May 16, 2002
THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES LANGUAGE LESSON
Spilyay Tyrooo, Wsrm Springs, Oregon
May in
North American Indian History
by Phil Konstantin
Copyright Phil Konstantin (1996-2002)
http:www.americanindian.net
May 16th
1 677: Mugg, an Arosaguntacook Indian Chief,
dies in Black Point, Maine. At the outset of King
Philip's war, Mugg attempted to arrange a peace
treaty with the British. Instead they jail him for a
short time, and gain a bitter enemy. He destroys
much of Black Point, Maine in a raid on October
1 2, 1 676. Later he captures a few ships and
stages a brief naval war before his death.
1 760: Creek warrior Chief Hobbythacco (Hand
some Fellow) has often supported the English,
but, at the outbreak of the Cherokee war, he
decides to support the Cherokees. He leads an
attack on a group of English traders in Georgia.
Thirteen of the traders are killed during the fight
ing. Creek Chief "The Mortar" also participates in
the fighting.
May 17th
1 629: According to a deed, Sagamore Indians,
including Passaconaway, sell a piece of land in
what becomes Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
1 673: Father Jacques Marquette and Louis
Joilet begin their expedition from the "Straights of
Michilimackinac." Eventually, they explore much of
the Mississippi River.
May 18th
1 661 : Captain John Odber is order by the Mary
land General Assembly to take fifty men and go to
the "Susquesahannough Forte." According to a
treaty signed on May 1 6th, Maryland is required to
help protect the Susquehannocks from raids by
the Seneca. Odber's force is to fulfill that part of
the treaty.
1 839: General Alexander Macomb announces
the peace terms with the Seminoles. The Semi
noles are able to stay in Florida, if they remain
near Lake Okechobee.
May 19th
1 795: A treaty is signed between the Chippewa
and the Canadian government. Second Lieutenant
J. Givins represents the crown and several
Chippewa Chiefs are present. It is signed at "York,
in the Province of Upper Canada"
(Penetanguishene, Ontario).
1 796: Congress passes "An Act Making Appro
priations for Defraying the Expenses Which May
Arise in Carrying into Effect a Treaty Made Be
tween the United States and Certain Indian Tribes,
Northwest of the River Ohio." -. .
May 20th
1493: A civil war battle among the Cakchiquel
(Kaqchikel) Maya takes place today in Guatemala.
1 702: Franciscans have established the Mission
of Santa Fe de Toluca at one of the largest
Timucua villages in northern Florida. Apalachicola
Indians" fight a battle with Spanish and Mission
Indians. Both side lose a considerable number of
fighters before the Apalachicolas finally gain the
upper hand.
May 21st
1 542: Hernando de Soto dies with a high fever
in the village of Guachoyo, along the Mississippi
River. Before his death, he appoints Luis de
Moscoso to be his replacement. Fearing that the
Indians might exhume his body, Moscoso has de
Soto's body weighted down, and deposited in the
Mississippi River.
1 832: As a part of Black Hawk's War, a group of
approximately fifty Potawatomis attack a settle
ment on Indian Creek near modern Ottawa, Illinois.
Fifteen settlers are killed in the fighting. This is
often called the "Indian Creek Massacre." This is
also reported to have happened on May 20th.
May 22nd
1 851 : As one of the last conflicts in the "Mari
posa Indian Wars" in California, a large group of
Yosemite Indians are captured at Lake Tenaija.
1 863: As a part of the "Owens Valley War" in
California, Paiute Chief Captain George arrives at
Camp Independence. He tells the soldiers the
Paiutes want peace. This effectively ends the war.
May 23rd
1 807: The Chickasaw Treaty of July 23, 1 805 is
publicly proclaimed.
1 838: Under the provisions of the New Echota
Treaty of December 29, 1 835, this the deadline
for Cherokees to emigrate to the Indian Territory
(present day Oklahoma). Any Cherokees still east
of the Mississippi River, after today, are force to
leave. Only an estimated 2,000 Cherokees have
emigrated to the Indian Territory by today's date,
according to government estimates. General
Winfield Scott is charged with removing the recal
citrant Cherokees. Many are forced from their
homes at bayonet point. The illegal treaty is
publicly proclaimed by President Jackson, two
years ago, on this date.
May 24th
1513: While exploring the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Ponce de Leon encounters Calusa Indians near
Charlotte harbor. In a fight with the Calusa, de
Leon captures four warriors.
1 539: Mexican Viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoza
has decided to send an expedition to search for
wealthy cities north of Mexico. On March 7, 1 539,
Friar Marcos de Niza started the expedition from
Culiacan. Accordiong to Niza's journal, he finally
sees Cibola, although he never sets foot in the
pueblo. His report will lead to future expeditions
looking for the "Seven Cities of Gold."
May 25th
1 637: "The Battle of Mystic": As a part of the
Pequot war Mohegan Chief Uncas is leading ap
proximately 1 00 Indian allies, but he is doubtful of
the ability of Captains John Underbill and John
Mason's seventy-seven Europeans to defeat the
Pequots. Regardless, they attack a fortified
Pequot village near modern Mystic, Connecticut
before dawn. Few of the Pequot warriors are in
the village, and the allies set fire to the dwellings.
According to some accounts, as many as 700 old
men, women and children are burned or shot to
death. Only about a dozen Pequots in the village
survive. Some sources say this happens on May
26th and June 5th.
1 776: The United States. Congress resolves that
it would be "highly expedient" if they can engage
Indians to fight on their side of the Revolutionary
War.
May 26th
1 540: The "Lady of Cofitachequi" has been
taken with the de Soto expedition, against her will.
With a large quantity of the pearls that de Soto's
men took from her village, she escapes.
1 728: According to some sources, a peace and
friendship conference is held for two days be
tween the representatives of the British in Penn
sylvania and the Conestoga, Delaware, Potomac
and Shawnee Indians.
May 27th
1 607: Virginia has it's first significant battle
between Indians and European settlers.
1 847: The Oregon Country publication "The
Spectator" has an article by its editor, George L
Curry. He blames much of the problems with the
local Indians on their use of alcohol. He asks for
better enforcement of the laws prohibiting the
sale of "intoxicants" to Indians.
May 28th
1830: Andrew Jackson,' called "Sharp Knife" by
the Indians, has long fought the Indians of the
southeast. He believes that the Indians and white
settlers will not be able to peacefully live to
gether. His solution to this is to renege on all of
the previous treaties, which granted the Indians
their lands forever, and to move all Indians west of
the Mississippi River. Jackson makes this proposal
to Congress during his First Congressional speech
on December 8, 1 829. Congress makes the pro
posal into a law on this date.
1 851 : One in a series of treaties is signed with
California Indians at Dent's and Ventine's Cross
ings. The purpose of the treaty is to reserve lands
for the Indians and to protect them from angry
Europeans.
May 29th
1 677: Pamunkey, Roanoke, Nottaway and
Nansemond Tribes of the Powhatan Confederacy
sign a treaty with the English in Virginia.
1 876: The Interior Department is told to coop
erate with the War Department so the military can
round up the "hostiles" whenever they may ap
pear on a reservation or an agency.
May 30th
1 548: Juan Diego (Cuauhtlatoatzin) is the
Nahua who saw the apparition of the Virgin Mary
on a hill called Tepeyacac in Mexico. The encoun
ters took place between December 9th and 1 2th
in 1 531 . He dies at the age of seventy-four.
1 650: An ordinance is passed against the mak
ing of counterfeit, or "fake," wampum by the
Directors of the Council of the New Netherlands.
European manufacturers are producing the fakes,
which are being used to pay Indians.
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May 31st
1 796: The Treaty of the Seven Tribes of Canada
is signed by three Chiefs at New York City. The
tribes give up all claims to lands in New York,
except six square miles in Saint Regis. They are
paid 1 233 pounds, six shillings, and eight pence
now, and 21 3 pounds, six shillings, eight pence
annually, if five more Chiefs show up and sign the
treaty.
1 876: According to the San Diego Union, a San
Diego California newspaper, there are disputes
over land with the Campo Indians. "One Indian
took refuge in the rocks ... and continued firing.
They soon discovered his whereabouts and si
lenced him, shooting him through the head, killing
him instantly."
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