Okehocking people facts for kids
The Okehocking Tribe (also known as Ockanickon) was a small group of Lenape people. They spoke the Unami language. These Native Americans lived along the Ridley and Crum creeks in what is now Chester County, Pennsylvania. A part of their old home is now Ridley Creek State Park.
The Okehocking, along with other groups like the Schuylkill and Brandywine Indians, were called Unami. This word means "people down the river." Native American tribes often named themselves based on where they lived.
Who Were the Okehocking Tribe?
The Okehocking Tribe was a branch of the larger Lenape nation. The Lenape were an important group of Native Americans in the northeastern part of North America. They lived in areas that are now Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and New York.
Living in Pennsylvania
In 1701, the Okehocking Tribe talked with William Penn. He was the founder of Pennsylvania. The tribe wanted to buy some land. Penn gave them 500 acres. The Okehocking used this land as their summer camp, especially for fishing. During the colder winter months, they would travel north.
At that time, English and European settlers were not allowed to buy or live on land that belonged to Native Americans. It was sometimes hard for settlers to know exactly where Native American land began. This made them build their homes far away from Native American camps.
A Clear Boundary
However, the 500 acres given to the Okehocking Tribe were carefully measured. This created a clear line showing where the tribe's land started and ended. This meant that settlers could build their homes right up to the edges of the Okehocking land without breaking any laws.
Over time, the Okehocking Tribe felt surrounded by the many new settlers. Because of this, they decided to move. They traveled west towards the Susquehanna River. Later, they settled in the Ohio River Valley, finding new homes there.
