On Our Own Ground: The Complete Writings of William Apess, a Pequot (Native Americans of the Northeast: Culture, History, & the Contemporary)
(William Apess was the first Native American's to fully, a...)
William Apess was the first Native American's to fully, and publicly, speak out regarding the racism and unfair treatment that he and others endured. The author's writing is eloquently delivered, instilling the reader with a realistic framework of a political, historical, and personal mindset.
A Son of the Forest" and Other Writings (Native Americans of the Northeast)
(Designed especially for classroom use, this book brings t...)
Designed especially for classroom use, this book brings together the best-known works of the nineteenth-century Indian writer William Apess, including the first extended autobiography by a Native American. The text is drawn from On Our Own Ground, which was named a Choice Outstanding Academic Book. Barry O'Connell has written a new introduction for this abbreviated edition.
William Apes was born in 1798 in the woods near Colrain, Massachussets, United States, the son of William and Candace Apes. His father was a half-breed who joined the natives and married a descendant of King Philip. Apess was part Pequot by descent, especially through his mother's family, and identified with their culture.
During his childhood the boy's parents led a roving life as basket-makers, and his early years were passed with his grandparents, who treated him with great brutality.
At some time during his fifth year, after his arm had been broken by his grandmother, he was rescued by an uncle who called in a neighboring white man to his assistance. Brought up and Christianized by the whites, he ran away at the age of fifteen and enlisted in the army.
By the age of 16, he became an alcoholic and struggled with alcoholism for the rest of his life.
Education
Apes didn't have an opportunity to receive education.
Career
Apes took part in Gen. Hampton's abortive campaign against Canada, in Gen. Wilkinson's attack on Montreal, and in the battle of Lake Champlain.
He became a Methodist preacher, but being refused a license by the Methodist Episcopal Conference, he joined the Methodist Society, instead, by which he was regularly ordained in 1829. Four years later when visiting the Marshpee Indians on Cape Cod he found them very discontented with their lot.
Unjustly taxed, receiving neither police protection, education, nor religious instruction--the white missionary appointed by Harvard College received 400 acres of Indian land but devoted all his attention to his own countrymen--the Indians endured in silence for lack of a leader to voice their complaints. This leader they now found in Apes, who became a member of the tribe, and boldly encouraged them to adopt rather high-handed resolutions, dismissing their white overseers and fainéant missionary, and forbidding the whites to cut wood on their plantation.
Presently Apes was arrested for forcibly unloading a wagonload of wood collected by one Sampson in defiance of the Indian notification; he was tried on the charge of inciting to riot and sentenced to thirty days in jail. The case attracted attention throughout the state and was widely commented upon in the newspapers. Apes was at liberty in time to make one of the Indian deputation which petitioned the next legislature.
Largely influenced by his sincerity and eloquence, the legislature adopted measures removing most of the Indian grievances. Apes brought libel suits against three of his detractors and compelled apologies.
After these victories, his career is unrecorded.
He was the author of four works: A Son of the Forest (1829), a delightfully naive autobiography, containing a long appendix on the Indian character; The Experiences of Five Christian Indians: or the Indian's Looking-Glass for the White Man(1833); Indian Nullification of the Unconstitutional Laws of Massachusetts Relative to the Marshpee Tribe: or, the Pretended Riot Explained (1835), a full, well-documented account of the whole Marshpee affair, put into its final shape by William J. Snelling; Eulogy on King Philip (1836), a convincing evidence of Apes's oratorical power.
At the age of 41, Apess died of a cerebral hemorrhage on April 10, 1839 at 31 Washington Street in New York City.
Achievements
Apes became a political and religious leader in Massachusetts. He published his autobiography which was one of the first autobiographies by a Native American writer.
He also helped organize what was called the Mashpee Revolt of 1833-1834.
(William Apess was the first Native American's to fully, a...)
Views
Quotations:
"I felt convinced that Christ died for all mankind – that age, sect, color, country, or situation make no difference. I felt an assurance that I was included in the plan of redemption with all my brethren. "
"As the immortal Washington lives endeared and engraven on the hearts of every white in America, never to be forgotten in time – even such is the immortal Philip honored, as held in memory by the degraded but yet graceful descendants who appreciate his character. "
"Is it not because there reigns in the breast of many who are leaders a most unrighteous, unbecoming, and impure black principle, and as corrupt and unholy as it can be – while these very same unfeeling, self-esteemed characters pretend to take the skin as a pretext to keep us from our unalienable and lawful rights?"
Connections
In 1821, Apess married Mary Wood, also of mixed race. The couple had one son and three daughters together. After Mary died, Apess later remarried. He and his second wife settled in New York City in the late 1830s.
