Beschreibung:

[OSCEOLA] A LOCK OF HAIR PURPORTEDLY FROM OSCEOLA, THE SEMINOLE LEADER, WITH A CONTEMPORARY DOCUMENT SUPPORTING THE ATTRIBUTION A lock of hair, about 3 inches in length, now enclosed in a cellophane-like folder attached by transparent tape to an autograph document signed by Margaret E. Drane, one page (10 5/8 x 8 1/8 in.; 271 x 208 mm), no place, 1838 or later, docketed on the verso "The Hair of Oceola a Chief of the Seminole Indians of Florida," accompanied by the front panel of the paper enclosure described below, which is annotated "The Hair of Oceola or Powell a Chief of the Seminole Indians of Florida who died at Charleston S.C."; browned, possibly from earlier framing, several fold separations, some tiny loss at intersecting folds, enclosure panel torn with transparent tape repair. Margaret Drane was married to Captain Gustavus S. Drane, who served at Fort Marion in St. Augustine at the time of Osceola's incarceration there. In her statement she writes: "The hair of Oceola a chief of the Seminole Indians commonly called Powell, he bid defiance to all white persons, and threatened them with a war of five years. He was taken prisoner and confined in Fort Marion. Other Indians were there and a chief called Coe Hajo. I had some black ostrich feathers which I requested Captain Drane to divide between Oceola and Coe Hajo, when Captain Drane gave Oceola the feathers he told the interpreter to ask what he should send in return? Capt. Drane put his hand on his head, Oceola said I should have it and directed the interpreter to cut off the small lock inclosed in this paper. Capt. Webster of the 1st Regt. U.S. Artillery, who commanded at the fort requested a lock also which was reluctantly granted. Captain Webster told me he must thank me for it. "After the death of Oceola the ornaments and feathers he wore, were sent to Washington and presented by Capt. Morrison of the Infantry to Major Hook. Several notices have appeared in the papers mentioning these ornaments and the high estimation Oceola held them in. Mrs. Capt. Webster gave Oceola the white feather he had. I gave Paddy Carr, a Creek Indian, two long Ostrich Feathers white tipped with blue, which he said he would not loose except with his scalp." The officers mentioned are Captain L. B. Webster, commanding officer at Fort Marion; Captain Pitcairn Morrison, who commanded the detail that removed the Indian prisoners to Charleston in late 1837; and Major James H. Hook, a War Department staff officer who received Osceola's adornments as a gift from Morrison. Mrs. Dane made a common mistake in designating Osceola a chief. Given the name Billy Powell at birth, Osceola was of mixed parentage, including Creek, Scottish, African American, and English. Because of the Creek matrilineal system, he was considered Creek, or Maskókí (like Paddy Carr, mentioned here). But he became an important leader during the Second Seminole War. He was captured under a false flag of truce in October 1837 and imprisoned briefly at Fort Marion, before being transferred to Fort Moultrie in Charleston, South Carolina. He died there in late January 1838, possibly of malaria, and was buried with full military honors. Condition ReportA lock of hair, about 3 inches in length, now enclosed cellophane-like folder attached by transparent tape to and an autograph document signed by Margaret E. Drane, one page (10 5/8 x 8 1/8 in.; 271 x 208 mm), no place, 1838 or later, docketed on the verso "The Hair of Oceola a Chief of the Seminole Indians of Florida," accompanied by the front panel of the paper enclosure described below, which is annotated "The Hair of Oceola or Powell a Chief of the Seminole Indians of Florida who died at Charleston S.C."; browned, possibly from earlier framing, several fold separations, some tiny loss at intersecting folds, enclosure panel torn with transparent tape repair. In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the propert