Mary was born circa 1742 in
Aboard ship William and Mary. She was the daughter of
Thomas Jemison and
Jane Erwin. She married
Sheninjee ( ? ) circa 1760. She married
Hickatoo ( ? ) circa 1765. Mary died on 19 September 1833 in
Buffalo Creek, Seneca Indian Reservation.
Mary was born on board the ship William and Mary while enroute from Ireland to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mary was the only one of her family not murdered by the Indians, she was taken captive and lived out her life with the Indians, she tried returning to the "white man's" society many years after her abduction, but just could not adjust. There are at least 3 books written about Mary's experiencies. "A Narrative of the life of Mrs. Mary Jemison" by James E. Seaver..this book is a 1st person narrative that was told to James Seaver in 1824.
The book "White Woman and her Valley" by Arch Merrill is also the story of Mary. There is a novel based on her live, "Mary Jemison, White Woman of the Seneca" by Rayna M. Ganagi. In upstate New York at Letchworth Park her cabin is preserved and there is a statue of Mary.