ON THE BANKS OF THE DELAWARE

by Beman Lord ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 1971

Legends and historical anecdotes of Delaware Valley denizens from the Lenni Lenape Indians to the author's own ancestors are strung along in rambling geographic sequence, digested from primary and scholarly sources into easily readable bits but assembled without any unifying plan or direction. One summarizing paragraph on William Penn and his colony and another on Benjamin Franklin and ""some of his accomplishments"" are tossed in in the same desultory manner as are the hauntings and horseplay from the folklore of early settlers. The inadequacy of the approach (or lack of it) is exemplified by the noncommittal review of the exploits of one Tom Quick, a folk hero of sorts who reportedly vowed to kill 100 Indians, did polish off 99 by various clever tricks, then exceeded his quota after death by passing on the smallpox that killed him. Other sketches -- of preaching and corn-planting Lords and the founders and. early settlers of various towns along the river -- will have little appeal outside of the family or the town borders.

Pub Date: June 1, 1971

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Walck

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1971

Categories: NONFICTION