Gelelemend
| Gelelemend | |
|---|---|
| Killbuck, John Killbuck Jr., William Henry | |
| Delaware (Lenape) leader | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1737 Near the Lehigh River in Pennsylvania |
| Died | 1811 Goshen, Ohio |
| Relations | Grandfather of Netawatwees |
| Parents | Bemino |
Gelelemend (1737–1811) (Lenape), also known as Killbuck or John Killbuck Jr., was an important Delaware (Lenape) chief during the American Revolutionary War, who supported the rebel Americans. His name signifies "a leader." Born into the senior Turtle clan, which had responsibility to lead the tribe, he became principal chief of the Lenape in November 1778, following the death of White Eyes, a war chief and Speaker of the Delaware Head Council. Gelelemend succeeded his maternal grandfather Netawatwees.
Due to undifferentiated American attacks against the Lenape during the war, chiefs of other clans switched to ally with the British. After being pushed out as principal chief, Gelelemend led an American attack on a major Lenape town, then retreated to Fort Pitt. After the war, he converted to Christianity at a Moravian mission in Salem, Ohio, where he took the Christian name of "William Henry."
Gelelemend was born near the Lehigh River in Pennsylvania, son of Bemino (John Killbuck Sr.), a renowned war leader during the French and Indian War, and his wife. Under the matrilineal kinship system of the Lenape, Gelemend was born into his mother's Turtle clan, which had responsibility for providing hereditary chiefs for the tribe. His maternal grandfather was Netawatwees ("Newcomer"), principal chief of the Delaware.
At that time, the Lenape had three clans or phratries: Turtle, Turkey, and Wolf. Children were considered born into their mother's clan, which determined their social status in the tribe. The mother's eldest brother was more important to them in shaping their lives than was their biological father, who belonged to another clan. Each clan had its own chiefs, councilors, and war captains, as well as a distinct role for serving the tribe.
The Turtle phratry was considered the senior clan, with the role of leading the tribe. Their hereditary chief served as principal chief of the Lenape tribe. By early 1776, the Moravian missionary David Zeisberger recorded that Gelelemend had been "designated" as the successor to his maternal grandfather Netawatwees, who was thought to be close to 100 years old. But, after Netawatwees died on October 31, 1776, however, the succession remained uncertain. This was due to the unsettled situation of the Delaware in the Ohio Country.
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