Tamaqua (Lenape chief) facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Tamaqua
Tamaqua, a Delaware Indian diplomat, exhibit at the Fort Pitt Museum, Pittsburgh
Born	Tulpehocken Creek Valley
Died	1769 or 1771 Tuscarawas, Ohio
Years active	1751-1765
Known for	Peace negotiations during the French and Indian War and Pontiac's War
Predecessor	Shingas
Successor	Netawatwees

Tamaqua (around 1725 – 1769 or 1771), also known as The Beaver or King Beaver, was an important leader of the Lenape people. He belonged to the Unalachtigo (Turkey) group of the Lenape. Even though the Iroquois had named Shingas as the Lenape chief in 1752, Tamaqua became very important during the French and Indian War. He was known for his efforts to make peace. Many Lenape people saw him as their main leader or "king."

Tamaqua was one of the first leaders to return English prisoners after the French and Indian War ended. He also played a big part in the peace talks after Pontiac's War. By 1758, he was seen as one of the three main Lenape leaders. He was the main spokesperson for the western Lenape living in the Ohio Country. In 1756, he started the town of Tuscarawas, Ohio, where he later passed away.

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Early Life and Family

Tamaqua grew up in the Tulpehocken Creek Valley in Pennsylvania. He lived with his uncle Sassoonan and his brothers, including Shingas and Pisquetomen. He was likely the son of Sassoonan's sister and the grandson of Tamanend.

After the Lenape were forced to leave their lands in 1732, Tamaqua lived in several places. These included the mouth of the Beaver River, Kittanning, and later Tuscarawas.

Tamaqua's name, sometimes spelled "Tamakwa," comes from the Lenape word tëmakwe, which means "beaver."

Becoming a Lenape Spokesperson

Tamaqua first appeared in official records during discussions in 1751, before the Logstown Treaty Conference of 1752. After Sassoonan, a Lenape leader, died in 1747, the Lenape needed a new leader.

The colonial authorities and the Six Nations wanted the Lenape to choose a wise leader. Tamaqua understood how important it was to have a leader who could speak for all Lenape. He knew this leader would need to talk with both the Six Nations and Pennsylvania. He said it would take time to choose the right person to lead the Lenape people.

In 1752, the Six Nations chose Shingas to be the Lenape king. Shingas was not at the meeting, so Tamaqua stood in for his brother. He accepted the gifts given to the new leader.

Important Meeting at Aughwick in 1754

In July 1754, the Iroquois gave away large areas of western Pennsylvania to the colonial government. Many Lenape lived there, but they were not asked about this decision. This meant the Lenape might have to move into French territory.

In August 1754, over 200 Ohio Indians met to complain about this. Tamaqua spoke to Conrad Weiser, who represented Pennsylvania, and to the Six Nations. He reminded them that the Lenape looked to the Iroquois for protection. He also said that if the Iroquois could not protect the Lenape from the French, then the Lenape should be allowed to defend themselves.

Tamaqua hoped to avoid conflict. He wanted Pennsylvania to remember its history of fair treatment toward the Lenape. However, Weiser dismissed the Ohio Indians. He said they were just "Hunters" and did not own the land. This made the western Lenape very unhappy, and they began to consider joining forces with the French.

Role During the French and Indian War

After Shingas became the leader of the western Lenape, relations with the Pennsylvania government worsened. In 1755, a British general said that only the English should live on the land. He added that "No Savage Should Inherit the Land." Because of this, many Lenape joined the war against Pennsylvania and the English.

In September 1755, Tamaqua joined Shingas and other groups in an attack on Fort Cumberland. He also led Lenape warriors in an attack on Fort Bigham in 1756. After this, he stepped back from fighting and took on a leadership role at Kittanning. His choice not to fight allowed him to be a more trusted voice in later peace talks.

Tamaqua as a Peace Negotiator

Tamaqua was living in Kittanning when it was destroyed in September 1756. He then moved to Ohio and started the town of Tuscarawas. This town was first called "Beaver's Town."

Shingas worried about his safety when Pennsylvania offered a reward for his capture. He then gave his leadership role to Tamaqua. From 1756 to 1758, Tamaqua worked with another Lenape leader, Netawatwees, to end the fighting. By 1758, Tamaqua was often called "King Beaver" and was seen as the main spokesman for the Ohio Lenape leaders.

Tamaqua became the main speaker for the Ohio Indians from 1758 to 1762. He was a key person in starting peace talks. Communications between Philadelphia and the Lenape often went directly to Tamaqua. In 1758, Christian Frederick Post stayed at Tamaqua’s home, and both Tamaqua and Pisquetomen protected him.

Tamaqua was concerned about the British army moving into Lenape territory. He also wanted a promise that English settlers would not move onto Lenape lands.

Treaty of Easton Conference in 1758

At the Treaty of Easton conference in November 1758, Tamaqua agreed to share news of the treaty with other Indian groups. But he asked that the English "not settle there" after driving out the French.

Tamaqua also thought it was strange that the English asked for white prisoners to be released before peace was fully made. After the war, he worked with Colonel Henry Bouquet to return the white prisoners.

In the months after the treaty, Tamaqua worked to set up meetings. He met with groups like the Kickapoos and Kaskaskias to explain the Easton Treaty. In meetings with colonial leaders, Tamaqua often spoke for all the Native groups.

Tamaqua also wanted to restart trade. The wars had stopped trade, and the Lenape depended on goods from traders. In February 1759, he stressed how important trade was for peace. He brought his own warriors with furs, hoping that promised trade goods had arrived. Soon, traders were sent to restart the fur trade and improve relations.

Meetings with Hugh Mercer in 1759

In February 1759, Colonel Hugh Mercer met with the Delawares at Fort Pitt. Tamaqua was living near present-day Pittsburgh at the time. At this meeting, Tamaqua said the Delawares wanted to move to avoid fighting between the French and British. He said they would move to Kuskusky, where they would "always hear your words." Mercer replied that the English wanted them to live in peace wherever they chose.

In July and August 1759, George Croghan and Colonel Hugh Mercer held another meeting at Fort Pitt. Over 500 Native people attended, mostly Lenape. Tamaqua was the main speaker for the Native side. He confirmed their commitment to peace. The English wanted white captives returned. Tamaqua took the lead by releasing two female captives. He called them "my Mother" and "my Sister" to show how hard it was to give up people adopted into the tribe. Finally, Tamaqua asked the English to keep the Catawba Indians, who were enemies of the Ohio Indians, out of the Ohio country. A formal peace was made on September 13, 1759.

Negotiator After Pontiac's War

Relations between the Lenape and British soldiers in the Ohio country quickly got worse. British settlers started moving onto Indian hunting grounds, leading to fights and theft. In response, the British government stopped selling alcohol to Indians and limited trade of weapons.

The 1763 Pontiac Rebellion united western Indian nations. While Tamaqua and Shingas did not want attacks on British forts, they could not stop Lenape warriors from fighting. Lenape warriors joined Pontiac and Guyasuta in attacking British forts.

After the Native American forces were defeated at the Battle of Bushy Run in August 1763, Lenape warriors mostly stopped fighting. In November 1764, Tamaqua and other leaders met with Colonel Bouquet at Fort Pitt. Tamaqua agreed to release over eighty captives held by the Lenape. He hoped the Lenape would "embrace Peace once more" and focus on hunting and trading furs.

Tamaqua was recognized as one of the three main Lenape leaders. After the military left in 1765, these three leaders held a meeting to discuss a settlement with the British. Tamaqua worked hard to reopen trading posts and restart the fur trade, which had been stopped by the wars.

Later Life and Legacy

By 1761, Tamaqua was living in Tuscarawas. A Quaker frontiersman named James Kenny described him as a "steady, quiet, middle-aged man of a cheerfull disposition."

Sources differ on when Tamaqua died, but it was likely between 1769 and 1771 in Ohio. He was succeeded as leader of the western Lenape by Netawatwees.

Memorials

A diorama showing Tamaqua next to his canoe is at the Fort Pitt Museum.
A plaque was put up in 1925 at Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. It remembers a 1758 treaty made by Christian Frederick Post and King Beaver (Tamaqua). The plaque calls it a very important treaty that helped win the French and Indian War.