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Munsee Indian
Tribe History
Munsee (Min-asin-ink, 'at the place where stones
are gathered together. Hewitt). One of tile three principal divisions of
the Delaware, the others being the Unami
and Unalachtigo, from whom their
dialect differed so much that they have frequently been regarded as a
distinct tribe. According to Morgan they have the same three gentes as the
Delaware proper, viz, Wolf (Tookseat ), Turtle (Pokekooungo), and Turkey
(Pullaook). Brinton says these were totemic designations for the three
geographic divisions of the Delaware and had no reference to gentes (see
Delaware). However this may be, the Wolf
has commonly been regarded as the totem of the Munsee, who have frequently
been called the Wolf tribe of the Delaware.
The Munsee originally occupied the headwaters of
Delaware river in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, extending south
to Lehigh river, and also held the west bank of the Hudson from the
Catskill mountains nearly to the New Jersey line. They had the
Mahican and
Wappinger on the north and east, and the
Delaware on the south and southeast, and were regarded as the protecting
barrier between the latter tribe and the Iroquois. Their council village
was Minisink, probably in Sussex county, N. J. According to Ruttenber they
were divided into the Minisink, Waoranec, Warranawonkong, Mamekoting,
Wawarsink, and Catskill. The Minisink formed the principal division of the
Munsee, and the two names have often been confounded. The bands along the
Hudson were prominent in the early history of New York, but as white
settlements increased most of them joined their relatives on the Delaware.
In 1756 those remaining in New York were placed upon lands in Schoharie
County and were incorporated with the Mohawk. By a fraudulent treaty,
known as the "Walking Purchase," the main body of the Munsee was forced to
remove from the Delaware about the year 1740, and settled at Wyalusing the
Susquehanna on lands
assigned them by the Iroquois. Soon after this they removed to Allegheny
river, Pa., where some of them had settled as early as 1724. The Moravian
missionaries had already begun their work among then. (see Missions;
Moravians), and a considerable number under their teaching drew off from
the tribe and became a separate organization. The others moved west with
the Delaware into Indiana, where most of them were incorporated with that
tribe, while others joined the Chippewa, Shawnee, and other tribes, so
that the Munsee practically ceased to exist as an organized body. Many
removed to Canada and settled near their relatives, the
Moravian Indians.
On account of the connection of the Munsee with other
tribes, it is impossible
to estimate their numbers at any period. In 1765 those on the Susquehanna
were about 750 in 1843 those in the United States were chiefly with the
Delaware in Kansas, and numbered about 200, while others were with the
Shawnee and
Stockbridge, besides those in Canada. In 1885 the only Munsee
officially recognized in the United States were living with a band of
Chippewa in Franklin county, Kans., both together numbering only 72. The
two bands were united in 1859, and others are incorporated with the
Cherokee in Indian Territory,
having joined them about 1868.
These Munsee were more commonly known in
recent years as Christians." In Canada the band of Munsee settled with the
Chippewa on Thames river, in Caradoc township, Middlesex county, Ontario,
numbered 119 in 1886, while the Moravians, who are mainly Munsee, living
near them in Oxford township, Kent county, numbered 275 in 1884. According
to the Canadian Ind. Aff. Rep. for 1906, the Moravians of the Thames
numbered 348 persons, and the "Munsee of the Thames" numbered 118. There
are also a few with the Stockbridge at Green Bay agency, Wis.
The Munsee have been parties to the following treaties
with the United States: Treaty of Fort Industry, O., July 4, 1805, with
the Ottawa, Wyandot, and other tribes.
Appendix to the Menominee treaty with the United States at Green Bay,
Wis., Oct. 27, 1832, by the Stockbridge, Munsee, Brotherton, and others.
Treaty of Stockbridge, Wis., Sept. 3, 1839, by Stockbridge and Munsee.
Treaty of Stockbridge, Wis., Feb. 5, 1856. amending treaty of Sept. 3,
1839.
Treaty at Sac and Fox agency, Kans., July 16, 1859, in connection with
certain Chippewa.
The books presented are for their
historical value only and are not the
opinions of the Webmasters of the site.
Handbook
of American Indians, 1906
Index of Tribes or Nations
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