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
I was overcome with grief at the sight of my murdered son, and so far
lost the command of myself as to be almost frantic; and those who were
present were obliged to hold me from going near him.
On examining the body it was found that it had received eighteen wounds
so deep and large that it was believed that either of them would have
proved mortal. The corpse was carried to my house, and kept till the
Thursday following, when it was buried after the manner of burying white
people.
Jesse was twenty-seven or eight years old when he was killed. His temper
had been uniformly very mild and friendly; and he was inclined to copy
after the white people; both in his manners and dress. Although he was
naturally temperate, he occasionally became intoxicated; but never was
quarrelsome or mischievous. With the white people he was intimate,
and learned from them their habits of industry, which he was fond of
practising, especially when my comfort demanded his labor. As I have
observed, it is the custom amongst the Indians, for the women to perform
all the labor in, and out of doors, and I had the whole to do, with the
help of my daughters, till Jesse arrived to a sufficient age to assist
us. He was disposed to labor in the cornfield, to chop my wood, milk
my cows, and attend to any kind of business that would make my task the
lighter. On the account of his having been my youngest child, and so
willing to help me, I am sensible that I loved him better than I did
either of my other children. After he began to understand my situation,
and the means of rendering it more easy, I never wanted for anything
that was in his power to bestow; but since his death, as I have had all
my labor to perform alone, I have constantly seen hard times.
Jesse shunned the company of his brothers, and the Indians generally;
and never attended their frolics; and it was supposed that this,
together with my partiality for him, were the causes which excited
in John so great a degree of envy, that nothing short of death would
satisfy it.
* * * * *
CHAPTER XIII.
Mrs. Jemison is informed that she has a Cousin in the Neighborhood,
by the name of George Jemison.--His Poverty.--Her Kindness.--His
Ingratitude.--Her Trouble from Land Speculation.--Her Cousin moves off.
A year or two before the death of my husband, Capt. H. Jones sent me
word that a cousin of mine was then living in Leicester, (a few miles
from Gardow,) by the name of George Jemison, and as he was very poor,
thought it advisable for me to go and see him, and take him home to live
with me on my land. My Indian friends were pleased to hear that one of
my relatives was so near, and also advised me to send for him and his
family immediately. I accordingly had him and his family moved into one
of my houses, in the month of March, 1810.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account