Penhawitz facts for kids
Penhawitz was a powerful leader, called a Sachem, of the Canarsee people. The Canarsee were a group of the Munsee Native Americans. Penhawitz lived in the 1630s and 1640s in what is now Brooklyn, New York. He worked closely with the government of New Netherland, which was a Dutch colony. He was the first Native American leader from Long Island that the Dutch settlers knew about.
Penhawitz and the Dutch Settlers
In 1636, Penhawitz and another Canarsee leader named Kakapetteyno helped arrange a land deal. They worked with Dutch settlers Andries Hudde and Wolfert Gerritse van Couwenhoven to "buy" the area known today as Flatlands, Brooklyn. This was a way for the Dutch to claim land.
The Canarsee people lived in large homes called longhouses. Penhawitz's group had a longhouse in the area now called Canarsie, Brooklyn. An old map from 1639, called the Manatus Map, showed this longhouse as Keskachaue. As more Dutch settlers moved onto their land, this area no longer appeared on later maps.
In 1640, Penhawitz showed his loyalty to the Dutch. He warned his Dutch friends about an English group trying to take over Long Island. The English had even torn down a copper lion symbol of the Dutch Republic from a tree. Thanks to Penhawitz's warning, the Dutch were able to stop the English from taking control.
A Time of Conflict
Later, a conflict known as Kieft's War began, which involved fighting between the Dutch and Native Americans. After some early battles, Penhawitz invited a Dutch leader, David Pietersz. de Vries, to meet. This meeting took place in Rockaway and included many Native American leaders from Long Island.
Penhawitz was described as having only one eye at this time. He went with De Vries back to Fort Amsterdam to sign a peace agreement. However, this peace did not last for long.
We don't know much about Penhawitz's later life. His son, Tackapausha, became the Sachem and leader of the Canarsee people while Penhawitz was still alive.
In Popular Culture
A made-up version of Penhawitz appears in a children's fantasy book series. He is a character in the 2008 novel Gods of Manhattan and its follow-up books.
See also
