Hi Regina,
If you are related to John Schoolcraft, son of Austien & Catherine Countryman Schoolscraft, I can give you some information․ The question of Native American heritage has been a question in my husband's line for quite a while․ There is quite a bit of information online about the Schoolcraft family and their association with "Indians․" I have a copy of Our Schoolcraft Family Lines, 1986, written by Edward Schoolcraft, as well as research correspondence written to Irene Bittner․ There may more up-to-date research, though․
That to say, from what I have found online and in the book, the Schoolcraft family was originally from Lancashire, England․ Austien Schoolcraft was born in New York and married Catherine Countryman who was from Germany․
Austien and Catherine had five sons and one daughter․ The Schoolcraft family history includes many tragedies․ (Search for "Chronicles of Border Warfare" 1831 and "The Border Settlers of Northwestern Virginia․") There are several in the family line named John Schoolcraft, so information would depend on which you're related to․ Our line moves from Austien to James, for which I can find no Native American bloodline․ However, if you are related to James' brother John, that's where the N․A․ connection would be․ John (born before 1743) married - is believed to have married Miotoka Nyeswanan, daughter of Chief Bemino Killbuck from the Delaware tribe․ Three of their sons were John, Jacob, and Leonard․ They lived in Virginia which was still untamed at that time․
John was first recorded as being a Private in a company of Virginia Militiamen in the Battle of Point Pleasant, 1774․ He is next heard of in a description of the attack of Mrs․ Hacker and the slaying of Mrs․ Freeman by the Indians, 1778:
"John and his companion, Jesse Hughes, were making their way back to West's Fort when they observed the Indians that had just attacked Mrs․ Hacker, and had slain Mrs․ Freeman․ John and Jesse were able to make their way safely into the fort․ Upon learning of the death of Mrs․ Freeman, Jesse Hughes and some other men left the fort to retrieve the body of the slain woman․
Up until this time, it would be safe to assume that John had had what could be described as a fairly typical life for a pioneer and settler in the middle and late 1700's․ He was married, and the father of several children․ He appears to have held the rights to at least 853 acres of land in various locations in Virginia․ He was a well respected member of the settlement and a conscientious citizen (as evidenced by his membership in the Virginia Militia․) In about April of 1779, however, his world began to crumble as the rest of his life was a series of tragedies․
Sometime, early 1779, John's son Leonard was taken prisoner by Indians․ Then in October 1779 John's wife and eight of his children were killed by Indians․ At the same time two of this sons (believed to be John Jr․ and Jacob) were taken prisoner․ Next, it is reported that in March of 1780 Simon Schoolcraft was shot through the arm during a skirmish with a group of Indians․ In the autumn of 1780 John's father, Austien, was killed by Indians and a girl (identified as Austien's niece) was taken prisoner․
In April of 1781 John's brother, Mathias, was killed by Indians, and at the same time Simon and Michael were taken captive by the Indians․ (This makes a total of eleven members of his immediate family slain by Indians and five Schoolcrafts taken captive․) The Indians which were indicated as having killed the settler were Shawnee․
After having suffered these tragedies, John returned to the area of Wappatomaka where he previously lived․ (Wappatomaka is the Indian name for the South Branch of the Potomac․) He must have been there for only a short time, because he is listed as an inhabitant of Monongalia County in 1782, the year immediately following the slaying of his brother Mathias․ He is recorded as being involved in at least 15 court actions during the period from November 1784 until March 22, 1787 (his final court action․)
As recorded in Minute Book 1, John Wolf sued John Schoolcraft Sr․, claiming that John Schoolcraft Sr․ was indebted to him․ At that time, the suit was continued, and it is next recorded that John Wolf appeared in court and requested the suit be dismissed․ It is assumed that John Wolf agreed to accept John Schoolcraft Jr․ as an indentured servant for some period of time, and agreed that this indenture would serve in lieu of the repayment of John Sr․'s debt․"
Oral family history says that John married Miotoka Nyeswanan․ In the Coshocton Tribune there is information about memorials being placed to tell the story․ There will be six statues placed in a park area depicting the chief leaders who were part of the peace treaties, and then Miotoka and son Jacob․
Hope this helps!
Marsha Meyer
