The earliest inhabitants of this beautiful spot on the Delaware River in Hunterdon County New Jersey were the Lenape. They called this spot Nishisakawick, which translates: "two outlets of a stream near a house". The Lenape had hunted and camped here on this land for thousands of years as recent archaeological evidence shows.

The photo on the left shows an old walking path right along the Delaware River just north of the two Nishisakawicks.

The story of The Lenape Tribe of Native Americans, of the Nishisakawick is told below.

Lenape Era

Alexandrian Era

Quicksilver Era

Malletian Era

Capner Era

Slater-Hudnit Era

Precolonial History of Frenchtown, New Jersey

The history of The Lenape in Frenchtown NJ was never truly documented oddly enough until 1996 when a group of archaeologists found ancient Native American artifacts just one-fifth of a mile outside the border of Frenchtown NJ in Kingwood Township. The DeRewal Prehistoric Site, contained some artifacts over 10,000 years old, and a house structure from 2,800 years ago. This proves that the Lenape had a house near the streams in Frenchtown for a very long time indeed.

The Lenape are an ancient people that most likely had migrated here from Canada and possibly further north in the prehistoric times of Native American Legends. They are related to the Great Algonquin Tribe of Canada, as their language shows a common root mother-tongue to their northern brothers and sisters. The Lenape language is an Algonquian dialect. The Lenape of New Jersey were divided into three tribes. The Minsi Lenape Tribe lived in the mountainous areas of Northern New Jersey (Minsi translates: The people of the stony country), The Unami Lenape Tribe lived in Central New Jersey, Hunterdon County, Kingwood Township, Alexandria Township and Frenchtown. (Unami translates: The people down the river). The Unilachtigo lived in South Jersey (Unilachtigo translates: The people who lived near the ocean).

All of these Lenape tribes were semi-nomadic and most likely traveled between the different Lenape tribal lands in the mountains to the shore to make their living, hunting, fishing and farming the rich but cold land that is now New Jersey. They also traveled to trade and conduct tribal meetings with their brother tribes across the state. At the DeRewal site specific artifacts prove that the Lenape were hunting, fishing, cooking and at least camping here in Frenchtown NJ and Kingwood. We cannot say that they had established a permanent village here but the presence of pottery shards and the firepits tell us that they weren't just passing through.

In terms of known Lenape trails in the greater Frenchtown NJ area we have no concrete evidence. It is known that the older roads of the region most likely followed the path that the Lenape had been traveling for centuries. One such early road is Route 513 that starts in Frenchtown NJ, winds through Everittstown and onto Clinton New Jersey, that was surveyed in 1759 that ran from Frenchtown, then called Calvin's Ferry, to Everittstown, then called Everitt's Mill .

Next ~ Frenchtown NJ History: The Alexandrian Era

Lenape History Resources Online:

There is a large body of information online to find out more about the Lenape, and the sites below will guide you in your further research and learning:

The Lenape Museum of Allentown PA

The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Indians Of New Jersey Site with incredible photographs of tribal dress, dances and Pow-Wows

Nanticoke/Lenape Standing Bear's Website with information on: Lenape Language, Crafts, Clothing, photos from the 2001 Pow Wow, Culture, Villages, Huts, Canoes and more.

Lenape History and Culture for Kids Site

Lenape/English Dictionary

Lenape Bird Names Site

Delaware Tribal Headquarters Site

Julia White's tribute to the Wallum Olum "The Lenni-Lenape Red Record" detailing the Lenape Creation Myth and History (note alternate spellings are sometimes used: Walum Olum, Wallum Ollum)

More on the Wallum Olum and it's interpretations

Yet more on the Wallum Olum and it's interpretations

Rankokus Indian Reservation in Westampton Township, Burlington County, NJ

Other Lenape Links and Information Pages