Tamanend
ca. 1628 – 1698
Chief of the Lenni Lenape
Level 1 biography
Level 1 biography
This Mercer mosaic represents the wampum belt given to William Penn by Tamanend at Shakamaxon.
Image courtesy of Mrs. Maureen Book
Fast Facts
Tamanend was the chief of the Lenni Lenape tribe who made the first treaties with William Penn.
He is remembered as a man of honor.
The name Tamanend means “The Affable.”
Born: about 1628
Sons: Yaqueekhon and Quenameckquid
Died: 1698
Tamanend was the chief of the Lenni Lenape tribe who made the first treaties with William Penn.
He is remembered as a man of honor.
The name Tamanend means “The Affable.”
Born: about 1628
Sons: Yaqueekhon and Quenameckquid
Died: 1698
Tamanend’s Name
Tamanend’s name has been spelled in different ways. Some people have spelled it Tamanent, Tammany, or Tamine. They are all the same person. The name Tamanend means “the affable.” The word “affable” means pleasant, polite, and easy to talk to.
Tamanend and His People
Tamanend was a member of the Lenni Lenape (Delaware) tribe. He belonged to the Unami clan. Their symbol was the turtle. His people lived in small villages along the banks of the Neshaminy creek. They hunted deer and beaver. They planted corn, beans, and squash. Tamanend became the chief of the Unami some time before 1683.
Many people admired Tamanend. Some people say that he was the greatest chief that his tribe ever had. It was said that he was wise, polite, good, generous, charitable, affable, and welcoming to strangers.
William Penn Comes to America
The king of England owed money to William Penn’s father. He gave William some land in the new world. This would pay the debt. William Penn was a Quaker. In England Quakers were treated badly because of their beliefs. William wanted to make a place where people could worship freely. He decided to make Pennsylvania that place. William Penn sailed from England. He arrived in America on October 29, 1682.
Some people who came to America thought that the Native Americans were savages. They said that they had no rights. William Penn did not believe this. He wanted to be a friend to the native people. He had many meetings with the Native Americans. He ate with them and tried to learn their language. He never took land. He always arranged to buy the land. When he bought land, he insisted that the Native Americans could share it.
Tamanend’s name has been spelled in different ways. Some people have spelled it Tamanent, Tammany, or Tamine. They are all the same person. The name Tamanend means “the affable.” The word “affable” means pleasant, polite, and easy to talk to.
Tamanend and His People
Tamanend was a member of the Lenni Lenape (Delaware) tribe. He belonged to the Unami clan. Their symbol was the turtle. His people lived in small villages along the banks of the Neshaminy creek. They hunted deer and beaver. They planted corn, beans, and squash. Tamanend became the chief of the Unami some time before 1683.
Many people admired Tamanend. Some people say that he was the greatest chief that his tribe ever had. It was said that he was wise, polite, good, generous, charitable, affable, and welcoming to strangers.
William Penn Comes to America
The king of England owed money to William Penn’s father. He gave William some land in the new world. This would pay the debt. William Penn was a Quaker. In England Quakers were treated badly because of their beliefs. William wanted to make a place where people could worship freely. He decided to make Pennsylvania that place. William Penn sailed from England. He arrived in America on October 29, 1682.
Some people who came to America thought that the Native Americans were savages. They said that they had no rights. William Penn did not believe this. He wanted to be a friend to the native people. He had many meetings with the Native Americans. He ate with them and tried to learn their language. He never took land. He always arranged to buy the land. When he bought land, he insisted that the Native Americans could share it.
In this mosaic by Henry Mercer, William Penn is seen purchasing
land from some Native Americans.
Image courtesy of Mrs. Maureen Book.
Tamanend Meets with William Penn
In May of 1683 Tamanend was living in the village of Perkasie. This was located where Silverdale is today. William Penn went to visit him, and his son Yaqueekhon. They ate venison together. After dinner there was dancing around the fire. William Penn joined in the dancing.
The two men met again on June 23, 1683. Tamanend and five other chiefs went to Philadelphia. They met William Penn. He had an interpreter with him. He asked to buy four pieces of land. He showed them the deeds that he had written. These said that he was buying the land. The interpreter read the deeds. When the chiefs understood them, they signed them. Each man had his special mark. Tamanend’s mark was a coiled snake.
William Penn paid for the land with goods. He gave Tamanend guns, lead, gunpowder, coats, hats, kettles, axes, needles, blankets, and other useful items.
Shakamaxon
There was a meeting place where a huge elm tree stood. This place was called Shakamaxon. William Penn met with many chiefs there. They probably met in June of 1683. They talked about friendship. William Penn said that his people and the Native Americans would be like brothers. Tamanend spoke at the meeting. He said that his people would be friends with William Penn “ while the sun, moon, and stars endure.”
Tamanend gave Penn a wampum belt. Wampum was made of shells. It was very valuable. The belt had two men on it. One was William Penn. One was a Native American. The two men were shaking hands. The belt was a symbol of friendship. William Penn went back to England in 1683. In May of 1692 Tamanend went to the officials in Philadelphia. He complained that he had not been given enough for his land. He wanted more. He asked for guns, coats, and blankets. After a while he was given some guns, blankets, and kettles.
Tamanend went to two more meetings with the settlers. The first one was in 1694. The second one was held on July 5, 1697. At that meeting, Tamanend was asked to sell his land. He sold the land between the Pennypack and the Neshaminy Creeks. The land would reach as far as a horse could walk in two summer days. He was given goods and a horse in payment.
What it meant to sell land
When William Penn bought land, he paid for it. Then it became his property. It was his to keep or sell. He could do what he liked with it. The Native Americans did not think this way. When they sold land, they thought they were just giving permission to share it. They thought that they could still use it to hunt and live. As long as William Penn was in charge, there were no problems. He insisted that the land be shared. After his death other people were not so generous. Then there were fights over who owned the land.
Tamanend’s Death
There are no more records of Tamanend. It is thought that he died in 1698. Some people said that he was buried in the Chalfont area in Bucks Count, Pa. No one knows if this is true.
In May of 1683 Tamanend was living in the village of Perkasie. This was located where Silverdale is today. William Penn went to visit him, and his son Yaqueekhon. They ate venison together. After dinner there was dancing around the fire. William Penn joined in the dancing.
The two men met again on June 23, 1683. Tamanend and five other chiefs went to Philadelphia. They met William Penn. He had an interpreter with him. He asked to buy four pieces of land. He showed them the deeds that he had written. These said that he was buying the land. The interpreter read the deeds. When the chiefs understood them, they signed them. Each man had his special mark. Tamanend’s mark was a coiled snake.
William Penn paid for the land with goods. He gave Tamanend guns, lead, gunpowder, coats, hats, kettles, axes, needles, blankets, and other useful items.
Shakamaxon
There was a meeting place where a huge elm tree stood. This place was called Shakamaxon. William Penn met with many chiefs there. They probably met in June of 1683. They talked about friendship. William Penn said that his people and the Native Americans would be like brothers. Tamanend spoke at the meeting. He said that his people would be friends with William Penn “ while the sun, moon, and stars endure.”
Tamanend gave Penn a wampum belt. Wampum was made of shells. It was very valuable. The belt had two men on it. One was William Penn. One was a Native American. The two men were shaking hands. The belt was a symbol of friendship. William Penn went back to England in 1683. In May of 1692 Tamanend went to the officials in Philadelphia. He complained that he had not been given enough for his land. He wanted more. He asked for guns, coats, and blankets. After a while he was given some guns, blankets, and kettles.
Tamanend went to two more meetings with the settlers. The first one was in 1694. The second one was held on July 5, 1697. At that meeting, Tamanend was asked to sell his land. He sold the land between the Pennypack and the Neshaminy Creeks. The land would reach as far as a horse could walk in two summer days. He was given goods and a horse in payment.
What it meant to sell land
When William Penn bought land, he paid for it. Then it became his property. It was his to keep or sell. He could do what he liked with it. The Native Americans did not think this way. When they sold land, they thought they were just giving permission to share it. They thought that they could still use it to hunt and live. As long as William Penn was in charge, there were no problems. He insisted that the land be shared. After his death other people were not so generous. Then there were fights over who owned the land.
Tamanend’s Death
There are no more records of Tamanend. It is thought that he died in 1698. Some people said that he was buried in the Chalfont area in Bucks Count, Pa. No one knows if this is true.
The Death of Tammany is a mosaic created by Henry Mercer. Mercer
portrays Tamanend dying by the Neshaminy Creek.
Image courtesy of Mrs. Maureen Book
The Penn family kept the wampum belt. They passed it down from father to son. In 1857 Granville John Penn gave the belt to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It is still there today.
Posted July 1, 2011. Reading Level 4.5.
Posted July 1, 2011. Reading Level 4.5.
