Gelelemend
Encyclopedia
Gelelemend also known as Killbuck or John Killbuck Jr., was a Delaware (Lenape)
chief during the American Revolutionary War
. His name signifies "a leader."
in Pennsylvania
, son of Bemino
(John Killbuck Sr.), a renowned war leader of the French and Indian War
, and grandson of Netawatwees
("Newcomer"), principal chief of the Delaware.
At that time, Delaware Indians were members of one of three clans or phratries
: turtle, turkey, and wolf. Each division had its own chiefs, councilors, and war captains. The chief of the turtle phratry—the senior clan—served as principal chief of the tribe. By early 1776, as the Moravian missionary David Zeisberger
recorded, Gelelemend had been "designated" as the successor to Netawatwees, who was thought to be close to 100 years old. After Netawatwees died on October 31, 1776, however, the succession remained uncertain, in large part because of the unsettled situation of the Delaware in the Ohio Country. Situated between the British at Detroit and the Americans to the east, the Delaware tried to remain neutral in the British-American conflict—despite strong pressure from the British, the Americans, and other Indian nations (nearly all allied with the British) to enter the conflict. Under these circumstances, the important counselor White Eyes
seemed to assume the role of chief as much, if not more, than Gelelemend. With White Eyes
and Captain Pipe
(war captain of the wolf clan), Gelelemend signed the Delaware Treaty with the United States
in 1778. Only after the death of White Eyes later that year did Gelelemend become principal chief.
However, the Delawares were deeply divided over how to respond to the war, and bands led by Pipe and Buckongahelas
broke away from the pro-American leadership of Gelelemend. By 1781, Gelelemend had been forced from power, and he helped guide Colonel Daniel Brodhead
in an expedition to destroy the Delaware capital of Coshocton
where he had lived and served as chief. With a few of his followers, Gelelemend returned with the Americans to Fort Pitt
. He had become a man without a country. He remained at Fort Pitt until 1785, always in fear for his life.
Long interested in Christianity
, Gelelemend joined the Moravian mission at Salem, Ohio
in 1788. At the baptism ceremony, he took the name William Henry
, supposedly to honor a man who had rescued him during the French and Indian War. He was the most prominent convert in the Delaware Indian community. Gelelemend died in Goshen, Ohio
in 1811.
— and John's daughter Katherine Henry Kilbuck.
Additionally, the village of Killbuck, Ohio in Holmes County is named for him.
Lenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
chief during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. His name signifies "a leader."
Biography
Gelelemend was born near the Lehigh RiverLehigh River
The Lehigh River, a tributary of the Delaware River, is a river located in eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. Part of the Lehigh, along with a number of its tributaries, is designated a Pennsylvania Scenic River by the state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources...
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, son of Bemino
Bemino
Bemino — known as John Killbuck, Sr to white settlers — was a renowned medicine man and war leader of Shawnee and Delaware warriors during the French and Indian War . He was a son of Netawatwees, at one time principal chief of the Delaware, and his own son was Gelelemend , a Delaware chief during...
(John Killbuck Sr.), a renowned war leader of the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
, and grandson of Netawatwees
Netawatwees
Netawatwees was a Delaware chief of the Turtle subtribe. His name, meaning "skilled advisor," appears in the colonial records as Netawatwees, Netahutquemaled, Netodwehement, and Netautwhalemund...
("Newcomer"), principal chief of the Delaware.
At that time, Delaware Indians were members of one of three clans or phratries
Phratry
In ancient Greece, a phratry ατρία, "brotherhood", "kinfolk", derived from φρατήρ meaning "brother") was a social division of the Greek tribe...
: turtle, turkey, and wolf. Each division had its own chiefs, councilors, and war captains. The chief of the turtle phratry—the senior clan—served as principal chief of the tribe. By early 1776, as the Moravian missionary David Zeisberger
David Zeisberger
David Zeisberger was a Moravian clergyman and missionary among the Native Americans in the Thirteen Colonies...
recorded, Gelelemend had been "designated" as the successor to Netawatwees, who was thought to be close to 100 years old. After Netawatwees died on October 31, 1776, however, the succession remained uncertain, in large part because of the unsettled situation of the Delaware in the Ohio Country. Situated between the British at Detroit and the Americans to the east, the Delaware tried to remain neutral in the British-American conflict—despite strong pressure from the British, the Americans, and other Indian nations (nearly all allied with the British) to enter the conflict. Under these circumstances, the important counselor White Eyes
White Eyes
White Eyes, named Koquethagechton , was a leader of the Lenape people in the Ohio Country during the era of the American Revolution. Sometimes known as George White Eyes, his given name in Lenape was rendered in many spelling variations in colonial records...
seemed to assume the role of chief as much, if not more, than Gelelemend. With White Eyes
White Eyes
White Eyes, named Koquethagechton , was a leader of the Lenape people in the Ohio Country during the era of the American Revolution. Sometimes known as George White Eyes, his given name in Lenape was rendered in many spelling variations in colonial records...
and Captain Pipe
Captain Pipe
Captain Pipe , called Konieschquanoheel and also known as Hopocan, was an 18th-century chief of the Algonquian-speaking Lenape and a member of the Wolf Clan...
(war captain of the wolf clan), Gelelemend signed the Delaware Treaty with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1778. Only after the death of White Eyes later that year did Gelelemend become principal chief.
However, the Delawares were deeply divided over how to respond to the war, and bands led by Pipe and Buckongahelas
Buckongahelas
Buckongahelas was a regionally and nationally renowned Lenape chief, councilor and warrior. He was active from the days of the French and Indian War through the Northwest Indian Wars, after the United States achieved independence and settlers encroached on territory beyond the Appalachian...
broke away from the pro-American leadership of Gelelemend. By 1781, Gelelemend had been forced from power, and he helped guide Colonel Daniel Brodhead
Daniel Brodhead IV
Daniel Brodhead IV was an American military and political leader during the American Revolutionary War and early days of the United States.-Early life:...
in an expedition to destroy the Delaware capital of Coshocton
Coshocton, Ohio
Coshocton is a city in and the county seat of Coshocton County, Ohio, United States. The population of the city was 11,682 at the 2000 census. The Walhonding River and the Tuscarawas River meet in Coshocton to form the Muskingum River....
where he had lived and served as chief. With a few of his followers, Gelelemend returned with the Americans to Fort Pitt
Fort Pitt (Pennsylvania)
Fort Pitt was a fort built at the location of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.-French and Indian War:The fort was built from 1759 to 1761 during the French and Indian War , next to the site of former Fort Duquesne, at the confluence the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River...
. He had become a man without a country. He remained at Fort Pitt until 1785, always in fear for his life.
Long interested in Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, Gelelemend joined the Moravian mission at Salem, Ohio
Salem, Ohio
Salem is a city in northern Columbiana County and extreme southern Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. At the 2000 census, the city's population was 12,197....
in 1788. At the baptism ceremony, he took the name William Henry
William Henry (delegate)
William Henry was an American gunsmith from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress in 1784, 1785, and 1786.-Biography:...
, supposedly to honor a man who had rescued him during the French and Indian War. He was the most prominent convert in the Delaware Indian community. Gelelemend died in Goshen, Ohio
Goshen, Ohio
Goshen is a census-designated place in central Goshen Township, Clermont County, Ohio, United States. It is centered on State Route 28 , approximately midway between Milford and Blanchester....
in 1811.
Legacy
In gratitude to Colonel Henry, many of Gelelemend's descendants used Henry as a middle name. This included a great-grandson, John Henry Kilbuck , who was a Moravian missionary in AlaskaAlaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
— and John's daughter Katherine Henry Kilbuck.
Additionally, the village of Killbuck, Ohio in Holmes County is named for him.
Sources
- Jordan, Francis. The Life of William Henry, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 1729–1786, Patriot, Military Officer, Inventor of the Steamboat; A Contribution to Revolutionary History. Lancaster, Pa.: New Era Printing Company, 1910. Pp. 7–18.
- Olmstead, Earl. P. Blackcoats Among the Delaware: David Zeisberger on the Ohio Frontier. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press: 1991. Pp. 220–23.
- Ballard, Jan. "In the Steps of Gelelemend: John Henry Killbuck." Jacobsburg Record (Publication of the Jacobsburg Historical Society). Volume 33, Issue 1 (Winter, 2005): 4–5. http://www.jacobsburg.org/jacobsburg_record.html
- Wellenreuther, Hermann and Carola Wessel, eds., The Moravian Mission Diaries of David Zeisberger, 1772–1781. University Park, Pa: Pennsylvania University Press, 2005.
- Wellenreuther, Hermann. "The Succession of Head Chiefs and the Delaware Culture of Consent: The Delaware Nation, David Zeisberger, and Modern Ethnography." In A. G. Roeber, ed., Ethnographies and Exchanges: Native Americans, Moravians, and Catholics in Early America. University Park, Pa.: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2008. 31–48.
- Gordon, Scott Paul. Two William Henrys: Indian and White Brothers in Arms and Faith in Colonial and Revolutionary America. Jacobsburg Historical Society, 2010.