Bloody Springs massacre facts for kids

In 1757, during the French and Indian War, a sad event happened near what is now Strausstown, Pennsylvania. Local stories say that the Spatz family was attacked at a spring. The water supposedly turned red with their blood, giving the place its name: "Bloody Spring." This event has been known as the Bloody Spring Massacre ever since. The story has been passed down through the Degler family, who lived next to the Spatz homestead.

The Spatz Family Story

One version of the story says that a member of the Spatz family killed a Native American. In return, others attacked the entire Spatz family. George Frederick Degler, a German pioneer who settled in Berks County in 1738, was known to be fair and kind to the Native Americans.

However, by 1757, Lenape warriors were attacking settlers south of the Blue Mountain. The Lenape were the original people of the Schuylkill Valley but had moved west to the Ohio Valley. There are different versions of the Spatz and Degler stories. No official records from that time, like military reports, have been found.

A popular story says that the Deglers heard war cries from the Spatz farm next door. They quickly fled to nearby Fort Northkill, leaving their home empty. When they returned weeks later, their house was messy. A family chest, brought from Germany by Mr. Degler, had been chopped open.

Berks County During the French and Indian War

The word Tulpehocken comes from a Native American language. It means "Land of Turtles."

When the Bloody Spring Massacre happened, Tulpehocken Township was on the edge of the French and Indian War. Many white settlers who had farms north of the Blue Mountain moved south to safety. The French and Indian War is the only war where people were killed inside Berks County.

Conrad Weiser was Pennsylvania's ambassador to the Six Nations of the Iroquois. He helped build forts to protect German farm families in northern Tulpehocken Township. Fort Northkill was one of these forts. It was built in early 1756 after the Lenape first attacked in November 1755. This small fort was not very strong. The house inside was also not good for sheltering people in bad weather.

On October 1, 1757, the Lenape from the Ohio Valley attacked again near Fort Northkill.

Conrad Weiser had to make tough choices between the Iroquois and Lenape tribes. William Penn had signed a peace agreement with the Lenape tribe years before. The Lenape were respected after this peace treaty. But as the conflict between the English and French grew, the Iroquois became a very important ally. Because of this, Conrad Weiser had to let the Iroquois and settlers push the Lenape aside.

German settlers forced the Lenape out of Berks County. The Lenape had been pushed up the Schuylkill River over time. Then they moved west towards Pittsburgh. They were very upset about this. Generations after William Penn's peace treaty, the Lenape had adopted many European ways. They needed gunpowder and food for their families while they were away. The French offered this support. This encouraged the Lenape to return and attack settlers in Berks County in small groups. The Lenape walked long distances for these attacks. They were living in the Ohio Valley during the Bloody Spring Massacre and were angry about being moved from Berks County.

During the French and Indian War, about 150 Berks County residents were killed. Around 150 others were taken captive by the Lenape tribe. Some Berks County residents in 1755 were Amish. They did not believe in violence. So, they were killed when the Lenape attacked their homes. Women and children were sometimes taken captive to join the tribe. Often, these captives could be returned for a payment. But not always. At the end of the war, some captives chose to stay with the tribes because they had become part of them.

The courthouse in Reading, Pennsylvania has a display about Native American attacks in Berks County. It shows how the French and Indian War also affected the legal history of the area.

Fort Dietrich Snyder was north of Strausstown. It was about two miles west of Fort Northkill. This fort was used as a lookout. From there, people could see burning homes for many miles.

The Degler Family Chest

George F. Degler came from Germany in 1738. He settled in what was then the northern part of Berks County. This was near today's Strausstown, Pennsylvania. He brought a special cedar chest with him. This chest became a treasured family item.

After the attack on the Spatz family, the Lenape warriors went to the Degler home. They searched it and broke open the cedar chest with tomahawks. When Degler returned home, the Native Americans apologized for breaking the chest. They even repaired it!

As a sign of renewed friendship, the Native Americans carved symbols into the chest. They carved two fish, showing that Degler had given them food. A heart symbolized friendship. Crossed canoe paddles were a sign of peace. To remember this event, Degler carved "GFD: 1752" on the chest.

Mrs. Minnie Degler Stertzel, a great-granddaughter of George F. Degler, explained that the family wanted to keep this chest. It was passed down through generations. It was a reminder of the difficult times their ancestors faced with the Native Americans.

Mrs. Stertzel shared a family agreement about the Degler Chest. It has been in place since 1752. The chest was never to leave the Degler homestead. It would stay there as a quiet reminder of the early pioneer struggles. It was meant "to remind them of the fearful conflicts with the Indians they had endured."

The chest has only left the homestead once. This was for a special Fourth of July celebration during World War II in 1942.

Mrs. Stertzel keeps a detailed record of who has owned the chest. She traces it from her great-grandfather to today. The family records show the chest's owners:

• George F. Degler, brought the chest from Germany, 1738.
• Frederick Jacob Degler, 1755.
• John Frederick Degler, 1787.
• George Frederick Degler, 1827.
• John W. Degler, 1855.
• Frederick Jacob Degler, 1888.
• Phoebe Degler Henninger, 1914.
• Dora Degler Henninger Wagner, 1937.
• Mrs. Stertzel.

Mrs. Stertzel is related through her father, Charles Degler. He was the son of Jerry Degler, who was the son of George Degler.

The Mystery of Bloody Springs

The Spirit Society of Pennsylvania (SSP) is a group that investigates ghosts. In 2008, they visited Bloody Springs. One of their members said she saw the dead Spatz family in her mind, lying in the creek.