John Heckewelder

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John Heckewelder after a portrait by Henry Howe

John Heckewelder , also Johann Heckewelder (born March 12, 1743 in Bedford , † January 21, 1823 in Bethlehem (Pennsylvania) ) was an American missionary and ethnologist .

Life

Heckewelder's family came from Zauchtenthal in Moravia . He grew up in Bedford, England, and then in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where his father was a preacher and missionary for the Moravian Brothers . Before he was trained as a missionary, Heckewelder was a farmer and cooper .

Through his missionary work, especially with the Delawars and Iroquois , he acquired a comprehensive knowledge of the culture and customs of these peoples. Because of his excellent language skills, he was repeatedly used as an interpreter.

In 1810 he retired to Bethlehem and began to write down his knowledge. In 1819 his book Account of the History, Manners, and Customs of the Indian Nations who once inhabited Pennsylvania and the Neighboring States was published . As early as 1821 it came out in German under the title News of the History, Manners and Customs of the Indian Peoples, which at that time inhabited Pennsylvania and the neighboring states . In 1820 Narrative of the Mission of the United Brethren among the Delawares and Mohegan Indians , a history of the missionary work of the Moravian Brethren to the Delawares and Mohegan from 1740 to 1808, was published.

Heckewelder's works are among the most important reports on the tribes of the north-eastern woodland. They were also an important source for the adventure literature , especially for the Leatherstocking narratives of James Fenimore Cooper .

literature

personal data
SURNAME Heckewelder, John
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Heckewelder, Johann
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American missionary and ethnologist
DATE OF BIRTH March 12, 1743
PLACE OF BIRTH Bedford
DATE OF DEATH January 21, 1823
Place of death Bethlehem, Pennsylvania