"The People of Havre de Grace"

"The People of Havre de Grace". Mural by Shawn Forton. , Susquehannock Indians , The Susquehannock Indians controlled the upper tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. John Smith was the first European to encounter them when he explored the Upper Bay in 1608. He described them as "a most noble and heroic nation of Indians; 7 feet tall, with voices deep and hollow as coming out of a cave." The Susquehannocks and their relationship with European settlers dominated the area's development for almost a century., George Washington , Havre de Grace's location made it a crossroads for people traveling along the Eastern Seaboard. George Washington was known to have traveled through Havre de Grace numerous times throughout his lifetime., Marquis de Lafayette , The Marquis de Lafayette also traveled through Havre de Grace during the American Revolution. Local legend credits Lafayette with our city's name. It is believed that when Lafayette first saw the town settled at the juncture of the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay, he declared "C'est Le Havre" because it reminded him of La Havre, France., John O'Neill , On May 3, 1813, as part of the War of 18 12, Havre de Grace was bombarded by the British. During the early morning attack. John O'Neill was one of the few men defending the town. Wounded and taken into British custody for several days, he was eventually released with the intervention of his daughter Matilda. O'Neill became known as the "Defender of Havre de Grace" and was rewarded with the position of Lighthouse Keeper of Havre de Grace., Road to Freedom , Havre de Grace served as an important crossing point across the Susquehanna River for enslaved Africans looking to gain freedom in the north. A number of formerly enslaved people, including Frederick Douglass, documented their hop in Havre de Grace before traveling across the Susquehanna.