Honoring A Brothertown Indian

Tags

Brothertown, markbaldwin, memorial

On Sunday, June 12 at 10am, there will be a memorial bench dedication at Brothertown’s Union Cemetery in honor of Mark Alan Baldwin. Mark was born and raised in Sheboygan, Wisconsin but later relocated to California’s Bay Area where he passed away suddenly, at his home, on April 25, 2021.

For over four decades, Mark worked in service of the Brothertown Indians. He began a contemporary tribal newsletter in the 1980s, spearheaded numerous grants, served on Tribal Council, and volunteered for countless projects and committees. A few years ago, Mark helped to establish, and served as president for, Calumet and Cross Heritage Society; an independent nonprofit that works to preserve and share the history of the Brothertown Indians.

One of Mark’s final projects with Calumet and Cross was to begin work on a series of historical markers for culturally important sites in and around Brothertown, Wisconsin. Union Cemetery is one of these sites and is the final resting place for many Brothertown Indians; including some of Mark’s relatives. The new bench will sit under the trees near the entrance; ready to offer assistance, as Mark always was, to anyone in need.

A Selection From The Thursday, December 17, 1772 Diary Of Joseph Johnson (Mohegan/Brothertown)

Tags

Brothertown Historical Documents, Brothertown Indians, Eeyawquittoowauconnuck, Founders, Johnson, Joseph Johnson, Journal, Laura Murray, Mohegan

Taken from the Laura Murray book, To Do Good To My Indian Brethren

Some punctuation and spacing added

Well I remember home
O Mohegan O Mohegan
The time is long before I shall be walking
my wonted places which are on thee
Once there I was
but perhaps never again
but still I remember thee

In you is lodged my father and mother dear
and my beloved sisters and brothers
Keep them in thy womb Mohegan
til thou dost hear the voice of God
“O Mohegan give up thy dead”
then no longer prisoners
shall they be unto thee

The joyful hour is approaching
My soul, come meditate the day
and think how near it stands
when you must leave this house of clay
and fly to unknown lands
Hast my beloved fetch my soul up to thy Blest abode
fly for my spirit longs to see my Savior and my God

Mohegan is a lonesome place
oft have I sighed but sighed in vain
desired but desired in vain
cast down but no one to comfort me
in distress no one to relieve me
No friend to open my heart and vent my sorrows
I opened my mouth to the open air and told the stones my sorrow

Thus, O Mohegan have you treated me
and thinkest thou I can forget thee
or thy inhabitants
Thinkest thou or thine inhabiters
that I am desiring to be on thee
or with them?
Far far from me be such a thought

But still there is a precious few in thee
which causes my mind often to meditate of thee
Perhaps in due time
I may once more come on thy borders
But first I have to go, to distant lands; and far country
and different nations I have to walk through
before I see thee.

Thus, O Mohegan
I must bid you farewell
and shut the door of my heart
against thee
for I have a truer friend
to entertain in my heart
so good night

March 13, 1773: The Beginning of Eeyawquittoowauconnuck/Brothertown

Tags

1773, Brothertown, Brothertown Indians, Eeyawquittoowauconnuck, founding, History, Johnson, march 13, New York Indians, Samson Occom

Today in Tribal History: On March 13, 1773, representatives from 7 Native communities met in Mohegan to discuss emigration to Oneida lands in upstate New York. Brothertown/Eeyawquittoowauconnuck is underway! That was 249 years ago today. Mark your calendars for March 13, 2023!

“March 13, 1773” (C) 2019 by a Brothertown youth

Coincidentally, it would be exactly 2 years later, March 13, 1775, when the first settlers would begin the trip to the new tribal lands in NY.

Check out the new Brothertown podcast now on Spotify-“Stories of the Brothertown Indians”: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NWo6wxOp4pEX4zmygBmo3?si=IeV2viGsSSSc9q1oqqa7UA.

Don’t forget to click subscribe!

Mark Baldwin Memorial Bench Fund Raiser

Tags

Brothertown, calumet and Cross, Mark Baldwin, Union cemetery

Calumet and Cross Heritage Society is raising funds to purchase and install a bench in Brothertown, Wisconsin’s Union Cemetery in honor of our friend and founding President, Mark Baldwin. Please go to https://gofund.me/663ae6f8 to learn more. All donations are appreciated.

https://gofund.me/663ae6f8.

Even a small donation could help us reach our fundraising goal. If you can’t make a donation, it would be great if you could share the fundraiser to help spread the word.

UPDATE: Thanks to all who donated, we reached our goal within two days. Thank you!

2022 Brothertown Calendars

Less than 25 of our 2022 calendars are remaining. If you haven’t purchased yours yet, grab one soon!

https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/Q89K36JJ2DMFC

Happy Eeyawquittoowauconnuck Day!

Tags

Brothertown Indians, eeyamquittoowauconnuck, Eeyawquittoowauconnuck

Brothertown’s old ME church bell now at Oneida Church

This recording of the old Brothertown Methodist Episcopal Church bell, was sent in by Matthew Haen, a Hammer descendant. This bell now resides at Oneida Church in Wisconsin and it is here that this recording was made. The iron bell from Brothertown has been in use at Oneida for over 50 years.

The old Methodist Episcopal Church in Brothertown, Wisconsin

Appleton Post-Crescent article from Sunday, March 5, 1967; p 18

January 2022: Updated clip of the old Brothertown Methodist church bell ringing (while at Oneida church). Thanks to Matthew Haen, a Hammer descendant, for the audio and Will Ottery, Sampson descendant, for marrying the audio with a photo of the old church.

Peacemaker’s Meeting Saturday

Tags

Brothertown, peacemakers, zoom meeting

This Saturday at 11 am CT is the monthly Peacemaker’s meeting via Zoom. Per head Peacemaker Elsen, ALL Brotherton, enrolled or not, are invited to attend.

The Peacemakers are the judiciary branch of our tribal government and have been an important part of Brothertown since at least September 4, 1797 (the first written record we have from them). Our current Peacemakers work hard to protect our people and to ensure that they, and the tribe, are operating according to our constitution. They are a welcoming group; always happy to speak to their constituents and to offer support and counsel.

Please contact me, or the Peacemakers via email, for login information.

Happy Samson Occom Day!

Father, we thank You for the life and service of Samson Occom whom You sent to be a light to everyone around him but especially to his brethren in the flesh. We thank You for the shower of blessings his life, even still, continues to water us with today. May we, inspired by his example, work tirelessly for the good of our neighbor, be an instrument of Your peace, “fight the good fight”, and always sing Your praises.

Upcoming Samson Occom Day

Tags

eeyamquittoowauconnuck, Eeyawquittoowauconnuck, founding, July 14, november 7 1785, occom, Samson Occom, Samson Occom Day

Just a reminder that Samson Occom Day is coming up this Wednesday! For those who may have missed the news, in 2020, the Brothertown Indian Nation Council established July 14th as an annual Brothertown Indian Nation holiday. It is the 2nd national holiday instituted by our tribal nation. The other is Eeyawquittoowauconnuck Day which is celebrated on November 7th; the day Occom recorded in his journal as the date of the formal founding of our “body politick”.

How do you plan to celebrate?

For further reading on Samson Occom, please follow this link:
https://brothertowncitizen.com/2020/07/13/july-14-2020-the-brothertown-indian-nation-celebrates-first-annual-samson-occom-day/