Cecil Hall

American Indians were the earliest inhabitants of what is now called Cecil County. The first white men to visit the area arrived by ship in the year 1608. The expedition was led by Captain John Smith, and through his written accounts we learn about the Indian tribes who lived along the shores of Cecil's rivers. The Toghwoghs lived by the Sassafras River. John Smith and his men found them to be friendly and of a gentle nature. The natives had never before seen white men and wanted to worship them as gods. The Minquas were located primarily in Delaware, but spread westward into Cecil. The Shawnase were a southern tribe, but they migrated north when they were being killed off in great numbers. They lived near the North East River and became basket makers and fishermen. Some remained even after white men moved to the area. Records show that a few were baptized in St. Mary Anne's Episcopal Church in North East, and one was on the payroll ledgers of Principio Iron Works. The largest tribe the explorers met was the Susquehannock Tribe with 600 people. 

Captain Smith encountered the Susquehannocks while exploring the Susquehanna River. They had possession of the land between the North East and Susquehanna rivers whose waters were abundant with fish. Smith described them as the largest men he had ever seen, as if they were giants with big voices. They wore the skins of bears and wolves. Heads and claws remained on the skins as they wore them over the Indian's heads, adding to their larger than life appearance. The Indians met the white men with gifts of skins, bows, arrows, beads, and tobacco pipes. They were friendly with the white men, but could be a powerful force in war. The Susquehannocks were part of the Iroquois Nation of Indians, who considered themselves the most advanced on the east coast, and militarily strong. They frequently absorbed surrounding tribes in territorial wars. 

Before leaving the region John Smith and his men explored the North East, Elk, Sassafras and Susquehanna rivers. He gave names to places he visited, many of which were changed by settlers in later years. He also documented descriptions of Indian weapons and eating utensils such as flint knife blades that were lashed to a wooden handle for cutting, and a tool that looks much like a rolling pin, used for the mashing and grinding of corn.

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