James Blake Historian and Artist

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Wheeling, WV
James Blake Historian and Artist

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I'm a historian, and artisan, specializing in the Indigenous and frontier cultures of the Eastern Woodlands and early American interior. Waabishki Zhingos

My perspective is formed by years of collaboration with Indigenous communities and family ties.

10/28/2026

Fort Dewart: A Forgotten Fort of the French and Indian War
A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to participate in a small film project at Fort Dewart, a remarkable surviving French and Indian War fortification in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania. During the project, I was also able to capture some aerial photographs and video footage of the historic site with my drone.

Located along the border of Bedford and Somerset counties, near the summit of Allegheny Mountain, Fort Dewart was constructed in August 1758 during the French and Indian War.
The fort was built by Scottish Highland soldiers of the 77th Regiment of Foot, known as Montgomerie's Highlanders, under Captain Sir Allan Maclean. Maclean named the fort after Duart Castle, the ancestral seat of Clan Maclean in Scotland.

Fort Dewart was established as part of British General John Forbes' military expedition against the French-held Fort Duquesne, located at present-day Pittsburgh. Forbes was advancing westward through Pennsylvania, constructing a military road and a series of fortified posts to protect his army's supply and communication lines.

Situated near the top of the difficult ascent through Rohr's Gap, Fort Dewart served as a defensive position, resting place, and supply stop for British troops and wagon convoys. Soldiers and animals could recover from the demanding climb while blacksmiths repaired damaged wagons, horseshoes, and equipment.

The fort itself was a relatively small, approximately 60-by-60-foot, star-shaped redoubt constructed of earth and timber.
What makes Fort Dewart particularly remarkable is its survival. Although the original wooden defenses have disappeared, the eighteenth-century earthen fortifications remain visible today. It is considered one of the best-preserved surviving military works associated with the 1758 Forbes Expedition.

General Forbes himself stayed at Fort Dewart for several days in October 1758, when heavy rains and muddy roads delayed his army's advance. The expedition eventually succeeded in taking possession of the abandoned French Fort Duquesne on November 25, 1758.

More than 268 years later, the surviving earthworks of Fort Dewart remain a remarkable reminder of the struggle for control of the Ohio Country during the French and Indian War.

Included are some of the aerial drone photos I captured during our filming project a couple of years ago.

10/26/2026

Blowgun Dart Quivers made from Black Ash. They measure 9 inches tall. I'd suggest putting Moss or Basswood fiber into the bottom which keeps the darts secure. These are a concept ( plausible) design that could have been used by Northern Woodland or Great Lakes area tribes. The Southern Tribes would weave them from River Cane or White Oak.

Asking 75.00$ a piece plus shipping.

10/26/2026

A few years ago, while visiting historic New Harmony, Indiana, where I had the opportunity to present a lecture on Native American warfare and military tactics.

Founded in 1814 by a German religious community known as the Harmonists, New Harmony later became the site of one of America's most famous utopian experiments when Welsh social reformer Robert Owen purchased the settlement in 1825. The town would eventually become an important center for American science, education, and natural history.

My lecture explored the warfare tactics employed by Native American peoples, particularly during the eighteenth century, including their methods of combat, use of terrain, ambushes, and the military strategies that made Indigenous warriors formidable opponents during the colonial period.

It was a pleasure to share this often misunderstood aspect of early American history in a town with such a remarkable historical legacy.

10/26/2026

In the months ahead, I'll turn a page, And share my work on my biggest stage.

10/23/2026

These hand rattles are made from Slippery Elm Bark and stopped with corn cobs they are pretty traditional music gear.
The Dew Claw rattle is one of a kind based from an original.
The Elm Bark Tray is what I call a Bushmans toolbox but it could just as easily be used as a Sap Bucket.

Hand Rattles 40$ a piece plus Shipping.
Dew Claw rattle 175$ plus Shipping.
Elm Bark Tray 50$ plus Shipping.

10/23/2026

Among the rare surviving examples of 18th-century Eastern Woodlands material culture are these remarkable high-top moccasins, fashioned from brain-tanned hide and decorated with intricate porcupine quillwork.

What makes these moccasins especially significant is their high-top construction. While high-top moccasins were relatively common among Indigenous peoples of the Southeast, portions of present-day Canada, and the desert regions of North America, this particular style is exceptionally rare among surviving examples attributed to the 18th-century Eastern Woodlands.

To the best of my current knowledge, I am aware of only approximately six other surviving pairs of this particular Eastern Woodlands high-top style in public and private collections. This makes them an extraordinarily uncommon example of footwear from this region and period.
The combination of brain-tanned hide, elaborate porcupine quillwork, and extended uppers reflects the remarkable craftsmanship of Indigenous artisans. These moccasins also provide valuable evidence of regional variations in footwear construction and decorative traditions.

It is important to distinguish the rarity of this style within the 18th-century Eastern Woodlands from its much broader use among Indigenous peoples elsewhere in North America. It is this specific regional and historical context that makes these surviving examples so significant.
Objects such as these offer an invaluable glimpse into the clothing, artistry, and technical knowledge of Native peoples more than two centuries ago.

10/21/2026

Standing in front of the historic Wyck House in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a few years back.

Dating back to approximately 1690, Wyck is one of Philadelphia’s oldest historic homesteads. Its history stretches across more than three centuries, from the early colonial period through the American Revolution and into the modern era.
The property was home to nine generations of the same extended family, beginning with the early German Quaker settlers who established themselves in Germantown. Over the centuries, the house underwent numerous alterations and expansions, reflecting changing architectural styles and the lives of the families who occupied it.

During the American Revolution, the property witnessed the turmoil surrounding the Battle of Germantown on October 4, 1777. The house was reportedly used as a hospital for wounded British soldiers following the battle.
One of Wyck’s most remarkable features is its preservation of family possessions, furnishings, correspondence, and other historical materials accumulated over generations. These collections provide an extraordinary glimpse into everyday domestic life, agriculture, horticulture, and the social history of Philadelphia.
Wyck is also celebrated for its historic gardens, particularly its collection of old roses, and for its association with generations of Quaker families.

Although it is not the oldest surviving house in Philadelphia, Wyck remains one of the city's most significant historic residences and an important architectural link to colonial Pennsylvania. Standing there, it's remarkable to think about the generations of people who passed through this property and the historical events that unfolded around it.

10/20/2026

PRICE REDUCED -
asking 1000$ + shipping and handling for the Wabanaki Hood.

Won't get this item and the quality at these prices anywhere else and maybe never again, don't kick yourself in the butt later on. reach out if interested serious inquires only please no tire kickers and non-negotiable the hood is already priced as low as I can go.

10/20/2026

A pair of finger woven garters I made a few years back.

10/19/2026

Sychnecta: A Mohawk Man in Amsterdam, 1764

This remarkable eighteenth-century image depicts Sychnecta, a Mohawk (Kanien’kehá:ka) man from Canajoharie in the Mohawk Valley of present-day New York. The illustration was made in Amsterdam in 1764 by Dutch artist Pieter Barbiers (1717–1780) and reproduced as an etching by A. Smit.

Sychnecta's presence in Amsterdam was far from an ordinary visit. According to historical accounts preserved by the Amsterdam City Archives, he was brought to Europe under false pretenses and subsequently sold to the proprietor of the Blaauw Jan, an establishment in Amsterdam where exotic animals and people from distant lands were exhibited to paying spectators.
The illustration provides a fascinating glimpse into eighteenth-century Mohawk clothing, weaponry, and material culture. Sychnecta is depicted wearing a European-style shirt, a decorated breechcloth, leggings, moccasins, and an elaborate hairstyle adorned with a long feather. Several strands of ornaments hang around his neck. Of particular interest is the pipe tomahawk he holds, an object combining a tomahawk with a functional smoking pipe. Pipe tomahawks became important items of trade and exchange between Europeans and Indigenous peoples during the eighteenth century and could serve practical, diplomatic, and ceremonial purposes. Sychnecta also carries a bow and arrows, while snowshoes rests on the ground beside him.

What makes this illustration particularly significant is that Pieter Barbiers reportedly drew Sychnecta from life in 1764. Unlike many European illustrations of Indigenous Americans that were copied from earlier publications or created from the artist's imagination, this image appears to preserve the appearance of a named Mohawk individual who was actually present in Europe.

Fortunately, Sychnecta's story did not end with his captivity and public exhibition. Historical accounts indicate that efforts were eventually made to secure his freedom. In 1765, Sychnecta and another Mohawk man named Trosoghroga were reportedly released and returned to North America. Their release marked the end of a troubling episode in which Indigenous men had been transported across the Atlantic and exploited for the entertainment and curiosity of European audiences.

Nevertheless, we should remember that the illustration was created for a European audience, and certain elements of his appearance or equipment may reflect artistic choices rather than an entirely unaltered depiction of his everyday clothing.

Beyond its importance as a historical image, Sychnecta's story offers a sobering reminder of the exploitation Indigenous people sometimes experienced in eighteenth-century Europe. His eventual freedom and return to North America are equally important parts of his story. We should recognize him as a named Mohawk individual whose life intersected with the complicated world of colonial trade, transatlantic travel, and European fascination with Indigenous peoples.

The image survives in the collections of the Amsterdam City Archives in the Netherlands.

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Wheeling, WV

Website

https://www.etsy.com/shop/BeyondtheBeatenGifts?ref=shop_sugg_market, https://commonplace.online/article/pasted-indians/

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