The Hochstetler Massacre - Danger for Border Settlers

The Delawares
New Jersey and a large portion of Pennsylvania was inhabited by a powerful Indian tribe called Delawares, in their language, Lenni Lenape, signifying original people. They were divided into three sub-tribes, viz., Unamis or Turtle; Unabachtgo, or Turkey, and the Minsi, also Muncie, or Wolf tribe. These tribes were again subdivided and received names from the localities where they lived. The Wolf tribe occupied the southeastern part of Pennsylvania including Berks County. The Moravians, originally from Austria and later from Herrenhut in Saxony, had commenced to do mission work among the Delawares at Oley (hollow among hills), also written Olink or Olo, which is east of the Schuylkill in Berks County. They had met with success and by their zeal and pious, Christian way of living had gained the respect and confidence of the Red Man. Oley was for a long time the center of Moravian or Herrenhuter missions in different parts of the country, extending into the state of New York. During the terrible conflict between the English settlers of one part and the French and Indians of the other, the Indians at Oley remained peaceable and quiet, having adopted Christianity, and are scarcely mentioned in the old records.

Danger for Border Settlers
When the war broke out it was evident that the settlers along the Blue Mountains, in Indian called Kittatiny, would be exposed to the tomahawk and scalping knife of the Indians. Very few settlers had ventured beyond the mountain. The government with the help of nearby settlers erected a number of forts along the mountain from the Delaware to the Susquehanna, Fort Hunter on the Susquehanna, a few miles above the present Harrisburg, being the most westerly. Fort Manada on Manada creek was next, being in Dauphin county. At Swatara Gap in Lebanon County was Fort Swatara. Fort Henry, or Dietrich Six, and Fort Northkill were in Berks County; Fort Franklin and Fort Lebanon in Scyuylkill County; Fort Everest in Lehigh, and Fort Allen in Carbon County. Fort Harris was near the present Harrisburg, and further north at the forks of the Susquehanna near Shamokin was Fort Augusta. These forts were constructed after the manner of those days to afford protection to the border settlers against the attack of the savage Indians. Whenever apprised in time the settlers took refuge in the forts, not one of which was taken or attacked during the war. The Indians carefully avoided them; sneaked through woods mostly in the nighttime and suddenly fell upon unsuspecting families; robbed and murdered them, and as suddenly disappeared before help could come from the forts. The country along the mountains seemed just suited to the Indian mode of warfare.

Taken from pp. 26, 27 of Descendants of Jacob Hochstetler, by Rev. Harvey Hostetler, D.D., 1912. This portion was prepared by William F. Hochstetler.

We go near Harrisburg and Manada on our long trips. Wonder if those forts are still there. I'll do some checking and let you know.