General Hummingbird and Tappenahoma

 Note: If you would like sources, and you don't find them listed, please do not discredit my research in any articles. Reach out, I will be happy to share. This is a blog, it is not a dissertation or a journal article, and I am not going to take the time for APA citations.

So, for years it has bothered me that folks have said Tappenahoma who succeeded Pushmataha in 1826 was the same as General Hummingbird. Mainly because I know they aren't, but couldn't figure out why so many historians are using this. General Hummingbird died in April of 1828. The article was picked up in many newspapers throughout the United States, I found this in the Sun, April 28, 1828. 

If one reads in the department of War letters ( I believe that is the department), Pierre Juzan writes on behalf of his Uncle, (in the 1844 testimonies, Oklahoma also states he is the nephew of Pushmataha and a head man, and was brother to the former chief (court of claims, Choctaw Nation v. United States, see below).

28 Sept 1828 to Sec of War

I am now in my friend Col. Wards House on my way to see the country pointed out to my nation by your friend Col. McKinney last year.  I go to see the country because it is my great fathers request I am chief of the Southern District of this nation in place of my uncle Pushmattahaw whose bones lyes below this earth near your residence.  And which I trust his spirit is in a better world than this as you know as well as I that this is a place of continual trouble......."Taphemhoma

5 July 1829

Uncle Tahpemaloomah has fully made up his mind to emigrate to the west of mississippi (looks like 100 will accompany him.) ...................  He would like to start by the 29 of October.  I should like to go as an interpreter and I wish you to write to the Sec of war for the appointment for me. 

Respectfully your friend

Pierre Juzan

Examined by the board

Deponent was a leader among his people, and at the date of the treaty was a leader, and then he got upon a stump and made a speech in which he said he was not going west.  Chea sah ho mah made a speech also to the same effect. Deponent was a nephew of  Push mat ta hah, and was brother to the late chief Tah pa na ho mah, who was succeeded by  Ni tuk er cha. Deponent saw the paper that was given to Col. Ward by Pierre Juzan, which Ward promised to send to Washington. Pierre Juzan went west and died there. This deponent states that he understood when he took hold of the pen to Pierre Juzan and made his mark that he would get his land and his children's land by remaining on it five years.

 

Oak lah ho mah his x mark

sworn and subscribed before us this 3^rd day of October 1844. George S. Gaines, S. Rush, Commissioners.

 

On the Armstrong roll of 1831, Tappenahoma, and his brother Oklahoma, and Charles Juzan are all found living in the same place that the plat maps of Mississippi show the land grants to Oklahoma and Tappenahoma are. (incidentally, where Kunsha is always found, and I do have a blog planned on all of that). And Tappenahoma is granted land in the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek (not the supplement). In 1834, Pierre Juzan writes on behalf of Tappenahoma's heirs (land file, NARA). We know from the Choctaw Academy records, that one of his 5 children (from Armstrong roll) is William K Stewart, who ends up in Skullyville in the Choctaw Nation.

 So how does historians get these two mixed up. I am not sure if it was an article by Peter J Hudson or Grant Foreman for the Oklahoma Historical Society, but this is my guess. The 1826 attempted treaty with the Choctaw, the journal has Tappenahoma welcoming the commissioners, asking for the request in writing and sending it to a committee of 13 men. The top man is General Hummingbird on that list. Now, no one noticed or cared that none of the other chiefs signed these responses. In 1826, it should still have been Mushulatubbee and Robert Cole, who aren't listed either. Then we have the court of claims testimonies, which both of these fine (and no offense, they just didn't know the obituary) men saw a testimony where Tappenyahoma (son in law of Nitakechi per Cushman) says he is Capt Hummingbird. And there you go, there was an assumption.

 There are 6 months that I can't track a chief for the district, from December 1825 when Pushmataha died and June of 1826 when Tappenahoma is found in letters. Personally, I don't think Oklahoma was ever chief, but no idea where that got started.  If you noticed I won't refer to Pushmataha as Chief of the Six Towns. There is very good reason for this, which will be the subject of my next blog.