Straight Tail Meaurroway Opessa, or simply known as Meaurroway, was Chief of the Pekowi, a subdivision of the Shawnee Native American tribe.
Background
Straight Tail was born in 1630 in present-day Ohio, to the Chief of the Pekowi and an unnamed Pekowi Woman. Nothing is yet known of his childhood or teenage years, but what is known is that he succeeded his father at the age of 40 in 1670, as both Pekowi Chief and Chief of the Turtle Clan.
Career
He was also the Chief of the Turtle Clan, one of the most religious orders of the tribe. Each division of the Shawnee had control over different aspects of the whole tribe"s lifestyle, and the Pekowi managed the Shawnee"s state of order, duty and celebration of religion. As Chief, Straight Tail was in charge of these important aspects of tribal life.
Meaurroway was a strong leader, leading his people on massive migrations: 1677: Leads his people to present-day Illinois and Miami to join up with other bands of Shawnee and various tribes.
1680–1693: Leads his tribe to the area around present-day Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and North Carolina, frequently moving throughout that area over the course of 13 years. 1697: Straight Tail settles down with his tribe in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Opessa would later sign a peace treaty with William Penn in 1701, and have good relations with Pennsylvania governor John Evans. Straight Tail"s grandson Peter Chartier became chief of the Pekowi in 1737.
Straight Tail Meaurroway Opessa died in Pennsylvania in either 1709 or 1710.
Unlike other Native American Chiefs before him, Straight Tail did not discourage interracial marriage. He encouraged a good relationship with the Europeans. Other children and their descendants also married whites.
Because of these marriages, many of his modern-day descendants include people that have Caucasian features.