Metcalf Family Mews

Cook sausage links in 3 tablespoons of water in a covered frying pan for five minutes. Remove the cover and lightly brown the sausage links. In the meantime, make a soft biscuit dough and roll to half inch thickness. Cut the dough into one inch strips and wrap around the links. Bake in 425 degree oven for oven for 10 minutes and serve with gravy made from the sausage drippings.

Character is formed, not by laws, commands, and decrees, but by quiet influence, unconscious suggestion and personal guidance. ~ Marion Burton Tweet

Mithology 101

For those of us that have watched the Mitha saga play out over the last two years, will want to take the time to see if you we find the proof that we need to make this the final chapter in the long series of queries…

Mitha was the daughter of Straight Tail.

Mitha was the mother of Elizabeth Parker, wife of William Adkins/Atkinson. ~ ‘Lyn’

Straight Tail aka Meaurroway – Pekowi born about 1630 OH-died 1709 PA.

I will call the our local Chief and see what she can tell me about Straight Tail aka Meaurroway – Pekowi born about 1630 OH-died 1709 PA. I hear she is a very sweet lady. Hopefully, I’ll meet with her and see what she has to offer on the subject.

I doubt this will put any minds at ease. Most of you will take it with a grain of salt. That’s all I have at to say on this matter. I will make it so on my family tree. I’m sure it will meet with a great deal of conflict. It already has. I’m just trusting that her facts  are right. She didn’t have to go there for me, but she did and for that, I am truly THANKFUL! Lyn has been the nicest person that I have encountered on this quest.

I know this will not put this matter to rest, but for now, its where I’m going to leave it. If you can find any other records, more than what the family already has, please by all means, present it.  I’m still open to any and all facts on this matter.

I’m sure that Grandma Elizabeth aka Mitha is and will forever be our Grandmother, whether she was born Elizabeth UNK from Surrey, England or Mitha from the Pekowi – Shawano Tribe (Turtle Clan) … or just a gift from heaven, no matter where she came from. We will forever love and remember her in our dreams. God rest your soul.

No stair is steep to happy feet. ~ Mary F. Robinson

It’s Sunday, August 28, 2011 today. There are 125 days left in this year. We’re in week number 34 of 52.

Re: Strengths and Weaknesses

While I was doing my weekly planning and making a pot of chili, it’s a football day at our house, so the chili is ready and it smells like home to me; consider that one of my strengths. I was pondering my life and my work, my family and friends and their personalities. The people I choose to be in my life and those that I have for the lack of a better term, cut out. I decided this…

I am… who I am, not because of where I was born or to whom, but by the people in my life that I value. I value my LIFE. I know that would seem to be a broad statement, if you didn’t follow this blog. If you do, then you know what I mean about my life with style. I’m creative to a point, not as much as my mother, but creative just the same. I hate DRAMA, some consider that to be my weakness. I live to be happy and love how I live. I surround myself with the people I choose and decide whom I will interact with daily. We all decide things in our lives and live with those decisions. Good or bad, we have to live with them.

On Thursday, September 1, my sister-in-law, Mary Metcalf aka Cookie will have her decided 65th Birthday, you may not understand the “decided” part, when she was born, like most births at that time, children were born at home. Mother’s suffered from various ailments anywhere from after pains to child bed fever. They blanked out the pain, losing long periods of time. Her mother simply couldn’t remember when she was born. It was somewhere between the 1st and 3rd. Cookie decided that she liked the 1st so that’s when she celebrates her birthday. It happened to my Grandma Dorothy, as well, so a few of her children have decided on birth-dates. Nonetheless, it is an important date.

I’ve heard it said, “Its funny how there are billions of the people in the world and only 365 days in a year, yet we are always delighted and amazed when we find out we share a birthday with someone.” I did look up some people that were born on my birthday, none really impressed me, I share a birthday with Steve Miller of the Steve Miller Band, that’s pretty cool, but does it make us anything alike? Doubtful! Other than we are considered a Libra under the Zodiac Sign.

I’m a Libra born October 5 which is symbolized by the Scales and is a supposed to be a marvelous conversationalist. I think it really means that we just like to talk a lot. I’m not into Astrology at all, but like everyone else, I have read mine a few times. Mostly when I’m bored, but I do like that, someone takes the time to analyze these non-personal quips, like “You’re going to have a great day today, but avoid those people whom are in dark places.” Then I think, Dang, how do I avoid myself today? So, I usually tend to avoid the Charts. That makes my life so much easier. I do think that it does form our personalities. If we’re born in the Fall we tend to love the Fall, and gravitate to the things that are comfortable.

We surround ourselves, mostly with the people we have a lot in common with. I call this the “Bird’s of a Feather Mentality.” It’s so much easier to work with people that you have something in common with, such as those in your age bracket, your religion or politics or your group and/or family affiliations. I do have several friends outside those realms, which I tend to butt heads with, and yet, I never let that cause separation between us. I try to include everyone. Some relationships just take a little more work. The only people that I sever all ties with are those that I feel have betrayed me or my family and there are a few.

Recently, I was telling my cousin Sandy after a funeral, that I never go to someone’s house and disagree with them, but let them come to mine and it’s on. I’m going to tell them exactly what I think. My mom told me that it was rude to go to a man’s home and cause a problem. I see my blog, sort of like my home; a safe place. I don’t make people that disagree with me, take their and go home ball (although some I would like too), but rather ask that they give me some space to be me. You don’t have to agree with me, just let me think.

As a person who over-thinks or theorizes everything, as I was told, I’ll be 50 in October, an upcoming birthday offers me the guilty pleasure of self-indulgent self-reflection. It’s not birthday’s in general that make me pensive, or even turning 50, that should make me a little crazy, but it is the recognition that my year is about to begin again. I don‘t fear turning 50; I’m half way through a life well lived. I fear the unknown. What will this new year bring? A sign of weakness.

My sister Shirley was contemplating her absence, making her end of life decisions, and she was set back a little, by the fact that everyone’s lives would go on the same as before, just without her in it. I hope she can come to grips with that as well. It has been the downfall of many a philosopher.

I do tend to over think, over do and over compensate, rather than pick a careful path and circumvent it. The funny thing is the most significant insights seem to find me. It’s remarkable with the amount of information and observation that plague me daily, that there are some things that hit at just the right time. That stick.

The word “Homologate” means to approve; confirm or ratify. To register: such as a cars vendor or model identification number (make it an individual item). It’s what I commonly refer to as a two dollar word, which really just means to agree, to allow or to recognize as. I only mention this because, some off the cuff remarks made this week, mostly at my expense – that stuck. I cannot, nor will not, allow anyone to take control of my life or lineage. That which belongs to me. Whether or not I’m here or gone.

We will all be gone at some point and life will go on the same as before, just without us in it, but we can leave them that remain with the information that we had, and hopefully they will continue the work. A family by its very definition: any group of persons closely related by blood. We have that to carry on.

When I was accused this week of stealing someone’s previous research on the Family and compiling it with others, not giving them credit for what was theirs. Both adding to and taking away. I asked myself this question: Can you copy write a FAMILY?

I really don’t think so. No one can hold the rights to a Family history. It’s not a tangible thing that one can own. You can belong to it and be a part of it, analyze it, research it, even squander it, but you can’t own it anymore than I can own the 240th day of the year. No matter whom they claim to be or think they are, related to, their works or claim to fame, can take control of that group or families history. I’m saying, not even with a 2/3rds majority can you take control and decide what we can or cannot know about or have the right to know. Maybe the dark family secrets or the gossip you can manage to try to control, but nothing else really.

Many people bring many different attributes to a family. Take a family reunion for example. I just attended the Pearson Family Reunion, yesterday. Anthony didn’t want to go with me, even though it was his side of the family, but I went anyway, because I like them and wanted to hold Kim’s new baby.

I watched the younger ones playing the same games that we played as children, but admittedly a tad more organized, remembering that we’re a high tech world now. Instead of paper plates laid on the ground, they had red plastic safety cones and a prize for the winners of the three-legged race and the timeless task of carrying eggs on a spoon, among other classics games played. Of course, no child could resist the Indian Burial Mound; they would have to trek up the seemingly endless flight of stairs that ascend into the heavens. All while, the adults laughing, talking and filming every minute of it, on Tablets with a screen the size of a dinner plate. Nothing our Grandparents could have even imagined or hoped for.

Change is inevitable, but as the old adage says, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Families are about sharing fun filled events and being together, even if you don’t’ know half the people there, we still share. We’re related. That is what it’s all about.

I love holding new babies, watching the children play, eating too much and talking to people I rarely see, other than at these types of events. Our lives get hectic as we all go about our day to day, but we still need to take the time to be a family. Sharing, caring about one another and learning about the each other, remembering the past, keep those that have gone on before alive in our memories, as we cherish the new that will go on long after we are gone. That’s the way it should be. A time honored sequence of events all brought together by one word, FAMILY. Our hopes, our dreams, and our faith all tied up in a neat little package.

I would add this, “We’re all working toward the same end, but does the end justify the means?” You’ll have to answer that one for yourself. I always receive a great deal of comfort and inspiration from my family.

Our children challenge us all to get involved, you dared us to put aside our complacency and strife and work together toward the same end, our family.

You will never know how grateful and flattered I am that you make me part of your family, as I include you in mine.

Sincerely,
Sheila Jean Adkins Metcalf

It is better to wear out than to rust out. ~ Frances E. Willard

I’m writing my post today, because once again, I was challenged on my finds. We all know that I love a great debate and have been doing it for years. Here’s a direct quote from me from 2009…

I don’t need to phone a friend, poll the audience or use my 50/50 to have a great debate. I simply pose a question and wait for a response; PROS & CONS. I give my view point of view and you give yours, hence the word: DEBATE! I do give credit… where credit is due.

and another almost snippy comment by me under the same post…

I can go back and delete that line in my comment (as I did) and in my notes as I should have done prior to my posting the comment but since you have referenced it here, it won’t go away that easy. Unless I play GOD and delete it from your comment well. As the admin I have to power to do that here. Is this what you would prefer?

I do feel that if you’re the Professor: a person who professes to be an expert teaching the class, Shawnee Chief Cornstalk 101 then where is your Curriculum, reference material and/or notes? What are you bringing to the table here? You’re quick to dismiss everything, everyone else has said but offered no proof… nothing here on this matter; facts, ideas or references… only opinions, as far as I can see. With this being the case: why are you right and the rest of us wrong?

I did delete “my guess” part of that comment. And yours as well, should you decide for me to do so… that much of it will go away… but I think for YOU to be RIGHT… you need to provide some proof on your theories.

FEEL THE POWER… BRING IT… We’re all ears…

I’m not saying that you can’t get my dander up in a heated debate, because me you can. But, I did follow it with…

PS: Your critique of my deleted comment: You know I never called you an armchair genealogist in that comment. That was a cheap shot.
I deleted it because it did sound belittling, and my intent was not to discredit anyone’s findings. A lot of people have come before and hopefully even more after, and there is a lot of data scattered about, it would be in our best interest to get it together. That was the complete basis of that comment. Hopefully, you saved it so you can paste it back here. I deleted it without saving it first.

Some days, I tend to just let it roll like water off a ducks back, but today, I find myself having this same old lame argument. I did post on Facebook that Don Greene posted on my blog and if any of the cousins had any questions for him, that he would be glad to discuss it with them.

This set off a frenzy of  negative IM’s and I’m sorry for doing so, but this is the only contact that I have ever had with Don Greene;  now or in the past. I do not own any of his books, nor did I get any of my comments from it. Unless, it was thrown at me, as it has been many times in the past.  It is bandied about my blog, like a star gleaming in the night. I’m not saying that he hasn’t done his homework or that he even asked to be referenced on this post or any other, I’m just rebutting the accusation that I have somehow, at some point, reprinted all of his findings.

I have looked at his book at Amazon, since it was referenced many times, but I didn’t feel the need to buy it. I was only interested to see what others found or where he had obtained his documents.  As I’m sure many of you have as well.

I would like to personally apologize to him, for having no part in this at all up to this point, only to have himself  dragged into many discussions in the past. But that was not from me either, but from others, for which he was not a party to. And for that I am truly sorry. No one should ever be put into that situation, without their due consent.

He has since joined the comment query on this blog, so I guess, he – himself is open to the experience.  The FAMILY may or may not want to talk to him about HIS research or MINE or GAREN’s or TOM’s or MAGGIE’s or RONNIE’s, but I would stick to asking each of them, what their findings are. I know, I did, with the exception of Don Greene. Not that I didn’t think he had done his home work, but because he was only interested in the Shawnee aspects, as I was only interested in the FAMILY history.  I did ask him the two questions that I had on my mind, see under comments, about Elijah Adkins/ Atkins daughter Nancy, since we have no record of her, I was hoping to see what became of her, but he chose not to answer, so the FAMILY may never know.

My blog is for the FAMILY to share ideas, our research and history. We’re all related and its for posterity.  To help our children, and hopefully, their children’s children, know where they came from. Many others have done it, and I don’t know why we can’t. Yes, I do speculate a lot on this blog, but all researchers do. If we don’t get an idea, we won’t have something to look for. Should my findings be inaccurate, then I try and remedy it, but I do look at it from all angles and sides. Everyone has a view point, and I do say in most of my posts that it was a rumor or just an idea. I run it up the flagpole and see of it flies.

I was going to call Connie Heard, a local Chief, today from Fort Ancient, but I better put that on hold. I’d hate to drag someone else into this squabble. Although, she is supposed to be the nicest person you could ever talk to, and will help you with anything, comes with the highest recommendation, I better table that for now. It’s a shame, because I was really looking forward to talking with her. Oh well, hopefully, she and I can meet at some point, she seems like someone I’d really like. Until then…

I will continue to work daily on my FAMILY research and play Farmville; my only vice. I work hard at what I do, and if you actually knew me, you’d know how much work that I do, you wouldn’t be so quick to make crass or demeaning comments to me or anyone else working to the same end. Respect the work and the findings, that’s all I ask.  I didn’t ask for a trophy and I have said it a million times, I’m not writing a book here, not making a dime from my WORK, I only want to preserve my FAMILY history. I have given credit where credit is due. My Uncle Denny Adkins has spent a great number of years, Jack Reed and my mom’s cousin Frank Goode, among others. I have thanked them countless times for their work and dedication, for which, I am forever in their debt.

This blog is about ME, my FAMILY, my HISTORY and my LINEAGE… it’s a sounding block for my ideas. A record of my work. I share almost every part of my life with my family and ask for nothing in return, but a little respect can go a long way. I would venture to say that at this point, I have only two secrets in my life, and will take to my grave with me, everything else I have disclosed.

I will continue to look through thousands of records and brainstorm with other FAMILY members, but will not stand to be accused of something for which I have never done, and now seems very unlikely that I will ever will do.  Thanks for your concern.

Now, I will go and put in a full day of being a wife, a mother and a Grandmother. I love my life!

Thanks as always,
Sheila Jean Adkins Metcalf

One of the illusions of life is that the present hour is not the critical, decisive hour. Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. No man has learned anything rightly, until he knows that every day is Doomsday. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

PS: I know I quote a lot of people on my blog, funny it looks to me like I have given them their due. See the “QUOTATION MARKS!”

Here’s a delightful way to serve strawberries.
MENU
Veal Chops
Mashed Potatoes
Snap Beans
Salad
Bread Tray
Strawberry Citrus Bowl
Beverage

Strawberry Citrus Bowl
INGREDIENTS
1 large grapefruit
1 large orange
1 pint strawberries
1/4 cup sugar
DIRECTIONS
Cut rind from grapefruit and orange so no white membrane remains. Cut sections away from dividing membranes. Do this over bowl so as to save the juices. Wash strawberries with cold water. If berries are small, leave whole: if the are large, cut in half. Mix berries with sugar; more or less sugar may be used according to taste. At serving time, put orange and grapefruit sections with juice in a glass serving bowl; carefully spoon sweetened strawberries over the top.
Serves: 4-6

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Snap Beans
INGREDIENTS
Fresh green beans, snapped
1/2 c. water
1 tbsp. sugar
1/2 stick butter
3 small green onions, cut up
Garlic salt or 1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. rosemary

DIRECTIONS
Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Cover and cook on medium for 10-15 minutes.

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The greatest truths are the simplest: so likewise are the greatest men. ~ Augustus William Hare and Julius Charles Hare

Straight Tail aka Meaurroway- – Pekowi born about 1630 OH-died 1709 PA – parents unknown, Turtle Clan, 1670 a Pekowi Chief in OH, 1677 band moved from OH-mid-Ohio valley to IN-IL-Miami & Illinois River valleys near Miami & Illinois, about 1680 some of the family/band begin to move to the corner of TN-KY-VA-NC to join the Chalakatha-Mekoche-Kishpoko there, by 1689 the bulk of the band from IL-IN joins Chalakatha, Mekoche-Kishpoko in east TN-west NC-east KY-southwest VA, by 1693 most of band from NC-TN-VA-KY living in Cecil Co MD, by 1697 most of the band living in Lancaster Co PA-Susquehanna valley, 1697 succeeded by his son Opessa/1664 as Pekowi Chief in Pequea PA, 1709 succeeded by Pheasant-Kakawatchekee/1670 as Pekowi Chief in Pechoquealin PA, husband 1650 OH of Pekowi Woman/1635, father of son Wolf/1654, daughter Sewatha/1660, sons Cakundawanna-Sevana/1662, Opessa/1664, daughter Snow White/1666, son John White/1670, Daughter-(wife of Tamenebuck)/1674-all Pekowi

Opessa aka Opethatha-Wapatha-Wopatha-Hopesha-Opessa Straight Tail-Oppaymolleh – Pekowi born 1664 OH-died latter 1760 OH – son of Straight Tail-Meaurroway/1630 & Pekowi Woman/1635, Turtle Clan, moved 1677 with band to IN, moved 1680 to IL, 1689 moved with band to TN-NC-KY-VA, by 1693 living in Cecil Co MD, about 1693 a Pekowi Chief under his father in Cecil Co MD, 1697 moved to Lancaster Co PA with band, 1697 succeeded Straight Tail as Pekowi Chief in Pequea PA, signed Treaty 1701 with William Penn with Lemoytungh & Pemoyajagh, 1706 Council Philadelphia, 1707 Conference at Pequea Lancaster Co PA with Governor John Evans, 1710 Conference at Conestoga PA with John French & Henry Worley, resigned 1711 to move to Sassoonan’s Delaware village-Shamokin PA, succeeded 1711 as Pekowi Chief at Pequea PA by his brother Cakundawanna/1662, 1715 Conference Philadelphia with Sassoonan, 1722 moved to Old Town MD-upper Potomac & replaced his brother Cakundawanna as Pekowi Chief again by 1723, by 1734 moved to AL with band, by 1738 returned to western MD/southeast PA, Aug. 1749 Council Philadelphia, 1750 moved to OH, 1752 succeeded Pheasant-Kakawatchekee/1680 as Head Pekowi Chief on the Ohio River, May 1756 Council Tioga Point, Aug. 1760 Council Ft. Pitt, brother in law (through sister Snow White) of Peter Chartier/1690, connected with Poxinosa, White Fish (1) & Okowellos Cornstalk, great-grandfather of Tecumseh/1768, husband 1st by 1684 IN of Margaret Pekowi/1670, 2nd 1711 PA of Polly-Daughter of Sassoonan/1695-Delaware, father with Margaret of children/1685-94, daughter Snow White/1695, sons Tecoomteh/1698, Wawwaythi/1700, Loyparkoweh/1705 & Lawaquaqua-Pride Opessa/1710-all Pekowi, children with Polly unknown

Opessa, Loyparkaweh aka Loapeckeway-Lawpakaway – Pekowi born about 1702 PA-died after 1760 OH – son of Opessa/1664 & Margaret Pekowi/1670, grandson of Meaurroway-Straight Tail, Turtle Clan, in west PA 1711-23 with father Opessa, returned to north MD/east PA area with Opessa 1723, living on the Alleghany River by 1727, a Pekowi Chief in PA by 1732, in 1732-1733-1734 signed letters to the Governor of PA as one of the Chiefs on the Alleghany complaining about the sale of rum to the natives, moved to AL 1734 with Opessa, left a wife & children in AL with relatives/clan members, returned to PA by 1738 sent letter to the Governor with Neucheconner & Coycacolenne protesting the sale of rum, then called a young Chief guided by vice regent Neucheconner, between 1738 & 1744 lived at Chartier’s Town-Alleghany Co PA & Logstown-Alleghany Co PA, apparently moved to OH with Peter Chartier & Neucheconner in 1744-45 for he is living in Lower Shawnee Town OH in 1752 when he sent a letter with 3 other Shawnee Chiefs there to the Governor of PA reporting that they were still loyal to the British though most of their neighbors had gone over to the French, attended Council Philadelphia 1753 after Opessa moved to OH, apparently opposed the Shawnee participation in French-Indian War/1754-60, a minor Pekowi Chief in OH after death of Opessa, husband 1st 1720 MD of Nancy Pekowi/1706, 2nd 1738 PA of her sister Elizabeth Pekowi/1704, father with Nancy of Tecumsapah-Margaret/1724, Sewatha-Sarah (1)/1727, Watmeme-Polly/1730, Nancy-Middle Daughter/1734, Sarah (2)-Younger Daughter/1736 & Metheotashe-Mary/1738-all Pekowi, children with Elizabeth unknown

Information reprinted from Classification: Query – Full Collins Shepard  – Posted: 15 Jun 2009 3:19AM GMT tdbaxa

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No mention of “Mitha” anywhere in this letter/note circa 1999 (copied) from the Appalachian Shawnee Tribe.

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NOTES

• Most Family Trees list “Mitha” as the daughter of the Shawano Woman Bear Clan.
• Which could explain how Parker Adkins s/o William V. & Elizabeth Parker Adkins is listed as Shawano Metis.  (If his mother, Elizabeth Parker d/o Richard Parker and Mitha Straight Tail, should Mitha’s mother actually have been Shawano Woman Bear Clan).
• Meaurroway> wife:  Pekowi Woman Turtle Clan listed as mother of 6 siblings, including John White. Sister Snow White wife of Peter Chartier, only listed as d/0 Pekowi Woman.
• Meaurroway> wife:  Shawano Woman Bear Clan 4 other unnamed daughters are listed as children of. No sources given.
  
• son John White is also listed under both mother’s.
• Mithaology: “Mitha“  may also be the daughter of Jeptha Massey and sister of Lahoma “Lany” Massey.
• All documents signed by Elizabeth Parker Adkins mother; she signed her name as Elizabeth. The only time the name Mitha was used, was in Richard Parker’s Will. He names his wife, “Mitha.” But its illegible writing under her name.

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As if, I didn’t have enough to ponder. I get even more possible parents for Mitha. It seems I get one step closer and then I have to take two steps back.  I know the information is out there, but how can we find out for sure; without leaving a single shred of doubt? I’m guessing, that this is where they get the phrase, the excepted parents of: or her parents were believed to be…

I’m open to any and/or all comments or documentation would be amazing, if you could produce some… anything! I need proof!

The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses – behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights. ~ Muhammad Ali