A Civilization Gone and Almost Forgotten
Ten Lenape Indian towns that once dominated Bucks County’s wilderness…
A few arrowheads here. Pottery fragments there. Shards carved from soft stone in other places. They are hints of a thriving Native American civilization that once existed in our beautiful Bucks County. In my years researching, I’ve gained enough insight to sketch out 10 Indian towns linked by 10,000-year-old footpaths that evolved into today’s towns and highways:
Kildorpy (now Morrisville): An English history published in 1648 indicated this Indian town was near the falls on the Delaware River in present day Morrisville. Colonist Robert Evelin described the town on “clear fields to plant and sow, and near it are sweet large meads of clover and honeysuckle.” No translation of the name exists.
Playwicki (now Playwicki Farm Park, Lower Southampton): A large collection of Lenape Indian relics proves the existence of a major Native American town off today’s Route 213 near where it crosses Neshaminy Creek. Playwicki means “the place full of turkeys where prisoners of warfare were forced to run the gauntlet.” The Bucks County Historical Society in 1923 put up a fieldstone monolith with a plaque on the edge of the highway to memorialize Playwicki. Lenape Chief Tamanend sold the tract to William Penn in 1682.
Pemipacka (now Warminster): On a tributary of Pennypack Creek in Warminster near the Montgomery County border was the Indian town of Pemipacka – translated as “bear-fat creek”. It was a favorite Indian hunting ground for bears for their fatty meat.
Hollekonk (now Barley Sheaf B&B, Buckingham): Nestled in Buckingham Valley at the western base of Buckingham Mountain was the Indian town of “Hollekonk”. Lenape Indians drew water from a natural spring located there in a large sinkhole now on today’s Barley Sheaf B&B estate off Route 202. Geologic forces created Hollekonk when the roof of an underground river collapsed. The last group of Lenape Indians to leave Bucks for Ohio in 1775 did so after gathering at the spring on the eve of the American Revolution.
Lahaskeke (now Peddler’s Village, Buckingham): Located about 3 miles north of Hollekonk on the border between Buckingham and Solebury was the Indian town of Lahaskeke – translated as “the place of much writing”.
Paunakussing (now Carversville, Solebury): This once vibrant Indian town is today’s picturesque village of Carversville. Colonial settlers jettisoned the name Paunakussing for Milton in reference to several mills founded along what is today Paunaucussing Creek. Milton officially became Carversville when the first post office opened there under postmaster Thomas Carver. Paunakussing in Indian dialect means “where the (gun) powder was given to us.”
Tuckwimensing (now Solebury Village, Solebury): Tuckwimensing means “at the place of the trees of round nuts”. It was known for its proliferation of walnut trees. Many artifacts of Native American society have been recovered there, confirming the town’s existence.
Gattalosso (now the headwaters of Cuttalossa Creek, Solebury): In a meadow off Aquetong Road and the creek was this Indian town. The stream carves its way through a spectacularly steep gorge framing fertile bottom lands and today’s Colonial-era homes before emptying in the Delaware River on Route 32 (River Road) below Lumberville. English settlers were completely baffled about how to spell Gattalosso in the Indian dialect. Variations include Quatielassie, Quetyelassy, Quotylossey, Cutelausse and Cuttelassey before finally settling on Cuttalossa – for the creek.
Winnahawchunick (now Washington Crossing Historic Park, Solebury): This prominent Indian town was located where Pidcock Creek joins the Delaware River in today’s upper section of Washington Crossing Historic Park. The site is better known today as the location of the Thompson-Neely House, a grist mill and a Revolutionary War burial ground. Winnahawchunick is translated as “at the hill near the water.” It’s long been suggested a monument be erected at the site to memorialize the Indian town.
Pechoqueolin (on the Delaware River, Nockamixon): This was the largest Indian town in Bucks County based on the vast number of Native American relics discovered at the aboriginal site. Located just below the Durham Township border at the creek’s mouth on the Delaware River, Pechoqueolini translates as “at a gap through the mountains.” High cliffs on both sides of the river exist in the area.
Sources include “Place Names in Bucks County Pennsylvania” by George MacReynolds (1942), and the Gallows Run Watershed Association found on the web at www.gwrabucks.org. A museum devoted to Lenape culture and a re-created tribal village exists at the Churchville Nature Center in Northampton. Information: www.churchvillenaturecenter.org or call 215-357-4005.
Carl LaVO can be reached at carllavo0@gmail.com
