A Narrative of the Life of Mrs. Mary JemisonSeaver, James E. (James Everett)
History
A Narrative of the Life of Mrs. Mary Jemison
Seaver, James E. (James Everett)
Jemison, Mary, 1743-1833; Seneca Indians
Early in the spring we sailed up the Ohio river, to a place that the
Indians called Wiishto, [Footnote: Wiishto I suppose was situated near
the mouth of Indian Guyundat, 327 miles below Pittsburgh, and 73 above
Big Sciota; or at the mouth of Swan creek, 307 miles below Pittsburgh.]
where one river emptied into the Ohio on one side, and another on the
other. At that place the Indians built a town, and we planted corn.
We lived three summers at Wiishto, and spent each winter on the Sciota.
The first summer of our living at Wiishto, a party of Delaware Indians
came up the river, took up their residence, and lived in common with us.
They brought five white prisoners with them, who by their conversation,
made my situation much more agreeable, as they could all speak English.
I have forgotten the names of all of them except one, which was
Priscilla Ramsay. She was a very handsome, good natured girl, and was
married soon after she came to Wiishto to Capt. Little Billy's uncle,
who went with her on a visit to her friends in the states. Having
tarried with them as long as she wished to, she returned with her
husband to Can-a-ah-tua, where he died. She, after his death, married
a white man by the name of Nettles, and now lives with him (if she is
living) on Grand River, Upper Canada.
Not long after the Delawares came to live with us, at Wiishto, my
sisters told me that I must go and live with one of them, whose name was
Sheninjee. Not daring to cross them, or disobey their commands, with
a great degree of reluctance I went; and Sheninjee and I were married
according to Indian custom.
Sheninjee was a noble man; large in stature; elegant in his appearance;
generous in his conduct; courageous in war; a friend to peace, and a
great lover of justice. He supported a degree of dignity far above his
rank, and merited and received the confidence and friendship of all the
tribes with whom he was acquainted. Yet, Sheninjee was an Indian.
The idea of spending my days with him, at first seemed perfectly
irreconcilable to my feelings: but his good nature, generosity,
tenderness, and friendship towards me, soon gained my affection;
and, strange as it may seem, I loved him!--To me he was ever kind in
sickness, and always treated me with gentleness; in fact, he was an
agreeable husband, and a comfortable companion.
We lived happily together till the time of our final separation, which
happened two or three years after our marriage, as I shall presently
relate.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
A Narrative of the Life of Mrs. Mary Jemison — John Shaqi
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account