Allequippa vs Allaguippas

Thousands of words have been written about Queen Alliquippa and we are certain there will be just as many words written in the future years. The histories of Bedford County tell us of a 'sinika' woman who lived at one time in an area about one mile west of the present town of Everett. A mountain gap for the past two hundred years has been called Alliquippa.

County historians in the past hundred years wrote many stories about this famous Indian queen and about her having lived in this area before she moved her tribe westward. They have never been able to confirm where she was born. Some stories have claimed she died here and was buried in an unknown grave in or near the gap. History does tell us she was a personal friend of Colonel George Washington. One story is related that when Washington traveled over the Nemacolin trail in 1753 he visited his old friend near what is now McKeesrocks and gave her his match coat and a bottle of rum. (according to historians the latter was appreciated more than the coat). History also tells us that Conrad Weiser, a famous trader and explorer, wrote in his diary that he visited this Seneka Town in 1748 and this woman ruled her people with great authority. A year later a French trader also visited her at the same place. He reported that she was very devoted to the English and that she that she regarded herself as a Queen.

During Washington's visit in 1753 she was said that she would never go down to the river Allegheny 'except to live at the British built Fort.

We have found references in which it is claimed that this Indian Queen never lived or died in what is now Bedford County. She died in 1754 at Aughwick. She left two small children to be cared for by George Crogan. Why the children were not provided for by the mother's tribe is not known.

Through the two hundred years, we feel certain the historians, both local and a few state had become confused in their identies of two different persons. As confirmation of this fact, I will refer you to the Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, Volume VL, pages 588-89, also page 6 in 'A History of the Indian Villages and Place Names in Pennsylvania.

In both references you will find that an Iroquois Chief ALLEGUIPPAS lived here. He had a son Cashiowaya, also called Kanuksusy, born before 1700. In 1701, when he was a young boy his parents presented this lad to William Penn at New Castle, Delaware. He remained a friend to the English and performed many missions, not only as a messenger, but an interpreter during the next fifty years. To show his appreciation for what he had done, on August 22, 1755, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, Robert Hunter Morris, at an Indian Council held in Philadelphia formally adopted Kanuksusy and gave him the name of NewCastle. Conrad Weiser was the interpreter.

The minutes of the Provincial Council states-the Governor addressing himself to Kanuksusy the son of Alleguippas, whose mother was now alive and living near Ray's Town, desired him to harken for he was going to give him an English name.

We obtained a xerox copy of Scull's map of 1759. It shows the location of Alleguippy Gap as a continuation of Warrior's ridge north of Bloody Run. Thus this Gap in the mountains was named after Alleguippas, the father of New Castle and not the Queen Allequippa. I am certain there will be exceptions taken to this story and some will accept this correction, but we have stated the facts as we have found them. References have been given as to our sources of information. They are available to all who might like to verify them.