present work, this sketch has been deemed an appropriate accompa

niment.

In addition to the acknowledgments already made in the preced. ing pages, the author is under obligations, to a greater or less extent, to many other individuals, for hints, suggestions, and the collection of materials. Among these he takes pleasure in naming the Hon. LEWIS CASs, late Secretary of War, and now Envoy Extraor dinary and Minister Plenipotentiary near the Court of St. Cloud, General Dix, Secretary of the State of New-York, and Mr. ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL, his deputy; General MORGAN LEWIS; Major JAMES COCHRAN, of Oswego, and also his LADY, who was the young. est daughter of General Schuyler; Major WILLIAM POPHAM, who was an aid-de-camp to General James Clinton; SAMUEL S. LUSH, Esq., and S. DE WITT BLOODGOOD, Esq. of Albany; JAMES D. BeMIS, Esq. of Canandaigua; LAUREN FORD and GEORGE H. FEETER, Esquires, of Little Falls; GILES F. YATES, Esq. of Schenectady; WILLIAM FORSYTH, Esq. of Quebec; and the Rev. Mr. LAPE, formerly of Johnstown, and now of Athens, N. Y.

With these preliminary explanations, the work is committed to the public, in the belief that, although it might, of course, have been better executed by an abler hand with a mind less distracted by other pressing and important duties, it will, nevertheless, be found a substantial addition to the stock of American history.

WILLIAM L. STONE.

New-York, March, 1838.

LIFE

OF

JOSEPH BRANT-THAYENDANEGEA, &c.

CHAPTER I.

Birth and parentage-Discussion of the doubts cast upon his origin-Visit of Mohawk chiefs to Queen Anne-Evidence of Brant's descent from one of thoseDigression from the main subject, and Extracts from the private and official journals of Sir William Johnson-Connexion between Sir William and the family of Brant-Incidental references to the old French war-Illustrations of Indian proceedings, speeches, &c.-Brant's parentage satisfactorily established-Takes the field in the Campaign of Lake George (1755.)—Is engaged at the conquest of Niagara (1759.)-Efforts of Sir William Johnson to civilize the Indians-Brant is sent, with other Indian youths, to the Moor Charity School, at Lebanon-Leaves school -Anecdote-Is engaged on public business by Sir William-As an Interpreter for the Missionaries-Again takes the field, in the wars against Pontiac-Intended massacre at Detroit-Ultimate overthrow of Pontiac--First marriage of Brant--Entertains the Missionaries--Again employed on public business--Death of his wife--Engages with Mr. Stewart in translating the Scriptures--Marries again--Has serious religious impressions-Selects a bosom friend and confidant, after the Indian custom-Death of his friend-His grief, and refusal to choose another friend.

THE birth and parentage of JOSEPH BRANT, or, more correctly, of THAYENDANEGEA-for such was his real name-have been involved in uncertainty, by the conflicting accounts that have been published concerning him. The Indians have no herald's college in which the lineage of their great men can be traced, or parish registers of marriages and births, by which a son can ascertain his paternity. Ancestral glory and shame are therefore only reflected darkly through the dim twilight of tradition. By some authors, Thayendanegea has been called a half-breed. By others he has been pronounced a Shawanese by parentage, and only a Mohawk by adoption. Some historians have spoken of him as a son of Sir William Johnson;* Several authors have suggested that Brant was the son of the Baronet. Drake, in his useful compilation, The Book of the Indians," states that he had been so informed by no less an authority than Jared Sparks. Drake himself calls him an Onondaga of the Mohawk Tribe! The signification of the name Thayendanegea, cannot be well expressed in English. The meaning of the word is, two-sticksof-wood-bound-together, denoting strength.