1789-1939

Pequot (Native American) Methodist missionary and author

Apess's parents were itinerant basket-makers and he lived as a young child mostly with his grandparents, who were very cruel to him. When his grandmother broke his arm he was rescued by an uncle and a neighbor and then fostered by whites until he was 15.

He became a Methodist minister among the Mashpee people and also became one of their major secular leaders, encouraging greater self-reliance and the assertion of their tribal rights over land and natural resources. His activities landed him in jail once but popular outcry resulted in his early release. He also wrote four books.

References

Dictionary of American Biography
Hirschfelder, Arlene, and Molin, Paulette. Encyclopedia of Native American Religions: An Introduction. (New York: Facts on File, 1992)
"North American Native Authors Catalog: William Apess (Pequot)." Available at: http://nativeauthors.com/search/bio/bioapess.html
Internet Public Library. "Native American Authors Project: William Apess, 1798-, Pequot." Available at: http://www.ipl.org/cgi/ref/native/browse.pl/A11

Indexes

Native American and Alaskan Native, Inuit
USA
18th Century
Civil Rights, Advocacy
Journalism
Christian
Exile or Persecution (religious, Political or Social)
Criminal Convictions, Imprisonment
Physical
Pre-school Years
Child Abandoned or Rejected by Birth Parent(s)
Grandparents
Family Friends or Acquaintances
Trans-Racial, Trans-Tribal, International or Trans-Cultural Adoption or Fostering
Both Parents Unable or Unwilling to Care for Child
Always in Contact or Knew Identities