Introduction
Joseph Brant (1742–1807), known in Mohawk as Thayendanegea, was one of the most prominent Native American figures of the Revolutionary era. A Mohawk war chief, interpreter, and statesman, he was educated at a colonial Indian charity school and developed close ties to the powerful Johnson family, who served as British superintendents for Indian Affairs. When the American Revolution divided North America, Native nations faced a difficult choice between the loyalist and patriot causes or attempting neutrality. The Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) Confederacy split apart over this decision, and Brant led the Mohawks and most other Iroquois nations into alliance with the British Crown. In 1776, he traveled across the Atlantic to London, where he became a celebrity, had his portrait painted, and was received by the King and Queen. This letter, dictated by Brant and addressed to Lord George Germain (1716–1785), the British Secretary of State, dates from that visit.
This document reveals that Native peoples were not passive bystanders in the Revolution but sophisticated diplomatic actors pursuing their own interests within the conflict. While Brant affirms Mohawk loyalty to the King and recounts military sacrifices made on Britain’s behalf, the heart of his message is a forceful grievance about colonists stealing Iroquois land, including unjust claims by the city of Albany and disputes over boundaries set in 1768.
Document
Brother Gorah, We have cross’d the great Lake and come to this kingdom with our Superintendent Col. Johnson from our Confederacy the Six Nations and their allies, that we might see our Father the Great King, and joyn in informing him, his Councilors and wise men, of the good intentions of the Indians our brethren, and of their attachment to His Majesty and his Government. Brother. The Disturbances in America give great trouble to all our Nations, as many strange stories have been told to us by the people in that country. The Six Nations who always loved the King, sent a number of their Chiefs and Warriors with their Superintendent to Canada last summer, where they engaged their allies to joyn with them in the defense of that country, and when it was invaded by the New England people, they alone defeated them. Brother. In that engagement we had several of our best Warriors killed and wounded, and the Indians think it very hard they should have been so deceived by the White people in that country, the enemy returning in great numbers, and no White people supporting the Indians, they were obliged to retire to their villages and sit still. We now Brother hope to see these bad children chastised, and that we may be enabled to tell the Indians, who have always been faithful l and ready to assist the King, what his Majesty intends.
Brother. The Mohocks our particular Nation, have on all occasions shewn their zeal and loyalty to the Great King; yet they have been very badly treated by his people in that country, the City of Albany laying an unjust claim to the lands on which our Lower Castle is built, as one Klock, and others do to those of Conijoharrie our Upper Village. We have been often assured by our late great friend Sr William Johnson who never deceived us, and we know he was told so that the King and wise men here would do us justice; but this notwithstanding all our applications has never been done, and it makes us very uneasie We also feel for the distress in which our Brethren on the Susquehanna are likely to be involved by a mistake made in the Boundary we setled in 1768. This also our Superintendent has laid before the King, and we beg it may be remembered. And also concerning Religion and the want of Ministers of the Church of England, he knows the designs of those bad people and informs us he has laid the same before the King. We have only therefore to request that his Majesty will attend to this matter: it troubles our Nation & they cannot sleep easie in their beds.
Indeed it is very hard when we have let the Kings subjects have so much of our lands for so little value, they should want to cheat us in this manner of the small spots we have left for our women and children to live on. We are tired out in making complaints & getting no redress. We therefore hope that the Assurances now given us by the Superintendent may take place, and that he may have it in his power to procure us justice. Brother. We shall truly report all that we hear from you, to the Six Nations at our return. We are well informed there has been many Indians in this Country who came without any authority, from their own, and gave us much trouble. We desire Brother to tell you this is not our case. We are warriors known to all the Nations, and are now here by approbation of many of them, whose sentiments we speak. Brother. We hope these things will be considered and that the King or his great men will give us such an answer as will make our hearts light and glad before we go, and strengthen our hands, so that we may joyn our Superintendent Col. Johnson in giving satisfaction to all our Nations, when we report to them on our return, for which purpose we hope soon to be accommodated with a passage.
Dictated by the Indians and taken down by Jo. Chew. Secretary
