OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Tecumseh, Son of Pucksinwah [5]
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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 9, 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 5.

Blue Jacket -- Marmaduke Van Swearingen -- Tecumseh's adopted Brother.

Marmaduke Van Swearingen was born on January 2, 1753, on a thousand acre
farm in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. His parents were John and
Katherine Stoll Swearingen, and he was the fourth son of fourteen
children. The Swearington family were noted frontiersmen, traveling to
Virginia, Carolina, Kentucky, and Ohio. Growing up, Marmaduke had first
hand account of the biased attitudes and experiences of the white
settlers.

At an early age, he seemed destined to breach the boundry between the
settlers and the Shawnee. He had an intense curiousity about the Indian
way of life. Their respect for the land and boldness engrossed him.
Marmaduke trained himself to become a Shawnee, learning the Shawnee
language from an old trapper, who lived among the Ohio Shawnee. Like
many frontier youth, he became fond of the wild, and learned to hunt. He
symphathized with the plight of the Native American with the
encroachment of the whites. and often expresed his desire to live the
Shawnee free life when he reached manhood

In 1769, at the age of 17, while hunting in what is now West Virginia,
with his younger brother Charles, they encountered a Shawnee hunting
party. With his knowledge of the Shawnee language, it became useful in
avoiding a fight. After talking for over an hour, it was arranged for
Charles to return home unharmed if Marmaduke willingly accompanied the
Shawnee to their tribe. Puckinsweh and Methotasa, took an immediate
liking to this boy and to which he was initiated in the Shawnee. They
soon adopted him and he was given the name, " Blue Jacket" derived from
his blue jacket.

He never lived within the white world again. Instead he became one of
the most feared Shawnee warriors and, remarkably, one of the eight
outstanding chieftains in Ohio history.

He fit so well within the Shawnee Nation. He was about six feet high,
and finely proportioned, stout, muscular; his eyes bright, large, and
piercing; his forehead high and broad, intelligent, expressive of
firmness and decision. He fit so well, he was never identified as a
white man. His size, endurance, and intelligence helped him withstand
the severe tests of the initiation into his Shawnee tribe. His
enthusiasm, cheerfulness, and absolute loyalty made him very popular
within his new family.

The Shawnee were in Southeast Ohio when the first settlers arrived,and
fiercely, defended their hunting ground. Blue Jacket flourished within
the Shawnee Nation, contributing in the Councils and war campaigns from
the beginning of his tribal occupancy and was made and named Chief of
his tribe.

A son of white settlers joining a people with extreme rage toward all
white invaders seems incredible to us today. The connection reflects
well on both participants, to finally to advance to be named a Chief is
more remarkable, in that the Shawnee seldom or never permitted white
prisoners to engage with or lead a war party, for fear of betrayal. Blue
Jacket never hinted deception. Instead his reputation as a Shawnee
warrior spread quickly throughout Ohio Valley.
His first major battle occurred on October 10, 1774, at Point Pleasant,
though he was only in his twenties, he served as second in command.

Until 1795, Blue Jacket led his Shawnee people in a defensive war
against the invading white man. During this time, his activities ranged
from taking up the coat of a British Officer to various run-ins with the
famous frontiersman. Daniel Boone.

But with his respect for Boone and others understanding his Shawnee
life, Blue Jacket's contempt for the American invasion grew. At a
Governor's Council he was quoted as saying, "From all Quarters we
receive speeches from the American, and no two alike. We suppose they
intend to deceive us---" The most remarkable account of Blue Jackets's
savageness as a warrior is at the Battle of St Clair in which he fought
valiently. Ironically. a Van Swearingen was killed in battle. This was
Blue Jacket's cousin, a captain of the American forces.

The same motive which lead Blue Jacket to war, however,eventually led
him to seek a peace with the American government. The good of his people
was all important. After a staggering defeat as the commander at the
battle of Fallen Timbers, Blue Jacket realized that American occupancy
in Ohio was inevitable. He became an emissary to those tribes still
hostile.. He even took up the blue coat of an American Officer and
helped orchestrate the Treaty of Greenville in 1795, a bond between the
Americans and the Indian people that lasted fifteen years. He then
relinquished all leadership and retired to Bellefontaine, Ohio, where he
died on June 26,1810.

There is no evidence of Blue Jacket ever revealing his nativity to his
adoptive people, nor is there any evidence of him returning to European
life. He did, however, marry a white women named Margaret Moore, taken
captive by the Shawnee at the age of nine. She and Blue Jacket had one
son, Joseph, and one daughter, Nancy, before she returned to her native
home in Virginia. But while the women he loved returned to the white
world, Blue Jacket's heart remained with the Shawnee. He remarried the
Indian " Clearwater Baby " and had many more children.

Tecumseh and Blue Jacket  became very close, and Tecumseh never did
resent his brother. He throughly trusted him, and likewise Blue Jacket
admired his brother, Tecumseh. Their companionship grew to overwelming
proportions. Mourning for their father, Pucksinwah, was intense as Blue
Jacket did feel he had become the Father, he so wanted.
Both would obey his very command-- to love on another and look after
each other, as they commanded the Shawnee Nation.
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To be continued in part 6--