The Case of Oceola’s Missing Head

Why?

But as news spread about Osceola’s head, some didn’t believe it, after all who would do such a thing?

The Lincoln Telegraph, Maine, June 6, 1838

So why did Weedon cut off Osceola’s head?  It was a common and acceptable practice for scientific studies at the time. But Weedon may have had another reason, Osceola killed the U.S. Indian agent Wiley Thompson back in 1838 which was a cause of the Seminole war. Wiley Thompson was Weedon’s brother-in-law, his sister’s husband, so Weedon may have had some animosity toward Osceola and also may explain why Osceola would not let Weedon treat him when he was dying.  Weedon’s family said that, “Dr. Weedon was a friend of the Seminole chief, and went, at Osceola’s request, to Charleston with the captive Indians.” and that, “Osceola regarded Dr. Weedon as his best friend among the white people.”#39

It is also possible that Weedon did it for profit. It was reported that, “The head was, soon after decapitation, sold for a large amount, and subsequently taken back [by Weedon], and the amount refunded.”[1]  The “buyer” was Castle Garden, “which was, with much horror and contempt, rejected by the proprietor Mr. Marsh.”[2] And then there was Army Lt. John Wolcott Phelps who while traveling to Charleston by ship in 1838 met Dr. Weedon who also was on the ship. In Phelps diary he wrote about Weedon, “He is going [north] in order to publish the life of Osceola from that chief’s own dictation.” and then, “he has already sold the chieftain’s head to a museum, and now intends to sell his life to the public – with the same motive, to get money.”  Other historians and members of the Weedon’s family dispute he was doing it for the money but rather for science.

[1] The New York daily Hearld, June 19, 1842, p2.
[2] The New York daily Hearld, June 6, 1842, p2

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