website: www.learnwebskills.com/sar/index.html MAY 2012 Fort Lauderdale Chapter chartered December 8, 1966 Volume 45 Number 5 President’s Message Dear Compatriots: On April 21, 2012, we met at the Sea Watch Restaurant. There were 18 members and guests present. The food and camaraderie were outstanding, and everyone had a great time. At the meeting, we were delighted to induct a new member, Wayne Gomez. He is descended from a patriot who served with Spanish forces in Louisiana that supported the ef- forts of troops participating in the Battle of Pensa- Members and guests enjoy the April meeting at Sea cola. Watch restaurant During the meeting, the members present ex- pressed an interest in having more chapter meetings at the Sea Watch restaurant, if we could have a more private area in which to meet. Based on discussions with the restaurant, they have one pri- vate room that requires a minimum of 25 members to reserve it. There are two smaller areas of the restaurant for smaller groups, but both of these areas are open to the rest of the restaurant and do not have doors. We can discuss these options at our upcoming meeting and make a decision for future meetings. (From left to right) Registrar Don Green, new From May 4 to May 6, I attended the Board of member Wayne Gomez, and President Ted Duay Management and Annual Meeting of the Florida Society held in Kissimmee. At the meeting, I was honored to be elected as Senior Vice President of NEXT MEETING - MAY 19, 2012 the Florida Society. I will discuss this and other Colony West Country Club 6800 NW 88th Ave in Tamarac events that occurred at our upcoming meeting. Future Dates: I hope to see everyone there. Saturday, 5/19/2012 Time: 11:30AM social gathering; Lunch at noon In patriotism, Buffet Luncheon - $15.00 FOR RESERVATIONS CALL: 954-441-8735 Ted Duay or e-mail Joe Motes at: [email protected] President PAGE 2 FORT LAUDERDALE CHAPTER S.A.R. MAY 2012 The American Revolution Commanders William Johnson. Johnson was an agent for the British and a highly successful trader. The wealth of his mansion John- Chief Joseph Brant son Hall impressed young Brant so much that he decided to stay with his half sister Molly and Johnson. Johnson took an Born 01/01/1743 in Mohawk Valley interest in the youth and helped him in his education as well New York Died 11/24/1807 in Burlington, Ontario as in meeting influential leaders in the colony. Thayendanegea or Joseph Brant(1743 – 24 November 1807) Seven Years War was a Mohawk military and political leader who was closely associated with Great Britain during and after the American Starting at about age 15, Brant took part in a number of Revolution. He was perhaps the most well-known North Amer- French and Indian War expeditions, including James ican Indian of his generation. He met many of the most signifi- Abercrombie’s 1758 invasion of Canada via Lake George, cant people of the age, including George Washington and King William Johnson's 1759 Battle of Fort Niagara, and Jeffery George III. Amherst's 1760 siege of Montreal via the St. Lawrence River. He was one of 182 Indians who received a silver While not born into a hereditary leadership role within the medal from the British for his service. Iroquois League, Brant rose to prominence thanks to his abili- ties and his connections to British officials. Through his sister, In 1761, Johnson arranged for three Mohawks, including Molly Brant, he was associated with Sir William Johnson, the Joseph, to be educated at Eleazar Wheelock's "Moor's Indi- influential British Indian agent in the province of New York. an Charity School" in Connecticut. This was the forerunner During the American Revolutionary War, Brant led Mohawk of Dartmouth College, later established in New Hampshire. and colonial Loyalists against American revolutionaries in a Brant studied under the guidance of the Reverend Eleazar bitter partisan war on the New York frontier. During the war, Wheelock. Wheelock wrote that Brant was "of a sprightly he was accused by the Americans of committing atrocities, genius, a manly and gentle deportment, and of a modest, charges that were later shown to be false. After the war, he courteous and benevolent temper." Brant learned to speak, relocated to Canada, where he remained a prominent leader. read, and write English. Brant met Samuel Kirkland at the school. In 1763, Johnson prepared to place Brant at King's Early Years College in New York City. The outbreak of Pontiac's Rebel- Brant was born in 1743, probably in March, probably in the lion upset these plans and Brant returned home. After Pon- Ohio Country somewhere along the Cuyahoga River. This was tiac's rebellion, Johnson thought it was not safe for Brant to during the hunting season when Mohawks traveled to the area. return to the school. He was named Thayendanegea, which can mean two wagers In March 1764, Brant participated in one of the Iroquois war (sticks) bound together for strength, or possibly "he who places parties that attacked Delaware Indian villages in the Susque- two bets." He was a Mohawk of the Wolf Clan (his mother's hanna and Chemung valleys. They destroyed three good- clan). Fort Hunter church records indicated that his parents sized towns, burning 130 houses and killing the natives' were Christians and their names were Peter and Margaret cattle. No enemy warriors were seen. Tehonwaghkwangearahkwa. His father Peter died before 1753. Other sources cite the father's name as Nickus Kanagaradankwa. On July 22, 1765, in Canajoharie, Brant married Peggie (also known as Margaret). Said to be the daughter of a After his father's death, his mother Margaret, or Owandah, the Virginia gentleman, Peggie was a white captive sent back niece of Tiaogeara, a Caughnawaga sachem, returned to the East from western Indians. They moved into Brant's parents' province of New York with Joseph and his older sister Mary house. The house soon became Brant's after his stepfather's (known as Molly). They settled in Canajoharie, a Mohawk death. He also owned a large and fertile farm of 80 acres town on the Mohawk River, where they had lived before her (320,000 m2) near the village of Canajoharie on the south family had traveled to the Ohio River. On 9 September 1753 in shore of the Mohawk River. He raised corn, and kept cattle, Fort Hunter (Church of England), his mother married again, to sheep, horses, and hogs. He also kept a small store. Brant a widower named Brant Canagaraduncka, who was a Mohawk dressed in "the English mode" wearing "a suit of blue broad sachem. Her new husband's family ties with the British were cloth." With Johnson's encouragement, the Mohawks made shown by his grandfather Sagayendwarahton, or "Old Smoke", Brant a war chief and their primary spokesman. In March having visited England in 1710. 1771, his wife died from consumption. In the spring of 1772, Brant moved to Fort Hunter to live The marriage bettered Margaret's fortunes and the family with the Reverend John Stuart. He became Stuart's interpret- lived in the best house in Canajoharie. Her new alliance con- er and teacher of Mohawk, collaborating with him to trans- ferred little status on her children, however, as Mohawk titles late the Anglican catechism and the Gospel of Mark into the and leadership positions descended through the female line. Mohawk language. Brant became Anglican, a faith he held Brant's stepfather was a friend of William Johnson, the influen- for the remainder of his life. tial and wealthy British Superintendent for Northern Indian In 1773, Brant moved back to Canajoharie and married Affairs, who had been knighted for his service. During John- Peggie's half-sister Susanna. son's frequent visits to the Mohawks, he always stayed at the Brants' house. Brant's half sister Molly Brant married Sir PAGE 3 FORT LAUDERDALE CHAPTER S.A.R. MAY 2012 American Revolution previously been made a war chief of the Mohawks; the other major Mohawk war chief was John Deseronto. Brant spoke at least three and possibly all of the Six Nations' languages. From 1766 on he was a translator for the British In July, Brant led his Volunteers north to link up with St. Indian Department. In 1775, he was appointed departmental Leger at Fort Oswego. In August 1777, Brant played a major secretary with the rank of Captain for the new British Superin- role at the Battle of Oriskany in support of a major offensive tendent's Indian warriors from Canajoharie. They went to led by General John Burgoyne. After St. Leger's retreat, Canada, arriving in Montreal on July 17. His wife and children Brant traveled to Burgoyne's main army and told him the went to Onoquaga. news of St. Leger's retreat from Fort Stanwix. Burgoyne's restrictions on native warfare caused Brant to depart for Fort On November 11, 1775, Guy Johnson took Brant along with Niagara, where he spent the winter planning the next year's him when he traveled to London. Brant hoped to persuade the campaign. His wife Susanna likely died at Fort Niagara that Crown to address past Mohawk land grievances. The British winter. government promised the Iroquois people land in Canada if Brant and the Iroquois nations would fight on the British side In April 1778, Brant returned to Onoquaga, becoming the in what was shaping up as open rebellion by the American most active partisan commander.