Indian Joe

Indian Joe
Bornaround 1739 (1739)
Died1819 (aged 79–80)
OccupationGuide
Known for"the friendly Indian Guide"

Indian Joe, (Captain Joe, Old Joe, Jo Indian, Joe Injun, Abenaki translation of Joseph: Susapp[1]) was a Native American scout.

Biography[edit]

Born near Louisbourg, Nova Scotia of Mi'kmaq origin, he was adopted by Abenaki people, who took him to St. Francis (today's Odanak). He served as a scout under Colonel Jacob Bayley (1726-1815). He was injured in the Rogers' Rangers raid on the village. He eventually moved to the area of Cowass (today's Newbury, Vermont).[1][2]

During the American Revolutionary War, Joe again served under Jacob Bayley and later under Moses Hazen. After the war, he and Molly lived in Danville, Vermont[1] and on an island on what is now called Joe's Pond in Danville.[2] Joe died on February 19, 1819, after he fell and was injured by the severe cold. His burial was paid for by Frye Bayley, and he was given a military style funeral.[1]

Legacy[edit]

Several places are named after Joe and Molly:

  • Joe's Pond between present day Danville and Cabot[2]
  • Joe's Brook, outlet of Joe's Pond[1]
  • Molly's Pond in Cabot[1]

Other tributes:

  • "A Dirge for Jo Indian", composed in 1922, by Eastwood Lane as part of his Adirondack Sketches

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Johnson, Arthur (Nov 2007). "Indian Joe". Ne-Do-Ba (Friends). Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Brown, E. Jane (September 1994). "Welcome to Joe's Pond Vermont". Originally published in The Caledonian Record. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2017.

Further reading[edit]

  • Johnson Family of Newbury [VT] Papers, 1775-1886, Docs. 574.76.1 & 575.33, MSA 426.28, Vermont Historical Society.
  • William Parker Neal, Indian Joe Trilogy: Indian Joe The Friendly Indian Guide, Indian Joe The Famous Abenaki, Molly - Squaw of Indian Joe. [Danville, VT: United Methodist Church & the author, 1976-?]. (See http://www.joespondvermont.com/products.html)
  • Frederic P. Wells, History of Newbury, Vermont ... St. Johnsbury, VT: Caledonian, 1902.