Greentown Delaware Village

Amid instability in Ohio created by the American Revolution, and after the 1782 massacre of Christian Indians at Gnadenhutten and Colonel William Crawford’s expedition against Wyandot and Delaware towns along the Sandusky, Delaware people, including a small group of Mingo Indians, left Helltown and settled Greentown as early as 1783. Situated on an elevation on the Black Fork beyond the clearing behind this site, the village was presumably named for British loyalist Thomas Green. John Chapman, known as Johnny Appleseed, had an amicable relationship with the Delaware, owned land throughout the Black Fork Valley, and was known to visit Greentown on his travels through Ohio, and other visitors included the Shawnee Prophet, Munsee Delaware leader Captain Pipe, and local preacher James Copus. By 1812, observers noted more than 150 dwellings there. Though considered peaceful, the intentions of Greentown’s residents were questioned during the War of 1812, and after General William Hull surrendered to the British at Detroit on August 16, 1812, residents were removed from Greentown for fear they would aid “unfriendly” Indians. The removal took place sometime between August 27 and September 3, 1812; residents were uncertain what would happen and hesitated to obey, and Chief Armstrong was assured through the urging of James Copus that Greentown’s property would be inventoried and protected until peace ensued. However, a faction of militiamen who assisted in the removal remained behind and set fire to the village, which consequently remained essentially abandoned after the War of 1812.

Ohio · United States