The
late 18th, early 19th century was a time of chance in southwestern Ontario, as
a result of decades of conflicts between first French and British, and then
British and American forces. A number of Native peoples were displaced by the
tumultuous events of these times, and a number of communities came to settle
in southwestern Ontario alongside existing communities of Ojibwa, who had
occupied the region since the beginning of the 18th century. One such refugee
group who arrived during this period was a Christian band of Delaware, led by
the Moravian missionary David Zeisberger. They established Fairfield village
on the Thames River in 1792 (Figure 1). Not long after they had settled, the
Moravians looked for other Native peoples to bring into their fold, and the
Ojibwa of the St. Clair waterway and the Sydenham River seemed like promising
converts.
The
Moravian charged with establishing the "Chippewa Mission" was
Christian Frederick Denke, a man trained as a naturalist, but with little
experience as a missionary. His several years of effort among the Ojibwa
brought no real success. However, unlike previous European visitors to the
region, Denke left detailed accounts and diaries of his activities, now
preserved at the Moravian Archives in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In 1801 Denke
first established himself at the St. Clair delta on Harsen's Island, near
present day Algonac, Michigan. He stayed there for two years until a fire
destroyed his cabin. In 1804, after surveying several localities for a likely
site, Denke and his wife built a mission house south of present day Florence
on the Sydenham, supposedly 4 miles upriver from an Ojibwa village called
"Kitegan" (also appearing in the journal as Kitigan and Kittegan).
Unfortunately for Denke, he made little headway in his missionary efforts
during those two years. Although Denke reported that a few Ojibwa were
favorably disposed towards him, one resident named Siskiboa, apparent ly a
shaman, constantly plagued him. Denke, discouraged, left the Sydenham for good
in 1806. Today the only remnant of Denke's mission is the name of the creek at
whose mouth it was located, now known as "Dankey" or
"Donkey" Creek.
While
Denke's diaries may document his lack of success as a missionary, they provide
the modern reader with a wealth of information on what life was like along the
Sydenham River at the start of the 19th century. The rolling fields of corn,
beans and wheat which now stretch between the Thames and Sydenham Rivers
convey little of what that region was like just a scant two hundred years
previous. In addition, through Denke's diaries we are given a glimpse of what
the Ojibwa seasonal round was like at the start of the 19th century. It may
surprise some to learn that the Ojibwa were still following much of their
traditional economic, social and religious patterns at that time.
Readers interested in learning more about the Ojibwa of the Sydenham
River from this time period may want to read the Ferris et al article
which appeared in the 1985 (Number 44) issue of Ontario Archaeology.
The
body of data which are the Moravian accounts of missionary life in
southwestern Ontario during the late 18th and early 19th centuries have, until
recently, been largely inaccessible to researchers, because these documents
were written in Old Script German - a language not easy to translate.
Excerpts of these diaries have been translated in the past, however, so the
wealth of information potentially available from this source had been known
for sometime. As part of his research on the Ojibwa of southwestern Ontario,
Neal Ferris had 3 of Denke's journals translated by London Chapter member Dr.
Irmgard Jamnik, of Brantford. The source material was obtained from
microfilmed copies of the original journals housed at the University of
Western Ontario's Sheldon Library. These documents consist of handwritten
diaries and journal reports which had been submitted by Denke to the Moravian
administration. Dr. Jamnik has attempted as much as possible to maintain the
original flow and grammar of the manuscript, while trying to standardize the
spelling of Native words. Presented here are two journals: the first being the
report submitted by Denke and Schnall (then in charge of the Fairfield
mission) on the scouting trip of the Sydenham River they took to select a
mission site for the Denkes. The second journal is the day to day diary kept
by the Denkes at the mission site from August of 1804 to May of 1805.
Additional journals of Denke have been translated and will appear in future
issues of KEWA.
A
Short Report on the Scouting Trip to the River Jonquakamik1
in January 1804 as it
has Been Submitted to the Mission Conference in Fairfield.
By
Brothers Schnall and Denke
January
1804
(Translated
in 1989 from the Old Script German by Dr. Irmgard Jamnik)
Preface
Report
of the trip of the brethren Schnall
After finishing the trip, we found enough cause to thank our merciful
Lord and Saviour heartily, that He had helped us through so kindly and had
guided us and lovingly let us know His will, his helpless and
short‑sighted people, so that we can believe to have acted according to
His heart and to have fulfilled his instructions. He may then continue to
carry out quite to his heart His blessed peace‑thoughts about the
Chippewa project as the chosen sites should be put before Him for His sole
decision.
On the 13th of January, we set out on the trip accompanied by the Indian
brethren Daniel and Jonathan and a Chippewa who lives here. After a tiresome
march we arrived at the Jonquakamik river in the afternoon. On the way we had
rested once because the bundles as well as the swamps, which were not quite
frozen up and only partly covered with thin ice, and the snow made us tired.
Our Indians stayed behind in order to squirrel hunt and we arrived alone at
the river, found it frozen but the ice on the other side would not bear us, so
we could only look at the opposite lying bottom from the distance.
After the Indians had joined us, we let two of them take care of the
overnight accommodation and pitch the tent, and still went in the company of
the Chippewa to the town (Kitegan) downstream. Though we found not a soul, we
still closely inspected everything and in the evening we came back to the camp
tired. Meanwhile the Indians had removed the snow and had put bark into the
tent to sleep on. Fire had been set to a log and a good supply of firewood had
been brought here for the night. Although we put on dry socks and shoes
immediately and we kept a good fire, we still had a cold and sleepless night.
On the 14th, very early in the morning after breakfast, we went about our
business to search for town sites up the river and ordered the Indians to
follow us soon. The spot where we had camped and where the trail met the river
was quite an appropriate recommendation for a town site; fine banks, good and
far-f lung large bottoms on the other side; inland it is dry and grown
with good building timber, likewise good ground, as well as, 1/6 mile
downstream, fine bottoms primarily grown with sugar‑wood on this side.
But the hindrance is that it is located too near the town of the savages (only
about 3 miles) which, because of our people as well as of the livestock, could
be troublesome and could have bad consequences since the savages do not make
fences around their fields.
But one mile above our camping place, therefore about 4 miles from the
town, a good site is located on which we marked a white oak with a notch. A
ridge runs so that the town could have two directions ‑‑ one along
the river and the other along a small bottom grown with sugar trees at which
upper end a small brook flows. Bush-inward is a higher ridge or
elevation, good garden land and dry. The banks of the river are not very high;
opposite on the other side of the river are big bottoms with sugar huts
abandoned by the Indians.
The
next site is on the other side, on the west side of the river, and we were
glad, after a few fruitless attempts, to find a spot where the ice bore us
safely to the opposite bank. Above this spot, there is a nice alluvial bottom
which is exceptionally good, has black soil about five feet deep and is easy
to clear. It is in the shape of a peninsula and a little creek separates it
from upland. The upland is good, also the lowland, a nice high bank,
and it would present itself quite fine on this side and would have many
conveniences, as below the river the elevation vanishes into very wide and
good bottoms; only bush-inwards it seems to be very wet and abounding in
water which, now that everything is frozen and snow covered, the little
shrubbery growing here on only cold and wet ground and in swamp reveals. It
also seemed to us as if the ground here is sandier than usual at the river.
One could clearly see this at the sunken high banks where the sun had melted
away the snow. In general, this site seems to have some similarity with the
location and soil of Fairfield where it is also wet as soon as one comes from
the settlement into the woods. This site we did not mark but it is good for
keeping in mind, since it is the only one on the other side. We were glad that
the soil of the bottom, disregarding the snow on it, was not frozen and we
could probe the depth of the swamp with a stick everywhere.
On
the east side of the Jonquakamik we came across a nice spot further up the
river on which we marked a black oak about the middle of the town site; from
there it is about 100 steps to a nice bottom below with plenty of sugar trees.
The location of this site is pleasant; low banks, dry downward from the river
and good building timber and land above on the other side an alluvial low
bottom which is easy to clear and further on a very wide spread out bottom.
But this site has no water except from the river. On the same level it goes to
a strong creek which, meandering through broad valley, flows into the river
and along which small but very rich bottom‑patches are in the valley and
on the other elevation a high town site, the highest among all surveyed till
now. At this third site a sugar tree on the edge of the slope to the valley
was marked. This site has good bottoms only on the other side of the here
already small river except the already mentioned bottom‑patches along
the creek. On this side of the river, on the about half mile upstream lying
bottom, fields and plantations could also be laid out, but the bottom seems to
have a little more watery soil than the others. The mentioned creek could
drive a mill.
Before
we marked this spot and accepted it as a proposal, we left our Indians here,
who just now had caught up with us through the bush (on a trail along a ridge
which bends of the river) to make fire and tea and we went a short 1/8 mile
further and found, to our great delight, the fourth site where we marked a red
beech. It is a very pleasant spot which seems to have the most conveniences.
Close to the rear bottom a little brook runs which probably has spring water
as it was not frozen over. Behind the site on the other side of the brook is a
small elevation, otherwise the site is quite level, has low banks and on the
other side nice bottoms with abandoned Indian sugar huts; on this side of the
river above the site a nice bottom, grown with sugar trees, although a little
vaster than the others. The upland is good, especially along the brook, but
light building timber is somewhat scanty. This area has the appearance of a
true gathering place because of the many camp and old hut places. Though the
river is already narrow here, which, without doubt, is a great benefit.
Now
we went back to the third site and pondered over our hitherto completed
business quietly before the Saviour and came to the agreement to ask
childlike; If we had something to ask regarding the further surveying of the
river ~ with the assumption that if there was nothing to ask, we had arrived
at the will of the Saviour —but should there be something, then to ask if we
should continue searching for more sites upstream. The answer was: No.
Sincerely pleased and thankful, we went to our
Indians, warmed ourselves, drank a cup of tea and indicated to them that we
now wished to set out on our return trip straight through the bush as our
business was finished. This trail we found impassable
Figure 1: Ojibwa and Moravian occupations
along the middle Sydenham (Jonquakamik)
River, cat 1800.
and
there was nothing but continuous swamps and rush‑fie Ids in which the
ice bore up well however; then we turned southeast and came on the old trail,
but decided to spend the night about five miles from Fairfield because we felt
too much tired to still carry the bundles to Fairfield. We camped on a thick
fallen tree at the height of half a man, made a strong fire and our Indians
were very busy arranging everything in the best and most comfortable way
possible for us. For the evening meal, we drank a cup of chocolate and then we
rested well and quite warm. The Indians sang from the Indian hymnbook taken
along by Br. Schnall, as on the 13th in the evening, we had already sung a
Friday liturgy together. After a cold night of which we surely were not much
aware because of our strong fire, we set out in the morning and arrived, full
of praise and thanks, at our people about noon.
In
the evening the above had been read to the whole Mission Conference and after
that we proceeded to close the matter. Of a fifth site on the west side of the
Jonquakamik, which is high but a little swampy and for that reason had not
been marked, we talked first. Because we were not quite at ease to leave this
site out without having the thoughts of the Saviour about it, we came to the
agreement to ask the Saviour: Whether we would put this site among the others. The Saviour did not approve it. Now the
four sites were written on four pieces of papers: namely, a marked white oak, a
marked black oak, a marked sugar tree and a marked red beech. And in trust in
the Saviour that He would guide us according to His will and that He may let us
find the proper site and the proper site for a Chippewa Mission Establishment so
as He will have it -- one of these papers was drawn and it was the
site marked sugar tree. This site is the most elevated and driest one and is on
a nice brook whose banks are not too high and which, hopefully, will supply good
drinking water during all seasons. The distance from Fairfield may be 15 miles
by the trail, but if one could cut through straight, the distance would be less.
We were grateful to the Saviour from the bottom of our hearts that He has shown
us His intention also in this respect. Now our most ardent wish is that He in
His mercy may take care of this project furthermore, as up to now, and so may
promote the glorification of His holy name and the increase of His kingdom.
Supplement
We
found enough reason to thank to Saviour childlike that He had guided us so well
with regard to the Jonquakamik establishment, since some time ago the news came
in that a certain Scotch nobleman4, a very wealthy man, had arrived in the
province and intended to build a considerable settlement on account of which he
should already have embarked 500 families. His desire is to start this
settlement on a remote river so that they are, as it were, alone and to some
extent cut off from other settlements. From his agent, staying during this
winter here on the river, has been learned that this includes the lower part of
the Jonquakamik, the easternmost Huron Strait or Schneyecarte and the shore of
Lake St. Clair on the prairies between the Thames and the Schneyecarte. The
Jonquakamik downwards we therefore would have come quite soon too near to the
white people. The above was a new occurence to us. And since the government
desires and supports such a strengthening, the lower part of the Jonquakamik has
been allowed to him, though it was really designated as Indian hunting ground
only. During this winter's conducted survey of the purchase boundary line it was
found that the same crosses the Jonquakamik, contrary to all expectations and
assumptions of the government, already about a half mile above its entry into
the easterly Huron Strait or Schneyecarte and therefore the entire river is
still Chippewa land. We have from authoritative persons that the government
intends to buy from the Indians all the land from our upper township line on
which is the oil‑spring ‑‑ westward through the Jonquakamik
till it crosses the river St. Clair of Lake Huron. Whether the new Chippewa
mission site will fall within the boundaries of the line or remains Chippewa
land is still to be seen. The purchase boundary line crossed the Thames river
about two miles below us instead of three miles above Fairfield at the
oil-spring so that Fairfield is on Chippewa land till the government buys
it from the Indians.
Report of Sister and Brother Denke at the Jonquakamik from the 24th of
August 1804,
to the 24th of May, 1805.
(Translated
in 1989 from the Old Script German by Dr. Irmgard Jamnik)
On
the 24th of August, Joseph came from Fairfield and brought us a letter from Br.
Ban Vleck from the 7th of June of this year together with news of the commune
for which we are very grateful. And on the
29th,
Samuel came quite unexpectedly with letters from the commune. We also received
at last a German watch-word for this year to our great delight. Late in
the evening, as Samuel was going to lay down to sleep on a bench before our
house and we gave him light, we suddenly heard a rattlesnake which was lying
beneath the bench close to the open front door. He killed it immediately. It was
quite large, black spotted and had seven rattles. It could have come into the
house. An old Indian woman from St. Clair came today and brought us a letter
from Mr. Harsen, in which he informed us that he sold our cow, ox and calf for
L10.00 net proceeds cash. Since the old woman found no Indians here, she left
again very early on the
30th.
On the way, she picked blackberries for us for which she now got cucumbers.
Samuel also went back. We had kept him to gain some time to answer letters. In
the evening, Samuel took the opportunity to talk with Br. Denke about his
previous way and circumstances in detail and he began of his own free will thus:
"My brother! I wished to lay down my heart before you completely and tell
you exactly and straightforward how I am getting on, etc." In these days we
begin to slowly build a store-room to our house for the winter, but since
we had to bring the timber from the bush all by ourselves
Br. Denke was weak and had the fever almost
each afternoon —it goes slowly.
31st
Nabbawe and some Indians hunted here during the night and went up river
on the
September
1st.
They had not hunted anything because the river has risen so high that the steep
banks are more than half filled and therefore the deer do not come right into
the water which they do frequently when the river is low. It probably had rained
very heavily upriver from us. Through Nabbawe, our friend Mrs. Harsen sent us
peaches. In the evening, a snake came into our house which could be brought out
again and on the
2nd
a big rattlesnake turned up again near the house, which we could not kill.
4th
Near evening, Joseph came and brought us an English watch-word
book from Bethlehem. He stayed a few days with us and helped us with our work.
6th
Chippewas came up the river and went to their upper plantations. They
presented us with dried meat for which they received cucumber. The Indians at
the mouth of the river and on the Schneyecarte and St. Clair are almost all ill
with fever which also affected these and they are therefore going upstream of
the opinion that they will get well there. With the help of Joseph, we finished
our log store-room. He also made a vat out of sassafras for pickling
cucumbers. Every evening, we held a singing hour with him, just as we like to
seize the opportunity to hold a meeting and to sing every time someone visits us
from Fairfield. Br. Denke also had the opportunity to have several suitable
talks with Joseph and to refer to him, revealing his heart, lovingly to the
Saviour who has also won very invaluable blessings for his enjoyment in the
commune. Today, Nathan also came from Fairfield and towards evening, both went
home. At present, a young Indian takes only about one and a half hours to walk
from here to Fairfield because the trail is now considerably drier than at any
other season. A hawk (falco septentrionalis) caught a hen near our house, but
had been chased away by Sr. Denke and shot by Joseph. Although the hawk had
pecked the hen quite deeply in the back, it recovered and still laid an egg
today. Sr. Denke cut our corn straw today. The Black squirrels along with
innumerable fens‑mice (sciurus striatus) are stealing the most.
7th
On the Marriage-choir Feast we were in our thoughts with the
commune a great deal and implored the Saviour for a part of the blessings, which
today pour out of the fullness of His Grace on the Marriage‑choir.
8th
We quietly celebrated the birthday of Br. Denke. He had a heavy attack
of fever, was ill and bedridden.
10th
It rained heavily and constantly and the following night as well. The
water came into our house and it was so damp that everything got mouldy.
However, upriver it must have rained even more persistently and stronger because
the river rose so high until the
12th,
that it not only filled the bottom banks but overflowed them here and there. Two
canoes with Indians, who were hunting upriver, came down and said that the
remaining Indians were almost all ill ‑ presumedly they have eaten too
many wild plums. They went on immediately. From them we also learned that one
could canoe among the corn at the upper plantations, which were completely
flooded. We have no river between us and Fairfield, nevertheless we were cut off
from them to some extent because the valley through which the brook runs was
full of water and waterlogged far upwards by the river. But Joseph and Nathan
still came today. They had to walk far up the valley before they could cross it
and still had to wade through deep water.
13th
The floor in our house, which is made of split oak boards, was so dried
out that snakes and toads intruded. It was jointed and made tight today. The
river still rose heavily and all Chippewas from upriver passed by here in their
canoes like shot off arrows. The greeted us only. Because of the continuous
rainy weather, they shot only little by good hunting and we also received only a
little dry meat. The corn on their plantation is now flooded completely so that
nothing of it can be seen. In the evening Kajaki arrived here with his family
and stayed overnight.
14th
Very early we went to Fairfield. In the meantime Joseph and Nathan
stayed here. The latter accompanied us and then returned again. It was a nice
and cool autumn morning and although we still were a little feeble, we did the
walk in three and a half hours without rest at a moderate pace. The mosquitoes
have more or less disappeared, but because of the heavy rain we found a great
deal of water everywhere so good boots came in handy. On the
16th
the Marriage-choir Feast was celebrated after the event wherein we
participated joyfully. It was quite a blessed day for us. And though it is also
the commemoration day for the ministers of the commune, in the evening we white
sisters and brothers had holy communion in conclusion. Whilst doing so, we
solemnly and united in spirit encouraged ourselves to renew our faithfulness and
sincere love to the Saviour and each other with a very blessed feeling of the
peace of God. The flood disaster, however, was far greater at the Thames than
here. Although the Jonquakamik has risen very high too, the low lying bottoms
opposite us have however not been flooded except a little near the bank. After a
warm farewell from Fairfield, we went back on the
18th
accompanied by some sisters who returned today with the others. The latter had
watched well over our house and field.
20th
We made a small cellar beneath our storage room. Samuel and Polly
brought us a cow and a calf, both bought from them. They led them on a rope but
came through well despite the swamps.
21st
We harvested our little corn. The black and red squirrels,
fens‑mice, woodpeckers, etc. did a great deal of damage this year and we
hardly received the half for our part.
29th
With sincere gratitude to our dear Lord, we thought of the ministrations
of the holy angels of which we have had several signs in our present
circumstances. During this week we harvested our potatoes. Quite above our
expectations and presumptions, the Heavenly Father has rewarded our labour and
sweat. We were quite abashed and full of praise and thanks to Him, the giver of
all gifts, that He had endowed us also with the outward necessities for our
existence through the badly worked land and with childlike trust we believe that
He will also win, in His time, the spiritual blessings of heavenly goods through
Christ for the poor Chippewa heathens and let us see and share the grace here.
Twenty-two bushels of potatoes are now filling our
root-cellar, twice as much as we expected since we only used mostly thick
peels because we had to eat the rest of the potatoes out of necessity. A kind of
field‑mouse, which resembles moles, had forced us to take out the
potatoes, planted late and still growing, earlier than necessary because they
had already nibbled at over a bushel. We also brought in our squashes and the
like. They still have all grown quite big on the sandy upland.
30th
During the previous night we had a heavy hoar frost; the thermometer
showed 35 degrees in the morning although a few days earlier it had still risen
to 80 degrees.
October
1st
Chippewas went up the river. They came from Chenaille ecarte where they
had waited in vain for presents. They will now look if the corn on their
plantations, not long ago completely under water and which they then abandoned,
is still useful and if so, harvest it. The others followed them on the third.
4th
Our cow went back. Jonathan came from Fairfield and brought us letters
from the commune to our delight and excitement. But we still have no hope of
soon receiving our expectant help so ardently wished for.
5th
Several Indians from Kitegan passed by here to hunt upriver. Kajaki as
well as all Indians here at the river seem to get more and more trusting and
friendly and well disposed towards us. They never pass by without seeing and
greeting us, although quite briefly, and are glad if we are well. We await, full
of longing and ardent desire but with patience and resignation to the ways and
guidance of the Saviour, the happy hour when He will open their spiritual ears
and their heart and make them open to the dear gospel and bring to them the only
sanctifying faith in Him.
6th
Two Indians brought our cow back. The calf -- Br. Schnall
writes -- had the misfortune on the way there, presumably quite close to
Fairfield, in broad daylight, to be so badly mauled by wolves that it just made
it into town. It was immediately slaughtered whereby about 50 lbs. of eatable
meat was saved.
8th
The Indians from Kitegan went back and stopped here for a little while.
They had shot nothing. We received only some pheasants and cranberries from
Kajake; he regretted having no meat to give us. This year the cranberries are
very abundant even three to six miles from us.
13th
Kajaki, passing by during the hunt, brought us some deer meat because he
thought (as he said) we were hungry. We received a second cow from Fairfield
because the first one will now no longer stay without company. In the evening we
had a very blessed taking of body and blood of Jesus in Holy Communion.
14th
Indians visited us from whom we received meat.
17th
Our lately received cow went off again today despite all our efforts to
keep it.
20th
Sr. Denke celebrated her birthday. At the same time we remembered how,
once more, the Saviour had carried us mercifully through a year and helped us
through, since today a year ago, on our journey, we were still laid in Big Sodus
Bay on Lake Ontario and in the already cold weather, had doubts whether we would
reach our destination.
27th
Our other cow left too, which already twice today had been fetched back.
Because of the strong wind, the sound of the bell was lost and the fallen leaves
made the tracks unrecognizable.
29th
Three Indian families arrived here. With one man we still had a
conversation today. Br. Denke went with him early on the
30th
to Fairfield and returned in the evening with two Delaware Indians, who brought
back one cow. Several Chippewas arrived here today so that a great number of
them are here now. Two deer and a bear came into town.
31st
The conversation commenced on the 29th with Nawegammigischgunk was
continued today, to which he came without being called. It lasted several hours
and he listened carefully, particularly to the simple story that the Creator of
the world suffered, bled and died on the cross. In the end, he was willing to
fall on his knees with Br. Denke as the latter in prayer commended him very
urgently to the loving mercy of God.
November
1st
Some Indian canoes left today after having hunted here, however, three
others arrived.
2nd
~ 3rd All withdrew again, part of them upriver, others towards the
Thames river. The latter will have difficult traveling because each of them,
from the smallest to the biggest, have to carry a great and heavy bundle
although we have stored a part of their belongings in our house. For the
children they had made a kind of chair in which they were wrapped in rough
blankets and fastened with best and carried on their mother's backs on a trail
through the shrubby bush and full of bad swamps. We admired most an Indian
woman, a Shawnee married to a Chippewa, who had delivered here only four days
ago, received bad attendance, was laying in the open air the whole time, even
during the cold nights, and today left with her husband and children of whom he
carried one and she the newborn fastened on a board as well as a bundle and
kettle under her arm.
8th
~ 9th It rained continuously. We have just finished smearing the inside
of our house and the other buildings.
11th
Kajaki's oldest son from Kitegan visited us and took some lessons in
writing. He is the one who from time to time attends school. Some of the young
people here seem to be very devoted, visiting us often and feeling quite at home
with us. While the inhabitants of Kitegan went to Malden for the sake of their
presents, other lazy Indians who had not planted seized the opportunity to steal
much corn from them, especially from old Kajaki. They hung the corn to dry in
their unoccupied houses.
13th
In communion with the whole company of brethren, we paid homage to our
sovereign Master and Eldest and vowed him new fidelity and obedience. We also
thanked him with all our hearts for showing himself so gracious to us until now,
we, his miserably lonesome people, as the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls.
14th
It was snowing heavily and continuously. This, as well as the now
already filled swamps, made us worry a little that nobody would dare to come
from Fairfield to us and we had already eaten the last piece of bread which was
half mixed with potatoes. But the Heavenly Father cared well because, contrary
to all expectations, we saw Zachaeus and M. Barbara laden with provisions like
horses arriving in the evening for which we were whole heartedly grateful.
Despite the wetness, everything arrived well. They returned again on the 19th.
20th
we finished our little log cow-shed.
23rd Kajaki and his wife came passing by here with five other families yesterday and camped nearby on their way to their winter hunting grounds. The former said good‑bye to us. They were told to think often about that which has been preached here to them for the salvation of their souls during the winter in their hunting huts. Jacob came from Fairfield bringing us two little pigs purchased from him and stayed several days with us.
26th Petrus also came with two sisters
and Br. Schnall's horse. Br. Denke went on the
27th
with the former to Fairfield early in the morning. Sr. Denke had the misfortune
to hack herself in the foot.
29th
Br. Denke came back with Joseph. His sister Betsey went home with the
latter on the next day. Ruth had left Sr. Denke earlier already.
December
2nd
In the evening at the onset of Advent, we received the body and blood of
Jesus in Holy Communion in an inexpressible blessed way with the awareness of
the imminent presence of the Friend of sinners.
6th
An Indian from the hunting grounds upriver visited here and heard the
word of the suffering of Jesus for the first time. He was attentive and heard
willingly. Oh may the Lord open up the heart of just one among them like Lydia
here. This is our constantly repeated ardent wish.
8th
A young Indian woman passed by here using the bad trails as the swamps
are fully frozen but the ice still will not hold. She was going up river by
herself and carrying, besides her few belongings, also a two year old child
wrapped in rough blankets in a chair on her back and had already spent three
nights alone in the bush. In the evening a few sisters arrived here from
Fairfield, freezing, tired and laden with provisions. They first had to blaze a
trail through the snow and returned again on the
9th,
for more snowy weather is expected. The evening before there was a meeting. In
the previous week, Sr. Denke was ill a few days but recovered again.
11th
There was a very heavy snowfall, too early for us as we should still
have done and brought different things here before winter set in. The river is
frozen now as well.
13th
In the morning we had 10 degrees below zero.
18th
Three Indian brethren came with provisions from Fairfield. Although the
snow is now knee‑deep, the waters beneath are still open. The ground had
not been frozen at all before the snow fell. Their moccasins and leggings were
all ice and it took a long time before they thawed out enough by the fire so
that they could take them off. There was a meeting in the evening.
19th
They hurried home in the morning although we had 10 below again.
23rd
During the previous days, Chippewas passed by here continuously on the
ice of the river or dropped in. They then were served with the Word of God on
occasion. Br. Denke especially told them the story of the birth of the Saviour.
They all know about the Christmas feast only lack the idea of why it exists and
its purpose.
25th
We enjoyed very blessed and happy Christmas holidays in our solitude and
felt that consolation can also be found in the wild bush at the thought of the
peace bringing nearness of the child in the manger in one's heart.
26th
Samuel came from Fairfield to work for us for a few days. It snowed
again so that the snow is now more than knee-deep everywhere. The hungry
Chippewas, of whom many passed by here, have a hard time because they cannot
hunt.
29th
A Chippewa, who is staying here with his wife, shot a deer nearby and as
he used our gun, we got the half of it. They listened to the Word of God
attentively and withdrew on the 30th. The deer are coming quite near, one of
them even up to the house.
31st
At year's end, we in our solitude remembered the countless blessings of
our Lord which were undeservedly granted us and when we reminisced, we had to be
full of the due debt of gratitude and out hearts swelled with emotion and our
eyes filled with tears. How wisely and mercifully He had guided us also in this
year and how well He had guarded and protected us from all harm. For that he
deserves absolute praise, (...line missing...) He stood by us quite kindly and
so we could go with confidence into the new year.
JANUARY
1805
Oh,
may this year be a blessed one and may His mercy be shown to the poor Chippewas.
We could not commend them earnestly enough to His mercy and asked our dear
sisters and brethren in the commune sincerely to unite their sighs with ours for
the salvation of the heathen and the achievement of the divine idea of peace in
this wild place also.
3rd
During these days Br. Denke received a letter from the first chief Nangi5 in answer to the greetings which the former had sent him already long ago
on order and in the name of the assembled Heathen Society at Bethlehem, and had
notified him that he and his brethren, by the will of God, would come with his
wife to the Jonquakamik. Nangi promises to visit us in the spring and to settle
everything for the hereafter, provided he is healthy.
6th
At Epiphany, our ardent wish was that the Morning Star may soo rise also
in the hearts of the heathen in this place and may bring them to Jesus and to
the salvation won so costly for us.
7th
All the Indians staying upriver from us came down the river on the ice
and camped here. In these days we had frequent visits from men, women and
children. Because they are constantly hungry, it seemed a wonder to us that they
did not beg at all in their usual way. On the
9th
they withdrew again. They went to Wentschipaqua where the calm water
begins and plan to come back to their sugar places in a month.
12th
Samuel and Israel went home having finished their work.
19th In the evening we had blessed
enjoyment in taking the body and blood of Jesus in Holy Communion. On the
20th
in the evening, Jacob and Christiana came as well as Zachaeus and a Shawnee
Indian from Fairfield to make nags for us of their own free will. During the
meeting we contemplated last year's watch‑word in lack of a new one in the
Delaware language.
21st
The old brethren worked and the young ones hunted, but got nothing. Two
others also came from Fairfield. In the evening meeting the mercy of the Saviour
and His willingness to take on contrite sinners with all his heart and to pardon
them, was talked about by citing the example of the thief on the cross.
22nd
It was very cold. The majority of them hunted again and since everyone
turned up, we again talked about the watch-word in the evening meeting,
that the Saviour, according to his word, will be found by those who seek him
with all their heart.
23rd
Everybody worked and although they were tired, sent Jacob to ask Br.
Denke to again hold a meeting in which we contemplated the word of the prophet
Josiah: By the Lord, our God, is much forgiveness. The poor in heart were
invited to turn to Him with confidence and full of faith because He shames no
sinner who asks mercy from him.
24th
Thimotheus was sent to Fairfield to get more provisions. He returned in
time. In the meeting we heard and contemplated the text of tomorrow: The temple
of God is holy which you are.
25th
All of them went home. We let them go with love and were grateful to
them although not everything was completed and carried out for which they had
actually come because of the cold. About 700 nags were made, but not much
cleared, etc. and only a few trees cut. The sisters did the cooking and because
nothing was hunted in the beginning, it cost us much pork. But they brought
pounded corn as well as something for bread with them. Sr. Denke also baked
white bread for them daily. It was especially pleasant to us that they liked to
attend the evening meetings in our house so much because their language was
always spoken and nobody stayed away except out of necessity. The singing
especially was quite lively. During this week we were twice in danger of fire
during the night because on two different occasions the sides of our chimney,
made of a wooden framework and then plastered with loam, caught fire because the
Indian sisters who slept with us kept a big fire. Both times Sr. Denke still
awoke in time so that it could be smothered. A vinegar keg, lying nearby, had
already kindled at the top and at the hoops and the vinegar was completely lost.
We found many reasons to thank our dear Lord sincerely for his merciful
protection. We took all the wood out and set it up, for safety sake, only with
loam.
29th
Br. Denke went with Zachaeus, who came here yesterday, to Fairfield. On
the way three sisters from Fairfield met them who offered to stay with Sr. Denke
in the meantime. On the
31st
he came back again. The trail is stiff well walked but small so that one steps
off often and gets very tired. Meanwhile, Chippewas arrived here from the bush
and on the
February
1st,
the rest of the group followed from Fairfield. One who had crushed a leg was
carried. Even today, Mtschiki was spoken to and ernestly advised to consider the
salvation of his soul.
2nd
Through an Indian express to all, we heard that both great chiefs of the
Chippewa nation who received Br. Denke so formally, namely Nangi and Wiponepa,
usually named Ottowasch Kaho, had died. Both had heard the word of life and it
is wished that this was consolation to them in their last hour. This news
grieved us as well as the Indians. Nangi especially was often moved to tears
when the suffering, agony and the death on the cross of Jesus had been narrated
to him.
3rd
There was a meeting to which only a few came because all were hunting.
We had a pleasing talk with a Shawnee wife, who has a Chippewa husband, in which
the love of Jesus was made known to her. She was moved to tears and not without
impression.
4th
We had the delight of having Br. Schnall from Fairfield with us who went
back again with his companion, Zachaeus, on the 6th. During these days we
received ample meat from the Chippewas.
7th
Ennimigawapi, the husband of the Shawnee woman, was spoken to today on
the occasion that he came to our house and gave us a new canoe of walnut wood.
The loving heart of Jesus was praised to him emphatically. He usually, laughed,
but this time he was serious and attentive. There is now a great famine among
the Chippewa. For a few days they have had nothing more to eat though they are
hunting constantly, but shot nothing because wind and weather are against them.
They pester us and beg constantly, bringing all sorts of things to exchange for
food. But we have barely sufficient for ourselves and are in such a situation
that we cannot give much, but a piece of bread is still given to the crying
children. The winter is just hard in every way for humans and animals.
10th
Several went off again to hunt at the Thames and towards Lake Erie. They
always use snowshoes now with which they are able to move across the deep snow.
12th
We began to get ready for boiling sugar. The place is just opposite us
and located in such a way that we are able to see from our door into the sugar
hut and to call to one another. At 45 degrees, the deep snow caked.
17th
We talked again with the Shawnee woman.
On
the 19th and 21st, Indian sisters and brethren from Fairfield brought us food.
Adam was among them, who is in deep anguish about his behaviour and for this
reason came to talk thoroughly with Br. Denke whereby he, amid tears, confessed
frankly to his many and gross sins and vices committed for many years. As a
repentant sinner, he was directed straight to Jesus' wounds. This was a word of
comfort to him. The Indians came from hunting raccoon and went on the following
day, the
25th,
to their sugar places about two miles upriver from us. In the evening, Beata and
Mtschiki came from Fairfield to stay and on the
26th,
all went away so that we were alone again. The sugar weather was not opportune
during these days and so we only prepared a little.
March
1st
- Jacob came from Fairfield to visit us. He came in the nick of time and
showed us, as soon as he saw the river, that it was too dangerous in view of the
cracks. We did not expect that the ice would break up so fast. We therefore
decided to discontinue, especially since Sr. Denke became ill today. With the
help of Jacob, we brought the kegs of sap over which to some extent had already
begun to run out. And on the
4th,
one ice breakup after another occurred. During these days we had Holy Communion
at which Jacob, at his own request, was our companion. Chippewas are going to
Kitegan. The wife of Kajaki brought Sr. Denke six pheasants and wild ducks too.
7th
- The river was ice free again already so that one could ply it; also the
snow in the bush is totally melted. But the river did not rise as much as was
expected by the amount of snow.
8th
- Sr. Denke was seriously ill today, yet it developed into a fever from
which she was attacked at first every second day and then daily got very ill.
12th
- Our cow went to Fairfield again. With the warm weather the sugar trees
dripped day and night.
20th
- By dull and hazy weather with little showers the thermometer showed 89
degrees Farenheit.
21st
- We saw Sr. Schnall with her companions arriving here on horseback to
visit ill Sr. Denke and on the
23rd
she went back again. Br. Denke visited the Chippewas on their sugar places.
Yesterday, the wife of Ennimigawapi, the Shawnee, was here; she left him because
he was bad. She wanted to go to Fairfield, but she told us first and asked for
advice. Br. Denke advised her to go back to her husband, whom he sent a few
words, and so she returned again. Some days ago, he was very ill and would have
liked to see Br. Denke, but it was about the time the ice broke. He spoke to his
friends so: "I may die. I trust in nothing, but hope the teacher, Br.
Denke, will still baptize me so that I shall find salvation in which I only
trust." On the
24th,
an appointment for a meeting with Mtschiki and Beata and their family was made,
but they could not come because they had a lot of sugar water. Yesterday in the
evening, the fever left Sr. Denke for the first time, however, it set in again
but not as severely.
25th
- All the Chippewas came from their sugar places and wanted to boil quite
near. They are frightened, believing they have heard and seen bad Indians.
Mtschiki and Beata moved into their house in the village. Adam came from
Fairfield. Since his absolution, he is very fond (of us) and spent the time in
pleasant conversation with Br. Denke about the grace granted to him.
31st
- The sermon, which several Chippewas attended, dealt with the felt
nearness of the Saviour as often as we, though only a few, are gathered in His
name. A few children set fire to the bush during the dry weather. Fortunately,
it did not reach us as it was dampened before sunset.
April
2nd
- The bush fire broke out again and caused us much trouble because a
strong wind blew. It came within 20 steps of the house and fence. During the
evening meeting, we contemplated the suffering of Jesus before the tribunal
under the guidance of the words: Behold the man!
7th
- Palm Sunday, we reflected in the sermon, which several Chippewas
attended, on the penance struggle of Jesus. Mtschiki and Beata went with their
children to Fairfield. We also went there on the
10th,
after the arrival of Adam, Joseph and two lads with Br. Schnallts horse. On this
Sr. Denke rode, guided by Adam so
carefully that she arrived safely in Fairfield just before the fever set in.
Joseph and the two lads stayed on the Jonquakamik for the duration of our
absence. We had merry and happy holidays in the commune. Sr. Denke also lost her
fever during this visit and recovered considerably. On the
13th,
we remembered thankfully at a happy agape meal with most of the sisters and
brethren, that just a year ago we moved to the Jonquakamik. On the
15th,
we went back escorted by Adam and a Chippewa. The latter took us on a new trail,
just laid out, which is shorter and drier but enormously shrubby. But Sr. Denke
came safely through on horseback and even better than on the other one, which
has deep water holes. The Fairfield men returned. In our absence, the Chippewas
had camped here but we did not meet them anymore. Mtschiki and Beata followed us
today.
16th
- All Chippewas camping nearby moved down the river.
18th
- Br. Denke went alone to Fairfield on the new trail without losing the
trail too often. The trail is only marked rarely on the trees.
19th
- Adam and Thimotheus came back with Br. Denke and brought our cattle
‑‑ two cows and a calf, eight days old, which, against all
expectations, came through well though it had to come over big boulders and deep
swampy water.
21st
- We prayed the litany.
22nd
- One of our cows went back again.
27th
- Beata went to Fairfield and came back with Phillippina.
30th
- Ennimigawapi and his wife came up from downriver to stay and built
themselves a house from bark in the village.
May
2nd
- Br. Denke went to Fairfield on business with Ennimigawapi. Meanwhile Sr.
Denke had a visit from Chippewas. The mosquitoes were already numerous on the
way back.
4th
- We thought of the Unmarried Sisters Choir in the commune. The evening
meeting was held in the Delaware language and attended by all. All the Indians
now staying here more or less understand Delaware.
5th
- Again a Chippewa family arrived here from Kitegan who want to plant here
as well as Ennimigapawi.
10th
- All of our Indians went to pick cranberries. Br. Schnall visited us on
horseback and stayed overnight. On the
12th,
the sermon, under the guidance of the gospel, dealt with the comforting promise
of the Holy Spirit, who is given to those who believe in Jesus, as councilor on
their pilgrimage through the vale of tears. We talked with Beata and Phillippina
separately. In the evening we contemplated today's words. Two young Chippewas
came from Pagetschiwonunk6, the mouth of the Chenail ecarte, where all
Chippewas and Tawas7 are now assembled from near and far. One of them had carried
a wheel for a wheelbarrow on his back which Mr. Harsen had sent us from the
mouth of the river to here.
13th
- Two white people from the Thames river passed by here with Tobias, their
companion, who searched for stray horses. In the evening Susanna came with her
daughter and two other women from Fairfield, who on the
14th,
planted our corn together with the Delaware and Chippewas living here, by the
latter men as well as women. We provided them with food. But the goal was not
quite achieved. They got tired too early and left a good part not planted. In
the evening, there was talk about the text of today.
15th
- They returned although it rained.
17th
- Br. Denke went to Fairfield with two Indians from here to open up the
first half of the new trail where it is most shrubby and to find a better one
for the other half according to the Indian's opinion. The former purpose was
achieved, but the latter not because it suddenly became cloudy so that the
Indians lost their direction, and we had to wade through many and partly deep
and great swampy water holes and open field, in addition of which it was also
raining. A big rattlesnake was killed.
18th - He came back on horseback. Jacob
(the son of Maria Magdelena) took the horse back again.
19th - There was a morning sermon. In
the evening Mtschiki also came back from the mouth of the river. Beata had
already prepared a nice plantation on the incomparable rich bottom, only the
long lasting rainy weather hindered her from planting.
20th - In the evening meeting, Br. Denke
spoke in the Chippewa language.
22nd
- Br. Denke went with the Chippewas to see the upper planting places.
23rd
& 24th - Chippewas arrived here. On the first day we remembered the
ascension of our Saviour.
At
the end of our present diary. we can do nothing better than to commend ourselves
best to the dear memory of the sisters and brethren. Oh. pray for your truly
united sister and brother Denke
(This
diary arrived in Goshem on the 10th of July)
(The following is a portion of the subsequent
resort submitted by the Denke's)
25th - Many Chippewas arrived here. On
the
26th,
the sermon dealt with the Ascension of Jesus. To our regret only a few of the
invited Chippewas came. On the
27th.
Br Denke went on business to Fairfield with a Chippewa lad and came home again
in the evening. The mosquitoes are already troublesome.
28th
- All the Chippewas went downstream to Kitegan to a "bear feast"
consisting of a meal and dance. On the
29th. they all passed by here and went on the
30th
to their fields upstream. Yesterday in the evening, a heathen custom was carried
out on an Indian who came from Kitegan for this purpose. He claimed that his
soul had escaped from him and let himself be given the power to recall it again
through the art of a sorcerer. Oh what blindness! Meanwhile we did not let
ourselves be disturbed by it and had our usual evening meeting, which only the
Delaware sister attended. at which we also felt that the Saviour is with us and
by us and today still calls out to each lost soul: "Soul, leave your
sorrowing; I, I blot out all your sins." These words were also our
contemplation. Later on, the game began at which nobody but the sorcerer took
part and he for whom it was intended. An awkward feeling prevailed here, but in
the camps a great silence reigned to which we were not accustomed because we
have had so much noise these days on account of the many savages camped here.
Quite gladly we saw them leave so we could resume our routine and hold our
evening meeting undisturbed with those who live here which had been impossible
because of the continuous tumult. An old, sick woman called for Sr. Denke
through her grand‑daughter. We went to her but found that she wanted only
some earthly food at this time and felt no need for spiritual food.
31st
- During the night there was a severe hoar frost so that several plants
froze. Mtschiki and Beata went to Fairfield with their family to plant there.
June
1st
- Those Chippewas still remaining became very frightened because they
thought they had seen strange Indians during the night. The men kept guard in
the bush with their guns this night and all the following ones. This is probably
a false alarm. On the
2nd,
Pentecost Sunday, several Chippewas came to the meeting in their festive dress
and seemed to listen attentively to the Word. Towards evening, we had a visit
from Sr. Schnall and Mr. Dolson who arrived on horseback with a companion. They
had suffered much from the mosquitoes, and on the
3rd,
they went back again. The unfounded fear of the Chippewas is growing so much
that they even thought they had seen the bad Indians in the door of their huts
in the evening. They hastily made torches from birch bark but searched in vain.
This intense fear occurred every night during the whole week. Now we have been
living here over a year already during which time we have been rather
undisturbed except for a few minor incidents. Now, however, Satan begins his
came, not in conspicuous ways, but nevertheless with noticeable taunts,
probably to tire us out. May the dear Saviour who called us here help us with
his power and grace. On the
7th,
we were delighted to see Br. Schnall who came on horseback to our place for a
few hours. On the
9th,
seven Chippewa souls came to the meeting in which the Jesus' love for sinners
was praised to them. We asked them to consider that God would now like to have
mercy on them and for that purpose had sent them teachers to preach to them of
the great salvation. They waited only for the meeting to end, then all went
hunting because they were hungry.
10th
- We received the lone awaited letters and news from the commune. In the
afternoon, Br. Denke went to Fairfield to attend to a few considerations of the
Mission Conference and came back alone on the morning of the
11th. Several Indians went hunting for a few
days. On the
13th,
a bear was shot nearby here by a young Indian. The bear was placed whole on a
fire, singed, and then on the
14th,
a great feast was prepared whereby a red painted post was erected. The mother
and the uncle of the hunter alternately sang and shouted. We and the Indians
often have fish now. The latter, so to speak, live off of them.
16th
- The Indians who came back from the hunt were sick and the healthy ones
still hunted and so no meeting could be held.
18th
- Mtshiki and Beata came back again from Fairfield.
20th
- All the Chippewas left from here. During these days it was oppresively
hot so that many tender plants were scorched in the sand by the lasting drought.
The thermometer showed 100 degrees Farenheit several times.
21st
- Evening liturgy was held.
23rd
- In the morning there was a meeting and also in the evening, to which
Zachaeus and Susanna came from Fairfield today.
24th
- We thought of the Boys' choir at the commune.
25th - In the morning, Br. Denke went to
Fairfield to travel on the next day with Br. Schnall on necessary business to
Captain McKee8 in Sandwich and to Detroit.
26th - Martha came to stay here with Sr.
Denke in the meantime.
28th - The sisters had a terrifying
time, especially during the night. That is to say, Mtshiki had gone to the
Thames and gotten drunk. He returned sober all right. but had the misfortune of
becoming crazy after heavy drinking which also occurred this time. Other
Chippewas went up and down (the river).
End Notes
1 Jonquakamik refers to the Sydenham River.
2 Spelled Chippuway in the manuscript.
3 Schneyocarte (or Chenail ecarte) variously
refers to either the Ojibwa and Ottawa settlements on Walpole Island, or less
frequently to the Snye River, which is the easternmost channel of the St. Clair
River running between St. Anne's Island and the Canadian mainland.
4
This refers to the Baldoon Settlement, Lord Selkirk's 1804 plan to settle
Scottish immigrants to the south and west of present dav Wallaceburg,
immediately accross from St. Anne's Island.
5
Nangi was an Ojibwa chief, reportedly living across from Harsen's Island on the
Michigan side of the St. Clair River, near present day Algonac. Nangi originally
gave Denke permission to establish his mission on Harsen's Island.
6
This may refer to the Native settlement at Walpole Island, or to the forks of
the Sydenham River (Wwallaceburg).
7 This is another word for the Ottawa people
8
Captain Alexander McKee was the The Western District Indan Agent for the British
Indian Department, and an important figure in politics and British - Native relations during the latter part of the 18th century and first few years
of the 19th century.