The Man:
Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea)
1742-1807
 Joseph
Brant, Thayendanegea, was one of Canada's most colourful heroes.
An Iroquois, his name meant "two sticks bound together"
or "Symbol of united strength."
Brant lived during a time of conflict in North America:
the Seven Years War and the American Revolution.
He was a Mohawk and a member of the wolf clan, born on the banks
of the Ohio River in 1742 to Peter Tehowaghwengaraghkwin and Margaret.
After the death of his father, he was raised by his mother and
stepfather, Brant Canajarodunka, a Mohawk Sachem. He lived in
a walled Indian village in the state of New York called Canajoharie
Castle.
As a boy of 13, he served with the British forces under
Sir William Johnson in the French (Battle of Lake George) and
Indian (Pontiac War) wars and during the Niagara Campaign of
1759.
His Majesty's representative for Indian affairs, Sir William
Johnson ( Old
Fort Johnson ) exerted himself to improve the moral and
social conditions of his Mohawk neighbours. He aided them in
the building of churches and placed missionaries amongst them.
He also selected several Mohawk youth and sent them to the Moore's
Charity School to be educated. Among the youth selected was
Thayendanegea, the promising brother of Miss Molly, the third
wife of Sir William Johnson.
In 1765, at Canajoharie, Brant married Christine, the daughter
of an Oneida chief. They had two children, Isaac and Christina.
Between 1765 and 1771, he was employed by Sir William Johnson.
Brant acted as an interpreter and engaged in missions to the western
Indians. In 1771, Brant moved to Fort Hunter to work more closely
with Rev. Dr. John Stewart who was engaged in another revision
of the Indian Prayer Book. Stewart was aided by Brant in making
various translations.
The Iroquois people were uncertain of their future in this
ever changing environment of war and Brant was able to provide
leadership.
In 1775, he sailed to England representing the interests of his
people in an attempt to secure their rights if they fought on
the side of the British.
It was during this visit that Joseph Brant was invited to become
a Mason and purchased the gold ring which is on display in the
museum. He knew he would have to pass through hostile rebel territory
on his way home. He decided to have his ring engraved with his
name "Thayendanegea" and the date "1776" in
the event of an unfortunate occurrence.
Joseph Brant made a second trip to England in 1786 to gain assurances
from King George III of the rights of his people to regain what
had been taken from them during the various wars.
In 1777, a Treaty
of Alliance was agreed upon between the British and the Iroquois.
Brant was acknowledged as War Chief of the Six Nations and in
1780 a Captain in the British Army.
The Six Nations of the Iroquois
originally resided in the Mohawk Valley and the northeastern part
of what is now known as the United States. The Six Nations include
the Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca and Tuscarora. Each
had its own chief but united under one at time of war.
 For
his military service, Brant received a pension and 3450 acres
of land at the Head of the Lake (Burlington) and many gorgets.
Gorgets are ornaments worn around the neck as a reminder of medieval
amour and were regarded as status symbols. A gold-gilt gorget
was given to Joseph Brant by George III and inscribed "The
Gift of a Friend to Capt. Brant."
In 1800, he built a house
of cedar logs which was later covered by white frame siding.
Joseph Brant married three times (Christine, Susannah and Catherine)
and had nine children (Isaac, Christina, Joseph, John, Jacob,
Mary, Margaret, Catherine and Elizabeth).
He died on November 24th, 1807, in his Burlington home at the
age of sixty-four.
|
