Askekesky (Acksquessance)
SC-280: In 1711, the Colony of Maryland authorized Colonel William Whittington to survey a tract of 1000 acres near this location for a reservation for the Indian River Indians, who were remnant groups of the Assateague and Nanticoke Indians. The Indian River formed the boundary between Maryland and Pennsylvania at the time. Maryland deeded the […]
Rabbit’s Ferry School 201-C
Rabbit’s Ferry School educated Native American and African American students of the Robinsonville area from 1920-1965. Built in 1919 through Pierre S. du Pont’s school rebuilding program, the school served students in grades 1-8 and later, grades 1-6. Rabbit’s Ferry was one of the last active one-room schools in the state when it closed in […]
Kitts Hummock
Like the Native Americans before them, European settlers used this rising ground or “hummock” on the shore of the Delaware Bay as a place for fishing and recreation. In 1738, Jehu Curtis received a patent for lands that he called “Kitt’s Hammock.” By the early 1800s, the Pleasanton family had established a tavern here for […]
History of Lake Comegys and Silver Lake
SC-238: Lake Comegys and Silver Lake are natural freshwater remnants of receding glaciers from the last Ice Age and are notable for their close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, The Nanticoke Tribe held summer encampments around Silver Lake to gather shellfish from the ocean, and various Native American artifacts have been found along the lake’s […]
Coursey-Daisey Nanticoke Burial Ground
Located within this neighborhood, a short distance south of here is the burial ground for the Coursey and Daisey families, members of the Nanticoke Indian Tribe. The gravesite is unmarked except for a family tombstone noting the site. It was once part of the land originally owned by Mills Coursey since 1853. Interred in the […]
Menhaden Fishing Industry
SC-214: The Atlantic Menhaden is a small herring-like fish found in the coastal waters of the Eastern United States. Used by Native Americans to fertilize crops, these oily fish were also used by European settlers to produce fuel for lamps. In the mid-19th century, technological improvements resulted in more-efficient processing methods and the menhaden fishing […]
