Whitmore Knaggs
Encyclopedia
Whitmore Knaggs was an Indian fighter, linguist and spy.
Whitmore’s parents were George Knaggs, who had been born in London
, England
, and Rachel Sly, who had Dutch
parentage. One of at least eight children, he was born in 1763 on his father’s farm by the Maumee River
in Ohio
. He was educated at home, being taught French
, Latin
and Dutch
by his mother.
He was friendly with the local Native American
people, and was appointed a United States Indian Agent
in 1781 (some say by George Washington
). In July 1784 the headman of the Ottawa nation
granted him a tract of land on the Maumee River on which Fort Miami
was later built.
On 20 August 1794 he fought with General Anthony Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers
against a mixed Canadian and Indian force. He also acted as interpreter.
He moved to Detroit, where his father had opened a trading store, and in 1797, married Josette Labadie. In 1803 he bought a homestead and farm on the Detroit River
by Knaggs Creek (now disappeared) where he raised five children, and built a windmill
. It became a stopping point for Indians of the Ottawa, Chippewa, Pottawatomi and Wabash tribes. Whitmore Knaggs could converse in all these languages.
He was a personal friend of the Indian leader Tecumseh
(who was later killed by James Knaggs). In 1805 he was made a Captain in the Michigan Militia
, and fought against the British and the Indians in the war of 1812-1815. He was present at the Surrender of Detroit and was taken prisoner by the British, but later released. Later captured by the Shawnee
chief George Blue Jacket, he was saved from death by the Wyandot chief, Jack Brandy.
After the war he resumed his duties as Indian Agent and interpreter, being a signatory to Treaties at Detroit (1807), Brownstown (1808), Maumee (1817), St Mary’s, Ohio (1818), Saginaw (1819) and Chicago (1821). He died on 5 May 1827.
Whitmore’s parents were George Knaggs, who had been born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and Rachel Sly, who had Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
parentage. One of at least eight children, he was born in 1763 on his father’s farm by the Maumee River
Maumee River
The Maumee River is a river in northwestern Ohio and northeastern Indiana in the United States. It is formed at Fort Wayne, Indiana by the confluence of the St. Joseph and St. Marys rivers, and meanders northeastwardly for through an agricultural region of glacial moraines before flowing into the...
in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. He was educated at home, being taught French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
by his mother.
He was friendly with the local Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
people, and was appointed a United States Indian Agent
Indian agent
In United States history, an Indian agent was an individual authorized to interact with Native American tribes on behalf of the U.S. government.-Indian agents:*Leander Clark was agent for the Sac and Fox in Iowa beginning in 1866....
in 1781 (some say by George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
). In July 1784 the headman of the Ottawa nation
Ottawa (tribe)
The Odawa or Ottawa, said to mean "traders," are a Native American and First Nations people. They are one of the Anishinaabeg, related to but distinct from the Ojibwe nation. Their original homelands are located on Manitoulin Island, near the northern shores of Lake Huron, on the Bruce Peninsula in...
granted him a tract of land on the Maumee River on which Fort Miami
Fort Miami
Fort Miami was the name of several forts in what is now the United States.*Fort Miami *Fort Miami *Fort Miami...
was later built.
On 20 August 1794 he fought with General Anthony Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers
Battle of Fallen Timbers
The Battle of Fallen Timbers was the final battle of the Northwest Indian War, a struggle between American Indian tribes affiliated with the Western Confederacy and the United States for control of the Northwest Territory...
against a mixed Canadian and Indian force. He also acted as interpreter.
He moved to Detroit, where his father had opened a trading store, and in 1797, married Josette Labadie. In 1803 he bought a homestead and farm on the Detroit River
Detroit River
The Detroit River is a strait in the Great Lakes system. The name comes from the French Rivière du Détroit, which translates literally as "River of the Strait". The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. The river...
by Knaggs Creek (now disappeared) where he raised five children, and built a windmill
Windmill
A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
. It became a stopping point for Indians of the Ottawa, Chippewa, Pottawatomi and Wabash tribes. Whitmore Knaggs could converse in all these languages.
He was a personal friend of the Indian leader Tecumseh
Tecumseh
Tecumseh was a Native American leader of the Shawnee and a large tribal confederacy which opposed the United States during Tecumseh's War and the War of 1812...
(who was later killed by James Knaggs). In 1805 he was made a Captain in the Michigan Militia
Michigan Militia
The Michigan Militia was an organized paramilitary organization founded by Norman Olson, a former U.S. Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer, of Alanson, Michigan, USA. The organization formed around 1994 in response to perceived encroachments by the Federal Government on the rights of citizens during...
, and fought against the British and the Indians in the war of 1812-1815. He was present at the Surrender of Detroit and was taken prisoner by the British, but later released. Later captured by the Shawnee
Shawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
chief George Blue Jacket, he was saved from death by the Wyandot chief, Jack Brandy.
After the war he resumed his duties as Indian Agent and interpreter, being a signatory to Treaties at Detroit (1807), Brownstown (1808), Maumee (1817), St Mary’s, Ohio (1818), Saginaw (1819) and Chicago (1821). He died on 5 May 1827.