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Topic: Home (01/09/06)
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TITLE: Of Private Tears and Quiet Prayers | Previous Challenge Entry
By Patrick Verbeten
01/16/06 -
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For Hannah, it was almost impossible to leave her home, her community and so many of her friends and relatives. But once the plans were made to leave their New York community, she had no choice. In the spring of 1831, her family would be in the first party to make the demanding journey to the Fox River Valley in Wisconsin. She dutifully loaded up the meager belongings that their family would take on the trek. Other items were sold or, more likely, given away.
Bathsheba was scheduled to leave with a later group, but loosing her long-time friend and the other families seemed too hard to bear. Though she was afraid for Hannah’s safety, even so she envied her. The thought of staying back almost crushed her spirit. Still she knew she had to be strong for the others that were yet to be relocated, or removed as the government called it. Besides, perhaps next spring, she too would join them. As the braves said a community prayer, Hannah and Bathsheba shared a quiet prayer and the first delegation of the tribe set out on their lengthy expedition.
The journey was difficult, and perhaps would have been impossible had it not been for the Erie Canal and the lakes and rivers that gave them swift, all be it dangerous passage. Over the waters and over land they traveled until they reached their Fox River Valley destination. This land was apportioned to them because it was not as good as the land they had rightfully purchased. Even though they fully expected to move again next spring to more favorable lands, Thomas Commuck cut logs to build a suitable dewlling, thus ensuring that his wife Hannah and their children would have a home before the harsh Wisconsin winter arrived.
Though neither woman knew it, they would not see each other for five long years. Worse still, Bathsheba and her party would fall victims to the mighty Fox River as they neared their new reservation. When the boat capsized, five men were killed, including Bathsheba’s husband George. The tragedy all but doused her anticipation of the reunion with her friend. Oddly, or perhaps providentially, their reunion was as the departure - one of private tears and quiet prayer.
In the years that followed, the remaining delegations came until the entire Brothertown Indian Nation arrived at their new Wisconsin home. In later years, some would venture back to their New York native land, but it bore little resemblance to the community they remembered. Others would venture west of Missouri to explore other lands that were promised to them, but never given, again because they were considered too fertile. But Hannah and Bathsheba would spend the rest of their lives in Wisconsin, as would their children and their children’s children for generations to come.
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