Kakowatcheky facts for kids

Kakowatcheky (born around 1670 – died around 1755 or 1758) was a respected leader of the Pekowi Shawnee people. He is famous for leading some of the first Shawnee groups into Pennsylvania. For about 50 years, he and his people lived alongside European settlers in Pennsylvania. Later, in the mid-1740s, many Shawnees and other Native Americans moved to the Ohio River Valley.

In 1743, Kakowatcheky moved to Logstown, a settlement on the Ohio River. He likely lived there until 1755 or later. That was the last year his name appeared in Pennsylvania records. A visitor named Colonel James Patton saw him in Logstown in 1752. He wrote that Kakowatcheky was "bedridden," meaning he was too sick to get out of bed. Kakowatcheky was a chief for over 60 years.

Historian Malcolm B. Brown described Kakowatcheky as a very wise and respected leader. He understood the impact of European contact on Native Americans better than almost anyone else at the time.

Early Life and Arrival in Pennsylvania

We don't know much about Kakowatcheky's early life. His exact birth date is unknown, but he might have been born in Ohio. A historian named John Heckewelder wrote that a chief named "Gachgawatschiqua" led his people from Ohio. They settled near the Delaware River. This move likely happened around 1694.

In 1694, Kakowatcheky guided many Shawnee people from the Ohio River Valley. They traveled to eastern Pennsylvania with a Dutch trader named Arnaut Viele. Viele had spent over a year living with the Shawnee and other tribes in Ohio. When he returned to Albany, New York, in September 1694, Kakowatcheky and his Shawnees came with him. They then settled in Pennsylvania.

The governor of New York, Thomas Dongan, wanted new Native American allies. He hoped they would help the English against the French. Also, trading animal skins and furs was a big part of the economy. The Shawnees were skilled hunters, so they were very valuable.

Kakowatcheky knew that moving east meant entering Iroquois territory. But within a few years, he and another chief, Opessa Straight Tail, convinced the English that the Shawnee were important. Their presence helped both the economy and military. This led the Pennsylvania government to give the Shawnee and a few other tribes special status in a treaty in 1701.

The 1701 Treaty with William Penn

On April 23, 1701, Opessa and other chiefs signed a treaty with William Penn. These chiefs were from the Susquehannock, Piscataway, and Onondaga tribes. They gave up lands along the Potomac River to the English. In return, they received protection and trading rights.

This treaty stated that only certain tribes, including the Shawnee, could live on the Susquehanna or Potomac rivers. Opessa and the other chiefs agreed to be "as one head and one heart." They promised to live in true friendship with William Penn and the other people in the province. Soon after this treaty, many Shawnee moved from South Carolina. They settled near the Forks of the Delaware, at a village called Pechoquealin.

Dealing with Settlers and Moving West

In 1709, Kakowatcheky was mentioned in New Jersey records as a Shawnee leader. His name appeared as "Cohevwickick."

By 1727, the Shawnee began moving west towards Ohio. They faced problems with traders in Pennsylvania. Also, the uncontrolled sale of rum caused issues. They wanted to escape the strict control of the Iroquois and problems with the Pennsylvania government.

In May 1728, Kakowatcheky was the head of the Shawnees living at Pechoquealin. He heard a rumor that Catawba warriors from North Carolina were in Pennsylvania. They supposedly planned to attack Indians along the Susquehanna. Kakowatcheky led 11 warriors to check on this rumor.

When they reached the Manatawny area, they ran out of food. They tried to get food and drink from settlers. The settlers did not know these Indians. They also didn't know the rule that neutral warriors should be given food. The settlers thought the chief was dangerous, and women and children fled.

About 20 settlers armed themselves and approached the Indians. They sent two men to talk to Kakowatcheky. But Kakowatcheky drew his sword and told his men to fire. They wounded five settlers. The settlers fired back, wounding Kakowatcheky. He fell, then ran into the woods, leaving his rifle.

The settlers didn't know who these Indians were until May 20. Two traders from Pechoquealin told Governor Gordon that Kakowatcheky sent a message. He explained what happened, apologized, and asked for his gun back.

Governor Gordon replied with a strong message. He said it was wrong for friends to come into Christian homes with weapons and demand food. He said the English thought they were foreign Indians. The Governor noted that the Indians fired first and five settlers were badly wounded. He was glad no one died. He promised to look for the gun and other lost items. He also invited Kakowatcheky to Durham to treat him as a friend.

The Governor then went to Manatawny himself. He convinced the settlers who had left their farms to return. He sent Kakowatcheky his gun and the tomahawks his warriors had dropped. He asked the Indians to be more careful. On May 26, the Governor met with chiefs from different tribes at Conestoga. He gave them gifts. It turned out the Catawba invasion was a false alarm.

Later that year, Kakowatcheky and his Shawnees left the upper Delaware. They moved to Wyomink and the Shawnee Flats on the north branch of the Susquehanna. This area was called Skehandowana.

By 1732, Kakowatcheky was thinking about moving to the Ohio River Valley. Many Shawnees were already moving west. One reason was their unhappiness with the Iroquois, who had tight control over them. A Seneca chief visited Kakowatcheky in 1732. He told him the Iroquois never meant to harm the Shawnee. He urged Kakowatcheky not to look to Ohio but to stay with them.

Kakowatcheky's son, Quassenung, died of smallpox in Philadelphia on January 26, 1733.

The 1739 Treaty and Westward Movement

On July 27, 1739, Kakowatcheky and other Shawnee chiefs came to Philadelphia. They met with Governor Thomas Penn. The government was worried because Shawnee and Lenape communities were moving to the Ohio River Valley. They feared these tribes would become allies of New France.

Secretary James Logan reminded them of their obligations from the 1701 treaty with William Penn. A new treaty was signed at this meeting. It stated that the Shawnees had moved to the Allegheny from their old home on the Susquehanna. This treaty was signed by Kakowatcheky for the Shawnees at Wyomink.

More European settlers meant less land for hunting. This created problems for the Native American groups who relied on hunting for food in winter. This led many Shawnee communities to move further west to the Ohio River Valley.

Meeting with Count Zinzendorf

In October 1742, a missionary named Count Zinzendorf visited Kakowatcheky. He came to Wyomink with Andrew Montour and Conrad Weiser. Zinzendorf wanted to convert the Shawnees to Christianity. He couldn't get them to listen, so he gave them his buttons and shoe buckles to try and please them.

Kakowatcheky was patient and kind to Zinzendorf. The Count had angered some of Kakowatcheky's people. He set up his tent near an old silver mine and on top of the village burial ground. The Shawnees thought Zinzendorf was trying to find the silver mine using magic. They wanted to kill him, but Kakowatcheky used his leadership skills to keep the Count and his group safe.

Kakowatcheky had a conversation with Zinzendorf, recorded by Conrad Weiser. The old chief thanked the Count for talking about Christianity. He said he also believed in God, who created both Indians and white men. But he explained that after seeing white men on the frontier, he preferred Indian ways. He said white men prayed with words, while Indians prayed with their hearts. He was happy as an Indian and did not want to be European. He also said he was a subject of the Iroquois. He felt he shouldn't adopt new things without their advice. He believed God was kinder to Indians than to Europeans.

Peace Talks in 1743

After some violent clashes between Indians and white settlers, leaders from the Six Nations, Tuscaroras, and Lenape met in April 1743. They met with Conrad Weiser and Andrew Montour at Shamokin, Pennsylvania. Weiser gave them wampum, trying to convince the Shawnees not to attack English traders. He wanted to prevent a war.

The council at Shamokin discussed messages sent to the Shawnees. A speaker shared the answers from Kakowatcheky and another chief. Nochecouna, a Shawnee chief at Ohio, sent a message to the Governor of Pennsylvania. He said he was weak and harmless. He sent the message to Kakowatcheky, saying Kakowatcheky was the older and greater man to answer. In the end, the peace talks were successful.

Moving to Logstown

Between April 1743 and August 1744, Kakowatcheky and some of his followers moved to the Ohio River Valley. They settled at Logstown. Some people say he founded Logstown, but there is proof that a community was there before he arrived.

Meeting Peter Chartier

In April 1745, Peter Chartier and about 400 Pekowi Shawnees visited Logstown. They wanted to convince Kakowatcheky to join them. Chartier planned to bring as many Shawnees as possible under French protection. He was on his way to Lower Shawneetown to talk to the Shawnees there. However, Kakowatcheky refused to join him. Chartier and his people left Logstown after a short stay.

On July 21, 1748, at a council in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Kakowatcheky and other Shawnee leaders apologized. They said they had been misled by Chartier and asked for forgiveness. Even though Kakowatcheky had not followed Chartier, he took part in the apology. The government praised him for staying loyal to the British.

On April 28, 1748, George Croghan met Kakowatcheky at Logstown. Croghan was sent by Pennsylvania to tell the Ohio and Allegheny Indians that Conrad Weiser would come later that year. Weiser would make a treaty and give gifts. Weiser arrived in Logstown in September 1748. This was the first time Pennsylvania sent an official group to the Ohio and Allegheny Indians.

Weiser's journal from September 10 says he gave Kakowatcheky gifts. These included a blanket, a shirt, stockings, and tobacco. He told Kakowatcheky that Pennsylvania remembered their love for him as an old and true friend. He hoped Kakowatcheky would wear out the clothes so they could give him more. Many Indians were there, including some who had gone with Chartier. Kakowatcheky thanked them, and some of the Six Nations also expressed their happiness.

Encounter with Céloron de Blainville

In August 1749, a French expedition led by Pierre Joseph Céloron de Blainville arrived in Logstown. Céloron warned the people to stop trading with the English. He hinted that the French would punish them if they didn't obey. On August 10, Céloron read a message from the Governor of New France. It said the English were tricking the Ohio tribes and planning their "total ruin." He also claimed the Ohio River belonged to him.

Kakowatcheky was very angry. George Croghan arrived in Logstown a few days after Céloron left. He told Richard Peters what happened. He said that while Céloron was speaking, Kakowatcheky, who was blind and needed support to stand, quietly told those next to him, "Why don't you shoot this French Fellow - Shoot him - shoot him."

Later Years and Legacy

On May 21, 1751, George Croghan visited Logstown again. He met with chiefs from the Six Nations, Lenape, and Shawnees. In his report, he wrote that he visited Kakowatcheky. He said Kakowatcheky was very old and couldn't attend the council. Croghan told him that the Governor of Pennsylvania was glad he was still alive and had his senses. The Governor had sent clothes for him because of his strong loyalty to the English. Kakowatcheky thanked the Governor.

In June 1752, the Treaty of Logstown was signed. Leaders from the Iroquois, Lenape, and Shawnee tribes were there. Commissioners from Virginia, led by Joshua Fry, also attended. On June 11, the commissioners spoke to the Shawnees. They said they heard their chief, Kakowatcheky, was bedridden. To show their respect for his past help, they gave him a suit of Indian clothing.

Kakowatcheky is mentioned as "Cachawatkecha" by Governor Morris in a letter from August 20, 1755. He was possibly still living at Logstown then. His name doesn't appear in records after 1755, but some historians say he died in 1758. Kakowatcheky was succeeded as chief at Wyomink by Paxinosa.