OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 25 



atGS four nations on the Susquelianna, viz.: Conestogos, Shawanos, Gana- 

 wese and Delawares. 



In 1728 disturbances arose between the Conestogos and Shawauese, 

 and the latter reported the arrival of a hostile band of Flathead Indians. 



In 1729 the county of Lancaster was marked off; and it should be 

 remembered that most of the foregoing notices have respect to the 

 district of country then known as Chester county and comprising Avithin 

 its limits Lancaster county. . 



In 17o4 the Ganawese are spoken of as settled between Pextang and 

 Conestogo. 



In 1742, at the treaty of Philadelphia, there were some Shawanese; 

 f:»;ur Conestogos wdio spoke the Oneyiut (or Oneida) language ; and four 

 "Canoyido" or Nanticokes of Conestogo. 



In 17-14, Canassatego stated that the Conoy Indians had resolved to 

 remove to Shamokin, and at a conference held in the same year at Phila- 

 delphia with some Delawares from the Upper Susquehanna, one of the 

 chiefs stated that the Conoys from below had moved higher up, to be 

 near them. 



The foregoing data are produced here for the sole purpose of deter- 

 mining the nationality of the Indians of Lancaster county: fuller 

 particulars and much matter relating to them, but having no direct 

 bearing on the question under consideration, are reserved for the next 

 chapter. ^Meanwhile the details given warrant the following general 

 statement : 



"It appears that for some period before the year 1608,^ down to about 

 the year 1680, Lancaster County, or that portion of it which lies upon 

 the Susquehanna, was inhabited by a number of Indians known to the 

 Colonists as Susquehamiocls. These people were objects of attack to the 

 Five Nations. They were in possession of arms, obtained originally 

 from the French; who were, therefore, indirectly at least, known to 

 them. About the year 1631, a regular traffic was opened with them 

 from Claiborne's trading post; and upon the settlement of Maryland 

 under Lord Baltimore, wars, treaties and purchases were had with them 

 from that colony. They were sometimes in arms against their neighbors 

 of the aboriginal stock. They at length became dependent upon the 

 protection of the whites against the New York Confederacy ; and finally, 

 before the arrival of William Penn, they were overthrown and absorbed 

 by the Five Nations. A settlement was soon planted by the conquerors 

 at Conestogo, which subsequently became the chief post and place of 

 council of the Indians seated on the Susquehanna, below its fork. The 

 residents there Avere of the Five Nations ; chiefly of the Seneca tribe, 

 but comprising sometimes Oncidas, Cayugas and Tuscaroras. About 



iFoulke, 1. c. p. 212, sq. 



