Jacob Thomasson

the eldest, born in Sweden, was kidnaped as a small child by the Lenape (Delaware) Indians. He is first mentioned in surviving documents in a letter from Pastor Andreas Sandel to his family in Sweden, written on 17 June 1702: “A Swede, when he was a little boy, went out picking berries in the forest and was taken by the Indians. Now he lives among these wild heathens and won’t return.”

As later described to Pastor Ericus Björk, based on a report by the Swedish Indian trader John Hans Steelman: “Now it once happened at the Christina congregation that two brothers [Jacob and Olof] rambled together away from the house in the woods, of whom the one became lost. The parents couldn’t find the child again, but came to the conclusion that some heathen had kidnaped the child. The parents went around for many years and sought after the child, but could get no news of him, because those Indians were far away. At long last it happened that [John Hans Steelman], who carried on aa large trade with the heathens, comes among the said group and engages in conversation with their king. Then it seemed to him from all the circumstances that he was not of heathen but Christian blood. And as he had heard some discussion of it, therefore he let the kidnaped boy’s brother, Olle Thomsson, know about it. They traveled now to the king and believed they recognized him, but weren’t able to say anything. But finally the king came home to Olle Thomsson, where they so arranged it that they were found to be brothers by that which childhood memory brought to hand. With embraces and tears they heartily rejoiced together. And he had then been king among them a long time. Preparations were made to get him away from there. But the heathens were ill-disposed and became alarmed, and thus would not let their king go anywhere alone. On account of his wise and capable rule among them he was much respected and had accrued a great reputation. Afterwards he was killed there.”

It seems certain that Jacob Thomasson, the Lenape Indian chief, had surviving descendants, but recorded history does not provide proof. However, there is strong circumstantial evidence that he not only had children but also that his descendants remained prominent among the Lenape or Delaware Indians. This was the opinion of my mentor Dr. C. A. Wesla­ger, the noted historian, who wrote several books about the Delaware Indians and their westward migration. His principal source for interpretation of Lenape words was the late Nora Thompson Dean (known as “Touch­ing Leaves”) whose grandfather Joseph Thompson was one of the signers of an 1860 letter by leaders of the Delaware Indians seeking lands in the Indian Territory (present Oklahoma). Dr. Weslager related to me that “Touching Leaves” claimed that the family tradition included the story that they had a Swedish ancestor.