Straight Tail Meaurroway Opessa

Straight Tail Meaurroway Opessa (1630–1709), or simply known as Meaurroway, was Chief of the Pekowi, a subdivision of the Shawnee Native American tribe. He was also the Chief of the Turtle Clan, one of the most religious orders of the tribe.

Biography

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_Tail_Meaurroway_Opessa

Straight Tail was born in 1630 in present-day Ohio, to the Chief of the Pekowi and an unnamed Pekowi Woman. Nothing is yet known of his childhood or teenage years, but what is known is that he succeeded his father at the age of 40 in 1670, as both Pekowi Chief and Chief of the Turtle Clan. Each division of the Shawnee had control over different aspects of the whole tribe's lifestyle, and the Pekowi managed the Shawnee's state of order, duty and celebration of religion. As Chief, Straight Tail was in charge of these important aspects of tribal life. Meaurroway was a strong leader, leading his people on massive migrations:

1677: Leads his people to present-day Illinois and Miami [disambiguation needed] to join up with other bands of Shawnee and various tribes.

1680–1693: Leads his tribe to the area around present-day Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and North Carolina, frequently moving throughout that area over the course of 13 years.

1697: Straight Tail settles down with his tribe in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Straight Tail eventually gave up his rank of Chief of the Pekowi and the Turtle Clan to his son, Opessa, in 1697. Opessa would later sign a peace treaty with William Penn in 1701, and have good relations with Pennsylvania governor John Evans. Straight Tail's grandson Peter Chartier became chief of the Pekowi in 1737.

Straight Tail Meaurroway Opessa died in Pennsylvania in either 1709.

Children

Straight Tail married a Pekowi woman in 1650, having the following children:

• Wolf Straight Tail: born about 1654.
• Sewatha Straight Tail: born about 1660 in Ohio, USA. Married to Martin Chartier about 1693. Mother of Peter Chartier. Died in 1759 in Illinois.
• Cakundawanna Straight Tail: born about 1662.
• Opessa Straight Tail: born about 1664. Great-grandfather of Tecumseh, famed Shawnee leader during the War of 1812.
• Snow White Straight Tail: born about 1666 in Ohio, USA.
• Minitha Straight Tail: born about 1668 in Ohio, USA
• John White Straight Tail: born about 1670 in Ohio, USA.
• Daughter Straight Tail: born about 1680 in Illinois, USA.

Legacy and intermarriages

Unlike other Native American Chiefs before him, Straight Tail did not discourage interracial marriage. He encouraged a good relationship with the Europeans. His daughter, Sewatha, married a prominent French trader, Martin Chartier, who explored the Great Lakes region of America with Rene-Robert de la Salle. Other children and their descendants also married whites. His grandson was Peter Chartier, who was active in opposition to the British in the French and Indian War.

Because of these marriages, many of his modern-day descendants include people that have Caucasian features.

Bibliography http://adkinsmetcalffamily.wordpress.com/2011/08/22/meaurroway-goes...

http://shaybo-therisingtide.blogspot.com/2011/10/shawnee-collins-fa...

----------------------------------

This tree comes from the books: Green, Don with Schultz, Noel. Shawnee Heritage I. Second Edition. Published by Lulu.com. 2008. ISBN 978-1-4357-1573-8./ Green, Don. Shawnee Heritage II. First Edition, Published by Lulu.com. 2008. ISBN: 978-0-557-03605-9.

Straight Tail aka Meaurroway - Pekowi. He was born about 1630 in Ohio and died 1709 in PA. He was the husband in 1650 of a Pekowi Woman who had been born about 1635.

Children:

• 1. Wolf Straight Tail , born about 1654 and died after 1685
• 2. Children Straight Tail
• 3. Sewatha Straight Tail aka Seaworth, born 1660 Ohio and died after 1700 PA.

Wife in 1686 or 1687 in Illinois of Martin Chartier adopted French.

Wife in 1676 of Martin Chartier adopted French.

Martin Chartier was born 1655 in France and died 1718 in Pennsylvania. He arrived in America in 1677 with his father, Rene, a brother, Peter, and a sister. He deserted in Ohio while on expedition to Illinois Territory.

• 4. Cakundawanna aka Sevana Straight Tail born about 1662 Ohio and died after 1722 PA.
• 5. Opessa Straight Tail- Conflicting information for birth dates between Book I and II:

Book I - Born 1675 and died shortly after 1760

Book II - Born about 1664 and died the later part of 1760

• 6. Snow White Straight Tail born 1665 or 1666 and died after 1685.
• 7. John White Straight Tail born 1670 Ohio and died after 1750 PA
• 8. Children Straight Tail born 1672-1678
• 9. Daughter Straight Tail born 1680 IL and died after 1720. She was the wife of Tamenebuck-Corn Blade Cornstalk.

  ---

Bibliography http://adkinsmetcalffamily.wordpress.com/2011/08/22/meaurroway-goes...

http://shaybo-therisingtide.blogspot.com/2011/10/shawnee-collins-fa...

See also Shawnee Old Fields Village Site https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_Tail_Meaurroway_Opessa

Straight Tail Meaurroway Opessa (1630–1709), or simply known as Meaurroway, was Chief of the Pekowi, a subdivision of the Shawnee Native American tribe. He was also the Chief of the Turtle Clan, one of the most religious orders of the tribe.

Biography

Straight Tail was born in 1630 in present-day Ohio, to the Chief of the Pekowi and an unnamed Pekowi Woman. Nothing is yet known of his childhood or teenage years, but what is known is that he succeeded his father at the age of 40 in 1670, as both Pekowi Chief and Chief of the Turtle Clan. Each division of the Shawnee had control over different aspects of the whole tribe's lifestyle, and the Pekowi managed the Shawnee's state of order, duty and celebration of religion. As Chief, Straight Tail was in charge of these important aspects of tribal life. Meaurroway was a strong leader, leading his people on massive migrations:

1677: Leads his people to present-day Illinois and Miami [disambiguation needed] to join up with other bands of Shawnee and various tribes.

1680–1693: Leads his tribe to the area around present-day Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and North Carolina, frequently moving throughout that area over the course of 13 years.

1697: Straight Tail settles down with his tribe in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Straight Tail eventually gave up his rank of Chief of the Pekowi and the Turtle Clan to his son, Opessa, in 1697. Opessa would later sign a peace treaty with William Penn in 1701, and have good relations with Pennsylvania governor John Evans. Straight Tail's grandson Peter Chartier became chief of the Pekowi in 1737.

Straight Tail Meaurroway Opessa died in Pennsylvania in either 1709.

Children

Straight Tail married a Pekowi woman in 1650, having the following children:

Wolf Straight Tail: born about 1654. Sewatha Straight Tail: born about 1660 in Ohio, USA. Married to Martin Chartier about 1693. Mother of Peter Chartier. Died in 1759 in Illinois. Cakundawanna Straight Tail: born about 1662. Opessa Straight Tail: born about 1664. Great-grandfather of Tecumseh, famed Shawnee leader during the War of 1812. Snow White Straight Tail: born about 1666 in Ohio, USA. Minitha Straight Tail: born about 1668 in Ohio, USA John White Straight Tail: born about 1670 in Ohio, USA. Daughter Straight Tail: born about 1680 in Illinois, USA. Legacy and intermarriages

Unlike other Native American Chiefs before him, Straight Tail did not discourage interracial marriage. He encouraged a good relationship with the Europeans. His daughter, Sewatha, married a prominent French trader, Martin Chartier, who explored the Great Lakes region of America with Rene-Robert de la Salle. Other children and their descendants also married whites. His grandson was Peter Chartier, who was active in opposition to the British in the French and Indian War.

Because of these marriages, many of his modern-day descendants include people that have Caucasian features.

Posted at Find A Grave

References

• http://greatwarriorspath.blogspot.com/2017/05/great-leader-meaurrow... Not Ohio as 'familysearch" states. Either Ohio or Penn. Wikipedia states Penn. State.
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_Tail_Meaurroway_Opessa, Pennsylvania Colony, Pekowi Nation
• http://adkinsmetcalffamily.wordpress.com/2011/08/22/meaurroway-goes...
• http://shaybo-therisingtide.blogspot.com/2011/10/shawnee-collins-fa...
• See also Shawnee Old Fields Village Site
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_Tail_Meaurroway_Opessa
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/191464021/chief-meaurroway-opessa
• Original Lands: Old Fields Village Archeological Site; listed as a National Landmark in the Historic Registry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawnee_Old_Fields_Village_Site
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Pekowi-2
• https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Straight-Tail_Aka_Meaurroway_(1)

  ---

Note: A member of the Turtle Clan.

 About 1670 - A Pekowi Chief in Ohio
 About 1677 - moved from Ohio to Indiana-Illinois-Miami & Illinois River valleys
 About 1680 - some of band move to corner ot Tennessee-Kentucky-Virginia-North Carolina
 By 1689 - bulk of band fro Illinois-Indiana joins them
 By 1690 - some have moved to Pennsylvania
 By 1693 - most of band living in Cecil County, Maryland
 By 1697 - most of band living in Susquehanna Valley, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
 About 1697 - succeeded by son Opessa as Pekowi Chief
 1709 - succeeded by Pheasant-Kakawatchekee as Pekowi Chief