All but one of Joseph Brant's nine children outlived him. His eldest son Isaac (his mother was Brant's first wife, Christine) was a man of fierce temper, especially when under the influence of alcohol. During one of these bouts of temper, an argument ensued with his father and resulted in serious personal injury. Isaac suffered a head wound which became infected and eventually caused his death. Brant immediately gave himself up to the authorities and asked to be tried in a court of law. He was found not guilty of a crime but the tragedy haunted him for the rest of his life.

The next two boys, Joseph and Jacob (Brant's sons with his third wife, Catherine), were sent to be educated at Dartmouth College, formerly Moore's Charity School and its president was the son of President Wheelock under whom Joseph had studied at the Charity School.

Brant's fourth and youngest son John went to school in Ancaster and Niagara. He distinguished himself during the War of 1812, rose to the rank of Captain and was appointed Superintendent of the Six Nations. He and his younger sister Elizabeth lived in the home at the Head of the Lake, which by this time was called Wellington Square. John was elected Member of Parliament for Haldimand County but died soon afterward in 1832 of cholera.

W. L. Stone in his "Life of Joseph Brant" tells a story of the gold ring bought by Brant in 1776 in England. Joseph Brant wore this ring until his death in 1807. It was kept as a precious object by his widow, Catherine, until it was lost 4 years later. The ring was found by a little girl near Wellington Square while Catherine was on a visit to her daughter, Elizabeth, the wife of Colonel Kerr. The aged widow of Joseph Brant was overjoyed at once more possessing the memento, after it had been lost for twenty-six years.

Christina was the daughter of Brant and his first wife, Christine. Margaret, Catherine, Mary and Elizabeth were daughters of his third wife, Catherine. Elizabeth married William Johnson Kerr, grandson of Molly Brant (Brant's sister) and Sir William Johnson. There were four children of this marriage: Walter, Joseph, Kate and Simcoe. Brant's land remained in the family until the death of Simcoe Kerr in 1875, when they sold it to become a summer hotel and park.

A replica of the original house was built in 1937-1938 on the same site. In 1942, it was opened as the Joseph Brant Museum to honour the memory of Burlington's first citizen.

Information on Joseph Brant can be researched in our reference library, or purchased in our Gift Shop.