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Title
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Jemison, Mary (1743-1833)
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Dehgewänis (1743-1833)
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birthday
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1743
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Death Date
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1833-09-19
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Biographical Text
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Mary Jemison, also called Dehgewänis, was known for being a white child adopted by the Seneca people following the murder of her family. Jemison was born at sea while her parents were traveling from British Ireland to settle in America. At age 12, Jemison was captured during a Shawnee and French raid of her family's farm. Her parents and siblings were killed, and Jemison was sent alongside another captured boy to be adopted by a Seneca family. She became fully assimilated and chose to remain with the Seneca people even when given the option to leave. Jemison would be instrumental in Seneca negotiations following the Revolutionary War, where she advocated for better terms in the Treaty of Big Tree in 1797 following the British relinquishment of Seneca land to the United States. In 1824, minister James E. Seaver published an account of her life called "Narrative of the Life of Mrs. Mary Jemison," based on Jemison's own recollections of her capture.
Jemison initially married a Delaware man named Sheninjee, and the two had a son named Thomas. However, Sheninjee fell ill and died while the family was traveling. Jemison later married a Seneca man named Hiakatoo, and the two had four daughters named Nancy, Polly, Betsey, and Jane, as well as two sons named John and Jesse. Jemison died at age 90 and was buried on the Buffalo Creek Reservation.
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Contributor
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Raisch, Elly
