Shingas facts for kids

Shingas (lived around 1740 to 1763) was a brave Lenape chief and warrior. He was involved in many battles in the Ohio Country during the time of the French and Indian War. Shingas worked with the French and led several attacks on American settlements. Because of his actions, the settlers called him "Shingas the Terrible." The governments of Pennsylvania and Virginia even offered a reward for his capture.

Shingas's Early Life and Family

Shingas grew up in the beautiful Tulpehocken Creek Valley in Pennsylvania. He lived with his uncle, Sassoonan, and his brothers, including Tamaqua, Nenatcheehunt, and Pisquetomen. Shingas was part of the Lenape Turkey clan. His uncle Sassoonan was seen by the Pennsylvania government as the Lenape "king."

However, the Lenape people usually lived in independent villages and didn't have a single "king." The colonial governments preferred to deal with just one leader. This made Sassoonan important to them, especially when they wanted to buy Lenape lands.

Becoming a Lenape Leader

After Sassoonan passed away in 1747, Shingas's brother, Pisquetomen, was chosen to take his place. But Pisquetomen was smart and strong-willed, which made him hard for the colonial officials to control. Because of this, the Pennsylvania government refused to accept him as the new "king."

So, Shingas and his brothers, including Pisquetomen and Tamaqua, moved away from Pennsylvania. They led their people across the Allegheny Mountains and settled at Kittanning near the Allegheny River.

In 1752, at a meeting called the Logstown Treaty Conference, a leader from the Haudenosaunee (another Native American group) named Tanacharison chose Shingas to be the Lenape leader. He said it was their right to choose a "King" for the Lenape to represent them in important discussions with other groups and the British. Shingas wasn't at the meeting, so his brother Tamaqua stood in for him and received gifts.

Shingas and the French and Indian War

Even in their new home, the western Lenape were caught between three powerful groups: the Thirteen Colonies, New France (the French in North America), and the Haudenosaunee. The Haudenosaunee claimed to have power over the Lenape, and the British agreed with this claim to keep their alliance strong.

The big war between Great Britain and France for control of North America, known as the French and Indian War, began near Shingas's village. At first, Shingas and his people tried to stay neutral. They didn't help George Washington at Fort Necessity in 1754 or the Braddock Expedition in 1755. However, after the French won a major battle against the British (Braddock's defeat), the Lenape felt they had to side with the French.

Shingas became a fierce warrior in the war. He led attacks deep into the settlements of Pennsylvania and Virginia. Even though he was a tough enemy, he was known for treating his prisoners well. The colonies struggled to fight back against the Lenape's quick attacks.

In 1756, Shingas's main base at Kittanning was attacked by the British. This surprised the Lenape and made them move further west into what is now Ohio. Around this time, a group of Lenape who wanted peace, led by Shingas's brother Tamaqua, started to become more influential. Shingas and Tamaqua always worked together, but Tamaqua, also known as "the Beaver" or "King Beaver," eventually became more famous.

In 1758, Shingas's brother Pisquetomen helped negotiate the Treaty of Easton. This agreement largely ended the Lenape's involvement in the French and Indian War. It also helped the British Army officer John Forbes capture Fort Duquesne without much fighting from local Native American tribes. After this, Shingas kept a low profile because of his past actions in the war.

Later Years and Disappearance

The British built Fort Pitt where Fort Duquesne used to be. This made the local Lenape upset and contributed to the start of Pontiac's War in 1763. Fort Pitt was surrounded by the Lenape, and Shingas might have been part of this siege. He and Tamaqua tried to convince the soldiers at Fort Pitt to leave the area, but the fort was eventually helped by a group led by Henry Bouquet.

Shingas and Tamaqua, who believed in trying to get along with the British, started to lose some of their influence. Other Lenape leaders who followed the ideas of Neolin, a spiritual leader, became more popular. Shingas is last mentioned in historical records around 1764. Some historians wonder if he might have gotten sick during the siege of Fort Pitt, but there is no clear proof of how he died.