Changes

The best way to start Native American ancestry is to start with the known and work backwards to the unknown.  Follow the same research techniques as you would a non-Native American forebear.  Do not try to go from a particular tribe forward.  When possible, interview family members.  They may recall stories indicating that an ancestor had Native American blood in him or her.  Once the ancestor is identified, do significant research on Native Americans in the area of your ancestor’s residence.  There were many different tribes.  To gain a better understanding of which tribes may have been present at the time the researcher’s ancestor was residing in the area, it may be necessary to research the county, regional, and/or state in which the ancestor lived.   

The best way to start Native American ancestry is to start with the known and work backwards to the unknown.  Follow the same research techniques as you would a non-Native American forebear.  Do not try to go from a particular tribe forward.  When possible, interview family members.  They may recall stories indicating that an ancestor had Native American blood in him or her.  Once the ancestor is identified, do significant research on Native Americans in the area of your ancestor’s residence.  There were many different tribes.  To gain a better understanding of which tribes may have been present at the time the researcher’s ancestor was residing in the area, it may be necessary to research the county, regional, and/or state in which the ancestor lived.   

Much of the land that is now situated in Wayne County, OH was used for hunting by the Native Americans.  There were a few pockets of Native Americans residing in our county.  Most of the written record we have here in our collection pertaining to Native Americans in Wayne County, OH is from reminisces of early pioneers.  Douglass reports many of these in his history book.  There are a couple incidents that are often discussed.  One is the massacre on Madison Hill in Wooster in which 16 Native Americans were killed.  It is sometimes referred to as the massacre on Robison’s Hill.  A description of the account is given on pages 168-170 of Douglass’ History of Wayne County, OH.  In summary, Captain George Fulkes organized a company of 30 men to seek blood revenge for the murder of 5 settlers and the burning of 7 dwellings near Raccoon Creek (near the Ohio River and “some distance from Pittsburg, PA”).  Fulkes company caught up with the group of Indians just south of the town of Wooster, near the intersection of South Beaver St and Madison Ave.  Late at night, with the moon shining brightly, Fulkes Company advanced on the group of Indians and massacred them all, with the exception of one Indian who was checking the traps.  It was not long until Captain Fulkes lured the young lad toward him and the young Indian was fatally shot.  All 16 bodies were buried in a shallow grave near where the fallen Indians lay.

Much of the land that is now situated in Wayne County, OH was used for hunting by the Native Americans.  There were a few pockets of Native Americans residing in our county.  Most of the written record we have here in our collection pertaining to Native Americans in Wayne County, OH is from reminisces of early pioneers.  Douglass reports many of these in his history book.  There are a couple incidents that are often discussed.  One is the massacre on Madison Hill in Wooster in which 16 Native Americans were killed.  It is sometimes referred to as the massacre on Robison’s Hill.  A description of the account is given on pages 168-170 of Douglass’ History of Wayne County, OH.  In summary, Captain George Fulkes organized a company of 30 men to seek blood revenge for the murder of 5 settlers and the burning of 7 dwellings near Raccoon Creek (near the Ohio River and “some distance from Pittsburg, PA”).  Fulkes company caught up with the group of Indians just south of the town of Wooster, near the intersection of South Beaver St and Madison Ave.  Late at night, with the moon shining brightly, Fulkes Company advanced on the group of Indians and massacred them all, with the exception of one Indian who was checking the traps.  It was not long until Captain Fulkes lured the young lad toward him and the young Indian was fatally shot.  All 16 bodies were buried in a shallow grave near where the fallen Indians lay.

Another incident involving the Indians from the area is provided on pages 170-172 of Douglass’ History of Wayne County, OH.  It occurred at the Joseph Stibbs store managed by Michael Switzer.  About 5-6 Indians were gathered around a keg of powder smoking their pipes when a puff of wind came in to the window and blew a spark from one of the pipes into the powder.  The explosion killed one man and injured two others plus the Indians.  The Indians were fearful they would be blamed for causing the explosion on purpose that they called a council of citizens for an investigation into the incident.  It was held on the bottom of Christmas Run, just west of the town of Wooster at the time of the incident.

Another incident involving the Indians from the area is provided on pages 170-172 of Douglass’ History of Wayne County, OH.  It occurred at the Joseph Stibbs store managed by Michael Switzer.  About 5-6 Indians were gathered around a keg of powder smoking their pipes when a puff of wind came in to the window and blew a spark from one of the pipes into the powder.  The explosion killed one man and injured two others plus the Indians.  The Indians were fearful they would be blamed for causing the explosion on purpose that they called a council of citizens for an investigation into the incident.  It was held on the bottom of Christmas Run, just west of the town of Wooster at the time of the incident.

The Delawares were first discovered by the settlers in a settlement near the Delaware Valley.  Over a period of 100 years or so, they migrated into the Muskingum Basin (1768).  In 1795, the U.S. got possession of their lands and the Delawares moved across the Greenville Treaty line; followed by the small reservation in Marion and Wyandot Counties; followed by Wabash county in Indiana; then by 1819, into Kansas.

The Delawares were first encountered by settlers near the Delaware Valley.  Over a period of 100 years or so, they migrated into the Muskingum Basin (1768).  In 1795, the U.S. got possession of their lands and the Delawares moved across the Greenville Treaty line; followed by the small reservation in Marion and Wyandot Counties; followed by Wabash county in Indiana; then by 1819, into Kansas.

The Wyandots discovery originated with the 1535 landing of the French at Quebec and Montreal.  There was a great war between the Wyandots and the Senecas with the Wyandots coming out victorious.  By 29 September 1817, the Wyandots were granted a small tract of land in what is now Upper Sandusky, Wyandot Co, OH.  They also were granted a small parcel on Broken Sword Creek.  They disposed of their land by 1842 and moved west beyond the Mississippi River.

The Wyandots discovery originated with the 1535 landing of the French at Quebec and Montreal.  There was a great war between the Wyandots and the Senecas with the Wyandots coming out victorious.  By 29 September 1817, the Wyandots were granted a small tract of land in what is now Upper Sandusky, Wyandot Co, OH.  They also were granted a small parcel on Broken Sword Creek.  They disposed of their land by 1842 and moved west beyond the Mississippi River.

The Shawnees had originated from Georgia and pushed into Kentucky by other tribes.  They continued northward into Ohio, settling near Chillicothe on the Scioto River.  Their territory extended into Sandusky and westward toward the Great Miami River.  They occupied southwest Ohio whereas the Wyandots occupied the northwest and the Delawares occupied the Muskingum Basin.

The Shawnees had originated from Georgia and pushed into Kentucky by other tribes.  They continued northward into Ohio, settling near Chillicothe on the Scioto River.  Their territory extended into Sandusky and westward toward the Great Miami River.  They occupied southwest Ohio whereas the Wyandots occupied the northwest and the Delawares occupied the Muskingum Basin.

In the Archeological Atlas of Ohio, on page 85, there is a break down of the number of Indian mounds, enclosures, village sites, and burials in several townships.  At the time of publication of the book, there were 42 known sites in Wayne County, OH.

In the Archaeological Atlas of Ohio, on page 85, there is a break down of the number of Indian mounds, enclosures, village sites, and burials in several townships.  At the time of publication of the book, there were 42 known sites in Wayne County, OH.

On the 1840 map of Wayne County, OH it shows that there was an Indian Reservation in Mohican Twp, Wayne Co, OH just south of Jeromesville.  Mohican Township is presently located in Ashland Co, OH.  The Indian trail that led to the Indian Reservation went through the townships (east to west) Paint; north into Sugar Creek; west through East Union; northwestern through Wooster (through the southern portion of Wooster City); west through northern Plain; and finally west through Mohican, taking a slight southern course to arrive at the reservation.

On the 1840 map of Wayne County, OH it shows that there was an Indian Reservation in Mohican Twp, Wayne Co, OH just south of Jeromesville.  Mohican Township is presently located in Ashland Co, OH.  The Indian trail that led to the Indian Reservation went through the townships (east to west) Paint; north into Sugar Creek; west through East Union; northwestern through Wooster (through the southern portion of Wooster City); west through northern Plain; and finally west through Mohican, taking a slight southern course to arrive at the reservation.