The Dupui General Store Ledger:  1743-1793
 
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                 HISTORY1727                                                                              
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1727 -- INDIAN TRADING POST AT
              SHAWNEE-ON-DELAWARE

Nicholas Dupui, like all of us, was a product of his time.  Hailing from a region of New York earlier ravaged by the Lenape/Delaware Indians (the Esopus Wars of 1659-1663), he didn't exactly have a warm and fuzzy spot in his heart for these Indians.  Accordingly, when he set out to establish an Indian trading post in the heart of Penn's Woods, foremost on his mind was the need to set up shop adjacent to some other tribe... any other tribe... just not next to the Delaware Indians. 

Obviously, one couldn't just amble into Pennsylvania merely hoping not to encounter one's historical nemesis -- after all, the Delaware Indians were almost everywhere in the region.  So, to effectuate his planned course of action, advance strategic planning would be required, and reliable intelligence from the Indian trader community would need to be gathered.  Fortunately, his family had been in the mercantile trade for some time, and had routinely provided suitable wares to Indian traders.  Intelligence would be collected and assessed.

In due course, Nicholas Dupui fortuitously encountered Indian trader John Mathers (who had built himself a cabin above the "Pahaquela Mountains on Analomink Creek"), right next to the ancestral home of the Shawnee tribe.   They worked out an arrangement whereby Mathers would introduce Dupui to the Shawnee (with Mathers also providing the requisite Algonquin language translation services so that the desired land purchase might thereby be consumated).   With the tacit understanding that Mathers would thereafter depart for parts unknown, sated by a large supply of coinage in his purse, Dupui had arrived at an executable plan of action.

A barrister would next be engaged to formalize the legal niceties attendant to real estate transactions.  In timely fashion, an "indenture" for some 3000 acres would emerge (with a uniquely-conceived clause that would force the Shawnee to forever defend Dupui against all other Indians):

Indian Deed to Nicholas Depui

"This indenture, made the 18th day of September, in the year of the reign of our Soverent Lord George the Second, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, defender of the faith, Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and twenty seven, Nicklas Depui, of Kizenick, in the county of Ulster, yeoman, of the one part, and Indian owners and possessors of the said tract of land hereafter of the other part, witnesseth that the said Indian owners, possessors of the said land aforesaid, for and in consideration of to them, the said Indian owners and possessors, well and Truly to them in hand paid by the said Nicklas Depui, at and before the ensealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt of which they, the said [      ] and every of them doe and doth, aquit, release and discharge the said Nichlas Depue, there heirs, executors and administrators and assigns, Have granted, bargained and sold, released and confirmed the said Nichlas Dupui all the said tract of land lying in Pensalvena, in the county of Bucks, joining to the Dellaway River, beginning by Peter Ribble on the south side of the land by the North of a creek and thereover, and runs up southwesterly eighty chains; from thence Northwest so far as the top of the high mountains, and from thence all along the said mountains as the coast runs, so along till we come over against Peghgoquery, and thence with a southeast line so as the river runs, including all the Islands and lowlands appertaining to the said tract of land belonging to the heirs of Sir William Pen, Containing Three Thousand Acres more or less, together with all the Intress, woods, timbers ande underwoods, with all and all other privileges and advantages whatsoever, all manner of mines, minerals and quarrys, pastures and privileges whatsoever; all these the said Indians and every of them, their rights and interests, property, claim of in the said tract of land belonging or in any manner of way appertaining, and reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders thereof, and of every pusell there of to have and the said tract of land hereby granted, bargained, sold, released and confirmed, with these and every of these appertenances, unto the said Niclas Depue, their heirs and executors & admenstrator or assigns forever, free from any claim to be maid by us or any of us, or any other Indians whatsoever, and we will and ever warrant and forever defend the said Nichlas Depue, there heirs, executors, administrators and assigns in a quiet, peaceable possession thereof against all other Indian or Indians whatsoever.

     "In witness whereof we, the said Indian owners and possessors, hereunto set our hand and seals the day and year above written.

     "Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us.

                                                    WAUGOUNLENNEGGEA C.  (Seal.)

                                                    PEMNOGQUE V.                      (Seal.) 

 


                                                        


 
   
   
 
       
       
     
     
 
     
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