Let's chat! I'm trying to document the ones who were on the upper Potomac, beyond Harper's Ferry, and who traded there before settlers started flooding in. I'm doing this largely for background on my own ancestors, but also because it's a fascinating subject. Things have been written about Pa. traders, about the Cartledge brothers commiting murder, and about that rascal Cresap... but what about all the others who quietly worked for years, keeping the peace, paving the way for those who followed? Franz Louis MICHEL and Israel FRIEND are my ancestors, and several of the other traders were FRIEND kinfolks. The family had been trading with/ associating with natives for a long time. Have a look at an outline I've put together: Nils Larsson Friend (1630-1686), immigrant, father of: dau. Brigitta (1657-1720+) marr 1678, John Cox (Cocks) (1656-1713) s/o Peter son Andrew (1659-1748) marr 1689, Miss Rambo (d/o Peter Rambo Sr. 1612-1698) marr 1694, Miss Helm, d/o Israel Helm dau. Catherine (1661-1721) marr 1681, Olof Dalbo (1660-1712); Dalbo sons died of smallpox 1721 in N.J. son John (1666-1737), marr 1696, Anna Coleman d/o Henry Coleman (d. 1696) dau. Sarah (1672-1742), marr 1697, Amos Nichols (d. 1725) NOTES: 1668, June 5, Pa., Peter Rambo, Magistrate, advises prohibition against selling liquor to Indians. (Pa. Archives, 2nd Series, Vol. 7, pages 723-724.) 1668, June 25, New Jersey, license granted to Cornelius Larssen Vrende (Friend), Olle Rawson, and Olle Jonsson, to buy West Jersey Lands from Indians. (N.J. Arch. 21: 3) (Rawson was a cousin through the Rambo family.) 1669, Aug. 2, Pa., Henry Coleman "one of ye Finns and an Inhabitant at Delaware, hath left his habitation…being well-versed in ye Indian language…apprehend him…" (suspected as part of an insurrection) (Pa. Archives, 2nd Series, Vol. 7, pages 723-724.) 1670, Oct. 5, Pa., re: fort on Delaware River: Israel Helm, Peter "PRB" Rambo, Peter "R" Kock. (Pa. Archives, 2nd Series, Vol. 7, pages 732-733.) 1673, Pa. Magistrates opposed to war with Indians: Peter "X" Rambo, Peter "R" Cock. (Pa. Archives, 2nd Series, Vol. 7, page 756.) "Indian Blood" (1967) by Evelyn G. Olson, page 9, in 1674 Henry Coleman was part of a rebellion against the English, and hid out with the Indians for several years. (Coleman's wife is "said" to have been an Indian called "Bright Lightning".) 1675, May 13, Newcastle, meeting between Gov. Andros & Indians; present Israel Helme (interpreter), Peter Rambo, Lanse Cock, Peter Cock; agreement of friendship. Rambo referred to as an "old acquaintance" of chiefs. (Rambo, pg. 14-15.) 1683, July 14, deed to William Penn, from Indians… witness, Peter "X" Rambo. ("Pennsylvania Archives", 1st Series, 1: 66.) 1683, Nov., Md., Jacob Young banished to Holland or Europe; his bond by James Philips, Baltimore Co., & John Cox, Cecil Co. (Arch. Md., Vol. 7, pages 507, 591, 596.) 1687, Dec., Chester Co. Court, indictment against "Annie, Neales' widow", for keeping and harboring dogs that worries and kills her neighbors hogs, and for detaining an Indian boy named Chato who also worries said hogs. . . she claimed the dog belonged to her grandson Peter Cox (Cock), and was fined 10 sh. for the dog; Andrew Friend gave bond of L.10 for behavior of the Indian boy . . . (CCR 1:115.) 1695/6, Susquehanna River, Amos Nichols is trader with Indians. (Hanna, Vol. 2: 337.) 1696, May 1, Maryland Assembly ordered Col. Casparus Augustin Herman of Cecil Co. to take into custody Cornelius Comegys and Amos Nichols, persons living upon the frontiers and driving a secret trade with "fforaign" Indians… his Majesty's customs are defrauded… (In other words, they weren't paying taxes.) (Maryland Archives, Vol. 20, page 405.) 1696, June 25, Maryland Assembly…letter re: traders… "I have known Col. Herman a long time, and he that trades for him on Susquehanna, Amos Nichols, is better known than trusted… (Maryland Archives, Vol. 20, page 470.) 1697, May, Md., reported that Amos Nichols should give out a little before the murder Committed in Cecil Co., this following Expression, viz, that he was afraid there would be Some Mischief done to the Indian Traders this Sumer by the Indians by which Expression it is not a little Suspected that he might have a hand in that fact. (Arch. Md., 23: 98-99.) 1697, October, Md., Amos Nicholls of Cecil Co. is a very vagrant and wandering person, a very evil doer and is guilty of a great many heinous and notorious crimes and Offences… to be arrested… (Arch. Md., 23: 260-263.) 1697, Nov., Md., Michael Judd, age 57, Innkeeper of Baltimore Co., appearing to say about Amos Nicholls who giving account of one Thomas Browne and severall persons of the said County that have had dealings wth. the said Nicholls within this halfe year and concerning John Hanstillmans holding frequent correspondence wth. three French Indian Traders… (Arch. Md., 23: 303-305.) 1698, April, Md., Major James Maxwell's Deposition about Amos Nichols read and Sworn to. (Arch. Md., 23: 410-411.) 1699/1700, March 12, Amos Nichols of Ridley Township, Chester, Co., Silversmith, and Andrew Nilsson Friend of New Castle Co., were indicted by Chester Co. court for highway robbery and forgery; dismissed 11 June 1700. (CCR 2: 50-51, 59-60. ) 1701, June 2, N.J., Gloucester Co., court ordered Amos Nicholson to post bond for good behavior, having lately come to Greenwich Twp. (GCR 1: 239.) 1710, Nov. 16, James Hans Steelman (per his journal) stayed in home of Anders Nilson (Friend), one mile from pastor Auren's house. (Elk River, Cecil Co., Md.) (NGSQ 71: 256. ) 1712, Md., Cecil Co., lawsuit re: Indian trade goods; Andrew Friend and Charles Mounts Anderson (trader, s/o Mans Andersson), suit against Anne LeTort (widow of trader), executrix of Nicholas Godin. (Cecil Co., Md., Judgments, Book E, page 204.) (LeTort and Godin were traders in Pa.) 1720, Oct. 24, Upper House of Assembly of Maryland, "the Shaw-wan Indians have carried away three Negro slaves belonging to the petitioner; the Indians have been told by Andrew Neal, and other traders that they would be given a reward for returning the slaves…" (Publications of the Hall of Records Commission, Publication #1, Calendar of Maryland State Papers, No. 1, The Black Book, page 27.) (This was Chief Opessa, at "Old Town" on the upper Potomac.) 1721, June 13, N.J., Gloucester Co., inventory of estate of Charles Dalbo, personal estate totals L.122.15.3., including L.56.9. Indian debts; debts due from: Mountes Halton, Peter Justice, Peter Garren, Clement Cornett, Andrew Melican, William Peterson, Peter Lock, John Recom, William Cobb, Jester Lock, Erick Steelman, Peter Cock, Larrance Lock, Manuell Dirrickson, Erick Egelton, Elener Friend, Andrew and Charles (Strang?), Jacob Kuling, James Gerren, Nicklos Justice, Larrance Peterson, Michael Hopman, Peter Peterson, all Gloucester and Salem Cos., and, Amos Nicholes of Chester Co., Pa., James Rillot (?) of Maryland; Inv. by John Friend, Frederick Hopman, John Bond. (NJA 23: 125.) 1721, June 13, N.J., Gloucester Co., inventory of Larrance Dalbo, personal estate L.32.19, including Indian debts due by Major Bradford on Potomack in Maryland, and Mr. Bradley of Maryland; Inv. by John Bond, Frederick Hopman, John Friend. (NJA 23: 125.) 1725, July 25, Md., Governor Calvert commissions Israel Friend as an Indian Trader, & ambassador to the Shawnee Indians on the Potomac River. (Maryland Historical Mag. 30: 132) (Schildknecht, 1: 45.) (Archives of Maryland, Vol. 25.) 1725, Aug. 6, Maryland Council meeting on 5 August at Monocacy, "Shuano Indians not meeting his Excellency there Resolved that Israel Friend be sent up immediately to the said Indians with following instructions… to invite Indians to next meeting of the Assembly at Annapolis on 5 Oct. 1725…" (Archives of Md., Vol. 25, pages 450-451.) 1727, Jan. 10, Md., Prince George Co., deed from Cunnawehala, Taw-wenaw, Capt. Sivilite, Toile Hangee, Show Hays, Callakahahatt, Kings of the Five Nations, for love, to brother Israel Friend, land on Potomac River and Antietam Creek, being 200 shoots of an arrow, then 100 shoots in dimensions, up the creek… witnesses, Humbenton Lyon, Gile Margalith; rec. 27 Nov. 1730, by Charles Carroll, at request of George Beall. (P.G. Land Records, Liber Q: 169.) (between Antietam & Conococheague Creeks, now Washington Co., Md.) (MHM 30: 8-9) (MGSB ("Indian Blood", page 11-12.) (This deed also rec. Clay Co., W. Va., Book 1, page 1.) 1728, May 10, Pa., Perkiomen petition by "back inhabitants" of Falkner's Swamp and New Goshapopin (for protection against Indians), 27 signers, including: Peter Rambo, Yost Hyt. (The Perkiomen Region, Vol. 4, # 1, pages 1-2.) (Peter Rambo Jr. 1653-1729.) 1740, deposition by John Rambo refers to elder "brother" Andrew Friend alias Neils, age 90 years, living on the Potowmack River at the mouth of Conocheague Creek. (Friend Family Assn., Vol. 1, # 3, pages 6-7.) Plus some other tidbits about NICHOLLS, etc. I've identified all but one of the chiefs of the 1727 deed, and sketched out the Shawnee of the Susquehanna and Potomac 1690-1730's. - - - - In 1712 it looks like Andrew Friend (f/o Israel) was in partnership with Anderson, and they were acting on their own, not under some other company. I've been told that in Pa. the traders worked for companies, but in Md. they acted independently. Anyhow, I've made a good beginning on what I anticipate will be a very LARGE project. I'm paying particular attention to the traders who had native wives, because Israel Friend's wife was a Shawnee. I know I can never PROVE her, but I've found a lot of info. about the tribe, and what went on in the area, all of which dovetails with the many "legends" the family has passed down. I have found the proof that Israel was the only permanent white settler on the upper river before 1732. I guess what I'm after is actually "pre-history" because almost all of the histories start about 1740, and make only passing mention of anything before that, if at all. What is your area of interest, and how deep do you want to go? Corinne Hanna Diller Houston, TX Faith is the highest passion in a human being. Many may not come that far, but none come further. --Soren Kierkegaard ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.