| James Powlis gravesite |
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Revolutionary War Veteran
James Powlis, whose Oneida name
Tewakateleλ·thale! means "I'm worried",
was born around 1750, probably in
New York State. In 1777, after the
disintegration of the Iroquois Confederacy's
neutrality, Congress sought to
offset the allegiance of four of the
six Confederacy tribes to the British by
winning the allegiance of the remaining
two, the Oneida and Tuscarora.
Powlis, an Oneida Chief, enlisted in
the Continental Army also in 1777.
Congress preceded the offer of army
commissions with promises of American
protection and supplies. On April 3,
1779, Congress resolved that twelve
Chiefs from the Oneida and the Tuscarora
tribes be given commissions as Officers
of the Line in the Continental Army.
(continued on other side)
Wisconsin Society Sons of
the American Revolution
Funded by the generosity of
the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin
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In Holy Apostles Episcopal Cemetery in Oneida
along County Trunk Highway E
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The cemetery runs south from the church building.
This is just south of the intersection
of State Trunk Highways 54 and 172.
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Revolutionary War Veteran
(continued from other side)
James Powlis was one of those twelve
and one of four captains so commissioned.
Powlis served with Lt. Colonel Louis
Cook, a Mohawk, and his New York
Line. Cook, whose Oneida name Atleyú·ta?
means "A Body," was the highest
ranking Indian in the Continental Army.
Captain Powlis was honorably discharged
December 1784 and received 1800 acres
in New York State as a pension from the
federal government for his military
service.
As Chief of the First Christian Party,
Powlis came to Wisconsin from New York
after his wife Nelly's death. He died
in Oneida, Wisconsin on March 15, 1849,
at the age of 99. Although his headstone
is now gone, it is believed he is buried
in the Powless family plot of the Oneida
Holy Apostles Cemetery.
Erected 2005
Wisconsin Historical Society
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