OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Tecumseh, Son of Pucksinwah [3]
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Darlene E. Kelley
http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374
April 8, 2000
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Historical Collections of Ohio
Diaries of S. J. Kelly
Plains Dealer
Know Your Ohio
by Darlene E. Kelley
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Tecumseh, Son of Pucksinwah -- " The Shawnee War Chief." -- Part 3
.
Records;

The incident of the spectacular meteor which appeared and passed across
the Heavens in a searing greenish white flash on Wednesday night March
9, 1768, was witnessed by many. It disappeared below the horizon in the
Southwest and was witnessed by many Indian tribes as well as being
visible over the St Lawrence River and passed southeastward in an
approximate line, over Quebec, Montreal, Lake Ontario, Buffalo,
Northeastern and South Central Lake Erie, Cleveland, Columbus,
Cincinnati, Louisville and Memphis and burned out before reaching
Houston. Metorite reports were recorded in Newspapers, Periodicals,
journels, diaries and correspondence of witnesses to the event. The
record states that this did occur on Wednesday night, March 9, 1758. So
we can assume that Tecumseh's birth was on this date.
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The Unsoma--

The Unsoma, explained simplistically, is sort of a good luck symbol by
which the individual is guided and blessed thoughout his or her life.
More definitively explained, it is sort of intramural social symbol
within the tribe only. By Shawnee traditional belief, the unsoma is the
good genius of an attendant spirit, which is animal in form, but which
may be represented by some other significant sign --as in the case of
the meteor of Tecumseh's birth, which is traditionally the Panther. This
unsoma is represented, in one way or another, in the name ultimately
given to the child. There are six basic divisions of unsoma which are ;
1-- the horseman, the group comprised of all animals with hooves; 2--
rabbit-man, comprised of rabbits, hares, squirrels, mice, chipmunks, and
similar animals. 3-- the turtle-man, comprised of all forms of turtles
and tortoises and sometimes lizards, snakes, frogs, toads, and allied
creatures; 4-- the bird-man, comprised of all feathered creatures;
5--the bear-man, comprised of all animals with oblong feet, such as
bears, raccoons, opossums, skunks, mink, otters, and other such
creatures.; 6--the cat-man, and including all round footed animals such
as any members of the cat or dog families or other round footed species.
This unsoma was Tecumseh's, and also his sister' s since it included the
panther, also known as couger, puma, or mountain lion.

Once an unsoma is etablished for an infant. it is the child's
obligation, according to Shawnee custom, throughout the remainder of his
life, to defend this good-luck genius against any and all disparagement
occuring in social banter by those belonging to other unsoma
divisions.and equally to defend all other persons belonging to the same
unsoma.
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Tecumseh's lineage --

1-- Great-Grandfather --Opeththa.
Opeththa is often spelled Opessa in the early documents. He was thirty
two years old at the time he led his followers to the Illinois River and
then into Ohio.

2--Grandfather -- Wawwaythi
Little is recorded about the life of the father of Pucksinwah, except he
was thirty years old at the time of Pucksinwah's birth which occurred at
Pickawilly, located on the banks of the Great Miami River on the site of
Piqua, Miami county, Ohio. He was also known by the names of Lawpkaway,
Loyparcowah, and Opeththa's son. No information has been discovered
relative to the identity of his wife, Pucksinwah's mother.

3-- Father -- Pucksinwah
He was born at Pickawilly, Ohio, now the site of Piqua, Ohio, son of
Wawwaythi. Married Methotasa, a cherokee Shawnee in May of 1755. He died
in battle October 10,1774. He predicted his own death also the death of
his son-in-law. Also gave birth to the first recorded
triplet sons in the Shawnee Nation. Was a loving father and husband and
cherished all young children as shown by adoption of children of white
descent taken in battle, as shown below. A great Leader of his people
and spiritually attuned to Manato, the Shawnee God.

Mother-- Methotasa
The first time Pucksinwah met Methotasa when he was a young man of 26,
and was one of the best warriors in the tribe and had been chosen to
lead a war party against the Cherokees living on the Shawnee River. This
is where they met. Through Pucksinwah's skillful attack several Cherokee
men had been killed and four taken captive along with a dozen women an
children. Among these was a slim and very attractive girl of fifteen,
who had been captured by Oshashqua --Muskrat-- the oldest of their war
party, who discovered her hiding in a pile of furs that were being bound
into bundles for transport. This was Methotasa -- A turtle laying her
eggs in the Sand. The victorious Shawnees took their prisoners, as well
as the furs and other village plunder to their well hidden camp. That
evening the four captive Cherokee men were tortured to death by other
warriors. But before this happening, Pucksinwah concerned especially for
the terrified Methotasa, directed Oshashqua to take the women and
children away from camp and return them the next morning. This was done
and Picksinwah remained solicitous of her comfort and safety on the
return to Ohio. Oshashqua was of the Peckuwe sept and after their
arrival, Methotasa, as his captive, was taken by him to his own village
of Piqua Town on the Mad River. There she was officially adopted by
Oshashqua and his wife to take place of their son, who had been killed
the year before. With this adoption she became part of the
Kahgilaywilani-- the Turtle unsoma.

Pucksinwah, could not forget the attractive girl and made occasional
trips to see her. By the time she had been with the Shawnees just over a
year, he was paying much attention to her and at the next feast dance in
the spring of 1755, she signified her acceptance of him by shyly
slipping her bare hand into his and they were soon married.

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To be continued in part 4--