OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List Issue 150 *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 00 : Issue 150 Today's Topics: #1 Fw: Bio History -- Know your Ohio ["Maggie Stewart" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <140b01bfb581$41e1f800$0300a8c0@local.net> Subject: Fw: Bio History -- Know your Ohio -- George Washington --Pt 5 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ----- Original Message ----- From: Darlene & Kathi kelley To: Sent: Friday, April 07, 2000 12:54 AM Subject: Bio History -- Know your Ohio -- George Washington --Pt 5 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley ***************************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio Know your Ohio by Darlene E. Kelley ***************************************************** Continuation of George Washinton's Journel -- Mission to the Ohio-- pt 5 and final --As printed in the Maryland Gazette-- March 21st and 26th 1754. 15th-- The Commandant ordered a plentiful store of Liquor, Provision, Etc.,to be put on board our canoe, and appeared to be extremely compliant, though he was exerting every artifice that he could invent to set our Indians at variance with us, to prevent their going 'til after our departure; Presents, Rewards, and everything that could be suggested by him or his officers---- I can't say that ever in my life I suffered so much anxiety as I did in this affair; I saw every strategem that the most fruitful brain could invent, was practiced to win the Half-King to their interest, and that leaving him here was giving them the opportunity they aimed at---I went to the Half-King, and pressed him in the strongest terms to go; He told me the Commandant would not discharge hm 'til the morning. I then went to the Commandant, and desired him to do their business, and complained of ill treatment; for keeping them, as they were part of my Company, was detaining me; which he promised not to do, but to forward my journey as much as he could; He protested he did not keep them, but was ignorant of the cause of their stay; though I soon found out;---- He had promised them a present of guns,etc. if they would wait until morning. As I was much pressed by the Indians, to wait this day for them, I consented, on a promise, that nothing would hinder them in the morning. 16th-- The French were not stack in their inventions to keep the Indians this day also; but as they were obligated, according to promise, to ive the present, they then endeavoured to try the power of liquor,which I doubt not would have prevailed at any other time than this, but I urged and insisted with the King so closely upon his word, that he refrained, and set off with us as he engaged. We had a tedious and very fatiguing portage down the creek, severa times we had liked to have been stoved against rocks, and many times were obliged all hands to get out and remain in the water half an hour or more, getting over the Shoals; at one place the ice had lodged and made it impassible by water; therefore we were obliged to carry our canoe across a neck of land, a quarter of a mile over. We did not reach Venango, till the 22nd, where we met our horses. This creek is extremely crooked, I dare say the distance between the Fort and Venango can't be less than 130 miles, to follow the meanders. 23rd-- When I got things ready to set off, I sent for the Half-King, to know whether he intended to go with us, or by way of water, he told me that White Thunder had hurt himself much, and was sick and unable to walk, therefore he was obliged to carry him down in a canoe; As I found he intended to stay a day or two, and know that Monsieur Joncaire would employ every scheme to set him against the English as he had before done; I told him I hoped he would guard against flattery, and let no fine speeches influence him in their favour; He desired I might not be concerned; for he knew the French too well, for anything to engage him in their behalf; and though he could not go down with us, he would endeavor to meet at the forks with Joseph Campbell, to deliver a speech for me to carry to his Honour the Governor. He told me he would order the young hunter to attend to us, and get provisions, etc., if wanted. Our horses were now so weak and feeble, and baggage heavy, we were obliged to provide all the necessities that the journey would require; that we doubted much their performing it; therefore myself an others ( except the Drevers were much obliged to ride) gave up our horses for packs, to assist along with the baggage; I put myself in an Indian dress and continued with them three days, 'til I found there was no probability of their getting in, in any reasonable time; the horses grew less able to travel every day; the cold increased very fast, and the roads were becoming much worse by a deep snow, contiually freezing; and as I was uneasy to get back, to make a report of my proceedings to his Honour the Governor, I determined to prosecute my journey the nearest way through the woods, on foot. Accordingly I left Mr. Van Braam in charge of our baggage, with money and directions to provide necessities from place to place for themselves and horses, and to make the most convenient dispatch in. I took my necessary papers, pulled off my clothes, tied myself up in a Match Coat, and with my pack at my back with my papers and provisions in it, and a gun, set out with Mr.Gist, fitted to the same manner, on Wedesday the 26th. The day following, just after we had passed a place called the Murdering Town. where we intended to quit the path, and steer across the country for Shannopins Town, we fell in with a party of French Indians. who had laid in wait for us; one of them fired at Mr. Gist or me, not 15 steps, but fortunately missed. We took this fellow in custody and kept him till about 9 o'clock at night, and then let him go, and walked all night without making making any stop, that we might get a head start so as to get out of the reach of their pursuit the next day, as we were rest assured they would follow our tracks as soon as it was light. The next day we continued travelling till quite dark, and went to the River about 2 miles above Shannapins; we expected to have found the River frozen, but it was not, only to have about 50 yards from each shore; the ice I suppose had broken up above, for it was driving in vast quantities. There was no way for getting over but on a raft, which we set about, with but one poor Hatcher, and got finished just after sun setting, after a whole day's work; we got it launched, and on board of it, and set off; but before we were half way over, we were jammed in the ice in such a manner that we expected every moment our raft to sink, and ourself to perish; I put out my setting pole to try and stop the raft, that the ice might pass by, when rapidity of the stream threw it with so much violence against the pole, that it jerked me out into 10 feet of Water, but I fortunately saved myself by catching hold of one of the Raft Logs; notwithstading all our efforts we could not get the raft to either shore, but were obliged, as we were near an island, to quit our raft and make it. The cold was so extremely severe,that Mr. Gist had all his fingers,and some of his toes frozen, and the water was shut up so hard, that we found no difficulty in getting off the island on the ice in the morning, and went to Mr. Frazier's. We met here with 20 warriors, who were going to the southward to war, but coming to a place upon the Head of the Great Cunnaway, where they found 7 people killed and scalped, all but one women with very light hair, they turned around and ran back, for fear the inhabitants should rise and take them as authors of the murder; They report that the people were lying about the house, and some of them much torn and eaten by Hogs; by the marks that were left, they say they were French Indians of the Ottaway Nation, Etc., that did it. As we intended to take horse here, and it required some time to find them. I went up about 8 miles to the Mouth of Youghiogheny to visit Queen Aliquippa, who had expressed great concern that we pressed her in going to the Fort. I made her a present of a match coat and a bottle of rum, which later was thought much the best present of the two. Tuesday the 1st day of January, we left Mr.Frazier's House, and arrived at Mr.Gist's at Monongahela the 2nd, where I bought Horse , saddle, etc. The 6th we met 17 horses loaded with materials and stores for a fort at the forks of Ohio ., and the day after some families going out to settle. This day we arrived at Willis Creek, after as fatiquing a journey as it is possible to conceive, rendered so by excessive bad weather; From the first day of December to the 15th,there was but one day but it rained or snowed incessantly; and throughout the whole journey we met with nothing but one continued series of cold wet weather, which occassioned very uncomfortable lodgings, especially after we left our tent which was some screen from the inclemency of it. On the 11th I got to Belvoir where I stopped one day to take necessary rest, and then set out and arrived in Williamsburg the 16th, and waited upon his Honour the Governor with the letter I had brought from the French Commandant, and to give an account of the proceedings of my journey, which I beg leave to do by offering the foregoing, as it contains the most remarkable occurrences that happened to me. I hope it will be sufficient to satisfy your Honour with my proceedings; for that was my aim in undertaking the Journey, and chief study throughout the prosecution of it. With the Hope of doing it, with infinate pleasure, subscribe myself, Your Honour's Most Obedient , And very Humble Servant. G. Washington. ****************************************************** ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Thu, 4 May 2000 01:16:40 -0400 From: "Maggie Stewart" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <159e01bfb589$b7cd5f20$0300a8c0@local.net> Subject: Fw: Bio History -- Know you Ohio -- Tecumseh, Son of Pucksinwah. Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Contributed for use in USGenweb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley ****************************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio Know your Ohio by Darlene E. Kelley ***************************************************** Tecumseh, Son of Pucksinwah,--"The Shawnee War Chief". Part 1-- " So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide. Always give a word o a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and grovel to none. When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision. When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home." Chief Tecumseh, Shawnee Nation. **************************************************** When a white man kills an Indian in a fair fight it is called honorable, but when an Indian kills a white man in a fair fight it is called murder. When a white Army battles Indians and wins it is called a great victory. but if they lose it is called a massacre and bigger armies are raised. If the Indian flees before the advance of such armies, when he tries to return he finds the white men living where he lived. If he tries to fight off such armies, he is killed and the land is taken anyway. When an Indian is killed it is a great loss which leaves a gap in our people and a sorrow in our heart; when a white is killed, three or four others step up to take his place and there is no end of it. The white man seeks to conquer nature, to bend it to his will and to use it wastefully until it is all gone and then he simply moves on, leaving the waste behind him and looking for new places to take. The whole white race is a monster who is always hungry and what he eats is land. ---Chiksika, elder brother of Tecumseh. to Tecumseh, March 19,1779. ****************************************************** The Shawnee-- Originally the Shawnee were believed to be located in Southern Ohio, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. In the mid 1600's the Iroguois, from the North, drove them from their homes and they were scattered to the Carolinas, Tennessee, Eastern Pennsylvania ad Southern Illinois. Later, just before the mid 1700's, they managed to return to their homelands, only to be driven out again. This time by the European invaders who were bent on settling the new lands and claiming it as their own. Shawnee comes from the Algonquin word " Shawan " meaning " Southerner," Shawnee usually call themselves the Shawano or Shawanoe or Shawanese. There were more than 14,000 Shawnee located on reservations in four distinct groups. The absentee Shawnee, the Eastern Shawnee and the Cherokee Shawnee, with the Cherokee nation. The largest of these groups is what is called the Loyal Shawnee, who were incorporated into the Cherokee. They received the name " Loyal " for having served the Union during the Civil War. The fourth is called the Shawnee Nation Remnant Band which is said to have been descended from the Ohio Shawnee. Although not recognized by the Federal Government nor accepted by the other three groups of Shawee, they were officially recognized by the State of Ohio in 1980 and purchased close to 200 aces near Urbana and Chillicothe. This group appears to have managed to avoid removal during 1830's. The life of a Shawnee-- Shawnee children grew up as free as the animals that roamed the forests around them. Young boys were encouraged by elders to engage in sports of running, swimming, and jumping in order to strengthen muscles and build stamina, and to practice archery to develop their skills as hunters and warriors. The young girls busied themselves imitating their mothers, making mud pies, and particularly developing their skills in molding vessels of clay. Shawnee men were hunters and warriors. The women of the tribe did the domestic labor. They built the lodges, dressed the game, cooked, planted and cultivated the gardens, scraped and tinned hides, made clothing and blankets, wove baskets and made vessels of clay.The women also cared for the ailments within the tribe, and were extremely skillful at mixing herbs and setting fractured bones. The Shawnee believed in " Moneto", a supreme being who ruled the entire univese and distributed blessings upn all who earned his favor, and desperate sorrow upon those who merited his disfavor. The Great Spirit of the Shawnee was a grandmother who ruled the destinies of her children. She eternally wove a great net which, when finished, would be dropped over the world. She would then draw the net back up into the heavens. Those who had proven themselves worthy would be caught up in the net and taken to a better life, those who fell back through the net would suffer an unspeakable fate as the world came to an end. Each Shawnee was judged of his own conduct and held accountable for it. They lived by their own standards. and shrugged off value judgments placed among them by people outside of their tribe. The " Golden Rule " of the Shawnee was; " Do not kill or injure your neighbor, for it is not him that you injure, you injure yourself. But do good to him, therefore add to his days of happiness as you add to your own. Do not wrong or hate your neighbor, for it is not him that you wrong, you wrong yourself. But love him, for Moneto loves him alo, as he loves you." Training in history, codes of conduct,and traditions were carried on by the elders, who memorized the creeds and passed them on from generation to generation. Additionally, every father was a teacher of his sons; every mother taught their daughters. The men enjoyed communal hunts greatly. These were usually followed by long and friendly talks around the glowing embers of a campfire. The talks covered everything from National history and current events to the lit wit of bantering about someone's umsome, or a bad shot taken during a hunt. The women and children sat quietly and respectfully nearby, listening intently to the conversation. An Indian tribe consisted of the entire body of a Nation. A clan represented a group within the tribe. The principal chief of the Shawnee could be compared with the President of the United States, with the Clan Chiefs as Governors. Of the original twelve clans of the Shawnee tribe, history finds them with only five clans left in existence; The Thawegila, Peckuwe and Kispokotha, who generally stood together on tribal matters; and the Chalahgawtha and Maykujay, who were likewise cosely related in their activities. Each clan had its duties to the Tribe. The Peckuwes were responsble for warfare and the training of warriors for battle. The Maykujays answered for matters pretaining to food, health and medicine. The most powerful clans, the Thawegilas and Chalahgawthas, were responsible for overall tribal government and politics. **************************************************** To be continued in part 2--. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #3 Date: Thu, 4 May 2000 01:24:10 -0400 From: "Maggie Stewart" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <15a101bfb589$ba4208a0$0300a8c0@local.net> Subject: Fw: Bio History -- Know your Ohio -- Tecumseh, Son of Pucksinwah. [4] Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ----- Original Message ----- Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley ****************************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio Know your Ohio by Darlene E. Kelley ***************************************************** Tecumseh, Son of Pucksinwah -- " The Shawnee War Chief." ---part 4 Continuation of Lineage-- Mother --Methotasa After Pucksinwah's death, Methotasa returned to her adopted village taking the small children with her for a couple of years. Then the children became the ward of Chiungella, and he was their surrigate father. Methotasa died in 1789. Children of Pucksinwah and Methotasa are as follows; 1-- Son--Chiksiska Was born in the spring of 1756. He inherited his fathers powers of prediction. He was a good hunter and warrior. Married a cherokee woman in which there are no records. Was with his father at his time of death, making promise to care for his brothers. He had 3 children-- 2 girls and 1 son, who all died with small pox. He predicted his own death. His wife out lived him. Made their home in Running Water Village. Died April 13, 1788 as he predicted, in battle. 2-- daughter-- Tecumesa Born in summer 1758. Married Chaquiweshe March 2, 1774. Chaquiweshe was called Chaqui-- unsoma " The Mink " Pucksinwah predicted his death. He died just before his son's birth. Tecumesa and Chaqui's son was born December 2, 1774. Son's name was Spemica Lawba-- unsoma--Big Horn. He married Pskipahcah Ouiskelotha --unsoma, Bluebird in 1779. Their child, a girl; Psquawwe Sisqui, born 1780, unsoma, Red Leaf. Spemica Lawba was the only Indian in Ohio History to be buried with full United States Military Honors. He died November 25, 1812, known as Johnny Logan. Tecumesa remarried--Waseyoboah, their marriage did not last. They divorced. She helped to care for other children in the family as well as Tecumseh's children. 3 -- daughter -- No record only that she died young with Small pox in 1661. 4-- Son Tecumseh-- Born March 9, 1768. Married Mohnetohse. Birth of son 1- Mahyahwekawpawe-- July 1795. Divorced Mohnetohse. Married Mamate, not for love but to care for his son. Had son 2--Naythawaynah. Mamate died soon after birth. Son's were cared for by Tecumpesa. Not much known about his sons. Tecumseh, by 1808, became a Shawnee Chief. Early in life, he had developed a strong anger towards European encroachment. He argued that no sale of land to whites was really valid without consent from all tribes. This was due to the language of the Greenville Treaty of 1795. During the war of 1812, he was closely aligned with the British. He attained the rank of Brigadier General in the British Army. Like his father, he too, had the gift of predictions. He predicted his own death, and also the Madrid Earthquake, which changed the course of the MIssissippi River and was one of the most powerful earthquakes of all time. There will be more written in this series. He died at the Battle of the Thames, October 5,1813. 5--- Daughter-- Nehaacemo -- Born in summer of 1769. Have not ben able to find records in her regards. 6--- Triplet Son --Kunskaka -- unsoma, A cat that Flies in the air--meaning the great horned owl. Was Born January 30, 1771. Was of good nature and joyful. Death unknown. 7--- Triplet Son --Sauwaseekau --unsoma, A door opened. Was born January 30, 1771. Curious in nature, good hunter, good warrior. Very close to sister Tecumpesa. Also was able to predict. Death unknown. 8 -- Triplet son -- Lowawluwaysica-- unsoma-- He makes Loud noise. Smallest of the triplets, born January 30, 1771. Changed name to Tenskwatawa and became the Shawnee Prophet. He shamed the family by his laziness and lack of courage. Therefore, it was a surprise to everone when he arose from a dead faint declaring that he had been told by " His Grandmother" ( a Shawnee deity ) that he was to be a great prophet, and caused him to change his name, unsoma --The open door. He instructed the people to rid themselves of all the ways of the white man and return to the pure ways of their Shawnee ancestors. He predicted a eclipse of the sun, which amazed all the Indians, to which the tribe cleansed themslves for a while of intoxicating liquors and evil-doers, and other tribes took notice and came to join the Shawnees at Prophet's Town. However in 1813, Henry Harrison attacked Prophet's Town and Tenskwatawa told his people that the bullets of the white man would not harm them, and sent them into battle, against the advice of other Chiefs. This massacre at the hands of Harrison dashed the Indians' hopes of ever conquering the white man, and destroyed their dreams. The confederation of tribes started to fall apart after this defeat, and he soon lost his influence. He removed to Canada for a time, the on to Missouri and then to Kansas, where he died in 1837. Adopted Children-- 9 -- John Sparks-- was adopted by Pucksinwah and Methotasa-- at the age of 8. He was born abt 1760 and brought back by a raiding party. Custom of Shawnees to adopt to replace children who are lost. No more records are found. He became the ward of Chiungelha after Pucksinwah's death. 10-- Stephen Ruddell -- was adopted by Pucksinwah and Methotasa-- at the age of about 6 months. He was rescued after his mother had tossed him into a fire to prevent capture. Tecumseh's constant boyhood companion.He was born abt 1767.Was given the name of Sinnanatha. His two brothers Abram and John were with other Shawnee parents. They were all returned to the White Nation, the attorney General after about 14 years with the Shawnee Nation. 11 -- Wehyahpihehasehnwah -- Marmaduke Van Swearingen -- unsoma --Blue Jacket He was 17 years old when Pucksinwah and Methotasa adopted him. He became a War Chief. This story will be told in another part of this series. ***************************************************** To be continued in part 5-- -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V00 Issue #150 *******************************************