Lappawinsoe
Lappawinsoe
Lappawinsoe, whose name signifies "gathering fruit" or "going away to gather food," was a prominent chief of the Lenape. Known for his leadership during the early colonial period, Lappawinsoe played a significant role in the Walking Purchase of 1737, a controversial land deal that had long-lasting effects on his people.
The Lenape People
The Lenape, also called the Lenni Lenape and Delaware people, are an Indigenous group native to the Northeastern Woodlands, particularly in present-day eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey. The Lenape were known for their rich culture, language, and spirituality. Their society was organized into various clans and governed by tribal chiefs like Lappawinsoe.
The Walking Purchase
The Walking Purchase, also known as the Walking Treaty, was an agreement between the family of William Penn and the Lenape, which resulted in the transfer of over 1,200,000 acres of territory. The treaty was signed by multiple Lenape chiefs, including Lappawinsoe, under conditions that were later contested by the Lenape due to its dubious terms.
Significance of the Walking Purchase
The Walking Purchase is a pivotal event in the colonial history of Pennsylvania and the displacement of the Lenape people. Under the terms of the treaty, the land to be ceded was determined by the distance a man could walk in a day and a half. The Penn family, represented by Thomas Penn, manipulated this agreement by employing fast runners, resulting in a much larger cession of land than the Lenape had anticipated.
Gustavus Hesselius and the Portrait of Lappawinsoe
Lappawinsoe’s legacy is also preserved through art, notably a 1735 portrait by Gustavus Hesselius. This painting is one of the earliest known depictions of a Native American by a European artist in the American colonies. Hesselius, a Swedish-American painter, captured the image of Lappawinsoe, providing a rare and valuable visual document of the Lenape chief.
Hesselius’ Influence
Gustavus Hesselius was an influential figure in early American art, and his works are noted for their detail and sympathetic portrayal of their subjects. His portrait of Lappawinsoe stands as a testament to the cultural intersections between Native Americans and European settlers.