Jean François Hamtramck
Encyclopedia
Jean-François Hamtramck (sometimes called John Francis Hamtramck) (1756–1803) was a French-Canadian from Quebec
who joined the Continental Army
and became a decorated officer in the American Revolutionary War
.
After the war he continued in the service and, in 1787, he was made commander of Vincennes
in the Illinois Country
, where he negotiated a peace treaty with local Native American
tribes.
In Autumn of 1790, Major Hamtramck was ordered to move against Indian villages on the Wabash
, Vermilion
, and Eel rivers to create a distraction from the campaign led by General Josiah Harmar
. The Hamtramck expedition consisted of his own garrison, with militia from the local French residents and Kentucky. They found only one empty village, and lacked the supplies to reach more villages with the full force. Hamtramck returned to Vincennes, learning later that a force of 600 warriors from the Wabash Confederacy
had assembled to fight—nearly double his own force. Hamtramck considered the Wabash force evidence that his primary mission had been accomplished.
In 1793, Hamtramck was named lieutenant colonel in the Legion of the United States
led by General Anthony Wayne
to secure the Northwest Territory
. Hamtramck was cited for bravery at the Battle of Fallen Timbers
in 1794. Hamtramck, now a full colonel, was appointed the first commandant of Fort Wayne
, where he co-owned a large farm with his friend, William Wells
. In 1796, he led the garrison to secure Fort Maumee
. He was then transferred to Fort Lernoult (later renamed Fort Shelby) and the settlement of Detroit for the United States
on July 11, 1796.
He remained commandant of Detroit until his death on 11 April 1803, living in a house on land that is now Gabriel Richard Park near the present bridge to Belle Isle. He was buried at Ste. Anne de Detroit Catholic Church
. The officers under his command placed a stone to mark his grave, as a "grateful tribute to his merit and his worth." His body was moved in 1817 to the new Saint Anne's, then, in 1866, to Mount Elliott Cemetery.
In 1827, one of the four townships in Wayne County
was named for him, a portion of which later became the city of Hamtramck, Michigan
.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
who joined the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
and became a decorated officer in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
After the war he continued in the service and, in 1787, he was made commander of Vincennes
Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Indiana, United States. It is located on the Wabash River in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 18,701 at the 2000 census...
in the Illinois Country
Illinois Country
The Illinois Country , also known as Upper Louisiana, was a region in what is now the Midwestern United States that was explored and settled by the French during the 17th and 18th centuries. The terms referred to the entire Upper Mississippi River watershed, though settlement was concentrated in...
, where he negotiated a peace treaty with local Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribes.
In Autumn of 1790, Major Hamtramck was ordered to move against Indian villages on the Wabash
Wabash River
The Wabash River is a river in the Midwestern United States that flows southwest from northwest Ohio near Fort Recovery across northern Indiana to southern Illinois, where it forms the Illinois-Indiana border before draining into the Ohio River, of which it is the largest northern tributary...
, Vermilion
Vermilion River (Wabash River tributary)
The Vermilion River is a tributary of the Wabash River in the states of Illinois and Indiana, United States.There are two "Vermilion Rivers" in Illinois. The Wabash tributary flows south, while the other Vermilion River flows north to the Illinois River...
, and Eel rivers to create a distraction from the campaign led by General Josiah Harmar
Josiah Harmar
Josiah Harmar was an officer in the United States Army during the American Revolution and the Northwest Indian War. He was the senior officer in the Army for seven years....
. The Hamtramck expedition consisted of his own garrison, with militia from the local French residents and Kentucky. They found only one empty village, and lacked the supplies to reach more villages with the full force. Hamtramck returned to Vincennes, learning later that a force of 600 warriors from the Wabash Confederacy
Wabash Confederacy
The Wabash Confederacy, also referred to as the Wabash Indians or the Wabash tribes, is a term used to describe a number of 18th century Native American villagers in the area of the Wabash River in what are now the U.S. states of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. The Wabash Indians were primarily Weas...
had assembled to fight—nearly double his own force. Hamtramck considered the Wabash force evidence that his primary mission had been accomplished.
In 1793, Hamtramck was named lieutenant colonel in the Legion of the United States
Legion of the United States
The Legion of the United States was a reorganization and extension of the United States Army from 1792 to 1796 under the command of Major General Anthony Wayne.-Origins:The impetus for the Legion came from General Arthur St...
led by General Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
to secure the Northwest Territory
Northwest Territory
The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, more commonly known as the Northwest Territory, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 13, 1787, until March 1, 1803, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Ohio...
. Hamtramck was cited for bravery at the Battle of Fallen Timbers
Battle of Fallen Timbers
The Battle of Fallen Timbers was the final battle of the Northwest Indian War, a struggle between American Indian tribes affiliated with the Western Confederacy and the United States for control of the Northwest Territory...
in 1794. Hamtramck, now a full colonel, was appointed the first commandant of Fort Wayne
Forts of Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne in modern Fort Wayne, Indiana, was established by Captain Jean François Hamtramck under orders from General "Mad" Anthony Wayne as part of the campaign against the Indians of the area. It was named after General Wayne, who was victorious at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Wayne may have...
, where he co-owned a large farm with his friend, William Wells
William Wells (soldier)
William Wells , also known as Apekonit , was the son-in-law of Chief Little Turtle of the Miami. He fought for the Miami in the Northwest Indian War...
. In 1796, he led the garrison to secure Fort Maumee
Fort Miami (Ohio)
Fort Miami was a fort built on the Maumee River at the eastern edge of the present-day city of Maumee, Ohio, and southwest of the present-day city of Toledo, Ohio. It was built by the British on territory disputed between Britain and the USA; according to the U.S. interpretation of the terms of the...
. He was then transferred to Fort Lernoult (later renamed Fort Shelby) and the settlement of Detroit for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on July 11, 1796.
He remained commandant of Detroit until his death on 11 April 1803, living in a house on land that is now Gabriel Richard Park near the present bridge to Belle Isle. He was buried at Ste. Anne de Detroit Catholic Church
Ste. Anne de Detroit Catholic Church
Ste. Anne de Détroit, founded July 26, 1701, is the second oldest continuously operating Roman Catholic parish in the United States. The current church, built in 1886, is located at 1000 Ste. Anne St. in Detroit, Michigan near the Richard-Hubbard neighborhood area, the Ambassador Bridge, and the...
. The officers under his command placed a stone to mark his grave, as a "grateful tribute to his merit and his worth." His body was moved in 1817 to the new Saint Anne's, then, in 1866, to Mount Elliott Cemetery.
In 1827, one of the four townships in Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
was named for him, a portion of which later became the city of Hamtramck, Michigan
Hamtramck, Michigan
Hamtramck is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 22,423. Hamtramck is surrounded by the city of Detroit except for a small portion of the western border that touches the similarly surrounded city of Highland Park...
.
Further reading
- Farmer, Silas. (1884) (Jul 1969) The history of Detroit and Michigan, or, The metropolis illustrated: a chronological cyclopaedia of the past and present: including a full record of territorial days in Michigan, and the annuals of Wayne County, in various formats at Open LibraryOpen LibraryOpen Library is an online project intended to create “one web page for every book ever published”. Open Library is a project of the non-profit Internet Archive and has been funded in part by a grant from the California State Library and the Kahle/Austin Foundation.-Books for the blind and...
.