Lenapehoking
There are no original maps which show the Lenapehoking (territorial lands of the Lenape). However, accounts tells us that the Lenape were the original caretakers of the land that would become New York, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Tamanend was the Lenape Sachem (Chief) who first came in contact with the colonial settlers in the 17th century. When he died in 1701, his son-in-law Nutimus became the Sachem with whom the settlers negotiated. This map indicates the location of Nutimus's town, and also shows the line of the infamous Walking Purchase of 1737 in which the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania effectively stole the land of Nutimus's people.
According to the Lenape, the original Walking Purchase was anticipated as ending within the bounds of Bucks County, but the Commonwealth instructed the walkers to instead run allowing them to cover more than twice the expected miles in the agreed upon day and a half.
Through archaeological reconstruction and oral history, this map of Bucks County was constructed to show the locations of Lenape villages, quarries and camp sites, before the first Colonial Settlers arrived in the region. The majority of villages are along the Delaware River or the Lenape Sipu as the Lenape called the river.
New Netherland
The colony of New Netherland was created by the Dutch West India Company in 1621 to capitalize on the North American fur trade. They settled what would become, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Connecticut but had small outposts in Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. The colony was in place until 1674.
The Zuyd River (the Delaware River) can be seen here at the top of the map and notes the land which would become "Pennsylvania" as belonging to various indigenous populations including the Minquaes. Nova Belgica et Anglia Nova, pub. [Amsterdam] : [Joan Blaeu], [1635]
New Sweden
New Sweden was a Swedish colony along the lower reaches of the Swenska River (Delaware River) from 1638 to 1655. The New Sweden map was drafted by Peter Lindstrom who kept a journal filled with his observations and experiences during his 1654-1655 tenure in New Sweden. The map begins at the mouth of the river and extends up to the falls just south of Trenton.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
On March 4, 1681 William Penn received his charter from the English King for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Over the next three years some 7,000 English settlers would arrive in the new colony. Joseph Sellers who created the map below was known as the first map maker to publish a map labeled Pennsylvania.
The mapmaker, Nicholas Scull (1700-1762), was Surveyor General of Pennsylvania from 1748 to 1761. In 1733, Scull also served as Deputy Surveyor for Bucks County. His work included surveying the Schuylkill and Lehigh Rivers. He accompanied Surveyor General Benjamin Eastburn on the notorious Walking Purchase of 1737. The Scull map of Pennsylvania is the first large scale map of the Commonwealth.
This detail of the Scull Map shows Bucks County in 1759. Even at this early date we see familiar names: Springfield, Nockamixon, Richland, Bedminster, Lower Milford, Rockhill, Hilltown, Plumstead, Warwick, Buckingham, New Britain, Upper Makefield, Northampton, Warminster, Middletown, Makefield, Southampton, Bensalem, and Bristol.
This detail of the Scull Map focuses on the area which will become Tinicum Township. It is already being sited as Tenecum and notes the Tinicum Creek, Nockamixon, Three Tuns and the London Ferry.
This map of Pennsylvania was published in London in 1777 by William Faden, royal geographer to King George III. Faden became known for the maps and atlases he produced during the American Revolution.
If we zoom in to the Tenecum region of the Faden map we see that this detail adds a new Presbyterian Meeting House to the map.
This map appeared in The American Atlas published by John Reid in 1796. It is notable for the extensive road network shown. The Durham Road which went from Philadelphia to Easton was begun in 1693 reached Durham village in 1745 and extended to Easton in 1755. Also in 1748 a road leading from Philadelphia to Bethlehem was completed.
This detail from the Reid map is the earliest map to call out the Irwins (Arthur Erwin's) property. It also shows the main roads going through the Township at this time.
In July 1798, Congress authorized the first direct tax by the United States government which levied taxes on owners of land, dwellings, and slaves in Pennsylvania. Tax assessors were appointed by each county to visit every property and assess its value. Many citizens of Pennsylvania protested this tax and made the work of the assessors difficult as part of what came to be known as Fries Rebellion. The below map is a record of this first tax assessment and shows the boundaries of each owner's property. The Erwins are shown here as owning almost all the northern stretch of riverfront property in the township.
This map by Thomas G. Kennedy, based on actual surveys, is one of the first to delineate the Township Borders of Bucks County. In 1827, Thomas was was appointed superintendent of construction for the Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal.
This detail of Thomas Kennedy's Map is the first to note the town of Erwinna, named for Arthur Erwin. It also notes William Erwin's home.
This Bucks County map was also made by Thomas G. Kennedy. Kennedy signed a contract with the state of Pennsylvania in July 1816 and delivered the manuscript map to John Melish in April 1817. This was a part of the first official set of county maps produced for the Commonwealth which are known today as the Melish-Whiteside maps. Drawn between 1816 and 1821, they were based upon actual county surveys, and include information such as township lines, municipality names, geographic features, roads, and distances.
The newest feature highlighted in this detail of the Kennedy map is that of the Delaware Canal which was completed in 1831.
This detail of Tincium Township from the 1850 Farm line Map of Bucks County is one of the first to share property owner information giving a better idea of who was living in the Township and where their properties were located. Insets were included showcasing the placement and dimensions of specific buildings in addition to property names.
From this detail of the 1850 Farm Map, we are able to discern that Henry Stover has taken over ownership of the Erwin Family property. We also see notes about businesses like the Stover's Mill and Lumber Yard.
In 1876 a Centennial Atlas was published for Bucks County based on actual surveys made by J.D. Scott. Again it lists property owners and offers insets of larger towns like Erwinna showing the placement and dimensions of specific buildings in addition to property names.
Of particular interest is the changing name of the Islands in the Delaware. The 1850 map notes Wykers and Stovers Islands whereas they are named Pennington and Marshall Islands in 1876.
This Map of Tinicum Township comes from the 1891 Historical Atlas of Bucks County. It is similar to the county maps we have shown from past decades with the exception that this map highlights Bucks County's School Districts.
Today, maps are created by groups like The Tinicum Township Board of Supervisors to guide the community on the preservation and stewardship of our natural resources. Concerns for zoning, flood plains, open space, and historic preservation reflect the impact of our growing population on the land and its resources.
This presentation was created by Amy Hollander, Historic Properties Manager for Bucks County Parks and Recreation Department