John Pitchlynn
Encyclopedia
John Pitchlynn was a Scottish-American who served as the official U.S. Interpreter for relations between the government of the United States
and the Choctaw
Nation, an office known at the time as the Choctaw Agency. His interactions extended from the time of George Washington
until at least the 1820s, although his influence decreased under the administration of Andrew Jackson
, a fluent speaker of the Choctaw language
. He built a home on the west bank of the Tombigbee River
that became the nucleus of the abortive village of Plymouth, Mississippi
. The site is now part of the Plymouth Bluff Environmental Center.
Pitchlynn married Sophia Folsom, a mixed-race Choctaw of partly Anglo-American descent, whose father was Ebenezer Folsom, and mother Natika was Choctaw. Sophia's Choctaw name was Lk-lo-ha-wah (loved but lost). The couple married in 1804.
The Pitchlynns had ten children. The most notable of these was their son Peter Pitchlynn
, who later became principal chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
after the removal of the 1831 Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the Choctaw
Choctaw
The Choctaw are a Native American people originally from the Southeastern United States...
Nation, an office known at the time as the Choctaw Agency. His interactions extended from the time of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
until at least the 1820s, although his influence decreased under the administration of Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
, a fluent speaker of the Choctaw language
Choctaw language
The Choctaw language, traditionally spoken by the Native American Choctaw people of the southeastern United States, is a member of the Muskogean family...
. He built a home on the west bank of the Tombigbee River
Tombigbee River
The Tombigbee River is a tributary of the Mobile River, approximately 200 mi long, in the U.S. states of Mississippi and Alabama. It is one of two major rivers, along with the Alabama River, that unite to form the short Mobile River before it empties into Mobile Bay on the Gulf of Mexico...
that became the nucleus of the abortive village of Plymouth, Mississippi
Plymouth, Mississippi
Plymouth was an early settlement in the U.S. state of Mississippi in present-day Lowndes County. Plymouth was located at on the west bank of the Tombigbee River. It was formed around 1819, nucleating at the fortified house of John Pitchlynn, the U.S. interpreter for the Choctaw Agency for...
. The site is now part of the Plymouth Bluff Environmental Center.
Pitchlynn married Sophia Folsom, a mixed-race Choctaw of partly Anglo-American descent, whose father was Ebenezer Folsom, and mother Natika was Choctaw. Sophia's Choctaw name was Lk-lo-ha-wah (loved but lost). The couple married in 1804.
The Pitchlynns had ten children. The most notable of these was their son Peter Pitchlynn
Peter Pitchlynn
Peter Perkins Pitchlynn , or Hat-choo-tuck-nee , was a Choctaw chief of Choctaw and Anglo-American ancestry...
, who later became principal chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is a semi-autonomous Native American homeland comprising twelve tribal districts. The Choctaw Nation maintains a special relationship with both the United States and Oklahoma governments...
after the removal of the 1831 Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek
Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek
The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek was a treaty signed on September 27, 1830 between the Choctaw and the United States Government. This was the first removal treaty carried into effect under the Indian Removal Act...
.