The Life of Mary Jemison: The White Woman of the Genessee

by Seaver, James E.

• ISBN13: 9781582182346
• ISBN10: 1582182345
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-04-01
• Publisher: Lightning Source Inc

Summary

Taken captive at the early age of thirteen by Seneca Indians, Mary Jemison was trained in the wilderness to the ordinary duties of the Indian female. Embedded with the sentiments and lifestyle of the Seneca's she essentially transformed into a member of the tribe.

Table of Contents

Letter from Ely S. Parker, Do-ne-ho-ga'-weh, a Seneca sachem	29	(4)
Chapter I	33	(7)
Parentage of Mary Jemison
Born on the sea
Lands, with her parents, in Philadelphia, in 1743
Settles on Marsh creek, in Western Pennsylvania
Indian alarms
Her childhood and education
Chapter II	40	(12)
Fancied omen
Inroad of a band of Shawnees
Whole family taken captive in 1755
Marched into the wilderness
Her mother's farewell address
Murder of her father, mother, two brothers, and sister
Preparation of scalps
Indian caution, to prevent pursuit
Arrival at Fort Du Quesne
Chapter III	52	(17)
Mary is given to two Seneca women
They descend the Ohio
Arrival at She-nan-jee
She is dressed in Indian costume
Adopted as a Seneca
Ceremony of Adoption
Is named Dehhe-wa-mis
Nearly regains her liberty
Removal to Wi-ish-to
She is married to She-nin-jee, a Delaware
Birth and death of a child
Birth of another child
Chapter IV	69	(12)
Visits Fort Pitt
Desire for liberty subsides
Labors of the Indian females
Removal from Wi-ish-to to the Genesee
Meet Shawnees who had murdered two white men, and were torturing a third
He is rescued by Mary
Arrive at Little Beard's Town
Chapter V	81	(17)
Geographical names
Dialects of the Iroquois
Little Beard's Town
The Genesee Valley
Land slide
Gardeau Flats
Subsequently Mary Jemison Reservation
Mount Morris
Big Tree Village
Caneadea
Chapter VI	98	(10)
Indians march to fight the British
Return with cattle and prisoners
Two prisoners burned
An Indian woman's eloquence
Tragedy of the ``Devil's Hole''
Death of She-nan-jee
Attempt to take Mary to Niagara by force
She marries Hi-ok-a-too
Her children
Loss of a daughter
Chapter VII	108	(10)
Peace among the Indians
Their happy state
Troubles between England and the Colonies
Treaty with the Colonies
Iroquois agree to remain neutral
Treaty with the British
Join them against the Americans
Bounty for scalps
Four female prisoners
Battle of Fort Stanwix
Indian loss
Butler and Brandt
Chapter VIII	118	(12)
Approach of General Sullivan's army
A skirmish
Two Oneida Indians taken
One sacrificed
Lieutenants Boyd and Parker captured
Boyd's barbarous execution
Parker's death
Senecas retreat to the woods
Sullivan's army lays waste the country
Army retires
Senecas return, but to disperse
Mary goes to Gardeau Flats
Expedition to the Mohawk
Cornplanter and John O'Bail
Ebenezer Allen
Chapter IX	130	(9)
Mary is offered her freedom
She declines accepting
Her reasons
Her favorite Indian brother dies
Great council at Big Tree, in 1797
Gardeau reservation given to Mary by the chiefs
Contained 17,927 acres of land
Traditions of the Senecas
The Great Serpent at Nan-de-wa-o
Chapter X	139	(13)
Little Beard's death
Singular superstition
Family government
Her sons Thomas and John quarrel
John murders Thomas
John is tried and acquitted by the chiefs
Thomas' character
His wife and children
Death of Hi-ok-a-too
His age and funeral
His character
Chapter XI	152	(6)
Mary's family troubles continue
John's enmity toward his brother Jesse
They quarrel
Whisky the cause
John murders Jesse
Jesse's funeral and character
Chapter XII	158	(6)
Mary's pretended cousin, George Jemison
His poverty
Her kindness and assistance
His ingratitude
Attempt to defraud her of a part of her reservation
Is expelled from the premises
Chapter XIII	164	(11)
John Jemison murdered
His funeral, life, and character
His widow and children
His murderers flee
Tall Chief's speech
They return
Their fate
Chapter XIV	175	(10)
Mary sells part of her reservation
The hardships of her life
Great strength of constitution
Her temperance
Destructive effects of ardent spirits among the Senecas
Witchcraft
Accusations against her
Executions for witchcraft
Her descendants
Chapter XV	185	(16)
Life of Hi-ok-a-too, half-brother of Farmer's Brother
Naturally cruel
Inroad upon the Catawbas in Tennessee
Present at Braddock's defeat
Battle of Fort Freeland
Expedition to Cherry Valley
His barbarity
Battle at Upper Sandusky
Colonel Crawford taken, and burned at the stake
Dr. Knight's escape
Hi-ok-a-too leads a war-party against the Cherokees
His personal appearance
Dies of old age
Chapter XVI	201	(15)
Ebenezer Allen
The belt of wampum
He lives at Mary's house
Marries a squaw
Taken by the Indians
Escapes and secretes himself
Fed by Mary
Taken again, tried, and acquitted
Builds a great mill at Rochester
Marries a white woman
Removes to Allen's creek
Marries a third wife
Removes to Canada with two wives
Abandons the first
His death
Chapter XVII	216	(20)
Government of the Iroquois
Civil and Military Chiefs
Counselors
Religious Beliefs
The Great Spirit
The Evil Spirit
Religious festivals
Sacrifice of the White Dog
The Dance
Marriage Customs
Chastity of the Indian
Polygamy
Chapter XVIII	236	(6)
Life of Mary continued
Seneca Reservations sold in 1825
Is left among the whites
Discontented
Sold her remaining reservation, and removed to Buffalo creek
Professes Christianity
Her death
Is buried near the Mission church
Description of her tombstone
Her descendants
Chapter XIX	242	(12)
Mary Jemison's Indian Name
Loss of all her property
James and David Shongo
Buffalo Tom, the present head of the Jemison Family
His household and how they live
Chapter XX	254	(37)
Mary Jemison desires to see the Missionaries
Interview with Mrs. Wright
A mother's dying injunction asserts its influence
The Captive's anguish at forgetting her mother's prayer
Dawn upon a troubled soul
Personal appearance of Mary Jemison
Her character
APPENDIX
1. Removal of the Remains of Mary Jemison	263	(6)
2. Extract from ``Buffalo Courier'' of March 10, 1874	269	(3)
3. Extract from ``Buffalo Commercial Advertiser'' of March 10, 1874	272	(4)
4. General Sullivan's Expedition to Western New York	276	(13)
5. Removal of the Remains of Boyd	289	(2)
6. Indian Geographical Names	291