Tacumwah facts for kids

Tacumwah (born around 1720, died around 1790) was a very important leader and businesswoman of the Miami tribe. Her name, Tacumwah, means "Parakeet" in the Miami language. She was the sister of Pacanne, a powerful Miami chief. She was also the mother of Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville, who was also known as "Peshewa."

Her Family and Early Life

Tacumwah first married Antoine Joseph Drouet de Richardville. He was the son of a French nobleman. Antoine worked as a lieutenant in the French army at Fort St. Phillipe, which later became Fort Miamis.

Antoine later left the area to become a fur trader in Canada. Tacumwah had three other children with him. All her children were baptized in 1773.

A Big Dispute Over Land

Tacumwah and Antoine divorced about a year after their children were baptized. This happened because Antoine sided with other people, Alexander and Francis Maisonville. They wanted to control the Long Portage.

The Long Portage was an important 8-mile strip of land. It connected the Maumee and Wabash Rivers. This land was controlled by Tacumwah's brother, Chief Pacanne.

During a big argument, Tacumwah had to seek safety with Charles Beaubien. Charles Beaubien was a business rival of Antoine. Chief Pacanne and Charles Beaubien then stood up to Antoine and the Maisonville brothers. The disagreement was so serious that it went to court. The court case took place at Fort Detroit on September 18, 1774.

The Court's Decision

The court case was mainly about Tacumwah's marriage and her property. It was also about keeping control of valuable things. These included slaves, cattle, corn, and wampum (a type of shell bead used as money or for records). Most importantly, it was about who controlled the Long Portage. Tacumwah had inherited the right to this land because of her Miami family background.

Tacumwah's mother had raised her in a tradition where women could own property. This was important in how Tacumwah handled herself. Her brother, Pacanne, even said that Tacumwah's possessions belonged to her. He explained that she had inherited them from her mother. This showed that Tacumwah's mother had gained valuable things on her own. Her right to pass these things to her daughter was clear.

The court decided that Chief Pacanne would keep control of the Long Portage. Tacumwah would also keep all of her property.

Later Life and Legacy

After the court case, Tacumwah married Charles Beaubien. They had one daughter together named Josetta Beaubien Roubidoux. According to Miami custom, Josetta's oldest son should have become chief after his uncle, Chief Richardville. However, Josetta's family members were later removed from the Miami tribe's official list in 1867.

Tacumwah was a trusted political advisor to her son, Peshewa (Chief Richardville). She often spoke for him in tribal meetings. There is a story that she once gave Peshewa a knife. She told him to free a white captive who other tribesmen were about to harm.

In her later years, Tacumwah ran a very successful trading post. A trading post was a place where people could trade goods. When she passed away, her son Peshewa took over her business.