56 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1651. 



the rights of the West India Company, by reason of first dis- 

 covery, possession and purchases from the Indians, " which 

 included the Schuylkill district," he demanded him, " to show 

 in like mnnner, by similar evidence, what lands there had been 

 purchased by him or his, and were consequently conveyed to them 

 by the natives and proprietors." 



" The result was only a simple writing, wherein the aforesaid 

 Governor designated the Swedish limits wide and broad enough," 

 alleging, that the deeds of the purchase were " in the chancery 

 at Stockholm."^ This allegation, Stuyvesant regarded as a mere 

 subterfuge and destitute of truth. He endeavored to sustain 

 this serious chai-ge against Printz by adducing the fact, that he 

 (Printz) then, " for the first time, had tried to buy from a certain 

 sachem or Indian chief named Waspangzewan, such lands as he 

 already occupied, and insisted, were included within his limits." 

 The fact relied on by Stuyvesant proves nothing — it being more 

 likely that the offer to purchase was to get rid of a troublesome 

 claim, than to liquidate a just one. This is rendered more pro- 

 bable by the fact, that before Stuyvesant left the river, the 

 Indian sachem who refused to sell to the Swedes, made a " free 

 donation and gift" of the same lands to the Dutch. ^ 



This occurred on the 30th of July. On the 9th of that month, 

 the very singular, and rather suspicious negotiation, was con- 

 ducted, by which the Dutch pretend to have extinguished the 

 Indian title to the land from Christiana kill to Bompgens hook, 

 before adverted to. This was also a "free gift" except that one 

 of the ceding sachems, made a condition, " that when anything 

 was the matter with his gun, it shall be repaired ;" and also, 

 that when he came empty among the Dutch, they were to give 

 him some maize. The grantors in this case were Amattehoorn, 

 Pemenatta and Sinques — who, although they claim to be the 

 right owners of the west bank of the river from the Schuylkill 

 downwards, declined selling the lands between that river and 

 Christina, to the Dutch. They, however, do admit, that the 

 Swedes did purchase the lands they occupy, but deny that it was 

 from the right owners, which the^ now claim to be. No deed 

 was executed at this conference, that ceremony having been 

 postponed for four years, when another grantor named Ackehoorn 

 joins in a regular Indian conveyance for the same premises — the 

 consideration being as usual, duffels, kettles, guns, powder, &c. 

 What is remarkable in this deed, the right of fishing and hunting 

 is reserved to tlie Indians.^ 



That the Swedes were the first to purchase from the Indians, 

 the lands included within the bounds of Delaware County, has 

 already been shown. The object of Governor Stuyvesant, was 



^ N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 689. ■' For this coaveyiince, see ib. 596. 



3 N. Y Col. Doc. i. 599. 



