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
Another Family Affliction.--Her son John's Occupation.--He goes to
Buffalo--Returns.--Great Slide by him considered Ominous--Trouble,
&c.--He goes to Squawky Hill--Quarrels--Is murdered by two Indians.--His
Funeral--Mourners, &c.--His Disposition.--Ominous Dream.--Black Chief's
Advice, &c.--His Widows and Family.--His Age.--His Murderers flee.--Her
Advice to them.--They set out to leave their Country.--Their Uncle's
Speech to them on parting.--They return.--Jack proposes to Doctor to
kill each other.--Doctor's Speech in Reply.--Jack's Suicide.--Doctor's
Death.
Trouble seldom comes single. While George Jemison was busily engaged
in his pursuit of wealth at my expence, another event of a much more
serious nature occurred, which added greatly to my afflictions, and
consequently destroyed, at least a part of the happiness that I had
anticipated was laid up in the archives of Providence, to be dispensed
on my old age.
My son John, was a doctor, considerably celebrated amongst the Indians
of various tribes, for his skill in curing their diseases, by the
administration of roots and herbs, which he gathered in the forests, and
other places where they had been planted by the hand of nature.
In the month of April, or first of May, 1817, he was called upon to go
to Buffalo, Cattaraugus and Allegany, to cure some who were sick. He
went, and was absent about two months. When he returned, he observed
the Great Slide of the bank of Genesee river, a short distance above
my house, which had taken place during his absence; and conceiving
that circumstance to be ominous of his own death, called at his sister
Nancy's, told her that he should live but a few days, and wept bitterly
at the near approach of his dissolution. Nancy endeavored to persuade
him that his trouble was imaginary, and that he ought not to be affected
by a fancy which was visionary. Her arguments were ineffectual, and
afforded no alleviation to his mental sufferings. From his sister's, he
went to his own house, where he stayed only two nights, and then went to
Squawky Hill to procure money, with which to purchase flour for the use
of his family.
While at Squawky Hill he got into the company of two Squawky Hill
Indians, whose names were Doctor and Jack, with whom he drank freely,
and in the afternoon had a desperate quarrel, in which his opponents,
(as it was afterwards understood,) agreed to kill him. The quarrel
ended, and each appeared to be friendly. John bought some spirits, of
which they all drank, and then set out for home. John and an Allegany
Indian were on horseback, and Doctor and Jack were on foot. It was dark
when they set out. They had not proceeded far, when Doctor and Jack
commenced another quarrel with John, clenched and dragged him off his
horse, and then with a stone gave him so severe a blow on his head, that
some of his brains were discharged from the wound. The Allegany Indian,
fearing that his turn would come next, fled for safety as fast as
possible.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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