northwestern station of the 1686 line was not on the northernmost branch of Delaware river. The New York commissioners evidently shared this suspicion. They sent Captain John Harrison to the branches of the Delaware on June 30, 1719. Harrison was to ""sett out from Minisinks' Island [the terminus on Delaware river fixed in 1686] and go the Indian path to Susquehanna river, and go up Susquehanna river till you meet the Indian path that comes from thence to the Indian town in Delaware called Cashieghtonk. (The New Jersey Archives, vol. 4, 391) Harrison's survey field book dated June 28 -July 8 is at the New Jersey Historical Society. (Stevens Family papers, box 40, folder 2). ""Protracted by a Scale of 5 miles in a inch."" Watermark: Shield / Post Horn Wendelin Riehel (WR 4) / K.J.K. Cf. Gravell, Foreign Watermarks, # 396 (IKM). Unpublished. "
Includes a true copy of a letter from James Logan to Joseph Wheeler concerning purchases from Native Americans. Three excerpts, in the same secretarial hand. Watermark: WW (ligature) / Postal Horn in shield. Cf. Gravell, Foreign Watermarks, #714-715, (Philadelphia, 1764). These excerpts might have been prepared to demonstrate the settlers' interest in the Delaware lands prior to the Walking Purchase. The first two excerpts concern the case of two Upper Forks traders, Nicholas Dupui and Daniel Broadhead, who battled for exclusive rights to the upper Delaware Indian trade. Both tried to ally themselves with the Delaware sachem Lapowinzo. In a meeting with Thomas Penn, Dupui showed the proprietor a petition signed by Lapowinzo and forged marks of other Delawares, asserting that Broadhead's April 5, 1737 land warrant for six hundred acres should be recalled since he "had done them much wrong." Dupui, meanwhile, "had been their trusty and loving friend" which the Delawares rewarded by the same tract of land. The petition's author was Dupui. The proprietor summoned Broadhead who happened to be in Philadelphia. Under the cross-examination, Lapowinzo said Dupui told him that he must sign the petition, although he had nothing against Broadhead of his claims; other Delawares never signed it.
Left side: the list of goods and moneys to be paid. With the note, in Thomas Penn's hand: Stenton, September 7. 1732: "I promise to deliver to Sasoonan & al the Goods mentioned in the above list; within nine months after the date hereof as also the fifty pounds with these mentioned. Right side: Stenton, Sept. 7, 1732. "Paid to Sassoman;" list of goods marked off in pen and pencil; "Rec'd the 7th day of September. The Several goods mentioned in the second column in part of those promised me by Thomas Penn in the first Column and also twenty pounds in parr of ye said fifty. Signed by Sasonan, Alalapis, Pesqueetan, Mayeemo "his mark." Witnesses: James Logan; James Steele, John Wray. Docket label: List of Sassonman's Goods in 1732 Rec'd. In the same hand below: No. 7. Watermark: C.A.W. / Pro Patria; with hat on the tip of the spear. Cf. similar watermark on Plan for rebuilding Magdalen College, 1720s, by Sir James Burrough, (The Architectural Drawings of Magdalen College, Oxford, p. 1). No No exact match in Gravell; cf. # 32 (with AW in Pro Patria, 1765). The unpublished appendix to the treaty negotiated by Thomas Penn and signed on September 7, 1732. The deal opened land along the Schuylkill River watershed between the Lehigh Hills and the Kittatiny Mountains and enlarged Bucks, Philadelphia, and Lancaster Counties. (Cf. Pennsylvania Archives, vol. 1, pp. 344-47).
Signed: "Tattemy." Signature and the body of the petition are in the same hand. Docketed on the fold: No. 8; "24th March 1732 Tattemy an Indian." Watermark: Royal arms under Garter, with motto and buckle. Cf. Gravell, Foreign watermarks, # 606, 1746; not an exact match; the Gravell's sample has S.C. on the bottom of the shield). "That your Pettioner being a Native of This Cuntrey and Have Taken a Great deal of Pains and Industery to Make a plantation on Hoping that yr Honnneur will be pleased to Give me a Grant for the said Lands which I suppose may contain about Three hundred Acres on the forks of Dillaware and William Allen and Irishman Longhorn know my Behaviour and the place and your Pettioners as In duly Bound shall for Ever pray. " A warrant for the survey was issued on December 30, 1736 and a patent to "Tundy Tetamy one of our Indian Friends was granted by the proprietaries on April 28, 1738. Tatamy's application was endorsed by Jeremiah Langhorne and William Allen (Northeastern Indian Lives, 1732-1816), p. 259. Cf. Tatamy was the first Native American to own land in accordance with English law. In 1733, while Delawares generally were negotiating for goods and using land as capital or skins as medium of exchange, Tatamy applied for "a piece of land of about 300 Acres on the forks of the Delaware" (Harper, Promised Land, 88 citing James Steele letter book in HSP) The petition might have been retained in order to prove that Tatamy, a Delaware, acknowledge the Penns' rights over the land in the forks.
This manuscript map was probably drawn for a 1732 deed. Nicholas Scull, the first deputy surveyor for Philadelphia (1719) and Bucks County (1733); handled land disputes in Delaware Water Gap; he was was part of the surveying that precipitated the Walking Purchase. He later served as the Philadelphia County sheriff (1744-1746) and the province's Surveyor General (1748), author of published maps of Philadelphia region; member of the Junto; fluent in the Lenape language.
Letter concerns an attack on a settler named Henry Webb by a Native American named Awannemeak near Menesinck. Watermark: Post Horn, in shield, with bell / C&I Honig. No exact match in Gravell, cf. # 369. Docketed: "Governor Thomas To Awannemeak's Indian King at Asopus" and "No. 49." Regarding the assault on Nicholas Webb. Published, as recorded in the minutes: Minutes of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania , vol. 4 (Harrisburg, 1851): 420; Pennsylvania Archives, 4th ser., vol. 1: Papers of the Governors, 1681-1747 (Harrisburg, Pa., 1900): 725-727.
The date is indicated as January 3, 1740/41, in reference to the March Julian year that began on March 25. Appeal in response to "a complaint made that I let up the Indians for to do mischiefe or make Difficulties or amoung the Peoples the Inhabetants of this Province." The author Jacob Sebring (Seabring or Seaberring) rejects the complaint and reports that the Delawares "tould me that Mr. Penn had taken their Land against their will and Settled a People upon it, that abused them so that they would live so no longer." He also reports that he had written a formal complaint on behalf of the Delawares to Jeremiah Langhorne and criticizes his accuser, "John Mccahon" who had been caught unlawfully detaining and abusing two Lenape young men. Watermark: Royal Arms under Garter / GR Cf. Grenell, Foreign watermarks, # 290-291. Cf: Alfred Mathews, History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe Counties, Pennsylvania (R.T. Peck & Co., 1886): 29-30, referencing a memorandum of "two letters to Jeremiah Langhorne," from "sundry Indians, dated Nov. 21, 1740 and Jan. 3, 1741, which was "referred to in Minutes, March 26, 1741." The memorandum was found in the collection of James "Logan's manuscripts in possession of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania." "The scribe for the Indians was Jacob Sebring," who was "arrested by the Sheriff of Bucks County for serving them in that capacity." Cf. Delawares to Jeremiah Langhorne, Smithfield, January 3, 1741. HSP, Penn Manuscripts, Indian Affairs, vol. 4. Cf. "A Letter to the Governor from the same Indians and the like purpose [i.e. seizure of land in Bucks county] Dated Jan. 3rd. 1740-1," mentioned in the Minutes of the of the Provincial Council March 26, 1741, in: Minutes of the Provincial Council. vol. 4 (Harrisburg, 1851): p. 481
A letter attesting to the character of Jacob Seaberring; signed by Jacob Kuykendall, Abraham van Campen, Nicholas Dupui and Jacobus Kuykendall. Signed: Jacob Knykendal; Abraham Scampen justice, Nicolas Dupui, Jacobus kuy kendael," i.e. Jacob Kuykendall, Abraham van Campen, Nicholas Dupui, and Jacobus Kuykendall. Watermark: Royal arms under Garter / PL ligature. No exact match in Gravell; Cf. #546 (Northampton, Pa., 1763). Docketed (in the same hand; on facing folds: Letter from the Indians to the Govr. Jan. 3rd 1740/31 referred to in the minutes of March 26 1741" and "Character of Jacob Seaberring 30 Jan. 1740." "The Character of Jacob Seaberring is such that he has always been very true and honest both to King and Country and that we have found great benefit by him." Sebring's accuser came into the country a Servant and Run away from his Masters amongst the Indians and their lived as an Indian many years and at last he could live no longer in peace and quietness for his Rogery, and falseness to them so then being forced to come down amongest the Inhabitants, and married a woman and has lived on idle life all his life time he has never done good for king or country and even for himself."
A summary or a precis of a letter from Thomas Penn to an identified recipient, perhaps Richard Peters. Mentions William Denny, Thomas Pownall, Benjamin Franklin and his instructions from the General Assembly, loss of Oswego; men raised in Pennsylvania "for the American Regiments;" the fate of Shirley's and Pepperell's regiments; John Stanwix; the news of the John Armstrong's expedition against Kittanning received by the Duke of Cumberland; "Parson Barton," (i.e. Thomas Barton), the supply bill; provincial elections; Loudoun's decision to quarter the regular troops in Philadelphia, "Land Tax" issue, etc.
Manuscript bound with string. A copy concerning the Pennsylvania and Maryland boundary dispute. In secretarial hand, with broad margins, with manicules and cross-references. Docketed: "Penn v. Baltimore. Copy of the dispute in 1685. Loebbs (?) Br[ief]. of Bill & Answers." Record of the depositions of William Penn and Lord Baltimore before the Board of Trade, during the arbitration over their dispute over the three lower counties on the Delaware. The Board ruled in Penn's favor. (For the ruling, see Papers of William Penn vol. 3, p. 10). This copy was most likely made during the 1757 investigation. Cf. HSP. Penn family papers (Collection 0485A). Series VII: Penn v. Baltimore, vol. 1 (1606-1732). Unpublished.
The terms offered a public reading of the Walking Purchase deed in lieu of an inquiry by Sir William Johnson. Rough minutes of a conference between Teedyuscung and George Croghan. Added in a different hand: "Upon the Conversation, Mr. Croghan & Mr. Weiser at this instance came to the Governor & Mr. Croghan gave it as his opinion that if Governor" would let "Teedyuscung & some of his Cronies" to see the documents, it would "sate" Teedyuscung that would go "in his proceedings no further."
The deposition by Christian Budge and Edward Biddle who testified "that as We were standing by Nicholas Scull's House in this Town, King Teedyuscung with several Indians came there; that Mr. Israel Pemberton took the King by the Hand and went into Mr. Scull's House with him." On verso: 1757, Feb. 21. Draft of the summons from the "Committee appointed to inquire of Indian Complaints against this Government," to Edward Marshall, John Hyder, and Timothy Smith. Apparently, the draft was used as scrap paper to record Busse's and Biddle's deposition.
"Note, signed by Thomas Morrison and Conrad Weiser, describing the ""rest of Indians"" who ""Murmoured against Teediskon."" Added, in pencil: ""Teed did not like the 6 Nations laughing at him."" With: Denny, William. To ""Gentlemen."" 1757, July 11. Draft of the letter to ""a deputation of the Society of Friends expressing the displeasure of the Proprietaries at their interference in treaties with the Indians."" The draft was apparently used as scrap paper."
"Sir, I have Sent one Henry Deigenhart with letters from Carlisle to his Honour the Governor; as I understand both, Colonel Stanwix & Lieu. Col. Armstrong gave orders to the Post to get them sent to Easton. The Answers may be here by Saturday Morning, Time enough to be sent to Carlisle by the next Post. The Bearer is to have Thirty Shillings, which I make no Doubts, Sir, you will be so good as to sea he gets, as you were so kind as to get the Express from hence paid last week. Pray be so kind as to let me know whether it will be proper to let the Pacquets from Carlisle to the Govenor or yourself be carried to Philadelphia or whether it will be best to send them to Easton. The Bearer begs that he may not be obliged to bear his own expenses at Easton, as he thinks thirty shillings very low for riding so far Express. P.S. The Philadelphia Lawyers, I hear will not come over from Lancaster next week, to our Court, being afraid of losing their scalps if they should attempt. I am very much hurryd just now, preparing for the Term approaching."
Signed autograph letter. James Young, the Commissary of the Muster and paymaster of William Denny's Pennsylvania Regiment, complains about recalcitrant "Commissioners" of the General Assembly who have been refusing to appropriate the money "til they were assured they had had the duty they were engage'd," citing "great Complaints" that "the troops did not Range to the Enemy's Country, and the they were within One hundred miles of what was Commonly call'd For Duquesne, they never could learnt in Two Years, whether there was any such Fort there or no." As the Commissioners were "assured" that the men "they did not do their duty, the only Method they had to Compell them to it, or to make them leave the Service, was by detaining their pay from them."
A corrected draft. The immediate record of the affidavit of James Hyndshaw, "of County of Northampton & Lieutenant of the First Battalion or ye Pennsylvania regiment," before William Allen. Hyndshaw testified of a "Close Conference" between "People called Quakers belonging to ye said Province but chiefly from Philadelphia," including Israel Pemberton and Isaac Norris, and Teeduyscung. Cf. published text: Pennsylvania Archives, vol. 3 pp. 263-264.
A corrected draft. Docketed, in the same hand: "Dr. Affidavits of Mr. Allen, Mr. Hamilton, R. Peters, & Mr. Lyell." Peters testified, "on his oath," that he had found "Papers and Writings purporting to be a copy of an Original Deed for lands purchased by ye late Proprietor William Penn, Esq. from ye Delaware Indians, situated in & near ye Forks of ye River Delaware, bearing date ye 20th Day of August Anno Domini 1686 & of which now produced copy." Peters also testified that the copy "annexed" was "a true Transcript carefully compared & examined by ye Deponent with the ancient Copy."
"To be delivered to his Honor the Governor per Insign Martin (?)" Docketed: "24 December 1757 James Read with 3 Indians." Regarding "three Indians to wit, John Jacob, David, and James, a lad of about 13 years," all "Delawares one in Teedious Kon's son" to be escorted to William Denny to Philadelphia "gratifying their Inclination." With: Weiser, Conrad. To William Denny. Note informing Denny of the Delawares' arrival; "Jordyn (?) Eberhard, Martin, and a serjeant of Mass. Company came with them."
A true copy of the allegedly lost 1686 Walking Purchase Treaty; the main document justifying the Walking Purchase. This copy was most likely produced by Richard Peters' office in 1757. Marked "Copia vera" on the bottom; with two blank spaces left unfilled in the text. Secretarial hand, the same as on No. 1. Watermark: Post horn / Wendelin Riehel / 4 WR / WW countermark. Cf. Grenell, Foreign Watermarks, #714-715; Philadelphia, 1764. The replica of the "antient" copy of the allegedly lost deed that entitled the Proprietor to a tract of land "back into the woods as far as a man can goe in a day and a half" and the main document justifying the Walking Purchase. Copy of the incomplete deed August 25 1686, most likely produced by Richard Peters' office in 1757. Cf. Alden T. Vaughan, Early American Indian Documents: Treaties and laws, 1607-1789. Vol. 1: Pennsylvania and Delaware Treaties, 1629-1737 (Washington, D.C.: University Publications of America, 1979), pp. p. 80, 476; after: Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, vol. 13, pp. 465-466; the published text is a recap of a summary rather than the full text. Cf. Sir William Johnson's report to the Board of Trade, Aug. 1, 1762, in: The Papers of Sir William Johnston, vol. 3, p. 840. Cf. manuscript copies in HSP: Board of Trade Papers, Proprietaries, 1697-1776, XXI-1, Ind X., 12 Doc. (b) and in Penn Mss., Indian Affairs, IV.
In secretarial hand. Watermark: Royal Arms under Garter / GR under crown. Cf. Gravell, 1755. Cf. Pennsylvania Archives, vol. 1, pp. 539-543; William Joseph Buck. History of the Indian Walk: Performed for the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania in 1737, to which is Appended a Life of Edward Marshall (Edwin S. Stuart, 1886): 69-70. The minutes of meeting of the Provincial Council, a day before the conference between the Penn brothers and the Delaware chiefs in Stenton. Thomas Penn reported on the previous conferences with the Indians "to adjust some Matters relating to Lands lying in the Country of Bucks which tho formerly fully and absolutely released by the Indians then inhabiting those Parts to his Father yet they had of late made some claims to them." Most likely, the excerpt was prepared in the course of the 1757 investigation.
Miscellaneous manuscripts and fragments. First Meeting" and "2nd Meeting." List of names: Sergeant, Patterson, Biddle, Sutherland, Duane, Galt, Earle, Macary, Randall, B.C.; Sergt. Newbold, C.J. Ingersoll, Kane, Earle, Jack, Lehman. "Memorandum in Book C. 190." Wrapper, docketed: "Conrad Weiser's Affidavit proving the Execution of Two Deeds from the 5 Nations in 1736 for Lands in Susquehanna & the Forks & their Petition to the Proprietors not to buy any Land from the Delawares.
Watermark: Royal arms under Garter / GR under crown in cartouche. Docketed: "an old Indian Speech." No. 39. Docketed on P. 4: "Part of Genl. Indians speech at Easton." Contemporaneous record of the famous speech, in Conrad Weiser's hand. This is the fourth known copy. Cf. copies in: HSP, Penn. Mss. Indian Affairs, V, 63; the Chatham Papers (PRO, 30/8, 96, ff. 108, 154-55, attached to Thomas Penn's letter to William Pitt of February 3, 1759), and PHMC, Provincial papers, XXVII, 69; enclosed in Weiser's letter to Richard Peters of November 15, 1758. Ackawonothio, or Anacatotha was a a Shawnee or Delaware chief who earlier lived in Wyoming Valley. Published, after the HSP copy, in: Alden T. Vaughan, Early American Indian Documents: Treaties and laws, 1607-1789. Vol. 3: Pennsylvania Treaties, 1756-1757 (Washington, D.C.: University Publications of America, 1979), p. 425.
A contemporary copy, marked: "Copie." Watermark: Royal arms / GR under crown. This is the fifth copy of the petition. Cf. a draft at the American Antiquarian society and three contemporary copies at HSP. Published: Petition to the King in Council, [2 February 1759]," Founders Online, National Archives, accessed September 29, 2019, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-08-02-0070. [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 8, April 1, 1758, through December 31, 1759, ed. Leonard W. Labaree. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1965, pp. 264–276.
A corrected draft; the excerpts were used by the Proprietors' lawyers to prove the authenticity of the 1686 treaty. Endorsed as follows: "Examined & compared to William Markham's old Diary W. Peters and Richard Peters." Heavily edited draft of the alleged excerpt from the "antient" diary of William Markham for August 9-27, 1686. The excerpt was used by the proprietors' lawyers to prove the authenticity of the 1686 "treaty." Watermark: Royal arms under Garter/GR under crown, same as the copia vera of the 1686 treaty.
A draft of the account of Sir William Johnson's and Israel Pemberton's speeches to the Indians at Easton. "At 5 O'Clock Sir William Johnson by a Messenger gave us Notice that he had appointed the Indians [added in different hand: which had been prepared to hold the conference in] to meet him the Bowery within an hour when he intended to speak to them. We attended and Sir William Johnson made a Speech at them, the substance of which was as follows." [note on the margin] That it was injust to deny Teedy. a clerk which was his national right that he had as much right to app. a clerk as Sir William upon which Mr. Marsh said that he was not appointed Secretary by Sir W. but the King. Cf. Papers of Sir William Johnson, vol. 3, 762-771. "Sir William then asked Israel Pemberton 'what right he had to interpose in this matter, and said that, He was, by the Royal Order, to hear the Complaints of the Indians, and the Proprietaries Defence, and that no other person had any right to Intermeddle. That the Governor, and the Proprietary-Commissioners who were, by did not at all interfere. Israel insolently answer'd that He was a Freeman and had as much Right to speak as the Governor. That it was injust to deny Teeduyscung a Clerk which was his natural right. Upon which Mr. March said, that he was not appointed Secretary by Sir William but by the King. Mr. Marsh is Witham Marsh, Secretary for Indian Affairs.

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