Anthony Sadowski
Encyclopedia
Anthony Sadowski was a Polish
-born Indian trader
and interpreter employed by the provincial governor of Pennsylvania as an Indian agent in the western country.
, and, as a deputy of the Polish Sejm, an inspector of the king's land holdings in Ukraine
. Though it is not known which schools Anthony attended in his youth, he did receive a classical education
.
During the Great Northern War
in 1701, Sadowski was taken captive with his brother at Riga
. He managed to escape captivity, and made his way to Scotland
, England
, and, subsequently, America, reaching New York
in 1704.
. He, along with George Boone—father of the famous frontiersman Daniel Boone
—was a founder of Amity Township
in Berks County in 1719.
Sadowski worked to establish friendly relations with the Native Americans
in the area, learning the Delaware and Iroquois languages
and serving as an interpreter.
As a trader, Sadowski traveled as far as Logstown (now Ambridge, Pennsylvania
). With two other Indian traders, he established a trading post at present-day Kittanning, Pennsylvania
in June 1729. He became a citizen of Pennsylvania in 1735.
, and is buried in the cemetery of Old St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church
in Douglassville
.
His grave marker bears the following inscription:
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
-born Indian trader
The Indian Trade
The Indian Trade refers to trade between Europeans and their North American descendants with the Indigenous people of North America ....
and interpreter employed by the provincial governor of Pennsylvania as an Indian agent in the western country.
Early life
Anthony Sadowski was born in about 1669 in Poland. His father was Marcin Sadowski, who was a chamberlain at the Polish king's castle in GostyńGostyn
Gostyń is a town in Greater Poland Voivodeship , in Gostyń County. According to 30 June 2004 data its population was 20,746.-Geography:Gostyń is located at 17°01' East and 51°53' North....
, and, as a deputy of the Polish Sejm, an inspector of the king's land holdings in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. Though it is not known which schools Anthony attended in his youth, he did receive a classical education
Classical education movement
The Classical education movement advocates a form of education based in the traditions of Western culture, with a particular focus on education as understood and taught in the Middle Ages. The curricula and pedagogy of classical education was first developed during the Middle Ages by Martianus...
.
During the Great Northern War
Great Northern War
The Great Northern War was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in northern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swedish alliance were Peter I the Great of Russia, Frederick IV of...
in 1701, Sadowski was taken captive with his brother at Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
. He managed to escape captivity, and made his way to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and, subsequently, America, reaching New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1704.
In America
One of Sadowski's first moves in the New World was to marry a woman named Mary Bordt. He would have nine children. Sadowski moved his family from New Jersey to Pennsylvania in 1712, to a 400 acres (1.6 km²) property along the Schuylkill RiverSchuylkill River
The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...
. He, along with George Boone—father of the famous frontiersman Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone was an American pioneer, explorer, and frontiersman whose frontier exploits mad']'e him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. Boone is most famous for his exploration and settlement of what is now the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which was then beyond the western borders of...
—was a founder of Amity Township
Amity Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Amity Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,867 at the 2000 census. The 2005 census estimate put the population at 11,067...
in Berks County in 1719.
Sadowski worked to establish friendly relations with the Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
in the area, learning the Delaware and Iroquois languages
Iroquoian languages
The Iroquoian languages are a First Nation and Native American language family.-Family division:*Ruttenber, Edward Manning. 1992 [1872]. History of the Indian tribes of Hudson's River. Hope Farm Press....
and serving as an interpreter.
As a trader, Sadowski traveled as far as Logstown (now Ambridge, Pennsylvania
Ambridge, Pennsylvania
Ambridge is a borough in Beaver County in Western Pennsylvania, incorporated in 1905 and named after the American Bridge Company. Ambridge is located 16 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, alongside the Ohio River. In 1910, 5,205 people lived in Ambridge; in 1920, 12,730 people lived there, and in...
). With two other Indian traders, he established a trading post at present-day Kittanning, Pennsylvania
Kittanning, Pennsylvania
Kittanning is a borough and the county seat of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is situated northeast of Pittsburgh, along the east bank of the Allegheny River. The name means "at the great stream" in the Delaware language...
in June 1729. He became a citizen of Pennsylvania in 1735.
Death and legacy
Sadowski died on April 22, 1736 in Amityville, PennsylvaniaAmityville, Pennsylvania
Amityville is an unincorporated community in Berks County, Pennsylvania near the borough of Pottstown. It is located on Old Swede Road in Amity Township....
, and is buried in the cemetery of Old St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church
Old St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church
Old St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church is a historic church on U.S. 422 in Douglassville, Pennsylvania.It was built in 1801 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978....
in Douglassville
Douglassville, Pennsylvania
Douglassville is a community in Amity, Union Townships, and Douglass Townships Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. Douglassville is situated along U.S. Route 422. Developments include the Amity Gardens subdivision, the West Ridge subdivision, the Briarwood subdivision, and the subdivision...
.
His grave marker bears the following inscription:
Whether or not he opened an Indian trading post on the shores of Lake ErieLake ErieLake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
and gave his name to Sandusky, OhioSandusky, OhioSandusky is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Erie County. It is located in northern Ohio and is situated on the shores of Lake Erie, almost exactly half-way between Toledo to the west and Cleveland to the east....
, here lies the greatest Polish frontiersman of colonial times, an organizer of Amity Township in 1719, and founder of the Sandusky family in America.
External links
- Anthony Sadowski on Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
- Anthony Sadowski - Polish Pioneer
- The Turbulent Life of Anthony Sadowski
- The First Polish Musician in America