Pennsylvania Indian Trader:John Hans Steelman

John Hans Steelman, or Stellman^[1] a Marylander (naturalized in 1692), as we have seen, established a trade with the Shawnees at Pequea on the Susquehanna, and at Pechoquealin on the Delaware, before 1697. In 1701 William Penn caused his goods to be seized at Philadelphia while on their way to Lechay. William Penn wrote him a letter on April 12, 1701, notifying him of the seizure of these goods. The letter was addressed to "John Hans" but in Penn's report of the matter to his Council, the Trader's name is given as John Hans Steelman. His full name is signed as a witness to the treaty made between Penn and the Susquehannocks, April 23, 1701. James Logan visited the Indians at Conestoga in October, 1705, where he met the chief of the Conestogas, the Shawnees, and the Conoys. He told them "that he understood John Hans was building a log house, for trade amongst them, which made us [the Government's representatives] uneasy; and desired to know whether they [the Indians] encouraged it. To which they answered that they did not; and [they] were desired not to suffer any Christians to settle amongst them without the Govrs. leave." Doctor William H. Egle and some other historians of the Lower Susquehanna Valley have stated that the name, "John Hans," as printed in three places in the Pennsylvania Archives and Colonial Records covering the years 1705—11, is really a misprint for "John Harris," the Trader, who, some fifteen or twenty years later, was settled at what is now Harrisburg. These writers, however, do not explain why the surname "Steelman," follows the name, John Hans, in two other places in the Colonial Records; all of the references being to the same individual. ^[2] If that individual really was John Harris, Senior, father of the founder of Harrisburg, then he must share the odium for the murder of Francis de la Tore, who was killed by some of the young Shawnee warriors in 1710, or 1711, at the instigation of "John Hans."

Governor Gookin visited Conestoga with four members of his Council in June, 1711, to investigate this murder; and while there, the Senecas gave him the following account of the affair: "That Opessa [chief of the Shawnees], being thereto solicited by John Hans Steelman, had sent out some of his people, either to bring back or kill Francis de la Tore and his company. Opessa, he affirms, was entirely innocent, for that John Hans came to his cabin, when he and his young people, who were then going a hunting, were in council; told him that some of his slaves and dogs (meaning La Tore and company) were fled; therefore desired him forthwith to send some of his people to bring them back or kill them, and take goods for their trouble. At which motion, Opessa, being surprised, told him that he ought by no means to discourse after that manner before young people who were going to the woods and might by accident meet these people; and therefore ordered him to desist, utterly denying his request."

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Footnotes

↑ Ferris gives a very favorable account of him in his Original Settlements on the Delaware, pages 55 and 177. He donated £100 silver, in 1698, towards the building of the Swedes' Church in Wilmington.
↑ The name "John Hans"---a misprint for "John Harris", signed to a deed of release, executed by the Delaware Indians to John, Thomas, and Richard Penn, at Philadelphia, August 25, 1737---I am inclined to believe, is the signature for an Indian bearing that name, notwithstanding the opinion of Dr. Egle and other Harrisburg historians to the contrary. The Indian who signed that deed seems to have been none other than "Captain John Harris," St., the father of Teedyuscung and of "Captain John," his brother. See Penna. Archives, i., 543; Reichel's Memorials of the Moravian Church, 217.

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