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BY MARK W. REGULSKI FOR THE GREATER NANTICOKE
Tuesday, February 01, 2000 Page: 6
r This week, instead of the usual column, I am writing about the Nanticoke
Indians. They share an important part of our history, as they are the earliest
known inhabitants of Nanticoke. Their significance is often overlooked. Here
is a brief history of the Nanticoke, which is derived from Nentego, a
variation of Unechtgo or Unalachtgo, which means “Tide Water People.” The
Nanticoke were of the Turkey Clan of the Delawares, which were discovered in
1608, living along the Nanticoke River in Maryland. The legend of the
Nanticoke and Shawnee is relatively the same. According to the legend, the
Nentegos and the Shawanis went to the “south lands,” from the region known as
“Talega land,” or the land of the Tallegewi (also Tallegwi), otherwise known
as Allegheny. The “Talega” land was apparently on the Ohio or the Allegheny
Rivers. The southern migration evidently began there. The Nanticoke and the
tribes of the Delaware living on the Delaware River developed different
dialects, manners, and customs. In 1678, they made a peace treaty with the
English settlers of Maryland. “Last Night,” a Conoy, was accepted as King of
the Nanticoke and Conoy tribes, which were united. Around 1706, the Nanticokes
joined the Iroquois Five Nations. Presumably, a few of the Nanticoke settled
at the Conoy villages located on the lower Susquehanna, shortly after the
Conoy were permitted to enter our Commonwealth, around 1704. The Nanticoke
arrived small in number and at varying times, living in villages of the Conoy
and Conestoga along the Susquehanna. Around 1742, they migrated to the mouth
of the Juniata River with the Conoy to avoid the war parties of the Iroquois.
Their move was authorized by the Iroquois, under whose permission, the
Nanticoke and Conoy had a Council Fire at the mouth of the Juniata. By 1748,
this village was mostly made up of the Nanticoke. Governor Hamilton, of
Pennsylvania, was then informed that the Nanticokes had migrated from the
Juniata to Wyoming, asking his permission to settle here. Governor Hamilton
gave them permission, as long as the Indians at Wyoming did not object. The
area occupied by the Nanticoke was below Wyoming, near the present site of the
city of Nanticoke, Nanticoke Creek, and Nanticoke Falls. The Nanticoke
previously lived in villages along the Susquehanna, such as, Glasswanoge,
Nescopeck, etc. By 1756, the chief village of the Nanticokes was Chenango, at
the present site of Binghampton, NY. The Nanticokes attended the Council at
Easton in 1757, where they congratulated the English on their peace treaty
with the Delawares, and they asked permission to go to Lancaster to remove the
remains of those in their tribe who were killed there. They were also in
attendance at the Councils in Philadelphia in 1760 and 1761. On August 20,
1769, Rev. Dr. Smith preached at Fort Augusta, which was attended by all of
the Indians, upon request. Last Night, the Conoy King, addressed the group in
attendance. In his address, he said, “The Nations to which I belong, the
Nanticokes and Conoys, never yet since the beginning of the World, pulled one
scalp, nor even one hair from your heads, and this I say gives us the right to
call ourselves your Brothers.” No records can be found of a Nanticoke or
Conoy having been engaged in any hostility against the English. He also said,
“There is a Council Fire at Shanango (Chenango), which is the Door of the Six
Nations.” Chenango was highly regarded by the Iroquois. This was the door of
the Iroquois, on the south. The Nanticoke, Mahican, and Conoy of the village
were placed there to “guard the doorway.” By 1784, most of the Nanticoke had
moved west with the remnants of the Wappingers and Mahicans, where they joined
with the Delawares living in Ohio. The Nanticokes also lived at Sheshequin,
Chemung, and other villages along the upper waters of the Susquehanna. By
1794, the Nanticokes had dwindled down to about four or five families. Their
name has been perpetuated in various places: Nanticoke, Pennsylvania;
Nanticoke, Delaware; Nanticoke River in Maryland; and Nanticoke, Ontario,
Canada. I hope you have enjoyed this brief history of the Nanticoke Indians.
For more information on the Nanticokes, check out the book “A History of the
Indian Villages and Place Names in Pennsylvania”, written by Dr. George P.
Donehoo. It was my source for most of the information in this article. Mark W.
Regulski is the vice president of the Nanticoke Historical Society.