Alquatka Tributary

mullicaman

Scout
May 25, 2004
30
0
Medford, NJ
Can't find this in my Lenape-English dictionary. Google/Excite
search only reveals a sub-sub-watershed of the upper Mullica.
The Alquatka Branch flows through southern Medford and joins the
Mullica in Shamong west of Jackson Road.
Does anyone know the origin or history of Alquatka? Thanks!
 
B

bach2yoga

Guest
mullicaman said:
Can't find this in my Lenape-English dictionary. Google/Excite
search only reveals a sub-sub-watershed of the upper Mullica.
The Alquatka Branch flows through southern Medford and joins the
Mullica in Shamong west of Jackson Road.
Does anyone know the origin or history of Alquatka? Thanks!

Would this be anywhere near the Koen-Crispin site?
 

mullicaman

Scout
May 25, 2004
30
0
Medford, NJ
I'm not familiar with the Coen-Crispin site. I went snoeshowing in Alquatka two winters ago via Red Onion Road in Shamong (off Atsion Road--now Wharton Acres development). Followed power lines to Alquatka and took a b/w photo with my Rolleiflex T (If I can scan it, I'll post it). Terraserver coordinates are 39.7943564 N to 74.825681 W--that's where the powerlines cross the tributary--and continues to the confluence with the Mullica at 39.7818169 N and 74.805452 W. Alquatka must be a Lenape term, right? I've even read through the walam olum a few times, but have found nothing. Medford Historical Society doesn't seem to know either. [/i]
 
B

bach2yoga

Guest
mullicaman said:
I'm not familiar with the Coen-Crispin site. I went snoeshowing in Alquatka two winters ago via Red Onion Road in Shamong (off Atsion Road--now Wharton Acres development). Followed power lines to Alquatka and took a b/w photo with my Rolleiflex T (If I can scan it, I'll post it). Terraserver coordinates are 39.7943564 N to 74.825681 W--that's where the powerlines cross the tributary--and continues to the confluence with the Mullica at 39.7818169 N and 74.805452 W. Alquatka must be a Lenape term, right? I've even read through the walam olum a few times, but have found nothing. Medford Historical Society doesn't seem to know either. [/i]

I don't know a lot about it, other than the fact that it's a native site near Medford that has drawn much attention over the years from archaeologists.

The Walum Olam was an elaborate hoax. There is a writeup in one of the bulletins of the Archeological Society of NJ about it.

I can't get into my yahoo mail right now, but I am friends with Alan Mounier, who is an archeologist that specializes in prehistoric archeology (native American).

I'll email him when I can get back into yahoo and see if he can shed any light on the subject.

Renee
 

mullicaman

Scout
May 25, 2004
30
0
Medford, NJ
Alquatka

The walam olum a hoax? Ouch! I used to begin my American Lit
classes (along with a Mashpee Indian ghost story and Ogalala Sioux
myths) with it. Can I find the hoax article on the web?
If you can contact your archeologist friend about the history of Alquatka,
I'd love the feedback. Thanks, Bill Wiegand
 
B

bach2yoga

Guest
Alquatka

mullicaman said:
The walam olum a hoax? Ouch! I used to begin my American Lit
classes (along with a Mashpee Indian ghost story and Ogalala Sioux
myths) with it. Can I find the hoax article on the web?
If you can contact your archeologist friend about the history of Alquatka,
I'd love the feedback. Thanks, Bill Wiegand

Bill,
If you will send me your private email address I can scan the article. It's rather lengthy. I'll sort through my past issues and find it. I think it is a good 10 pages or more, but I could be wrong.
I loved the Walam Olum too. :( There is an interpretive trail at the Atlantic County Park in Estell Manor that is maintained by a boy scout troop that has portions of it posted along the trail.
It's interesting reading though, even if it's not real.
Renee
 

mullicaman

Scout
May 25, 2004
30
0
Medford, NJ
Renee,
Don't go to all of the trouble of scanning the article..I'll take your word
for it. Can I at least believe that the Great Manitou was/is real? Sort of
feel the Great Manitou whenever I'm out in the Barrens..sort of calls me
in. Sound strange? The Lenni Lenape felt that every turtle and every
bend in the stream was divine, hence they NAMED them "Mechesca-"
"tauxin", or "Tulpe-" "hocken". I feel the Great Manitou whenever I
snowshoe out to Alquatka, only the last time I was angry that Connectiv
Power had cut down a huge strand of Atlantic white cedars under their
powerlines and had piled up these 100 year old trees like so many ivory
tusks. I can't go out there anymore. Why in world does the state forest
system grant easements to these utlity companies and then allow them
to annihilate the forests? Those cedars made Alquatka! I feel the same
way whenever I drive down Atsion Road to the lake and witness Christie
Whitman's "citizen's firewood program" in the forest.
I'd like to show people what Ackerman & Pratt developers have done
to the access to Alquatka and what Connectiv has done. It's a travesty.
Did anyone know these huge cedars were coming down? As I said
before, consciousness begets responsibility. Thanks, Bill Wiegand
 
B

bach2yoga

Guest
Laughs, you'd be better off asking someone who has been raised in the Lenape ways than me!

I personally love the idea of the Great Manitou. And there were "lesser" manitou as well, though I cannot remember what they were named. Some of them were goddesses so to speak, like the corn goddess.

"citizen's firewood program" in the forest

what's that about???

consciousness begets responsibility

I concur wholeheartedly!

Renee

mullicaman said:
Renee,
Don't go to all of the trouble of scanning the article..I'll take your word
for it. Can I at least believe that the Great Manitou was/is real? Sort of
feel the Great Manitou whenever I'm out in the Barrens..sort of calls me
in. Sound strange? The Lenni Lenape felt that every turtle and every
bend in the stream was divine, hence they NAMED them "Mechesca-"
"tauxin", or "Tulpe-" "hocken". I feel the Great Manitou whenever I
snowshoe out to Alquatka, only the last time I was angry that Connectiv
Power had cut down a huge strand of Atlantic white cedars under their
powerlines and had piled up these 100 year old trees like so many ivory
tusks. I can't go out there anymore. Why in world does the state forest
system grant easements to these utlity companies and then allow them
to annihilate the forests? Those cedars made Alquatka! I feel the same
way whenever I drive down Atsion Road to the lake and witness Christie
Whitman's "citizen's firewood program" in the forest.
I'd like to show people what Ackerman & Pratt developers have done
to the access to Alquatka and what Connectiv has done. It's a travesty.
Did anyone know these huge cedars were coming down? As I said
before, consciousness begets responsibility. Thanks, Bill Wiegand
 

njvike

Explorer
Jul 18, 2003
353
1
Sparta, NJ
home.earthlink.net
mullicaman said:
Can't find this in my Lenape-English dictionary. Google/Excite
search only reveals a sub-sub-watershed of the upper Mullica.
The Alquatka Branch flows through southern Medford and joins the
Mullica in Shamong west of Jackson Road.
Does anyone know the origin or history of Alquatka? Thanks!

I did a web site for a customer of mine that is involved with the Lenape. I will ask them and let you know.

Ken
 
B

bach2yoga

Guest
Bill,
Alan forward the question to some others as he was unsure.
He received this response, which may give you an idea where to look. I like the idea of using the language database mapping for GIS!
Perhaps you might want to contact someone from the tribe, most of the tribes have someone who kind of specializes in their history.
Renee

Alan,

You were asking about the linguistic connections of the regional name I
believe (Alquatka).
Has anyone created the language database mapping for GIS?... links use
word recognition. There is also a new software that can querry
semantics...Jelyn told me about it yesterday...ontology??. The Goddard
dictionary placenames??? indexing the data layer on excel. Just a
thought. We access this on our CRM Mapping archives whenever we get a
letter for comment.It started as a graduate project and has expanded
into the tribal archives- a lot of environmetal planning is done with
this data and it is accessed for the tribe attorney.

Sandra Gaskell
 

mullicaman

Scout
May 25, 2004
30
0
Medford, NJ
Alquatka Research

Renee,
Thanks for all the leads. I'm not quite sure how to use all of them
(forwarded e-mail somewhat unclear) but I'll pursue. Are some of these
websites? Thanks again, Bill W.
 

NewSchoolPiney

Explorer
Jun 16, 2003
138
0
Boston, MA
www.pinemind.com
Language database mapping for GIS huh? Perks my interest as I just started my full time job as a GIS Specialist at the NJ Office of GIS.

I believe this would involve associating certain languages, dialects as attributes in certain geographic areas whether they are points or polygons?

Justin
 
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bach2yoga

Guest
NewSchoolPiney said:
Language database mapping for GIS huh? Perks my interest as I just started my full time job as a GIS Specialist at the NJ Office of GIS.

I believe this would involve associating certain languages, dialects as attributes in certain geographic areas whether they are points or polygons?

Justin

You would know more about that than I would. I took the office of historic preservation's gis mapping workshop a few months ago. It seems to me that what they were describing doing with points and polygons just might work with this, but I don't know the limitations and logistics of the software programming. It is an interesting suggestion.

I'd love to hear what feedback you get on it if you ask about it at work.
I know that Citizen's United has hired someone to research all of the names of the--darn--can't remember the word, I'll ask tomorrow--some parts of the Maurice River that have historical sgnificance. Be nice if their work could be supplemented on gis. The historical research would already be done for you.

BTW, Bill, Alan said he has some more info for me, he will give it to me tonight hopefully.

Renee
 

mullicaman

Scout
May 25, 2004
30
0
Medford, NJ
Ingles, Por Favor!

Whoa..is this a graduate seminar in linguistics, archeology or geology?
What does the name Alquatka have to do with this "overlapping" stuff?
No comprende. I'm anxious to hear what your friend Alan has to say,
though. Thanks, Bill W.
 
B

bach2yoga

Guest
Ingles, Por Favor!

mullicaman said:
Whoa..is this a graduate seminar in linguistics, archeology or geology?
What does the name Alquatka have to do with this "overlapping" stuff?
No comprende. I'm anxious to hear what your friend Alan has to say,
though. Thanks, Bill W.

Heck, no, that's why I deferred to Justin! My experience with GIS is limited to the free online version, lol! The seminar was by the preservation office for people who are interested on a civilian or governmental level in mapping historical resources on GIS, that's all. It was an all day seminar, not a six month course, lol!

Are you familiar with GIS at all? One of the wonderful features of GIS mapping is the ability to overlap data layers and to query the map. There are some very limited NJ GIS maps available online that you can use ARCExplorer with, a free program you can download, to use the maps. They don't do half of what the big guys do though. Rutgers/Cook offers professional development courses on gis that I would love to take some day.

We're headed out now to Alan's, I'll get the info while I'm there.
Renee
 
B

bach2yoga

Guest
Don't know if my last post made sense. What they would do, I think, is to take the historical information and reference it with a point or polygon on the map. When you use that data layer you would be able to query that point or polygon and you would be provided with the historical information pertinent to that point or polygon.

Anyway, Paul Schopp faxed this to Alan, it's from Waterways of Camden County.
May find more info at Camden County historical society?

Also, Alan posted to the Archeological Society of NJ list. There are some Native linguists there who may know, hopefully someone will answer.


All of these names are the same branch, and many of them sound similar when pronounced.

ATCO, ATCO BRANCH (Atquatqua Creek, Adcoadco Branch, Edquedque Branch, Jacs Bridge Branch, Jacques Bridge Branch)

This is one of the two principal streams, the other being the Batsto River which join at "The Forks" to form the Mullica River, alias Little Egg Harbor River or Atsion River. It rises near Rte 73 nw of Bishops and southeast of Berlin and flows east and southeast. It forms part of the eatern boundary of Waterford Township and thus of Camden County. Present topographic maps show this stream as Mullica River. Other maps use Atsion River or Little Egg Harbor River for all or part of the length of the stream. The use of theis stream as a county boudnary dates to 1709/1710, when old Gloucester County abutted Burlington County and the boundary between them ran (from the head of Coles Branch)"...upon a straight line to the southernmost branch of Little Egg-Harbor River..."(Patherson Laws, pp 2-4)
Prowell (p 1) gives the line as "...to near the head of Mullica River or a branch thereof known as Atco Atco...." Gordon's History of New Jersey p 262 describes Waterford Township as bounded by several branches of the Atsion River, of which Atquatqua Creek runs along the SE boundary." Barnes & Vanderveer, 1856 Map of Camden County (CCHS, M 83.90.646), shows the lower part of the stream as Little Egg Harbor or Mullica River but the upper reaches as Atco Atco.
The stream has had various other spellings recorded: Adcoadco, in the deed, Lippincott to Middleton, 8 May 1844 (Camden, A-63); Etquaatco, curvey, OSG, N-57 (1761).
It has been suggested by some writers that ATCO is an acronym based upon Atlantic Transport Co. If such a company ever existed, it is clear it had nothing to do with the use of "Atco" as the name of this stream and as the name of the town near its head, since the name had been in existence a century before the town of Atco was created by the Richards family (Family Empire in Jersey Iron, p 55); Boyer's Place Names (p 3) suggests the "railroad" may have had some connection with Atsion (which it eventually did) and the author conjures up a mythical Atsion Transport Company.
The earliest spellings suggest they were based on an Indian naming of this important stream. Prowell (p 262) states that Atco was "an Indian term for a place of many deer". It is curious that the 1953 Medford Lakes Quad shows a small tributary of the main stream, wholly within Burlington County and names it Alquatka. It originates in the West Jersey Cranberry Meadow. (See Sign Posts, p 2, where Bisbee spells it Alquatqua.)
At one time the main stream may have been called Jacs Bridge Branch. A deed from George Marple to Mahlon Marple, 12 Septemter 1766 (Colonial Deeds, X-108) refers to a "branch of Little Egg Harbor River called Jac's Bridge Branch alias (Edqueadque)". It would seem that "Edqueadque" refers to the main stream, Atco Atco. This is substantiated by references to "Jake's Branch" and "Jakes Bridge" in a deed from Samuel W Harrison, et al, trustees for George Marple to Martin Gibbs, et al, 18 June 1792 (Woodbury, O-292).
However, Jacs Bridge Branch has an identity of its own. West Jersey Title Company's Map of Voorhees Township (CCHS, M.83.117.1) shows a small stream, about half a mile in length, starting in the northwest angle of the intersection of Taunton-Hopewell Road with Jackson Road, at the locale called "Bishops" and runs east northeast to the main stream. The map names this little stream Jacques Bridge Branch.
"Jacques Bridge" is the bridge by which Cooper Road in Atco crosses the main stream to become the Atco-Kettle Run Road.
 

mullicaman

Scout
May 25, 2004
30
0
Medford, NJ
Alquatka, alias Atco, Atco!

Awesome research, Renee! I checked my Lenape-English dictionary, and
thanks to your leads, found the Lenape word "Achtuhhu", meaning "plenty
of deer". And indeed it is! My first snowshoeing trek there three winters
ago was (foolishly) during deer season. There were many hunters and
ATV's scouring this wide and open marsh. Now that the cedars have been
taken down, it is even more open.
I wonder why the term Alquatka, or Atco Atco, is doubled? Were the
Lenni Lenape doubly jubilant about the marsh's opportunties, as if to say:
"Plenty of deer! Plenty of deer!" or could the first "Atco" mean something
different. Any enlightenment from your friend Alan? What you've done
so far is more than sufficient for my needs. Perhaps I shall begin writing
my book on A History of the Mullica River--I was never that impressed by Beck's book. He was too much the minister visiting his congregation--
interesting anecdotes about people who inhabited the lower Mullica. But
I want to go farther back in time than that.
Here's another curiosity in exploring the headwaters of the Mullica:
I traced the Mullica's headwaters to Cooper Road, just off Hopewell Road
in Berlin(near Bishop's). About half mile further down Cooper is the
origin of Kettle Run, which flows northeasterly through various lakes in
Evesham and Medford to become Haynes Creek, which in Medford Village
becomes the Southwest Branch of the Rancocas. You know the rest of
it. It flows north to join the Rancocas which flows west into the Delaware
which flows south. Isn't that weird, doing almost a complete reversal or
circle? And what topography explains it? About a mile across Berlin from
the headwaters of the Mullica begins the Great Egg Harbor River!. Both
the Mullica and Great Egg flow southeasterly while Kettle Run flows north,
west, and then south. Berlin is one strange headwaters town..
Keep sending me info on Alquatka if you like. Otherwise,
infinite thanks, Bill Wiegand
 
B

bach2yoga

Guest
Alquatka, alias Atco, Atco!

That's really interesting!
Fred Akers and Jane Galletto and I were out today and Jane and I got to talking about the linguistics and the GIS mapping.
She is the founder of Citizens United
www.cumauriceriver.org
and was responsible for hiring of someone to do the research on the linguistic history of the reaches of the Maurice--that's the word I couldn't remember yesterday--reach.
I asked her what she thought of the possibility of using that research when it is completed and having it put as a data layer for GIS mapping. She said if she could find someone, maybe an intern or something, that she thought it was a really great idea.
She also got to thinking if that it would be really great to have the linguistic meaning behind each of the Lenape named branches. I suggested she draw up a list, and then we can see if one the linguist specialist in the area would be willing to give us a hand on it. That is something else that would be really interesting as a data layer for GIS.
If I hear anything else, I will let you know....
Renee
mullicaman said:
I wonder why the term Alquatka, or Atco Atco, is doubled? Were the
Lenni Lenape doubly jubilant about the marsh's opportunties, as if to say:
"Plenty of deer! Plenty of deer!" or could the first "Atco" mean something
different. Any enlightenment from your friend Alan? What you've done
so far is more than sufficient for my needs. Perhaps I shall begin writing
my book on A History of the Mullica River--I was never that impressed by Beck's book. He was too much the minister visiting his congregation--
interesting anecdotes about people who inhabited the lower Mullica. But
I want to go farther back in time than that.
Here's another curiosity in exploring the headwaters of the Mullica:
I traced the Mullica's headwaters to Cooper Road, just off Hopewell Road
in Berlin(near Bishop's). About half mile further down Cooper is the
origin of Kettle Run, which flows northeasterly through various lakes in
Evesham and Medford to become Haynes Creek, which in Medford Village
becomes the Southwest Branch of the Rancocas. You know the rest of
it. It flows north to join the Rancocas which flows west into the Delaware
which flows south. Isn't that weird, doing almost a complete reversal or
circle? And what topography explains it? About a mile across Berlin from
the headwaters of the Mullica begins the Great Egg Harbor River!. Both
the Mullica and Great Egg flow southeasterly while Kettle Run flows north,
west, and then south. Berlin is one strange headwaters town..
Keep sending me info on Alquatka if you like. Otherwise,
infinite thanks, Bill Wiegand
 
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