Lappawinsoe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lappawinsoe
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Lappawinsoe, painted by Gustavus Hesselius
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| Lenape (Delawares) leader | |
| Personal details | |
| Known for | Signing the Walking Purchase agreement for land cession of 1737 with the sons of William Penn |
Lappawinsoe /ˌlæpəˈwɪnzoʊ/ was an important leader, known as a chief, of the Lenape people. His name means "gathering fruit" or "going away to gather food." Lappawinsoe is famous for signing a land agreement in 1737 called the Walking Purchase. This agreement involved selling a large amount of Lenape land to Thomas Penn and John Penn ("the American"). They were the sons of William Penn, who founded the Province of Pennsylvania.
The Walking Purchase was very controversial and caused many problems. Three other Lenape chiefs also signed the agreement. They were Tishecunk, Nutimus, and Menakihikon. Nutimus was seen as a main leader for tribes living further south in what is now the State of Delaware.
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Lappawinsoe's Portrait
Lappawinsoe holds a special place in history. He was the first Native American to have his portrait painted using oil paints. His portrait, along with one of Tishecunk, are the only known paintings of Lenape chiefs from that time.
In his painting, Lappawinsoe looks like a strong man. He appears to be about 40 years old. The painting shows interesting tattoos on his face and neck. He also wears a pouch, which is similar to the one Tishecunk wears in his own portrait.
What Lappawinsoe's Tattoos Meant
The tattoos on Lappawinsoe's forehead are very symbolic. They show two thunderbirds and a snake or serpent. For the Lenape, tattoos often shared information about a person's character or beliefs. The Thunderbird was seen as a "powerful spirit being." It represented an "active and swift-footed warrior."
The Walking Purchase Agreement
In 1737, Lappawinsoe signed the Walking Purchase agreement. This deal sold a large area of his tribe's land. The land was in the eastern part of colonial Province of Pennsylvania. It stretched along the Delaware River near West New Jersey.
The agreement stated that the land would extend "as far west as a man could walk in a day and a half." Lappawinsoe believed a man could only walk about 40 miles in that time. He agreed to the "Walk" thinking it would be a fair distance.
How the Penn Sons Tricked the Lenape
William Penn's sons, Thomas Penn and John Penn ("the American"), convinced the Lenape that their father had already bought the land. However, the Penn brothers and a colonial official named James Logan had a secret plan. They hired very fast runners to run a specially prepared path. This trick led to the Lenape losing much more land than they ever expected.
Edward Marshall was one of the three runners. He was the only one who finished the entire walk. In 1751, Marshall said that Lappawinsoe lived in a town called Hockendocqua. When Marshall passed by during the walk, he asked Lappawinsoe to send an Indian with him. Lappawinsoe replied that "they had got all the best land." He said he would not send anyone.
Lappawinsoe also described the walk as unfair. He said the runners did not "sit down to smoke" or "shoot a squirrel." Instead, they just kept "lun, lun, lun all day long!" This means they ran without stopping.
A Long-Standing Friendship
The Lenape people had a long and friendly relationship with William Penn. They had made several fair treaties with him over the years. This good relationship made the Pennsylvania government well-respected among the Lenape. Part of the reason the Lenape chiefs signed the Walking Purchase was to honor this peaceful history with William Penn. He had passed away 19 years before the agreement.
Lappawinsoe believed the runners should have walked calmly. He felt they should have followed the Delaware River or an Indian path. He thought they should have walked for a few miles, then rested and smoked a pipe. He also felt they should have taken time to hunt, not just run all day.
See also
