Native Americans in Bucks County
As early as 1397, Native Americans arrived in Bucks County.  Before the arrival of the Europeans, Bucks County was occupied and owned by Native Americans known as Leni-Lenape or "original people."  They came from the valley of the Mississippi being driven by more powerful neighbors, and sought a quiet home on the banks of the Delaware River.  Settlers found them a mild amiable and kindly disposed people and on their first arrival, the Native Americans assisted to feed them.  In some instances, the early settlers would likely have starved without their friendly help.

Chief Tamanend of the Leni-Lenape
Chief Tamanend and his 13 tribes gave Chalfont colorful history.  This celebrated Chief first appears in history in his treaty of June 1683 with William Penn, by which he granted him all the lands "lying between Pennepecka and Nessaninechs creek and all along Nessaninechs creek" in consideration of as much wampum and goods as Penn might please to give him.

Under monstrous trees, between Neshaminy and Pine Run Creeks, Chief Tamanend many times traveled to Penn Treaty Park to meet Penn.  The legend is that on his last trip, too infirm to walk, he was carried by his warriors until they reached their old camp grounds in Chalfont.  Being too ill to continue, he was left at this camp in charge of an Indian squaw, to await delegation's return from Penn Treaty Park.  Before leaving camp, however, the warriors started big fires, so that their Chief and the Indian squaw might be kept warm.  Chagrined at being left behind, he took his own life by rolling into the fire.

The following day, a Mr. & Mrs. Shewell, travelling over the trail found Chief Tamenend's dead body, severely burned.  They assisted the squaw in a burial of the Chief's body, leaving no markers as to the exact location of the grave.  The most accurate computation fixes the date at about 1749.

The Free Society of Traders
One of the largest and oldest grants given by Penn  was that of the "Free Society of Traders," made in 1682 and covering some 20,000 acres.  New Britain Township was part of this tract.  The object of the company,  mostly composed of gentlemen of London, was to carry on trading operations on an extensive scale.  The charter conferred most liberal privileges ever given a corporation in this state.  The corporation was to pay Penn the yearly sum of 1 shilling.  The society was to send settlers and mechanics to the grant to establish factories.  This land was sold off starting in 1706 and the last in 1726.  In 1720 Simon Butler purchased 167 acres.  In 1745 he purchased 465 more acres and his cousin, Simon Matthews, purchased a total of 314 acres.  Edward Matthews also owned a large tract.

Simon Butler's Mill
Simon Butler built Butler's Mill, one of the earliest mills in Bucks County, in 1720.  Matthews History describes it.  "To obtain sufficient fall to propel it, a race course was dug extending to Pine Run bridge, a distance of perhaps a mile and half.  A few years after building of the mill, its site was removed from opposite the present dwelling of John Mathias to another site 100 yards distant on the opposite side of the great road, the latter than not laid out."

From 1835 to 1881 the mill was in the possession of of George Eckhardt.  The owner entered into an arrangement with a resident of Hilltown Township to operate the mill.  Every Saturday night, after the mill shut down, the money chest was brought from its hiding place and the owner and miller by candlelight would count its contents and divide it evenly.  Then, with his gold and silver coins in one end of a double-pouched meal sack, and a week's supply of flour in the other end to balance it, the miller would swing the sack over his shoulder and -- with lantern -- walk six miles to his home.  The mill burned in 1881 and was rebuilt.  It burned again in 1885 and was never rebuilt.

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