James Logan
James Logan was a prominent figure among the Pennsylvania and Ohio Cayugas, also known as Mingos, during the 18th century. He was born to a mother of Cayuga descent and a father, Shikellamy, whose background included French heritage and upbringing by the Oneida people. Initially, Logan was known for his amicable relations with European settlers, and his name is thought to have been inspired by James Logan, the colonial secretary of Pennsylvania. However, the dynamics of his life changed dramatically following a tragic event in 1774 when white settlers killed his wife and several of his children. This loss propelled Logan into a militant stance, leading him to ally with Shawnee leader Cornstalk during Lord Dunmore's War. He undertook retaliatory raids against settlers and continued these actions throughout the American Revolution, especially after refusing to attend peace negotiations. Tragically, Logan’s life came to an end in Detroit in 1780, likely as a result of a dispute with a family member. His story reflects the complexities of Indigenous-European relations during a tumultuous period in American history.
Subject Terms
James Logan
Native American Leader
- Born: c. 1725
- Birthplace: Shamokin (now Sunbury, Pennsylvania
- Died: 1780
- Place of death: Near Detroit, Michigan
Tribal affiliation: Cayuga
Significance: A leader in Lord Dunmore’s War, Logan on several occasions raided white settlers in the Appalachian region
Logan’s mother was a Cayuga and his father, Shikellamy, was probably a Frenchman who was reared by Oneidas. After being elected by the Iroquois council as representative for Iroquois holdings in Pennsylvania, Shikellamy and his family moved to Shamokin, Pennsylvania.
James Logan rose to prominence among the Pennsylvania and Ohio Cayugas, known as Mingos, and was initially friendly toward whites. Indeed, his name was probably adopted from his friend, James Logan, colonial secretary of Pennsylvania. In 1774, Logan and his band moved to the Sciota River in Ohio. There, following an unprovoked attack in which white settlers killed his wife and several children, Logan became militant. Aligning himself with the Shawnee leader Cornstalk in Lord Dunmore’s War, Logan conducted retaliatory raids throughout the region. After the Battle of Point Pleasant, 1774, and his refusal to participate in a peace conference, he sustained his raids against white settlers throughout the American Revolution.
He was murdered in Detroit in 1780, probably after a quarrel with a nephew.