American Indian Genealogy: And a List of Names Bestowed by a Delaware Indian Name-Giver

American Indian Genealogy And A List of Names Bestowed By A Delaware Indian Name-Giver By C.A.Weslager and James A. Rementer The essence of genealogical research lies in family surnames which are necessary to trace lines of descent, and this is one of the problems in reconstructing Indian genealogies. Surnames did not exist among the native Indian families living along the Atlantic coast prior to the time of European contact. This is well illustrated by the first recorded names of important Delaware Indians, originally known as the Lenape ("common people") who occupied the Delaware River watershed at the time of the arrival of the Dutch, Swedes, and English in the seventeenth century. The earliest purchase of land on Delaware Bay, 1 June 1629, gives the names of the following Indian owners as recorded in the deed by a Dutch scribe: Aixtamin, Oschoesien, Choqweke, Menatoch, Awijkapoon, Mehatehan, Nehatchan, Atowesen, Ackseso, Maekemen, Queskakons, and Eesanques.' The first land purchase on the Delaware River by the Swedes occurred 29 March 1638, and the names of the Indian proprietors were recorded as follows: Mattahorn, Mitot Schemingh [Metatsimint], Eru Packen [Elupacken], Mahamen, and Chiton.2 The first deed in the English language covering sales by the Delawares to William Penn's deputy William Markham dated 15 July 1682 (and this was followed by a series of land purchases later made by Penn in person) gives the names of the Indian signatories as Idquayhon, Janottowe, Idquoqueywon, Sahoppe, Merkekowen, Oreckton, Nannacussey, Shaurwaughon, Swanpisse, Nahoosey, Tomackhickon, Westkekitt, and Tohawisz.3 1 C.A.Weslager, Dutch Explorers, Traders, and Settlers in the Delaware Valley, 1609-1664 (Philadelphia, 1961), 258-259. 2 Narratives of Early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey, and Delaware, 1630-1707, ed. Albert Cook Myers (New York, 1912), 87. °Albert Cook Myers, William Penn, His Own Account of the Lenni Lenape or Delaware Indians, 1683 (Moylan, 1937), 79. Myers took certain permissive liberties in supplying missing letters in some of the names, and we have used his renditions. 22 American Indian Genealogy 23 Each of these names had its own meaning, but the way they were written by European penmen, unfamiliar with Indian dialects, makes it extremely difficult in most cases to arrive at accurate translations of the names. The same name was usually recorded in a different form by Swedes, Dutch, and English, each relying on the sound; of the letters in their own language. In some instances, a modern speaker of the Delaware language can arrive at what appear to be reasonable meanings, and we have appended a list of translations of some, but by no means all, of the historic Delaware Indian names cited in this paper.' In the Algonquian language spoken by the Delawares it was possible to combine in a single word ideas that required a number of English words to express, which explains why so many of the Indian names were long and difficult to pronounce.5 Each Delaware had his own name that was possessed by him alone, and any suggestion of kinship ties are completely absent. The chief Tammany (also recorded as Tamenend) had a brother named Weheeland, and three sons named Weheequeckhon, Yaqueekhon, and Quenameckquid.6 Three prominent Delaware brothers who lived in Pennsylvania during the French and Indian War were Tamaqua, Shingas, and Pisquetomen? If the Pennsylvania provincial records did not so state there would be no way of determining from their names that these men were blood relatives. Although an individual Delaware may have kriown his parents' names, any information he had about the names of his grandparents or great-grandparents was passed down to him by word of mouth. Since the Delawares had no system of writing prior to the, arrival of Europeans (except for pictographs) it further complicates the problem of tracing an individual's ancestry. 4 All of the translations of Indian names were made by Touching Leaves (Mrs. Nora Thompson Dean) whose assistance and cooperation the authors gratefully acknowledge. 5 The junior author conducted an experiment by having Touching Leaves repeat fifty words in her language to a group of 26 different Americans unfamiliar with the Delaware dialect. They were asked to write down the names as they heard them. One of the words was Passayunk, the name of a former Delaware Indian village in present Philadelphia. Among the names as written were Passiounk, Bacsiyung, Baksum, and Masaquen. His Indian name, Moosh-hah-kwee-nund, was also read to the listeners, and among the forms as recorded by them were Mooshahqueenond, Mushaquinnund, Musquakwinot, and Boshagwinah. The experiment proved that individuals not conversant with Indian languages, such as the early scribes, recorded many of them so inaccurately that they would not be intelligible if read back to a Delaware Indian speaker. 6 Penturylvania Archives, 1st series, I, 124-125. 7 C.A.Weslager, The Delaware Indians, A History (New Brunswick, 1972), 208. 24 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine After they were brought into contact with provincial authorities, who had difficulty pronouncing and recording the Indian names, some Delawares were given, or voluntarily adopted, European personal names. These names often appear in official transactions. As early as 1697 Tammany's son Weheequekhon became known as Andrew Yaqueekhon was called Nicholas, and Quenameckquid was named Charles.8 Shakawtawlin, son of Essepenawick, was known in 1709 as Sam:" Nenatcheehunt was called "Delaware George."" Shawydoohungh became known to the whites as "Indian Harry," and another Delaware became known at "Delaware Jack."" Other examples could be cited, but these are sufficient to illustrate the point. As increasing white pressures, and incursions on their land, forced the Delawares westward to Ohio Territory, and then to Indiana Territory, the use of European aliases became more common, especially among tribal leaders with whom treaty negotiations were conducted. Koquethagachton became known as White Eyes, Netawatwees was called Newcomer, and Gogieschquanoheel became Captain Pipe. There was also a strong religious influence exerted by the Moravian missionaries (United Brethren) who required that all converts renounce their non-Christian names and at the time of their baptism adopt new names, preferably of Biblical origin. As a result of Moravian influence, Teedyuskung became Gideon after he became a Christian, Welapachtschiechen became Israel, Glickhikan took the name Isaac, etc. Females also changed their Indian names to Salome, Bathsheba, Magdalena, Anna, Christiana, etc. During this period the Indian converts did not adopt surnames, but at a later date their baptized names became family names, e.g., Job, Samuel, Jacob, Caleb, etc." Another variant in the naming pattern after white contact was to affix a Christian name to the original Indian name. Joseph Peepy and Moses Tatamy were Delaware Indian messengers and interpresPennsylvania Archives, loc. cit. 9 Minutes of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, 1852), II, 469; III, 310. 10 1bid., V (1851), 685. ;amid., II, 18, 387; VI (1851), 160. "Numerous examples of the adopted Christian names may be found in the Diary of David Zeisberger, a Moravian Missionary Among the Indians of Ohio, trans. E.F.Bliss (Cincinnati, 1885). American Indian Genealogy 25 ters.13 A Delaware named George Waapessum was cited in the 1720 records?' In the final stages of the naming evolution, the Delawares adopted both European first names and surnames. A Delaware named John J.P.Peter was mentioned in 1751.'3 "William Anderson, the Delaware" was recorded in 1754.13 "John Moore, the Delaware" was named the same year. The supplanting of the Indian name by two European names did not occur in chronological sequence, nor was it universally followed. The pattern was irregular, and some conservatives apparently refused to have anything to do with adopting a European name. Others, especially the tribal leaders, were less hesitant to adopt aliases as substitutes for their Indian names. We assume that some used an Indian name among their own people and an adopted white name, or names, in their intercourse with white authorities. As the Delawares continued their westward migration they signed an agreement with the U.S. government on 8 April 1867 which permitted them to move to Indian Territory (the present state of Oklahoma) where they had purchased land from the Cherokee. The leaders of the tribe whose names appear on the document were John Conner, then the principal chief, John Sarcoxie, Isaac Journeycake, and Charles Journeycake." But the contemporary list of the 985 Delawares who moved to Oklahoma following the execution of the agreement includes many who continued to use their native names, such as Weoxalingoat, Suk-kee-loong-gawn, and many others. The same list shows such names as Delaware Charley and Bill Swannock. Swannock is a Delaware word meaning "white person" which had nWilliam A. Hunter, "Moses (Tunda) Tatamy, Delaware Indian Diplomat," .A Delaware Indian Sy",Posiron (Harrisburg, 1974), 71-88. 14 Minutes of the Provincial Council, ibid., III (1852), 102. The practice of attaching a Christian first name to an Indian surname was noted among the Indians of the Eastern Shore of Maryland as early as 1704 where the records include such names as George Attowcase, James Cohonk, Betty Caco, etc., see C.A.Weslager, "Wynicaco, A Choptank Indian Chief," Proceedings, American Philosophical Society, (1944) LXXXVII, 398-402. 1.5 Minutes of the Provincial Council, ibid., V, 524. "Ibid., VI, 160. This would seem to be a different individual than Chief William Anderson, who became the principal chief of the Delawares and died in 1831. it Weslager, The Delaware Indians, 424. Charles Journeycake's Indian name was Neshapanacumin ("He Who Stands Twice At Daylight"), but it was supplanted by the nickname Journeycake, which became the family surname. 26 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine become used as a surname. Secondine, Sarcoxie, and Ketchum also became used as surnames. The first two are definitely Delaware Indian words, and the latter is believed by some members of the family to be a vulgarized translation of a Delaware name Tahwheelalen, which means "one who has been caught."". These family names are still in use. Other non-Indian surnames, such as Thompson, Miller, Adams, Armstrong, Wilson, Washington, Fallleaf, Brokeknife, White Turkey, Buffalo, Elkhair, Halfmoon, Goodtraveller, Anderson, and many others, had been adopted by Delaware families by the time they reached Oklahoma. How and why these names were selected to replace native names is a subject that has no generalized answer, and each must be individually examined. For example, one of the most interesting of the Delaware family names is Killbuck. This was a nickname used by the eldest son of the chief Netawatwees when the Delawares were living in Ohio during the Revolution. Killbuck's son, Gelelemend, took the name Captain John Killbuck, Jr., and he also had a second alias, William Henry. This was the name of a colonial officer, Major William Henry, who traditionally is said to have saved Gelelemend's life on the battlefield where Braddock was defeated." When GelelemendCaptain John Killbuck, Jr., was baptized by the Moravians in 1789, he was converted as William Henry, later referred to as Bill Henry." Following his death in 1811 his progeny used Killbuck as a surname. * * * In recent years information about the traditional name-giving customs of the Delaware Indians has come to light which helps to explain the Indian names recorded in the seventeenth century and why they were difficult to translate. The details of name-giving were discussed in two papers written by the senior author?' This information was obtained from the last living practitioner in name-giving, isibid., 388 refers to Captain Ketchum becoming the principal chief of the Delawares in 1829. Mrs. Mary Smith Witcher of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, a descendant of Captain Ketchum, has been reconstructing a genealogy of the Ketchum family, an extremely difficult task for the reasons expressed in this paper. Mrs. Belva Secondine of Nowata, Oklahoma has been compiling a Secondine pedigree and other relations of Chief William Anderson. ',Francis Jordan, Jr., The Life of William Henry of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 17291786 (Lancaster, 1910). John Henry Kilbuck of Chicago and Elizabeth Henry Kilbuck Asbury of Corvallis, Oregon, both descended from Gelelmend, have been working on genealogical data pertaining to the Killbuck family. 20 Zeisberger Diary, ibid., II, 24. American Indian Genealogy 27 Touching Leaves (Mrs. Nora Thompson Dean) , a fluent speaker in the Unami dialect of the Delaware language, who lives in Dewey, Oklahoma.22 As discussed in these papers, a Delaware name-giver was one of the spiritually elite in the tribe, because he, or she, was privileged to experience visions which were part of the Delaware religious concepts. Among the Delawares the parents did not always name their own children, nor was a name given to an infant at birth. Not until the child was three or four years old, or older, was a name given by one qualified to bestow names, either a parent or a namegiver. From that time on the individual was known to the Creator by a name that was uniquely his; thus the duplication of personal names was studiously avoided to eliminate the confusion or identity in the Delaware pantheon or spiritual world. The name was expected to be in keeping, if possible, with the personality traits of the recipient; it should not be unbecoming, nor should it imply something the recipient could not live up to. The individual to be named, or a member of the immediate family, preferably a parent, was required to ask that a name be given. Once the request was made it was not refused, because the name-giver believed that the Creator had given him power through his vision that he should share with his fellowmen. After prayer and careful reflections, which often required days or weeks, a name was revealed to the name-giver, at which time the family was notified to prepare for a naming ceremony. Touching Leaves was taught that the names she gave should be a synthesis of significant roots, not mere fractions of words and that the name should consist of a single word. In the naming ceremony the Creator and his spiritual forces were the first to hear the name spoken aloud. It was also heard for the first time by the recipient and family members and close friends. At the close of the ceremony the recipient (or members of the family 21 C.A.Weslager, "Name-Giving Among the Delaware Indians," Names (American Name Society), IX (Dec. 1971), 268-283; "Delaware Indian Name Giving and Modern Practice," Delaware Indian Symposium, op. cit., 135-145. =Reuben Wilson, whose Indian name was Weelmehkeexeng ("He Who Is Like Receding Water") was the last traditional male name-giver among the Oklahoma, Delawares. Like Touching Leaves he, too, was a visionary. He died in 1970. 28 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine in the case of a small child) was expected to present gifts to the name-giver. After the presents were given a family banquet was held. Touching Leaves, now in her 68th year, has given 34 names to Indians and whites, children and adults. She bestowed a name of the first time in the spring of 1950 when she felt the Creator wanted her to perform this important function. Listed below are all of the names she has subsequently given, including names bestowed on the two authors. The names are given phonetically, but for those unfamiliar with phonetic characters we have tried to simulate the sounds of Algonquian elements by using letters from the English alphabet. One of the sounds that cannot be duplicated by a Roman letter is the guttural throaty ch in German; we have used an X to represent this sound. The names she has bestowed have certain relationships to the visions Touching Leaves has experienced. She says that the names come to her during quiet moments, and that she hears "something" whisper the name to her for the individual she has been asked to name. Name-giving is considered a serious matter having religious overtones, and the name-giver must necessarily be in communication with the Creator and the spirit forces. There are two names on the list, No. 1 and No. 8, which were withdrawn and new names later bestowed. An elderly Delaware woman claimed that No. 1 had been the name of one of her deceased aunts, and that No. 8 was the name of her deceased granduncle. Touching Leaves, recognizing that the duplication of names should be avoided, renamed the two individuals, even though documentary proof is lacking that the names were previously in use. Translations of Some Historic Delaware Indian Names Cited in Text As explained, most Delaware Indian names were so inexpertly and imperfectly recorded by early scribes that translations are impossible. Of the names cited in this paper, Touching Leaves was able to offer translations of the following list. The phonetic characters are shown as the basis for her translation. American Indian Genealogy Name Phonetic rendering 29 Translation Eesanques illEhengres One Who Hunts Weaeeis Gelelemend kalelamand One Who Is Held In Mind (remembered) Glickhickan kabarhhon Translated in early seance as "Sight On PG= Barrel". Although Touching Leaves has heard this Cord, she cannot say for certain that this ie the meaning. Kogiesehquanoheel kWciltenehel Causer OS Daylight Koquethagachton kawithaixbm That Which Is Put Near The Head Mahamen maial.mand One Who Gathers Things Up Netatelmint mitent5emand One Whose Hair is Cut So His Head Is Bare Nannacussey nehanengaOsi (one rho is so cold) He Shivers As He Warms Nenatcheehunt netanatbihund One Who Has Been Much Handled Netawatwes nEtioritecee Skilled Advisor Pisquetomen pisloritemand One Who Takes Something By Night (This word is given in earlier translations as "One Who Moves In The Dark") Cluenameckquid kwenaaakcit Long Fish Person Sarcoxie sasal6lomi As Tall As He Is Secondine afkonclagxim As Long As The Building Is Shingae lingo Earlier translations give this name as "Wet Marshy Ground Overgrown With Grass," Touching Leaves cannot discern this meaning although she believes; to be based on "In The Swamp" Suk-kee-loong-gawn eakiliingen Black Wing Swanpiese Bawnnipie Salt Water Person Tamaqua tamfente Beaver Tomackhickon tamakhiloald One Who Was Pitifully Pushed Around The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 30 Weheeland eebeihelaOA One Who Has Been Named Welapachtschiechen mlapsh6isin Earlier translations give this nese as "Erect Posture but Touching L translates the sounds as One Who Is Limed 0.11 Against SommUnag Weormlingont weaselinget Light Eyes Weetkekitt wand,. One Who Is Newly Grown Etglieh lame pg2 ieendition Phonetic Rendition Translation 1. Louise Dean Sprang (name was witn- 1991 dram, renamed #15) Pe.-mah-teh-ele-kwny pematai'skwe "slower :.ow In atom Woman" 2. August C. s.ahr June (name was with- 1962 drawn, remmed tle) rat-tot-pah-nooX-way petapanilswe "ue eiho walks At Pint Lijit Of Dar 1etty ..air' june 19o2 Wool-lee-nowl-kway wel.inaorkwe "Woman Who Looks Jag Edward eahr June 1962 Way-loo,t-way welds. "ere Rio Walks dell* 5. earths Bair June 1962 sah-mah-lee-bong-finwneX-every manalilungangskwe "Striped Wing Mame nicharei -6ahr June 1962 An-lun-mah-peda-nooS-way alemapaneirwe"He who Walks At Dm 1,,,,ssiog Of tuf 7. Gertrude Bahr June 1962 sh-luisemen-tab-er-kway alematairkwe "Plower beginning Ye Bloom Mman" likwee-tah-pen-nook-wey sorwitapamixwe "no Rio Walks Above Z.. Dam" 1w-ltay-ahp-pah-noo6-way szeapaintrwe "lie Who Walks Safer. ,eaYlight" Sett-pay-huh-lode pempenalak "sunning dates" 11. James A. :cementer July 1965 noosh-ban-kwee-namd oubtuorinund":.° Whs Appears Like 12. leery Rath R.tcher fall 1907 Asp-pan-tan-en operas "elute slower (Mem? taLkwe .Plower That Eloome The Evening Womee 8. August C. Rear Summer 1962 9. Thomas Doles kay 1905 hichnel Jackson July 1965 A Clear SW 13. Elaine Joan Pelletal Spring Lay-huh-law-emu-antah-ek-kway 1968 karian i.e teore 15. Louise Dean Summer 1968 Sa1h-,eah-tah-e1.-kway sasataiskwe •Ilower Ruch Has Come Op Somme" July 1970 elah-mah-tah-eX-kway wematee:Akwe •Vomaia Rao Blooms Eel eseere Like A nowt American Indian Genealogy jgglist. 'name Date Lamed English nendi'Son Phonetic Rendition 31 Translation 16. William beats Sock June 1971 Nen-tan-mock-way netaimilve "he Who Walks In The Lead' June 1971 Len-nah-pelkway It. tartan Cock lanaPkkwe "Delaware homey?' IL Davie cock June 1971 nel-lum-peR-eeng keLunpirm.o, "Still dater" 19. inane Pearson August 1971 Wee-pek-kwee-nund wipskvininad"He gat, Looks Like A gunbearg. See-kaw-nah-tah-ek-kway einnnataLkwe O. Alma .-any April 1972 !I. Star Gynther April 1972 72, C. A. deslager ,sy 1972 Pool-pek-ke-nune 23. Jay Filler July 1973 law-kah-mat.-lee-kay "Flower :bat blooms In The Spring 'Amen" tundtitat 24 lathy Lynn Brewer July 1973 "Little Wild 'caster Lily (Woman)" Ea wildu flow r, k.,mvium t.1 airmen.] pulpakin . tuld"He gno Appears Like Deep Clear dater" tNkamalLe "i.e Who Steps Softly" wipekvInao "bite Who Looks Like A .Iunbessi. it, Sandra bock October 1973 i26, Berl A. Conley December deh-mall-tek-kun-neekum-anon 1973 23. Karen A. Conley December :eh.cun-nah-tala-el-kway L.kanat,ankwe 1973 ..eh-tat.-man-tall-kweg nntematainkne wemantekanikamen "Flower That Blooms First damn" "Ile who Steps All Over the Woods.' "Plover That bloom In :he woods ...err nikandltas "Flower That Blooms Up 29, Incberley Ann Panchen December Wool-12.11-tab-ek 1973 ( 0om02) December V. Naomi Lee Conley 0‘mg-gao-tah-eh 1973 cellist "Plower That Blooms Prettily (Woman)" "Little Plower (Woman)" 4. Nellie Rebecca inert. April (neg. Barnes) 1974 dl-lah-tah-ek-kwaY elata[kkwe "Woman who &looms Like A Plower" Lel-poor-way lelptlxwe "ne Oho Walks Swiftly, jook-pek-nee-oune sukpekinund "Re whe Appears Like IL Pamela Jane nandan December Nee-kah-nah-tai-en (0=152) 8. Andrew C. Twaddle 1973 June 1975 91, Nathan 'Buck' Young IV ,arch .1976 kuhert Reynolds April 1976 Front (Woman)" tnrigitae A Waterfall" El-lan-man-kah-nee-kum-on alateniennnfkkmen "he Who Comes In Conte, With All The carte"