The Shawnee were a very migrant people, but their villages were found primarily in the Ohio River Valley region, in the present-day states of Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. The role of Shawnee men was to hunt game and protect the villages and the People. Shawnee women grew corn and other crops, built the family wegiwas (homes), and cared for the children. The Shawnee were a very religious people, and admired courage and strength above all else. The Shawnee were divided into five sects: The Chillicothe and Thawakila sects were in charge of political matters; the principal chief of the tribe must belong to one of these sects. The Mekoce sect was responsible for religious ceremonies. The Piqua sect were the speakers for the chiefs of the tribe. The Kispoko sect were the warriors. This is about my lineage.

Shawnee Kispoko Chief Thithicki -- Great-X9-Grandfather --

Shawnee Kispoko Chief Opeththa -- Great-X8-Grandfather -- Opeththa is often spelled Opessa in the early documents. He was thirty two years old at the time he led his followers to the Illinois River and then into Ohio.

Shawnee Kispoko Chief Waywaythi -- Great-X7-Grandfather -- also known as Lawpkaway and Loyparcowah Little is recorded about the life of the father of Pucksinwah, except he was thirty years old at the time of Pucksinwah's birth which occurred at Pickawilly, located on the banks of the Great Miami River on the site of Piqua, Miami county, Ohio. No information has been discovered relative to the identity of his wife, Pucksinwah's mother.

Shawnee Kispoko Chief Pucksinwah -- Great-X6-Grandfather -- He was born at Pickawilly, Ohio, now the site of Piqua, Ohio, son of Wawwaythi. Married Methotasa, a cherokee Shawnee in May of 1755. He died October 10,1774 in the battle at Point Pleasant. He predicted his own death also the death of his son-in-law. Also gave birth to the first recorded triplet sons in the Shawnee Nation. Was a loving father and husband and cherished all young children as shown by adoption of children of white descent taken in battle, as shown below. A great Leader of his people and spiritually attuned to Manato, the Shawnee God.

Methotaska -- Great-X6-Grandmother -- Marguerite Mary Iaac -- Mother of Tecumseh and Tecumpease, was born between 1728 and 1737 in Hampshire Co. WV. Her parents were Frederick Iaac Jr. who was born about 1713 in Holland and died in Monongalia Co. WV. And Mary Galloway, born about 1690. While Frederick and some men were out one day, many members of his family were attacked and killed by a band of indians. His wife Mary Galloway Iaac was among those found dead. Some of the children were taken as captives, Marguerite Mary Iaac, who was between the age of 5 and 10, William Iaac, John Iaac, and Christina Iaac. Marguerite Mary Iaac ended up with the Cherokee, she may have been traded to them, or sold, or captured by them. It was told that she had flaming red hair and was very pretty. She spent many years with the Cherokee, but was taken captive by the Shawnee after a battle between the two tribes. Mary soon became a favorite in the eyes of the Shawnee Chief, Pucksinwah, and they were married.

Tecumpease ( Sister of Tecumseh) -- abt 1758 -1823 -- Great-X5-Grandparents -- Spouse -- Rupert Collins b. abt 1742 "The mother of Jane Collins Full is said to have retained her Indian name after her marriage to Mr. Collins." I can vision this Indian girl, dressed in the traditional garb, common to the customs of her people, wise in her knowledge of the wilderness, shy and unpretentious; the daughter of a chief and a princess among her tribe. She was born about 1749.

Jane Collins -- Abt 1768 -- -- Great-X4-Grandparents -- Spouse -- Lewis Rubin Full -- abt 1765 -- Pendleton, Virgina (WV), Lewis Full was the first settler on Fulls Fork (Known as Childers Fork).

Lara Amelia Full -- 3/16/1803 - 8/27/1876   -- Great-X3-Grandparents -- Spouse -- Samuel Sheppard -- 3/27/1803 - 3/6/1872 Samual Sheppard was a pioneer preacher. The number of funerals conducted and marriages solemnized by this minister is almost without parallel. Sheppard's Chapel in Jackson County is named for him. He served the Wirt County area as a member of the House of Delegates in 1871-1872.

Lewis Sheppard -- 1/29/1836 - 7/19/1907 -- Great-X2-Grandparents -- Spouse -- Margaret Enoch -- 10/27/1836 - 6/16/1875 -- Lewis Sheppard was a member of the West Virginia Legislature in 1881.

Draper C Sheppard -- 2/12/1867 - 1924 -- Great-Grandparents -- Spouse -- Mertilla Mills 12/1869 - 1955

Margaret Mary Sheppard -- 10/30/1902 - 10/01/1980 -- -- Grandparents -- Spouse -- John Willam Grogan -- 06/28/1899 - 05/26/1963 --

Edith Mae Grogan -- Parents -- -- 12/26/1928 - 08/13/1992 Spouse -- Brady Edward Lyons -- 01/20/1925 - 12/17/1994

Dianna Louise Lyons -- 4/28/1947 - Spouse 1 -- David Lee Smith Spouse 2 -- John Allen Smith

Shawnee Kispoko Chief Tecumseh

Eldest Brother----Cheesauka sometimes spelled Chiksika or Chiksekau

Second Eldest----Tecumseh

Sister-----Tecumpease

(Triplets)
First born of the triplets, Sauwaseekau (was killed at the Battle of Fallen Timbers)
Second born triplet Kumskaukau---is believed to have died in the first year
Third born of the triplets,Lalawethika or
Tenskwatawa----the Prophet

Sister----Nehaaeemo

Adopted Brother----Wehyahpihreshnwah (Blue Jacket adopted 1771)

Mohnetohse----First wife of Tecumseh whom he sent back to her parents for neglecting their infant son

Mahyawwekawpawe---First son of Tecumseh

Mamate----Second wife of Tecumseh, who died after childbirth

Naythawaynah (A Panther Seizing Its Prey)----Second son of Tecumseh

Tenskwatawa (The Prophet)
(1775-1837)

Shawnee Kispoko Chief Blue Jacket Marmaduke Van Swearingen was born on January 2, 1753, on a thousand-acre farm in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, according to a copy of his birth record at the Chillicothe Historical Society in Ross County. His parents were John and Katherine Stoll Swearingen, and he was the fourth son of fourteen children. While hunting in what is now West Virginia with his younger brother Charles, the 17-year-old Marmaduke encountered a Shawnee hunting party. His knowledge of the Shawnee language was useful in avoiding a fight. After talking for over an hour, it was arranged for Charles to return home unharmed if Marmaduke willingly accompanied the Shawnee to their tribe. There, he was initiated into the Shawnee and given the name Blue Jacket, derived from his blue linsey jacket. Marmaduke never lived within the white world again. Instead, he became one of the most feared Shawnee warriors and, remarkably, one of the eight outstanding chieftains in Ohio history. Blue Jacket's unique path to greatness among the Shawnee people is still remembered today. Eckert romanticizes Blue Jacket's life in his novels The Frontiersman and A Sorrow in Our Heart. There is also the annual outdoor drama, Blue Jacket, near Xenia, Ohio. These constant remembrances of Marmaduke Van Swearingen do more than just commemorate the great chief Blue Jacket. They stand as reminders that one white man saw more than just greed for land in 18th century Ohio. Blue Jacket saw what was right and wrong. And, most important, he took action by giving his lifetime to the Shawnee.