Gelelemend facts for kids

Gelelemend (1737–1811) was an important Delaware (Lenape) chief. He was also known as Killbuck or John Killbuck Jr.. He lived during the American Revolutionary War. Gelelemend supported the American rebels, called Patriots. His name means "a leader."

He was born into the Turtle clan. This clan traditionally had the role of providing leaders. Gelelemend became the main chief of the Lenape in November 1778. This happened after the death of White Eyes, who was a war chief and speaker for the Delaware Head Council. Gelelemend took over from his maternal grandfather, Netawatwees.

During the war, American attacks against the Lenape were not always specific. Because of this, chiefs from other clans decided to ally with the British. Gelelemend was eventually pushed out as the main chief. He then led an American attack on a major Lenape town. Afterward, he went to Fort Pitt. After the war ended, he became a Christian at the Moravian mission in Salem, Ohio. There, he took the Christian name "William Henry."

Gelelemend's Early Life and Family

Gelelemend was born near the Lehigh River in Pennsylvania. His father was Bemino (John Killbuck Sr.). His father became a famous war leader during the French and Indian War.

The Lenape people followed a "matrilineal" system. This means children belonged to their mother's family group, called a clan. Gelelemend was born into his mother's Turtle clan. This clan was responsible for providing chiefs for the tribe. His paternal grandfather was Netawatwees, who was the main chief of the Delaware.

Lenape Clans and Leadership

At that time, the Lenape had three main clans: Turtle, Turkey, and Wolf. A child's clan was determined by their mother's clan. This also decided their social standing in the tribe. In this system, the mother's oldest brother was often more important in a child's life than their biological father. People had to marry someone from a different clan. Each clan had its own chiefs, advisors, and war leaders. Each clan also had a special role in serving the tribe.

The Turtle clan was seen as the most important. Its role was to lead the whole tribe. Their hereditary chief served as the main chief of the Lenape. By early 1776, a missionary named David Zeisberger noted that Gelelemend was chosen to follow his grandfather Netawatwees. Netawatwees was thought to be nearly 100 years old.

However, Netawatwees died on October 31, 1776. After his death, it was unclear who would become chief. This was because of the difficult situation for the Delaware in the Ohio Country. The American Revolution had just begun.

Gelelemend During the American Revolution

The British controlled Detroit and parts of the East Coast. The American rebels, or Patriots, were most active there. The Delaware tribe tried to stay neutral in the conflict between Britain and America. But they faced strong pressure to join the war. This pressure came from the British, the Americans, and other Native American nations. Most other Native American nations allied with the British. They hoped to push American colonists out of their lands.

In these difficult times, White Eyes had become an important leader by 1773. He was the Speaker of the Delaware Head Council. He seemed to have some authority as chief, along with Gelelemend. In 1778, Gelelemend, White Eyes, and Captain Pipe (a war leader of the Wolf clan) signed the Delaware Treaty with the United States.

Gelelemend became the main chief only after White Eyes died. White Eyes was murdered by an American militia officer on November 5, 1778.

Divisions and Challenges

However, the Lenape remained very divided about how to deal with the war. American soldiers sometimes attacked Lenape villages without warning. Because of these attacks, groups led by Captain Pipe and Buckongahelas broke away. They stopped supporting Gelelemend's pro-American leadership. Instead, they allied with the British for the rest of the war. After the war, these groups moved to Upper Canada. The British government gave them land there.

By 1781, Gelelemend had lost his power as chief. He was given the rank of a colonel by the Americans. He helped Colonel Daniel Brodhead lead an expedition. Their goal was to destroy the Delaware capital of Coshocton in Ohio. Gelelemend had lived and served as chief there. The raid found only 15 young warriors, who were captured and killed.

Gelelemend and a few of his followers returned with the Americans to Fort Pitt. The raid on Coshocton was widely criticized. George Washington even removed Brodhead from his command. Gelelemend became a person without a home or tribe. He lived at Fort Pitt until 1785, always worried for his safety.

Later Life and Legacy

Gelelemend had been interested in Christianity for a long time. In 1788, he joined the Moravian mission in Salem, Ohio. During his baptism ceremony, he took the name William Henry. This was supposedly to honor a man who had saved him during the French and Indian War. He was the most well-known convert in the Lenape community. Gelelemend died in Goshen Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in 1811.

Honoring Gelelemend

• The village of Killbuck, Ohio in Holmes County is named after him. (However, the town of Kill Buck, New York is not.)
• To honor William Henry, many of Gelelemend's descendants were given Henry as a middle name. This included his great-grandson, John Henry Kilbuck. John Henry Kilbuck became a Moravian missionary in Alaska. He named his daughter Katherine Henry Kilbuck to honor his ancestor.