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Coaxen Indian Village or Weekpink was named after Coaxen, the name of a local band of Lenape Indians located in Burlington County, New Jersey, along the South Branch of the Rancocas River. It is also the name of both a nearby stream and one of two villages known during the historic period, residence of this native group, the other being Weekpink (variously Weekping, Weepinck, Wepink, etc.). Weekpink is also the name of a small run of water that empties into the South Branch of the Rancocas, and is also located within the historic bounds of the Coaxen Indian settlement. This settlement, and both streams, are now located in Southampton Township, New Jersey. ==Historical references== The first mention of Coaxen comes from a 1691 colonial survey for 400 acres of land to Thomas Evans at the Indian Town of Quaexin on one of the branches of the Rancocas. An Indian village existed on Coaxen Run, now Little Creek, to the rear of the present-day Roberts farm. Coaxen is the accepted form for the past usages of Quaexin, Quakeson, etc. In the Lenape language, Coaxen means there are pine trees, and Weekpink refers to place of bast fibre, which is plant material used for mats and other handicrafts.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://lenapetexts.com/ )〕 Soon after the arrival of Quaker settlers in Burlington County they formed the Proprietors of West Jersey, who in turn, appointed commissioners to purchase lands from the indigenous Lenape. One of these commissioners was Daniel Wills, who eventually owned large tracts land in what was then Northampton Township, in the vicinity of Rancocas Creek. After his death in 1698, his son, John Wills, inherited much of his father’s land, including 624 acres lying near the forks of the river at the South Branch.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://brotherton-weekping.tripod.com )〕 John Wills was a member of the colonial council, friend to Governor Robert Hunter, and also served as an Indian Commissioner. In 1713, he was responsible for fending off an Indian war over the fraudulent attempt by John Wetherill: MEHEMICKWON the Indian King who was Commonly by the English Called King Charles made his Complaint to me Several times That John Wetherill had a design to Cheat him of Some of his Land at a place Called Coerping (): I asked him wch way that could be, he Answered that he had made him Drunk and when So had made a writing and got him Set his hand to it And this is what he Affirmed at all times when we Discoursed on that Subject And further he told me that ye Said John Wetherill offered to give him more Drink next morning, the Indian Said he asked the said Wetherill for what he would give him Drink, the said Wetherill Answered do you not know for wt do you not Remember you Sold me the Land last Night, no said the Indian I knew nothing of it, for I was So Drunk last Night, that I knew nothing, not So much as where I was, And if you have done Any Such thing by me when I was in that Condition as to get my hand to A writing, you have Cheated me. Mehemickwon was known to the English settlers as King Charles, a reference to the then reigning monarch in England, King Charles II. He was the acknowledged leader of the Lenape living in the region of the Rancocas, stretching from Assunpink to Big Timber Creek along the New Jersey shoreline of the Delaware River.〔 When Wetherill claimed Coaxen lands from Mehemickwon, the latter threatened retaliation, and Governor Robert Hunter was rightfully worried that a rupture with the Indians was imminent.〔 He used the power of his office to convince Wetherill to destroy the fraudulent deed, and it was burned in the presence of the Indian leader. To prevent such occurrences from happening again, John Wills took the unique step of deeding the Coaxen lands to the Indians. By 1740, Mehemickwon was dead, and a new leader, King Ossolowhen, had replaced him, but he too, was deceased. Ossolowhen’s brothers and relations were the recipient of John Will’s deed: This Indenture made the Sixth day of October 1740 year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Forty and in the Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second over Great Britain France and Ireland King &c Between John Wills of the Township of Northampton in the County of Burlington and province of New Jersey (Gentleman) of the one part and the Children of the late Indian King Ossolowhen late of the Township of Northampton in the County and province aforesaid deceased and his Two Brothers, called by the names of Teannis and Moonis Indians and Natives of the Westerly Division of the province of New Jersey. The deed provided a metes and bounds description of what was henceforth known as the Coaxen.〔 The deed from Wills was transferred: Every part and parcel thereof with their and every of their Appurtenances unto the Children of the said Ossolowhen and to his Two Brothers Teannis and Moonis and their Progeny so long as the Water run in the River Delaware and Ancocas or Northampton River To their only proper Use Behoof of the Children of the said Ossolowhen and his Two Brothers Teannis and Moonis and their Generations of()spring Stock or Kindred and to such of them as the said Land may descend according to the Custom used amongst the said Indians for evermore… so long as the Water runs in the River Delaware and ()Ancocas or Northampton river.〔 Thus John Wills, member of the Society of Friends and New Jersey Indian Commissioner, used the form of English-style law to ensure that this land be held in perpetuity to the local Lenape community. His efforts were noted in Samuel Smith’s work, The History of Nova Cesaerea (Jersey ), published in 1765. He wrote of the remaining Indian lands in New Jersey: One of these in particular ought to be noted in this place, to the honour of John Wills, sometime one of the council, by whose advice the Indian sachem, called king Charles, laid an English right on a large plantation at Weekpink, containing a valuable tract of land, in the county of Burlington, which is so contrived as to remain unalienable from his posterity, who now enjoy the benefit of it. In 1761, there were approximately forty native residents at Coaxen. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Coaxen Indian Village」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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