Oldtown, Allegany county, Maryland. A century
ago the settlement at that point was called
'^Shawanese Oldtown, " but of late years the
explanatory prefix has been entirely dropped, and
the place is now known simply as Oldtown. Other
villages were scattered about between the Virginia
and Pennsylvania lines, two of which were not far
distant from Caiuctucuc. One of these was located
in the narrow valley, three miles westward, on the
banks of Braddock's Run, on what is now known as
the Eckles' place, and within a few yards of the line
of the present National Road, just where it is crossed
by the Eckhart Railroad. Within the memory of
men now living there were many relics of this village
in existence. The ground was heavily timbered
throughout that valley, and a clearing of several
acres had been made there^ in which were still to be
seen the remnants of the small huts used by the
natives. Just across the ridge, in Cash Valley, was
another village of the same character; and still
another, of greater dimensions, was situated near the
spot on which Cresaptown stands, probably a little nearer the river.
The inhabitants of this region were a portion of the Shawanese tribe, a sub-division of the Algonquin group, one of the most warlike combinations of that period. The warriors engaged in hunting and fishing, and game was sufficiently abundant both in wood and water to supply them with all that was needed of food and furs. While the men engaged in the pursuits of the chase, or went upon the war path, their families were left at home to till the soil,
