Penn Rock: Where William Penn Reaffirmed Peace on the Edge of the Frontier

Nestled just off the curve of Chestnut Street in the small town of Gap lies a quiet stone with a monumental legacy. Known as Penn Rock, this flat outcrop near the roadside is believed to be the spot where William Penn himself once sat with Susquehannock leaders in 1701 to reaffirm a treaty of peace between Native peoples and the colonial settlers of Pennsylvania.

To understand the rock’s significance, one must understand William Penn. Born in 1644 to a prominent English naval family, Penn became a committed Quaker in his early adulthood—an unpopular faith in England at the time. In 1681, Penn received a vast land grant from King Charles II to settle a debt owed to his father. Penn called the land “Pennsylvania,” and he envisioned it as a “Holy Experiment”—a Peaceable Kingdom where people of all faiths could live in harmony, and where the rights of Indigenous peoples would be respected through treaties and fair dealings, not conquest.

Penn’s early efforts were well-received, and his Treaty of Friendship with the Lenape is still remembered as a symbol of integrity in early American diplomacy. But ideals and reality often diverge. As more settlers poured into Pennsylvania—especially in areas like what is now Lancaster County, which was still part of Chester County at the time—tensions began to rise. Promises made to Native nations were not always kept. Land was settled without consent. Relations strained.

In 1701, sensing growing unrest and determined to preserve peace, Penn personally traveled west to reaffirm the treaty with the Susquehannocks, whose homeland extended along the Susquehanna River. The trail west from Philadelphia followed ancient Native American routes, most notably the Minqua Path, through forested hills and valleys. A day’s ride brought the party to what is now Gap, Pennsylvania.

According to tradition, it was here—amid thick woods and open meadows, near the present-day Gap Post Office and Gap Town Clock—that Penn and the Susquehannock chiefs gathered to renew their commitment to peaceful coexistence. Sheepskin copies of the treaty were unrolled on a broad, flat rock, and hands were laid down in solemn agreement.

That rock, now known as Penn Rock, still rests at a sharp bend on Chestnut Street, marked by a modest sign. The agreement it once bore, though informal by today’s legal standards, held immense symbolic and practical weight in an era when trust had to be earned, often face-to-face.

Following the treaty’s reaffirmation, it’s said that celebrations ensued—feasting, dancing, and fireside fellowship late into the night. Penn reportedly slept in a nearby cave and was treated to a breakfast of garden produce grown by local Native communities near the present-day Gap Post Office.

Today, Penn Rock is largely overlooked. Yet for those who pause, it offers a moment to reflect on a powerful effort to bridge two very different worlds through words, not weapons.

Where To Go

Penn Rock is located at 934 Chestnut Street, Gap, PA, near the curve in the road. Look for a historical sign designating the spot. Visitors may park in nearby public lots. One option might be the post office. Please use caution near traffic and be respectful of private property when viewing the site.

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Resources

• From The Attic: The Penn Rock
• Explore the Rich History of Penn Rock
• Octorara Community Corner