Pennsylvania Indian Traders:Sylvester Garland

Sylvester Garland, of Newcastle, was a Trader among the Shawnees of Pequea within a short time after their arrival in the Province. On the 3rd of September, 1701, Shemekenwhoa, one of the chiefs of the Shawanah Indians, solemnly declared and complained to the Govr. that Sylvester Garland had brought to the settlement of Indians of their nation several anchors of rum, to the quantity of about 140 gallons, and that to induce them to receive it and trade with him, he pretended he was sent by ye Govr., and gave one cask as a present from him; upon which, being entreated to drink, they were afterwards much abused." Mr. Garland was accordingly haled before the Council, and put under bonds to the amount of £100, that he would not sell any more rum to the natives. On September 17,1702, Garland laid information before the Council that some of the Delaware and Conestoga Indians had recently brought from the southwards, where they had been on a hunting trip, articles of feminine apparel, which seemed to give rise to the belief that these Indians had murdered the owners of the articles. ^[1] Garland's last appearance on the records as a Trader was in April, 1710, at which time he informed the Governor at Newcastle of some negotiations having been begun between the Five Nations and the Conestoga Indians.

Garland apparently lived "at the head of the Apoquinimy" per Egle's Notes and Queries (See Notes below). His daughter "Suit Garland" married the Rev James Anderson in February of 1712/13. This marriage apparently took place in New Castle. Reverend Anderson would later serve the Presbyterian's of Donegal, Derry, and on the Swartara of Old Chester and Old Lancaster Counties.

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Notes

From: Egle's Notes and Queries of Pennsylvania

James Anderson was a native of Scotland, born November 17, 1678; was educated under the care of Principal Stirling, of Glasgow, and ordained by Irvine Presbytery, November 17, 1708, with a view to his settlement in Virginia.

He sailed March 6, 1709, and arrived in the Rappahannock on the 22d of April following, but the state of things there not warranting his stay, he came northward, and was received by the Presbytery September 20. He settled at New Castle. In 1714, out of regard to the desolate condition of the people in Kent county, he was directed to supply them monthly on a sabbath, and also to spend a Sabbath at Cedar Creek, in Sussex.

He subsequently ministered in New York, but owing to some difficulties in the congregation there he desired a removal. He was called september 24, 1726, to Donegal, on the Susquehanna, and accepted it. He was installed the last Wednesday in August, 1727. In September, 1729, he gave every fifth Sabbath to the people on Swatara, and joined the congregation of Derry, thus becoming the first settled pastor over that church, until the call to Rev. William Bertram, in 1732.

He died July 16, 1740. In the language of Presbytery, "he was high in esteem for circumspection, diligence and faithfulness as a Christian minister." The Rev. Mr. Anderson married February, 1712-13, Suit Garland, daughter of Sylvester Garland, of the Head of Apoquinimy. She died December 24, 1736. He then married Rachel Wilson, December 27, 1737.

His son Garland Anderson married Jane, daughter of Peter Chevalier, of Philadelphia, but died early. His [Garland's] daughter Elizabeth married samuel Breeze, resided in New York, and was a woman of great excellence.

A brother of the Rev. Mr. Anderson was John Anderson of Perth Amboy, who in 1712 was made one of the Council of the Province of New Jersey. He died in March, 1736, aged seventy-three, being then president of the council.

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