what did the walking treaty of 1737 do

The Walking Purchase

(or Walking Treaty) was a 1737 agreement between the Penn family, the proprietors of Pennsylvania, and the Lenape (also known as the Delaware). By it the Penn family claimed an area of 1,200,000 acres (4,860 km²) and forced the Lenape to vacate it. The Lenape appeal to the Iroquois for aid on the issue was refused.

Full Answer

What was the Walking Purchase of 1737?

The Walking Purchase (or Walking Treaty) was an alleged 1737 agreement between the Penn family, the original proprietors of the Province of Pennsylvania in the colonial era (later the American state of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania after 1776), and the Lenape native Indians (also known as the Delaware Indians).

What was the Walking Purchase and why was it important?

The Walking Purchase (or Walking Treaty) was a 1737 agreement between the Penn family, the proprietors of Pennsylvania, and the Lenape (also known as the Delaware). By it the Penn family claimed an area of 1,200,000 acres (4,860 km²) and forced the Lenape to vacate it. The Lenape appeal to the Iroquois for aid on the issue was refused.

What was the Walking Purchase of Delaware?

See Article History. Walking Purchase, (Aug. 25, 1737), land swindle perpetrated by Pennsylvania authorities on the Delaware Indians, who had been the tribe most friendly to William Penn when he founded the colony in the previous century.

What happened to the Native Americans in 1737?

Endless stories exist of natives mistreated or taken advantage of, coerced by alcohol or force. The Walking Purchase of 1737 was a betrayal without bloodshed or coercion; there was no massacre like the Battle of Kittanning, no forced march leaving a trail of tears.

What did the Walking Purchase of 1737 accomplish?

In the end, the runners of the Walking Purchase of 1737 procured 1,200 square miles [more than 1 million acres] of Lenni Lenape land in Pennsylvania.

What was the result of the Walking Purchase?

With the Walking Purchase of 1737, Pennsylvania officials defrauded the Delaware Indians out of a vast amount of land, perhaps over one million acres, in the Delaware and Lehigh Valleys.

What was the purpose of the Walking Purchase?

Their purpose was to measure out a land purchase that Thomas Penn, the son and heir of William Penn, claimed his father had made from the Delaware fifty years earlier.

When was the Walking Treaty?

September 19, 1737The Walking Purchase, also known as the Walking Treaty, began in the early hours of September 19, 1737, when three colonists and three Native Americans set off to measure out a land purchase that Thomas Penn, son of William, claimed his father had made with the Lenape tribe (also known as the Delaware) fifty years ...

Did the Walking Purchase worked out well for the Indians?

Despite its bloodless nature, the Walking Purchase was among the most devastating betrayals ever dealt to the Lenape, the natives who lived on the land taken.

Why did Native Americans agree to the terms of the Walking Purchase?

Believing that their forefathers had made such an agreement the Lenape leaders agreed to let the Penns have this area walked off. They thought the whites would take a leisurely walk down an Indian path along the Delaware River.

Where did the Walking Purchase happen?

The deed indicated that the purchase extended from a point on the Delaware River near present-day Wrightstown, northwest into the interior "as far as a Man could walk in a day and half," a typical Indian measurement of space. Logan hired three men to "walk off" the area, who were accompanied initially by several ...

Who bought land from the Indians?

The Piankeshaw Indians had deeded the land twice—once to speculators in 1775, and again, thirty years later, to the United States by treaty. The Court decided in favor of William McIntosh, who had bought the land from the U.S. government.

How did the 1737 Walking Purchase affect Delaware and Shawnee Indians?

How did the 1737 Walking Purchase affect Delaware and Shawnee Indians? It accelerated migration to western Pennsylvania and the Ohio River Valley.

Which colony was known as the best poor man's country?

To many western Europeans in the eighteenth century, life in early Pennsylvania offered a veritable paradise and refuge from oppression. Some called it "the best poor man's country in the world."

When did Indians leave Pennsylvania?

By 1800, most Indians whose original homelands were within Pennsylvania's borders had moved out of the state to new homes in Ohio, Canada, or farther west.

Which colony made a treaty with Native Americans led William Penn?

Pennsylvania'sThe Treaty of Shackamaxon, otherwise known as William Penn's Treaty with the Indians or “Great Treaty,” is Pennsylvania's most longstanding historical tradition, a counterpart to the foundation stories of Virginia (John Smith and Pocahontas) and New England (the first Thanksgiving).

What was the Walking Purchase Apush?

The Walking Purchase (or Walking Treaty) was a 1737 agreement between the Penn family, the proprietors of Pennsylvania, and the Lenape (also known as the Delaware). By it the Penn family claimed an area of 1,200,000 acres (4,860 km²) and forced the Lenape to vacate it.

Where did the Walking Purchase happen?

The deed indicated that the purchase extended from a point on the Delaware River near present-day Wrightstown, northwest into the interior "as far as a Man could walk in a day and half," a typical Indian measurement of space. Logan hired three men to "walk off" the area, who were accompanied initially by several ...

How did the 1737 Walking Purchase affect Delaware and Shawnee Indians?

How did the 1737 Walking Purchase affect Delaware and Shawnee Indians? It accelerated migration to western Pennsylvania and the Ohio River Valley.

What were the causes and effects of the Pequot War?

Particular events which have often been cited as the cause for the Pequot War are the murders of English traders. However, these deaths were the culmination of decades of conflict between Native tribes in the region, further amplified by the arrival of the Dutch and English.

What happened to the Lenni Lenape tribe?

As a result of the Walking Purchase, members of the Lenni Lenape tribe, now recognized as The Delaware Nation, were segregated into pockets or parcels of land surrounded by non-tribal settlers. Such is what occurred with respect to a grant of land to Chief Tetamy and his band of Delawares.

What was the Delaware Nation v. Pennsylvania case?

Pennsylvania (2004), the Delaware nation (one of three later federally recognized Lenape tribes) and its descendants in the 21st century claimed 314 acres (1.27 km 2) of land included in the original so-called "purchase" in 1737 , but the U.S. District Court granted the Commonwealth's motion to dismiss. It ruled that the case was nonjusticiable, even if the Delaware Nation's allegations of fraud were true. This ruling held through several appealed actions made through several levels of the United States courts of appeals. The Supreme Court of the United States refused to hear the case which had the effect of upholding the lower appeals courts' decision.

Why did the Lenni Lenape move westward?

The Lenni Lenape complained to the King of England about the execution of the "walk" by Penn and his agents to no avail. In response, the Lenni Lenape began their movement westward in compliance with their ancestors' purported agreement to the terms of the Walking Purchase's deed.

How far did the Lenape walk?

According to the popular account, Lenape leaders assumed that about 40 miles (60 km) was the longest distance that could be covered under these conditions. Provincial Secretary Logan hired the three fastest runners in the colony, Edward Marshall, Solomon Jennings and James Yeates, to run on a prepared trail. They were supervised during the "walk" by the Sheriff of Bucks County Timothy Smith. The walk occurred on September 19, 1737; only Marshall finished, reaching the modern vicinity of present-day Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, 70 miles (113 km) away. At the end of the walk, Sheriff Smith drew a perpendicular line back toward the northeast, and claimed all the land east of these two lines ending at the Delaware River.

What was the difference between the Puritan and Penn government?

The most striking difference was Penn's ability to cultivate a positive relationship based on mutual respect with the Native Americans inhabiting the province.

Where did the Lenape move?

Some Lenape later moved further west into the Ohio Country and the southern and western claims of the Kingdom of France in their territory of New France ( Quebec ), west of the French Fort Duquesne (later Fort Pitt and later still Pittsburgh) at the " Forks of the Ohio ". Because of the Walking Purchase, the Lenape grew to distrust ...

Who was the founder of the Lenape?

The founder of the Colony, William Penn (1644–1718) in 1681, enjoyed a reputation for fair dealing with the Lenape (including the Delaware Indians). However, his heirs, John Penn ("the American") and Thomas Penn, abandoned many of their father's moderate practices. In 1736, they claimed a deed from 1686 by which the Lenape promised to sell a tract beginning at the junction of the upper Delaware River and the tributary Lehigh River (near modern Easton, Pennsylvania) and extending as far west as a man could walk in a day and a half, later to become known as the "Walking Purchase" or the Walking Treaty of 1737. This document may have been an unsigned, unratified treaty, or even an outright forgery ( Encyclopædia Britannica refers to it as a "land swindle"). The Penns' agents began selling land in the Lehigh Valley in the disputed area along the Lehigh River to colonists while the Lenape still inhabited the area.

How many acres were taken from the Lenape?

In the end, 1.2 million acres were taken from the Lenape and given to the Penn family. The Lenape were understandably upset and went to the Iroquois for help, but to no avail. Those who stayed in the area were forced to settle on poor land or work as laborers for the colonists.

What was the walk of the Englishmen?

The “walk” became a race, with the three well-trained Englishmen sprinting as fast as they could. The runners were aided by settlers who cut away underbrush, arranged for horses to carry supplies, and lent boats to ferry the men across streams. They did everything they could to ensure Penn’s men triumphed.

When did the Walking Purchase begin?

Support. News. Contact. The Walking Purchase, also known as the Walking Treaty, began in the early hours of September 19, 1737 , when three colonists and three Native Americans set off to measure out a land purchase that Thomas Penn, son of William, claimed his father had made with the Lenape tribe (also known as the Delaware) fifty years previous.

Who sold land north of Tohickon Creek?

Thomas held in his hand what he said was a deed signed by Lenape chiefs in 1686 that sold all land north of Tohickon Creek on the Delaware River to William Penn. The document stated that the amount of land would be measured by a day and a half’s walk from an agreed upon starting point.

What did Canasatego say to the Delawares?

The Penns had applied to the Six Nations to compel the Delawares to surrender their ancient home, and Canasatego stood up and made a very insulting speech, calling the Delawares women, and upbraiding them for presuming to sell the lands. Said he, “ You deserve to be taken by the hair of your heads and shaken till you recover your senses and become sober. We have seen a deed signed by your chiefs above fifty years ago, for this very land. But how came you to take upon yourselves to sell land at all? We conquered you; we made women of you. ” After talking for some time in this strain, he commanded them to remove from the land instantly, and gave them their choice to go to Shamokin or Wyoming. He then gave them a belt of wampum and ordered them to leave the council.

How long after the walking purchase was made was the Lenni Lenape a part of the Six?

Thus was the power of the once proud and warlike Lenni Lenape broken forever. Just twelve years after the unfortunate “Walking Purchase” was made, and while the contention in regard to it was still carried on, a portion of the territory which it covered and very much more was secured from the Delaware, or Lenape, and the Six Nations by purchase, ...

Where did the Monseys settle?

A few of them settled on the Juniata, near Lewistown, but the greater number of them, under Tademe, went to Wyoming, below Wilkes-Barre, where they built a village in 1742. The Monseys occupied the Lackawanna Valley under their chief, Capoure. Thus was the power of the once proud and warlike Lenni Lenape broken forever.

Why were the trees blazed along the route?

It is said that a preliminary walk was had, and that the trees were blazed along the route in 1735, in order that no distance should be lost in wandering out of a straight line. Edward Marshall, James Yeates and Solomon Jennings, noted walkers, were chosen to make the walk.

What was the walking purchase?

It is not within the scope of this work to give a detailed account of the conflicts which led to the expulsion of the Indians from Northeastern Pennsylvania, but a brief account of the “Walking Purchase,” and the dissatisfaction of the Indians which followed, will be traced, until the final overthrow of the Six Nations.

Where did the Iroquois claim land?

In 1736 the Iroquois released their assumed claim to a belt of country lying north of the former purchase and south of the Blue Mountains, and extending southwesterly from the Delaware to and beyond the Susquehanna, including the northern parts of the present Northampton, Lehigh and Berks, and the whole of several counties farther west.

When was the first title issued in Pennsylvania?

The first release of title by the Indians in the Province of Pennsylvania was made in 1782 (this is a typo in the original text, it should probably be 1682), before Penn’s arrival, by his Deputy-Governor, William Markham. It embraced all the territory between the Neshaminy and the Delaware, as far up as Wrightstown and Upper Wakefield — about the centre of the present county of Bucks.

Why was the Lenape map distorted?

This distorted map, drawn by Andrew Hamilton in 1736, was given to the Lenape to convince them that the route of the Walking Purchase was fair. Tohickon Creek, the expected northern boundary, is not shown in order to make it possible to misinterpret the much father Lehigh River as Tohickon Creek.

What was Marshall's athletic feat?

Peaceable Kingdom by Edward Hicks. A painting celebrating Penn's dream of good relations with the natives.

What was the Walking Purchase of 1737?

The Walking Purchase of 1737 was a betrayal without bloodshed or coercion; there was no massacre like the Battle of Kittanning, no forced march leaving a trail of tears.

What is the legacy of the Walking Purchase?

The legacy of the Walking Purchase is as evident in what is not present in Pennsylvania today as what is. Even before the purchase, Lenape had been trickling out of their ancestral land to the west in response to the white settlements shrinking their own world more and more.

How many square miles were taken from the Lenape?

All in all, nearly 1,110 square miles were taken from the Lenape. It is generally imagined that treaties between whites and Native Americans involved easily fooled natives giving away land, addled by alcohol or unaware of the ramifications of what they signed.

Did Thomas Penn want to upset the Lenape?

Since the reputation of Pennsylvania’s fair dealings with the Lenape had served well in the past, and the relative nonviolence of their relations was not something that Thomas Penn or James Logan wanted to upset, it was resolved that the lands in question would be somehow purchased from their native owners.

Did the Lenape have handicaps?

The Lenape leaders involved with the Walking Purchase had no such handicaps. In Albert Meyers’ collection of some of William Penn’s works, William Penn, His Own Account of the Delaware Indians, Penn wrote, “he will deserve the Name of Wise, that Outwits them in any treaty about a thing they understand.”.

Overview

History

Delaware Nation v. Pennsylvania

See also

External links