My Novel "Ruby's Captive" Has Some Basis In Fact... [Of course.]

     It is historical fact that Native Americans of the Old West made a practice of taking captives not only to use them as slaves, but also to get people as replacements for tribe members who had died.  They would also take members of other tribes in addition to whites.  Sometimes. the tribes would barter between themselves for the return of valuable captives taken in raids or as prizes of war.  But, if these captives pleased their owners they would, perhaps,  even be adopted into the tribe.  Especially, were children adopted into tribes.  There is proof in a famous photograph of young Santiago Mc Kinn, a half Mexican, half-Irish boy,  ( 1871 ) showing him wearing Apache clothing and standing in a group of  Chiricahua Apache boys and girls approximately his age.   

     Mary Jemmison, a 15 year old girl, was captured from her parents homestead in 1758 by the Seneca of the Genesee River area, New York.  She lived with them as a member of their tribe,  had an Indian husband and gave birth to their son.  She was treated kindly and loved her life with the Seneca.  However,  6 years after her capture when Mary was 21,  the British colonial government was offering a bounty for the return of all white captives.  So, the chiefs of Mary's village met around the council fire to debate her cause.  Their decision was that Mary had contributed to the Tribe's spirit and it was unthinkable to barter this good feeling for money.  The chiefs told her she could stay with them as a Seneca for the rest of her life.  But, the power of the money was great.  And, a few days later a high ranking Senaca chief came to the village to take Mary away.  She fled into the woods, taking  her baby son.  She stayed hidden until the chief had left.  Then, she came back to her village.   Her tribe's people were overjoyed to see their sister again.  Mary remained among the Seneca the rest of her life.  Eventually, she had four more children and  many grandchildren.   Her death was in 1833 at the age of 91.

     *** From "Through Indian Eyes," Reader's Digest, copyright  1995.   "The Native American,"  Turner Publishing, copyright 1993.  "The Apaches," by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, copyright 1997.