Nonhelema facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nonhelema
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Nonhelema monument
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| Shawnee leader | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1718 |
| Died | December 1786 |
| Spouses | Moluntha, others |
| Relations | Sister of Cornstalk |
| Children | sons Thomas McKee and "Captain Butler" (or Tamanatha) |
| Parents | Okowellos, Katee |
| Nickname | "The Grenadier" or "The Grenadier Squaw" |
| Military service | |
| Battles/wars | Bushy Run |
Nonhelema Hokolesqua (around 1718–1786) was a strong and important leader of the Shawnee people in the 1700s. She was the sister of another famous Shawnee leader, Cornstalk. Nonhelema played a part in Pontiac's War. She also believed the Shawnee should stay neutral during the American Revolutionary War.
Even though she supported the United States, Nonhelema's village was attacked after the war. Her husband, Shawnee Chief Moluntha, was killed. Nonhelema herself was captured. She passed away later that same year.
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Early Life and Family
Nonhelema was born in 1718. She belonged to the Chalakatha (Chilliothe) group of the Shawnee nation. She spent her early years in Pennsylvania. In 1725, her brother Cornstalk and her mother Katee, who was of mixed heritage, traveled with her father Okowellos to Alabama. Their family returned to Pennsylvania within five years.
Marriages and Children
Nonhelema had three husbands during her life. Her first husband was a Shawnee man. Her third husband was Shawnee Chief Moluntha.
She had two sons. One son, Thomas McKee, was from her relationship with Colonel Alexander McKee. Colonel McKee was an "Indian agent," meaning he worked with Native American tribes for the government. Her other son, Captain Butler (also called Tamanatha), was from her relationship with Colonel Richard Butler.
By 1750, Nonhelema had become a respected Shawnee chief. She had a lot of influence in a Shawnee settlement in Kentucky called Lower Shawneetown.
A Tall and Brave Warrior
Nonhelema was known as a warrior. She was very tall, standing almost six feet, six inches (198 cm). Because of her height, some people called her "The Grenadier" or "The Grenadier Squaw". Grenadiers were soldiers known for being very tall in the 1700s.
She was present at the Battle of Bushy Run in 1763. This was an important battle during Pontiac's War.
Supporting Neutrality
When the American Revolutionary War began, Nonhelema and her brother Cornstalk wanted the Shawnee people to stay neutral. This meant they did not want to pick a side between the Americans and the British. Their lands became a major battleground during the war.
In the summer of 1777, Nonhelema warned the Americans. She told them that some parts of the Shawnee nation had gone to Fort Detroit to join the British forces.
Helping the Americans
Even after her brother Cornstalk was killed at Fort Randolph in 1777, Nonhelema continued to support the United States. She warned both Fort Randolph and Fort Donnally about upcoming attacks.
She even helped two men, Phillip Hamman and John Pryor, by dressing them as Native Americans. This allowed them to travel 160 miles to Fort Donnally to deliver a warning. Because of her help, her herds of cattle were destroyed by those who opposed her.
Nonhelema then led her followers to the Coshocton area. This was near the village of Lenape Chief White Eyes. In 1780, Nonhelema also worked as a guide and translator for Augustin de La Balme. He was on a military trip to the Illinois country.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1785, Nonhelema asked the United States Congress for a large piece of land in Ohio. She wanted 1,000 acres as payment for her help during the American Revolutionary War. Instead, Congress gave her a daily pension of food. She also received blankets and clothing each year.
In 1786, Nonhelema and her husband Moluntha were captured by General Benjamin Logan. Sadly, Moluntha was killed by an American soldier. Nonhelema was then held at Fort Pitt. While there, she helped create a dictionary of Shawnee words. She was later released but passed away in December 1786.
Fictional Depictions
Nonhelema has been shown in books and TV shows.
- She is the main character in Warrior Woman. This novel was written in 2003 by James Alexander Thom and Dark Rain Thom.
- Actress Karina Lombard played Nonhelema in a 2016 episode of the NBC TV series Timeless. The episode was called "Stranded."
