Mary Jemison: Adopted Seneca

Though the early Native Americans of the United States are sometimes portrayed as brutal savages, some people who were taken captive by the tribes preferred the simple, uncomplicated way of life.

One such woman was 15-year-old Mary Jemison, who, in 1758, was taken captive from her home in western Pennsylvania during the French and Indian War. When she was captured, both of Jemison's parents and three of her younger siblings were killed.

Nonetheless, after living with the Native Americans for some time, Jemison believed that the women of the tribe were happy and helpful people.

"No people can live more happy than the Indians did in times of peace," Jemison once told her biographer.

"Their cares certainly are not half as numerous or as great (as the white woman's)," she said at another time.

Not long after Jemison was captured, she was purchased and adopted by Seneca Indians, who took her to Ohio. They began calling her Dehgewanus, which means "Two Fallen Voices."

Eventually, Jemison married a man named Sheninjee, a member of the Delaware tribe. Together, the couple had two children, though one died. Shortly after, Jemison and Sheninjee began to travel to Sheninjee's homeland, but he, too, died during the trip. Jemison completed the trip anyway and began to live New York Senecas.

Soon, Jemison remarried a Seneca and had seven more children. She died in 1833 at the age of 90.

Resources:
Hemming, Heidi. "Women Making America." Clotho Press, March, 2009.
"Ohio History Central: Mary Jemming." Ohiohistorycentral.org.