(Thay-en-da-ne-gen).
Mohawk chief; born on the banks of the
Ohio River in 1742.
In 1761
Sir William Johnson sent him to
Dr. Wheelock's school at
Hanover.
N. H., where he translated portions of the New Testament into the
Mohawk language.
Brant engaged in the war against Pontiae in 1763, and at
the beginning of the war for independence was secretary to
Guy Johnson, the
Indian Superintendent.
In the spring of 1776 he was in
England; and to the ministry he expressed his willingness, and that of his people, to join in the chastisement of the rebellious colonists.
It was an unfavorable time for him to make such an
offer with an expectation of securing very favorable arrangements for his people, for the minstry were elated with the news of the disasters to the “rebels” at Quebee.
Besides, they had completed the bargain for a host of German mercenaries, a part of whom were then on their way to
America to crush the rebellion.
They concluded the next ship would bring news that the
Americans were willing to agree to unconditional submission, the only terms which the imperial government would grant.
Brant returned, but to find the
Americans successful in many places, and determined to persevere.
He took up arms for the
British; and in the raids of Tories and Indians in central New York upon the patriotic inhabitants he was often a leader, holding the commission of colonel from the
King of
England.
He prevailed on the Six Nations to make a permanent peace after the war; and in 1786 he went to
England the second time, but then for the purpose of collecting funds to build a church on the
Indian reservation on the
Grand River, in Canada.
This was the first church erected in the
Upper Province.
Brant did much to induce his people to engage in the arts of peace.
He died on his estate at the head of
Lake Ontario.
Canada, Nov. 24, 1807.
The remains of
Brant rest beneath a handsome mausoleum near the church
[
399]
on the reservation on the
Grand River, Canada.
It was erected by the inhabitants of the.vicinity in 1850.
On the slab that surmounts it is an inscription in commemoration of the chief and of his son John.
