82 HISTORY OF 



With this accession, the settlement was considerably 

 augmented, and now numbered about thirty families; 

 though they lived m the midst of the Mingoe or Cones- 

 togo, Pequae and Shawanese Indians, they were ne^er-- 

 theless safely seated ; they had nothing to fear from the 

 Indians.* They mingled with them in fishing and hunt-- 

 ing. "The Indians were hospitable and respectful to the 

 whites, and exceedingly civil." 



This little colony improved their lands, planted 

 orchards,! erected dwellings, and a meeting and school- 

 house for the settlement, in which religious instruction, 

 on the Sabbath, and during the week, a knowledge of 

 letters, reading and writing, were given to those who 



♦The Honorable Chas. Gookin, Esq., Lieut. Gov. of Pa» 

 made a journey to Conestogo, and in a speech to the Indians, 

 June 18th, 1711, says, "He intends to present five belts of 

 wampum to the Five Nations, and one to you, of Conestogo, 

 and requires your friendship to the PalatiTies, settled near 

 Pequea." 



To which they answer, "That they are well pleased with the- 

 Governor's speech » * » " As to the Palatines, they are in 

 their opinion safely seated." — Col. Rec. II. p. 556-7. 



The several nations of Indians,. living on the Susquehanna 

 at this time, were Mingoes, or those of the Conestogo, Dela- 

 ware Indians settled at Peshtang, above Conestogo, and other 

 adjacent places, and Ganawese. " The Piquaws had their 

 wigwams scattered along the banks of the Pequea." — Col, 

 Rec. II. 489. 



fSome of the first planted fruit trees may yet be seen on the 

 farm of Christian Herr, great grandson of Hans Herr. There 

 we saw a cherry tree in full vigor, which, it is said, is rising of 

 one hundred and twenty years old. We measured it, and, 

 found it 15 feet and 4 feet inches in circumference. Also a 

 a Catalpa, Bignonia catalpa, which was transplanted by 

 Christian Ilcn^'s mother; it measures fifteen feet in cir-- 

 cumference. 



