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University Microfilms 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Micnigan 48106 A Xerox Education Company 73-9149 EDMUNDS, Russell David, 1939- A HISTORY OF THE POTAWATOMI INDIANS, 1615-1795. The University of Oklahoma, Ph.D., 1972 History, general University Microfilms, A XEROX Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED. THE WIYSRSITY OP OKLAHOMA. GRADUATE COLLEGE A HISTORY OF THE POTAWATOMI HDIAIfS, 1615-1795 A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO TEE GRADUATE FACULTY in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OP PHILOSOPHY BY R. DAVID EDMDNDS Norman, Oklahoma 1972 A HISTOÏÏÏ OP THE POTAVATGMI BDIANS, I615-I795 APPROVED BY DISSERTATION COHKITTSE PLEASE NOTE: Some pages may have indistinct print. Filmed as received. University Microfilms, A Xerox Education Company PREFACE Many Indian tribes have been the subject of considerable study. The history of such tribes as the Sioux, Cherokees, or the Iroquois Confederacy has been detailed in numberous scholarly books and articles. The exploits of their leaders and the struggles of their people are well known to the public and are recognized as important events sontributing to the mainstream of American history. Other Indian peoples often are mentioned by American historians, but their tribal history has remained unchronicled as scholars P-j-ve concentrated their efforts upon the better known or more popular tribes. Yet many of the less known people also have made significant contributions to American history. Their story deserves to be told. Such a people are the Potawatomis, Closely allied to the Ottawas and the Chippewas, the Potawatomis scattered their villages from the shores of Lake Michigan to Detroit, They formed the nucleus of New France's widespread system of Indian alliances and loyally assisted the French in suppressing Indian rebellions in the west. Indeed, the French relied upon them so heavily that French officials in Michigan and Illinois vied with one another in attempts to locate iii the Potawatomis near their posts. The French also valued Potawatomi assistance in their wars against the British, French officers led Potawatomi warriors from the shores of Lake Mchigan as far east as New England where they raided against the frontiers of New York and Connecticut. The Potawatomis also relied upon the French, As their contacts with French traders increased, the Potawatomis lost much of their aboriginal self-sufficiency. They became dependent upon French trade goods for economic subsistence and slowly acculturated to the spreading European civilization. After the fall of Quebec, the Potawatomis turned to the British to supply them with the economic necessities they had earlier obtained from the French, British reluctance to provide such economic assistance encouraged the Potawatomis to join with the Ottawas in Pontiac's Rebellion, After the uprising failed, most Potawatomis accepted the British and many Potawatomis fvught with the Crown in the American Revolution, Yet Potawatomi ties to the British were never as close as were their ties to the French, During the closing years of the ei^teenth century many bands of the tribes became autonomous and tribal unity dissolved. Lack of unity also characterized Pctawatomi support of the red confederacy during the 1790's, Those tribesmen on the Tippecanoe, near Detroit, and on the St, Joseph periodically joined the anti- American alliance but the Potawatomis on the Illinois did not participate iv in the actions against American military expeditions, Illinois River Potawatomis signed the abortive Vincennes Treaty of 1792 and aftervrard visited the president in Philadelphia, Yet other Potawatomis fought again Anthony Wayne at Fallen Timbers and after the Indian defeat, tribal members signed the Treaty of Greenville which opened Ohio to American settlement. This study will attempt to discuss the history of the Potawatomis from earliest French contacts to the Treaty of Greenville in 1795* The close alliance between the Potawatomis and the French will be examined in detail as will Potawatomi relations with the British, Americans, and other Indian tribes. Yet the focus of the text will remain upon the Potawatomis, Hopefully this study will illuminate both the history of the Potawatomis and their contribution to the early history of the United States, Maqr people have offered invaluable assistance to me in my efforts to complete this study. Very special gratitude goes to Professor Donald J, Berthrong of Purdue University, Althougti he no longer was associated with the history department at the University of Oklahoma, Professor Berthrong graciously consented to take time from his busy schedule at Purdue to direct my research and writing. If the manuscript has any merit, it is primarily due to nis direction, I also wish to thank Professor A, M, Gibson for serving as co-chairman of my dissertation committee. Professor Gibson provided valuable advice and assistance while I was completing the research for this study. Gratitude is also extended to Professors 'william Bittle, Russell Buhite, Korman Crockett, and Henry Tobias for taking time to read the manuscript and for their helpful suggestions. I would be remiss not to express my thanks to several other individuals and institutions who also have contributed to the completion of this project. Mrs. Alice Timmons, Hr. Jack Haley, and Hr. Hilton Ream at the University of Oklahoma Library all provided valuable assistance to me as I conducted my research. Courteous assistance also was extended by the director and staff of the Great Lakes Indian Archives Project in the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology at the University of Indiana. I also wish to thank the Ford Foundation for the very generous financial assistance provided to me while I worked on this study. It was much easier to concentrate on my research and writing knowing that financial security had been provided by the Ford Foundation. Finally, a special expression of gratitude is extended to my wife, Christie. Her support and encouragement througiiout the entire Ph. D, program has made its successful completion a reality. VI TABLE OP CONTSRTS Page LIST OF M A P S .......... viii Chapter I. FORGING TEE FRENCH ALLIANCE.................... 1 II. THE FOX WARS.................................. 44 III. ONONTIO’S FAITHFUL........................... 77 17. IN DEFENSE OF A DYING EMPIRE..................... 113 7. PARTISANS OF PONTIAC............................ 145 71. SERVING A NZW FATHER............................ 194 VII. THE RED CONFEDERACY............................ 248 VIII. EPILOGUE...................................... 311 BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................ 514 APPENDIX A .......................................... 328 vii LIST OF ÎÎAPS Page TBS FEEBCH '.VEST ' 97 POTAWATOMI VILLAGES, 1770-1790 19& viii CHAPTER I FORGING THE FRENCH ALLIANCE During the first half of the seventeenth century, French explorers began to penetrate the vast interior west of the lower St, Lawrence Valley. Utilizing the Ottawa River as an avenue for such penetration, French agents followed this well traveled Indian route as far as the portage to Lake Nipissing and then guided their canoes down the French River to the Georgian Bay area of Lake Huron. In I615 Samuel de Champlain arrived at Lake Huron via the Ottawa waterway and spent the winter of 161 $-16 with the Huron Indians who were living along the southern shore of Georgian Bay. While among the Huron villages, Champlain was informed of a tribe of people whom the Hurons called the Asistaguerouons of Fire Nation. The Asistaguerouons, who were currently at war with such nei^boring tribes as the Ottawas and Neutrals, lived along