The Legend of Blue Jacket

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book which may be close to the real story.
Review: I just received this from Amazon.com, read it, and find that it is exactly what it claims to be, a marvelous story based upon the traditions handed down by whites and Shawnee descendants alike. Shawnee Chief Charles Bluejacket believed it himself.

Many of those claiming to descend from Chief Blue Jacket do not descend from him at all, of course, because there was more than one Blue Jacket--many of them, in fact. The DNA tests that one militant group of Shawnees descendants uses for their political claims was not officially accomplished, because although you can document Oklahoma and Kansas Bluejacket DNA, you cannot document Chief Blue Jacket's DNA unless you somehow ascertain where the old chief was buried and dig him up.

I worked with Mrs. Norma Luallen on the Bluejacket family genealogy and we were both aware of the holes in the Shawnee genealogies, the lack of solid documentation now leaped over by some of the most vocal and militant of the Shawnees trying to shout down any other opposing viewpoint to their own.

The fact is, there were many, many whites among the Shawnees and the THE LEGEND OF BLUE JACKET serves as a common and composite story of some of their documented experiences. No white Shawnee chiefs? There seem to have been a great number of them including, among others, adopted Joshua Rennick (Chief Wryneck), adopted Chief Joseph Parks, adopted Chief Lewis Rogers, and according to Randolph Noe, the late Shawnee historian and bibliographer, adopted Chief Stephen Ruddle.

I'm a genealogist who has specialized in Native American genealogies for over thirty years...I've seen all of the evidence mentioned by other reviewers, and then some. There was more than one Blue Jacket, for it was a Shawnee concept name, part of a parable involving an animal--probably a blue jay, the bird with the blue jacket--and was carried by many individuals at different times.

This is a great story for children, well told, magnificently illustrated, in easy-to-read type and inspiring language. And although it may not be literally true--no historical fiction is--it is probably much closer to the truth than some reviewers have allowed.

Richard L. Pangburn

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book which may be close to the real story.
Review: I just received this from Amazon.com, read it, and find that it is exactly what it claims to be, a marvelous story based upon the traditions handed down by whites and Shawnee descendants alike. Shawnee Chief Charles Bluejacket believed it himself.

Many of those claiming to descend from Chief Blue Jacket do not descend from him at all, of course, because there was more than one Blue Jacket--many of them, in fact. The DNA tests that one militant group of Shawnees descendants uses for their political claims was not officially accomplished, because although you can document Oklahoma and Kansas Bluejacket DNA, you cannot document Chief Blue Jacket's DNA unless you somehow ascertain where the old chief was buried and dig him up.

I worked with Mrs. Norma Luallen on the Bluejacket family genealogy and we were both aware of the holes in the Shawnee genealogies, the lack of solid documentation now leaped over by some of the most vocal and militant of the Shawnees trying to shout down any other opposing viewpoint to their own.

The fact is, there were many, many whites among the Shawnees and the THE LEGEND OF BLUE JACKET serves as a common and composite story of some of their documented experiences. No white Shawnee chiefs? There seem to have been a great number of them including, among others, adopted Joshua Rennick (Chief Wryneck), adopted Chief Joseph Parks, adopted Chief Lewis Rogers, and according to Randolph Noe, the late Shawnee historian and bibliographer, adopted Chief Stephen Ruddle.

I'm a genealogist who has specialized in Native American genealogies for over thirty years...I've seen all of the evidence mentioned by other reviewers, and then some. There was more than one Blue Jacket, for it was a Shawnee concept name, part of a parable involving an animal--probably a blue jay, the bird with the blue jacket--and was carried by many individuals at different times.

This is a great story for children, well told, magnificently illustrated, in easy-to-read type and inspiring language. And although it may not be literally true--no historical fiction is--it is probably much closer to the truth than some reviewers have allowed.

Richard L. Pangburn

Rating:
Summary: A Welcome addition to a child's library
Review: The Legend of Blue Jacket, a children's book, and fictional account that parallels the belief, and lore, surrounding the life and times of Shawnee chief Blue Jacket. It is the author's portrayal, to a children's audience, of one side, of a somewhat controversial story and character of American history. The controversy stems from accounts portraying Blue Jacket as white man captured, and rising to power in the Shawnee tribe. Others, mainly of Indian decent refute this story. This little book is very well written and illustrated. It presents a child's story that is easily read, and will inspire young readers to further investigate the story and legendary figure of American and Indian history. I recommend the book highly, and think it deserves a place in any child's library

Rating:
Summary: A Welcome addition to a child's library
Review: The Legend of Blue Jacket, a children's book, and fictional account that parallels the belief, and lore, surrounding the life and times of Shawnee chief Blue Jacket. It is the author's portrayal, to a children's audience, of one side, of a somewhat controversial story and character of American history. The controversy stems from accounts portraying Blue Jacket as white man captured, and rising to power in the Shawnee tribe. Others, mainly of Indian decent refute this story. This little book is very well written and illustrated. It presents a child's story that is easily read, and will inspire young readers to further investigate the story and legendary figure of American and Indian history. I recommend the book highly, and think it deserves a place in any child's library

Rating:
Summary: The Legend of Blue Jacket,: A historical failure.
Review: This book is a first person narrative portrayed in the copyright page as being a biography of Blue Jacket, Shawnee war chief of Northwest Territory days. In the book, Blue Jacket is portrayed as a white man, Marmaduke (Duke) Van Swearingen, not the Shawnee Indian he really was. The author states Duke was born in 1753 and failed to research the known sources of information which demonstrate that the tale of Blue Jacket as being a white captive was false. The tale began in 1877 as an article by Thomas Jefferson Larsh, a journalist who had it published in the Ohio Daily Journal on February 15 of that year. The article had not one document listed supporting the allegation and since that paper was printed, not a single document of any kind has ever been brought forth by any author or researcher as proof of Blue Jacket being a white man.

Blue Jacket and Shawnee peers, including Silverheels (the Treasurer of the Shawnee Tribe in Miami, Oklahoma, Georgie Honey, is a descendant of Silverheels), were trading with the Ohio Company in 1752 and 1753 as documented by that company's records. These original financial reports were transcribed and published by Kenneth P. Bailey, Associate Professor of History, Humboldt State College, in his THE OHIO COMPANY PAPERS, 1753-1817, Being Primarily Papers of the "Suffering Traders" of Pennsylvania, Argata, California, 1947. Transactions listed on page 50 (1753) show that Blue Jacket's Eldest Brother sold 17 deer hides (Bucks) and 1 Doe, receiving 6 pounds, 11 shillings and 3 pence in return. His Younger Brother traded 21 Bucks for 7 pounds, 17 shillings and 6 pence. Silver Heels (Silverheels) got 5 pounds, 1 shilling and 3 pence for 13 Bucks and 1 Doe. On page 56, Blue Jacket traded 45 Bucks for 16 pounds, 17 shillings and 6 pence. On page 57, it comes to light that the traders let the Indians "charge" trade goods received. Here, Blue Jacket pledged that he owed 7 Bucks to David Hendricks to pay off 2 pounds, 12 shillings and 6 pence worth of trade goods! On page 99 (1752) Blue Jacket sold 10 Bucks and 1 Doe for 7 pounds, 6 shillings and 3 pence.

Karel L. Whyte is the author of SWEARINGEN/VAN SWEARINGEN and RELATED FAMILIES, 1997, Karel L. Whyte, 224, Heathewood Dr. Aiken SC 29803, LCCN:97191585 and shows that Marmaduke was born on January 2, 1763 in Hagerstown, Maryland. Author Spradlin states that he was captured by Shawnees from near the family acreage in western Virginia, in the spring of 1769 at age 15, along with his younger brother Charlie. John Swearingen, Duke's father, had moved to Pennsylvania in 1770 (see Whyte) and died there. His will was probated on September 6, 1784. A copy of the will is included in the book (page 275) of Robert V. Van Trees, Banks of the Wabash, 2002, 3rd ed., rev., Van Trees Associates, 804 North Avenue, Fairborn, Ohio 45324-5216, 300 p., ISBN 0-961-6282-3-5. In the will, John Swearingen left to his son, Marmaduke, the use of John's slave, Herry, for the term of one year, after which Herry reverted to Marmaduke's mother, Cathrine (Stull) Swearingen.

Since this is a book for juveniles, it's laying of a false trail is one that children cannot comprehend. Most parents, reading the book before hand, would experience the same result. Touted as a true tale, the book, The Legend of Blue Jacket, is one of great falsity and is not deserving of purchase. Artist Hinter provided some first class illustrations for the presentation but it is too bad his work became connected by such a literary failure. Blue Jacket's life is one of greatness, and this book could have parlayed that into a successful venture, but the author elected to present a farce to the reading public.

Reviewer: Gaylord Carlyle Hinshaw
Consulting Geologist and seventh
generation descendant of Blue Jacket.
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Rating:
Summary: The Legend of Blue Jacket - just a legend?
Review: This wonderful legend is truly a work of art, both by the author and the illustrator. I bought this for my grandchildren, but truly enjoyed reading it myself. The preface states it is just a legend, and that there was not much recorded in historical archives about Blue Jacket, but the way the author portrays this great warrior makes you feel like you are living during those times. One of the benefits of reading this story to my grandchildren was the fact that they began to ask questions about MORE people in history who lived during that time. Another trip to the book store!

The art work is truly amazing and you can tell that the artist loved his job on this one. All in all, this was a wonderful story with moving pictures. Absolutely perfect for a quiet afternoon.

Thank you, Mr. Spradlin - I wait anxiously for your second book.

Rating:
Summary: The Legend of Blue Jacket - just a legend?
Review: This wonderful legend is truly a work of art, both by the author and the illustrator. I bought this for my grandchildren, but truly enjoyed reading it myself. The preface states it is just a legend, and that there was not much recorded in historical archives about Blue Jacket, but the way the author portrays this great warrior makes you feel like you are living during those times. One of the benefits of reading this story to my grandchildren was the fact that they began to ask questions about MORE people in history who lived during that time. Another trip to the book store!

The art work is truly amazing and you can tell that the artist loved his job on this one. All in all, this was a wonderful story with moving pictures. Absolutely perfect for a quiet afternoon.

Thank you, Mr. Spradlin - I wait anxiously for your second book.