Hunt-Swartout raid

The Hunt-Swartwout Raid was a 1756 massacre against colonial settlers in northwestern New Jersey during the French and Indian War (1755–1763). In the 18th century, the upper valley of the Delaware River was a sparsely populated wilderness frontier. In 1756, a party of five men from the Lenape tribe from the valley of the Susquehanna River crossed the Delaware River near Dingman's bridge into New Jersey and proceeded on foot to the homes of local militia officers Richard Hunt, Anthony Swartwout, and Daniel Harker. The Lenape braves ransacked and burned the settler's homes, killing Anthony Swartwout and several members his family, and kidnapped members of the Hunt and Swartwout households, who were held captive for several years.^[1]

The Lenape came upon Daniel Harker's house, but decided against attacking. Due to Daniel Harker having a dozen militia men at his home, the Lenape preceded down the Delaware river towards Anthony Swartwout's house. The Lenape Indians ransacked and burned the Settler's home, killing Anthony Swartwout, his wife and three of his children. The Lenape kidnapped other members of the Hunt and Swartwout households. Thomas Hunt and Richard Hunt's slave were taken to Canada and sold to a French military officer as servants. There is no mention of the African American slave's name in any source and will from here on out will be called the "black slave."^[2] Thomas Hunt returned home in 1759, after being in servitude for three years and nine months. Thomas Hunt's release from servitude was a result of the treaty of Easton in 1758. Anthony Swartwout's two remaining children, a daughter and son were held captive by the Lenape tribe for a year. Anthony Swartwout's death is surrounded by controversy. One of the other captives, named Benjamin Springer was arrested and hanged for the murder of Anthony Swartwout. Springers's trial took place in Morris County, and Anthony Swartwout's son testified that Benjamin Springer had killed his father. However after Tomas Hunt and the black slave returned they declared that they had not seen Springer until the group had gotten tot the Susquehanna flats, where Hunt had believed Springer was already their prisoner. Thomas Hunt and the black slave also did not actually see Anthony Swartwout's murder, since they were captured after Swartwout's death. Thomas Hunt defended Benjamin Springer's innocent until his death.^[3]

References