Brass, glass

Glass topped circular brass compass with brass lid. Inscription found on compass cover in newspaper font: "To Tecumseh from Brock, August 1812"

A second compass with a similar inscription exists (Trudy Nicks found this on the web)

Date inscribed on object cover

F. Barlow Cumberland, Catalogue and Notes of the Oronhyatekha Historical Collection (Toronto: Independent Order of Foresters, 1904), p 56-7,

Item 367. "Tecumseh's Brass Compass, History of the "Tecumseh Brass Compass," as given by an Indian woman, named "Winnipegoosquaw," a member of the Shawnee Tribe of Indians who resided in Western Canada on the River St. Clair.

"Chief Tecumseh joined forces with General Sir Isaac Brock in August, 1812, near Amherstburg, Canada. During a conversation between Tecumseh and General Brock, the latter drew from his pocket a small brass compass. Tecumseh immediately asked General Brock what o'clock it was, and was told the hour when the General looked at his watch. The Chief observed that the General carried two watches, whereas he had none. The General smilingly handed Chief Tecumseh the brass compass. The gift was, of course, graciously acknowledged by Tecumseh; however, it was not long before he discovered his watch was always indicating the same time. Afterwards he summoned one of this trusty warriors, Chief Oshawana, and handing him the compass requested that it should be kept in a place of safety for him. It was engraved by Sewell, a local jeweller in Detroit,at the request of Oshawana after the death of Tecumseh."

Unknown artist, brass compass of Tecumseh. Currently in the Royal Ontario Museum, 911.3.154 a,b. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2008; GRASAC item id 1179.

GRASAC team research trip to the Royal Ontario Museum, Dec 15-19 2008, funded by SSHRC Aboriginal Research Grant. Participants: Heidi Bohaker, Alan Corbiere, Lewis Debassige, Anne De Stecher, Darlene Johnston, Stacey Loyer, Trudy Nicks, Ruth Phillips

Ethnography team, Dec 18: Cory Willmott, Trudy Nicks, Anne De Stecher, Ruth Phillips assisted by Tracey Forester