Captain Jacobs

Captain Jacobs (died September 8, 1756) was a Delaware (Lenape) chief during the French and Indian War. His real name was Tewea. Jacobs received his English moniker from a Pennsylvania settler named Arthur Buchanan, who thought the chief resembled a "burly German in Cumberland County."

English settlements

Lewistown, Pennsylvania is located where there once was a considerable Delaware settlement, at the confluence of the Kishacoquillas Creek and the Juniata River. It was in 1754 that the English, led by Buchanan, came to the area. Captain Jacobs, being the head chief, was at first reluctant to sell any of the nearby land to the English settlers. With the assistance of a keg of rum, a few trinkets, and some tobacco, Buchanan convinced Jacobs to give them the land.

Captain Jacobs initially professed great friendship toward the British colonists, but was swayed by the French to think otherwise. As the number of English settlers grew, so did Jacobs' dissatisfaction with them. Without notice or incident, the Delawares destroyed their own settlement and left the area, which the English noted with caution.