https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwB-OTIz3kQ
Ralphus over at Flintlock & Tomahawk kicked up this video on Indian captivity on the 17th/18th Century North American frontier. It’s surprisingly strong. Much attention is paid to the captivity of James Smith, who was captured by the Delaware during the early part of the French and Indian War in western Pennsylvania. He was adopted by a Mohawk family, with whom he lived for a period of a little over three years before he departed and returned to his previous culture. He went on to become a remarkable frontiersman. His narrative is one of the most important ones of the era. Same goes for the captivity narrative of Mary Jemison, who, unlike Smith, remained with the Seneca who took her – and killed her family – all the rest of her days.
“The Taking of Mary Jemison,” by Robert W. Griffing.
As the documentary correctly points out, while the raids that led to capture of white settlers could be brutally violent, captivity itself was not. Rape was vanishingly rare among the tribes of the Eastern Frontier, and if a captive survived the initial raid and the flight back into “Indian Country,” he or she most likely would either be sold to the French or the British (depending on time period) or adopted into a tribe, or sold or traded to another tribe for adoption. The adopted were ritually cleansed of their previous life and welcomed into a family. The bonds of affection grew very tight, indeed, even for captives like Mary Jemison, who knew her adopted people had slain her family.
Many white captives either refused repatriation or, if they returned to their previous culture, they returned to Indian life after wearying of white society. The reverse, however, was almost never the case.
For an outstanding novel that deals accurately and compellingly with captivity on the Eastern North American Frontier, read James Houston’s “Ghost Fox,” set in new England on the Abenaki frontier during the French & Indian War and told from the point of view of a 17-year-old girl taken in a brutal raid, who comes to adapt to the way of life of her captors. Our friend Lane Batot gives this tale his highest recommendation — for good reason. I’m reading it now and it is first rate — earthy, gritty, very human, and authentic.
“The Prize” by John Buxton.
deuce says
That is a well-done documentary. Thanks for the heads-up, Jim.
JimC says
Thought so, too. As you have told me before, captivity narrative is the foundation of American literature. Good to see the subject done some justice.
Lane Batot says
…..and the great thing about James Houston’s “Ghost Fox” and other worthy novels is that they all are available fairly cheaply on Amazon! “Ghost Fox” is my FAVORITE novel of the French-And-Indian war era, hands down! I also recommend “The White Dawn” about a real incident when some whalers got stranded in the Arctic and lived for a time with the Inuit there–quite the cultural clash! They also made a movie of it–BEST depiction of old-time Eskimo life I’ve seen yet(and I see as many as I can!) in a film, as opposed to a documentary–and “The White Dawn” film was very much like watching a docudrama! Also, Houston’s “Running West” about an early Hudson Bay Scottish trapper(also an actual character from history) and his adventures in the far North I highly recommend. I have Houston’s “Eagle Song” too–just got it, in fact, and haven’t read it yet! Also based on a real incident where more shipwrecked Europeans lived with the natives–this time the Pacific Northwest coastal Indians–I can’t imagine but it will be every bit as good as ALL his books are!
Lane Batot says
Yeah, great documentary! I finally got time to view it……Hands down, “Ghost Fox” is my favorite novel of the French and Indian war period. And my favorite of Houston’s books(so far….)–ALL, I might add, which are to be had cheapo on Amazon!
Ron says
I’m going to have to watch this documentary since this sort of history is fascinating to me. On Mary Jemison, i’ve been interested in history surrounding her life and that of the Seneca ever since i first saw her cabin and statue at Letchworth in the 90s.
Ron says
Messed up the link under my name on that previous comment. It’s an article i wrote about Mary Jemison.
JimC says
I’ll read that tomorrow