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THAYENDANEGEAA FREEMASON

OF

HONOR

AND

INTRIGUE

Short story about Bro. Joseph Brant

By Raymond W. Doyscher Jr., P.M.

INTERNATIONAL MASONIC REVIEW PUBLISHED BY BONISTEEL MASONIC LIBRARY

Volume 18. Issue 2 • • SPRING 2009

BONISTEELM

L.ORG

Special Issue!

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Contents

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• A BABy NAmed “ Two STickS of

STreNgTh”

• ATmoSphere of wAr wAS everywhere

• AN eNgliSh freemASoN AppeArS

• A refiNed geNTlemAN or A fierce

wArrior

• A fAmily mAN

• kiNg george iii Needed iNdiAN SupporT

• BrANT BecomeS A freemASoN iN

loNdoN

• gifTS ANd elegANce SecureS loyAlTy

• mASoNic dedicATioN vS. crowN loyAlTy

• A mASoNic clASSic STory

• The wAr eNdS BuT The iroquoiS Are

NoT forgiveN

• mASoNic BroTherS- BrANT ANd

wAShiNgToN

• oNly The grim reAper could SuBdue

him

• A revered ANd reSpecTed freemASoN

• epilogue ThoughTS

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THAYENDANEGEA

A FREEMASON OF

HONOR AND INTRIGUE

by:

Raymond W. Doyscher Jr., P.M.

Northwood Ancient Craft Lodge #551, F&AM of Michigan 2008

Cover photo of J. Brant from The Valiants Memorial - http://www.valiants.ca/english.html

WELCOME TO SPRING 2009

Contents

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Much has been written about Joseph brant over the years. Freemasons have been interested in him because of his steadfast dedication to his Masonic oath. Historians view him as either a savage and wicked warmonger or as a Crown loyal, dedicated military man. To this day his own Mohawk people revere him as their savior for securing for them a safe homeland in Ontario. He is indeed a man of many complicated sides.

In this research, my wife Donna and I poured over articles, newsprints, books, pamphlets, and unpublished family archives records, and museum record-rooms in brantford and burlington, Ontario. brant’s people, now live there in cultural co-existence with their neighbors. My visit there focused on piecing together the Freemason spirit of this remarkable man. This story emerges as a result.

Research Sites Visitations:

1. Woodland Cultural Center Museum, brantford, Ontario2. Her Majesty’s Royal Chapel of the Mohawks, brantford, Ontario3. Joseph brant Museum and Achieves, brantford, Ontario4. The brant House (Museum and Archives), burlington, Ontario5. Six Nations Public Library, Ohsweken, Ontario6. The Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites board of Information7. brant Lodge #45 AF&AM. G.R.C., brantford, Ontario

INTRODUCTION

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A Baby Named “Two Sticks of Strength”

The year was 1742. The place was an Ohio River bank. The event was the birth of an Indian baby named Thayendanegea meaning two sticks or in Indian symbolism, STRENGTH. Not only would this newborn live up to his title, he would eventually emerge as a Masonic classical legend. Thayendanegea’s mother and father were Mohawks who were on a hunting trip (in what is now Ohio) and on Miami Indian hunting ground. Two hundred years earlier, trespassing on another tribe’s hunting ground would have been met with hostility. However, in the 1500’s Hiawatha successfully assembled the leaders of five Indian tribes (eventually six, including the Mohawks) in the American northeast who agreed to peace among themselves. The tribes then settled disputes at regular Powwow gatherings and became known as the Iroquois Confederacy. Little could anyone in that Mohawk hunting group have imagined that the newborn Thayendanegea was destined to become a great leader of his people and leave behind intriguing Freemason history. The father of Thayendanegea died soon after his birth. Another Mohawk became the infant’s stepfather. That man carried the English name brant, a name that Thayendanegea would use for the rest of his life.

Atmosphere of War was Everywhere

The 1700’s were a tumultuous political period. The winds of war were blowing in several directions at once. The obvious advantage in controlling the American Colonies was attractive to the European powers, especially England and France. Each wanted a piece of this untapped resource and was willing to fight for it. In fact, France and England were at war with each other in Europe over it.

In addition, many Indian tribes were hostile to one another as not all were in agreement with the Iroquois Confederacy peace agreement. Chief Pontiac in the Detroit region was stirring up trouble. Many tribes were angry with the white European settlers. Also, to make the political waters of the times even muddier, colonists were restlessly talking about their own independence from England’s governmental control.

An English Freemason Appears

A politically powerful Freemason now entered the picture and would have a huge influence on Thayendanegea Brant as a mentor, brother-in-law, military Major General, and as a Provincial Grand Master of Masons

in the New york Colony. His name was William Johnson. born in 1715 in England, Johnson was sent by his aristocratic uncle ( a Royal Navy officer) to the Mohawk Valley in New york to oversee some land holdings. Johnson connected with the Mohawks, lived as their neighbor, mingled with them, and traded with them. During these first few years Johnson also raised a family with a German immigrant wife. Eventually he was widowed but continued to accumulate land and became highly respected among the Mohawk natives. As time moved along the political climate of the colonies became more and more disordered. European settlers were rebelliously interested in independence from England. France continued their annoying military presence and Johnson was commissioned by the Crown as the Superintendent of Indian Affairs. In 1755 Johnson was directed to gather his Crown-loyal Iroquois to run the encroaching French out of New york. Of all things, a 13 year old boy named Thayendanegea brant joined Johnson’s Indian battalion and distinguished himself as a worthy warrior in defeating the French at Fort George. Johnson took a special notice of this youthful warrior. Johnson christened him Joseph. Now Theyendanegea had the English name of Joseph brant. Johnson himself became invested with a new title of Sir William for his outstanding military achievement against the French.

A Refined Gentleman or a Fierce Warrior

Now our story backs up a little. When Joseph (Thayendanegea) brant was 10 years old he had a 16-year-old sister in the Mohawk village that would flirt with the British field officers. Johnson, now a widower, noticed her pleasing appearance and eventually married her. He called her Molly and accepted Joseph brant as a brother-in-law.

Photo - Indian Boy in Village of Mohawks

THAYENDANEGEA - A FREEMASON OF HONOR AND INTRIGUE

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Some time later, Sir William was directed to take Iroquois warriors to Fort Niagara where he again defeated the French in the French Indian War. brother-in-law Joseph was once more recognized as an outstanding warrior. by age 17 Joseph became a regular part of the aristocratic household of his sister and his brother-in-law, Sir William. All this time Joseph was becoming more and more refined. He learned to speak English. Sir William then sent Joseph, at the age of 19, to the Moore Charity School (later Dartmouth College) in Lebanon, Connecticut to learn british grace and culture. There, while other Indian students dropped out, Joseph became an exemplary student. He even converted to Christianity and soon held the status of spiritual missionary to his people. His dedication to his new religion was so profound that in later years Joseph transcribed books of the Holy bible, a prayer book, Acts of the Apostles, a History of the bible, and a catechism into the Mohawk language. However, Joseph’s cultural refinement and formal education at the Moore School had to come to a quick interruption. brother-in-law Sir William needed him to put down Pontiac’s Rebellion in and around Detroit. Once again a successful military undertaking occurred.

A Family Man

As a young man Joseph brant’s interest in matrimony and family life was met with hard luck. He married three times before the age of 32. Each wife; Peggy, Christina, and Susanna were Indian ladies. Each died of consumption. Finally at the age of 33, brant married Catherine, a daughter of an Indian mother and Irish father. Catherine must have been quite young as she survived Joseph by some 30 years.

King George III Needed Indian Support

While brant was molding into what destiny had in store for him, King George III in England heard

stories of this up-and-coming influential Mohawk Indian called Joseph brant. The King understood that Brant was a fierce and highly acclaimed warrior who was also a respected, educated, noble missionary and language interpreter between the Indians and the british forces. brant was understood to be part of Sir William’s household. He was decorated as a Crown military Captain and was capable of soliciting the military help of at least the six large Indian tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy. Most intriguing to the King was that this powerful Indian War chief seemed very loyal to the Crown through Sir William’s influence. The King saw a great military advantage in fostering a friendship with brant and invited him to England as a diplomat. The rebellious colonists were becoming a growing concern and brant’s Crown loyalty was much needed.

Brant Becomes a Freemason in London

In 1774 Sir William died and his estate and military command was taken over by none other than two more Freemasons, Sir John Johnson and Colonel Guy Johnson. As this was occurring british Freemasons, Colonel John butler and Colonel Walter butler were leading a battle called the “Loyalist Resistance” in up-state New York. Masonic influence must now have been profound to brant and while in England he asked to become a Mason. On April 26 or May 29, 1776 ( it is not exactly clear when) he was raised in London’s Falcon Lodge #71 or in Hiram’s Cliftonian Lodge. Again, it is unclear which as the two Lodges met in the same building at that time. Interestingly, King George III is said to have presented brant his Masonic apron at that time.

Gifts and Elegance Secures Loyalty

It is obvious that the King was out to impress brant with all the grace and charm afforded only to high-class dignitaries. brant was showered with

gifts from the King including two pistols, a gold watch, and a silver gilt gorget (chest plate) with the inscription, “The gift of a friend to Captain brant”. The gifts also included a very special army rifle and an important promise to amend any losses to the Iroquois if they would remain Crown loyal. In London, brant was given two special audiences with the King and was toasted at a dinner party as, “His Majesty’s greatest North American subject”. brant’s picture was painted in full Indian regalia by a prominent English portrait painter with that picture appearing in the London Times paper. The attention had to have been very flattering.

Picture of book with Brant’s translation of common prayer into Mahawk language.

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On his return to the colonies in May 1776, a made-to-order Hollywood type drama emerged. brant used his new King George III gift rifle to discourage the efforts of an enemy privateer vessel attacking his ship. Stories are told that Brant shot five enemy officers before the privateer vessel was scared off.

Masonic Dedication vs Crown Loyalty

Arriving in New york harbor, brant met with his former Moore School teacher, Dr. Wheelock who had joined the American revolutionists. brant would not be persuaded to embrace this rebel cause. He reminded his teacher that the school taught him to “fear God and honor the King”. brant added, “This I propose to do.”

brant now entered into dozens of battles with the revolutionary colonists. It is noteworthy that this was only months after brant was courted into a friendship with The Great While Father, King George III, and initiated into Freemasonry.

The stage was now set for a classic Masonic story. brant engaged his Iroquois warriors into the battle of Cedars on the St. Lawrence River in the fall of 1776. He captured Captain John McKinstry and in typical Indian tradition arranged for a quick execution. It was then that Joseph brant entered into the status of a Masonic Legend. As brant’s warriors were preparing for the execution, McKinstry called out the Grand Masonic Word and gave the Grand Hailing sign of distress.. brant recognized the signal and recalled his Masonic obligation to go to the “relief” of a brother Mason in such a predicament.

A Masonic Classic Story

And so it happened, brant halted the execution and placated his warriors by offering them an ox to roast. Masonic brother McKinstry was then sent to Montreal as a prisoner where he was subsequently released on parole to friendly Freemasons. McKinstry never forgot brant. According to McKinstry’s son, the two Masonic

brothers sat together in McKinstry’s Hudson Lodge #7 in Greendale, New york several times as friends. brant even offered entertainment at Lodge socials by telling Indian stories. The last time that brant signed the Hudson Lodge #7 registry was in 1805, two years before hanging up his “working tools of life”.

At least four other colonial revolutionists were spared execution courtesy of brant’s responding to their Masonic distress gestures. Records show them to be Masonic brothers William Stacy, Major John Wood, Lt. Thomas boyd, and Lt. Johnathon Maynard. boyd was later still executed in brant’s absence. Maynard survived and eventually held the office of Massachusetts Senator. It is apparent

that brant was sincere about the sanctity of his Masonic oath.

The War Ends but the Iroquois are not Forgiven

The Revolutionary battles were ugly and intense. Captain Chief Joseph brant and the Iroquois Confederacy faithfully and savagely fought on the side of the british Crown. Eventually, in 1782 the colonial revolutionists defeated the british and the Crown loyal Iroquois Indians found their homeland rights in jeopardy. After the defeated british army went home the Indians continued to be treated as the enemy. Most became homeless and rather pathetic.

brant now conferred with his Masonic brother, Sir John Johnson, the Superintendent General of Indian Affairs in Montreal. He also met with the Commander-in-Chief, General Haldimand. In 1784 the Six Nation Iroquois were given a Canadian homeland in a highly prized track of land 100 miles by 12 miles along the Grand River area of what is now burlington, Ontario.

In 1785 brant visited King George III a second time to remind him of his promise to the Iroquois people of compensation for their allegiance to the british cause. The King graciously and generously replied to their loyalty by stating, “The aboriginal losses shall be made good”.

Masonic Brothers- Brant and Washington

brant met George Washington at least twice, once in a battle northeast of Syracuse, New york in 1777 and once in peace at the end of the war. In battle, Washington dammed up the Susquehanna River and used that to his advantage to put brant and his Iroquois warriors to flight. In 1792 Washington invited Brant to Philadelphia to join the new Continental Congress and use his influence to settle down Indian hostilities in the American mid-west. brant attempted to accommodate

Picture of Masonic apron hanging in museum display at the Brant’s house in Burlington, Ontario

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Washington’s request but was unsuccessful. Eventually Washington sent Masonic brother General Anthony Wayne to quiet the Indian uprisings and did so at the unfortunate expense of the loss of many Indian lives.

On a personal editorial note, I wonder if President George Washington and Chief Joseph brant exchanged a Masonic Grip when they met as friends after the war.

Only the Grim Reaper could Subdue Him

brant never did retire. Even in his advanced years he continued to champion the civil rights and reasonable good of his people. Eventually he built an elegant house at the west end of Lake Ontario (now burlington, Ontario). Today a replica replacement sits on the original house site as a museum and historical archive recalling the life and times of the incredible man. It was there in 1807 that death took from brant that for which he was named some 67 years before- strength.

brant’s internment is now next to the Mohawk Chapel in brantford, Ontario. This location is the only Royal Chapel outside of Great britain. Appropriately, a tribute to the Great Chief is included in the Chapel’s eight stained glass windows

A Revered and Respected Freemason

It is interesting to examine what kind of Mason was Joseph Brant. He certainly did fit many of the Masonic organizational tenants. For instance, Masons say that they “take a good man and make him better”. Brant was a gentleman before his first trip to London. He was a Christian missionary and an interpreter between his people and the English. After his Masonic affiliation he became a powerful and influential military leader. Next, in obeying the Masonic charge of duty to “God”, “Neighbor”, and “the State”, brant left a history of (1) interpreting religious books and the Holy

bible into the Mohawk language, (2) being a guardian of his own people, and (3) being patriotically true to what was then the ruling government of the colonies, the royal Crown.

Regarding the Masonic charge of “censure, reproach, and integrity”, brant was recorded as having scolded his former schoolteacher Dr. Wheelock with a statement that the Moore School taught him to “fear God and honor the King”. brant added, “that is what I propose to do”. Also, in post war years brant was obedient to the Masonic charge of being “faithful to your Lodge”. He founded Lodge #11 in 1797

in brant’s Town at the Mohawk Village in Ontario, Canada. He also served as it’s Master. Later brant affiliated with Barton Lodge #10 in Hamilton, Ontario. In the Masonic charge of “promoting the general good of society”, brant worked tirelessly to establish the best possible life for the Mohawks who were displaced from their Mohawk Valley in New york. He even approached King George III twice for favors owed. It would appear that Chief Joseph brant, in his own way, was a model of Masonic virtue. As a final statement, the Canadian Royal Mint released a “Joseph brant” silver dollar on January 19, 2007 to honor and commemorate the Great Chief. The coin bears his likeness and has become a collector piece to Masons all over the world.

EPILOGUE THOUGHTS

Many little side stories emerged in our search for information regarding Masonic brother Joseph Brant that didn’t fit into the focus of this essay but are anecdotes just too fascinating to be ignored.

1. Since King George III presented Joseph brant with his lambskin apron, the question surfaces: Was the King a Freemason? Was he an honorary Mason because of his status? Editorial comment- If so to what Lodge was he affiliated?

2. The name of the city of brantford originated as a result of brant crossing or “fording” the Grand River on horseback. Editorial comment- I should have guessed.

3. Grandson Oliver brant died in 1865 but left behind a Masonic lambskin apron with a crude drawing on the reverse side. It was of a quartered shield showing a Lion of England, German eagle, Irish shamrock, and Scottish thistle. below and in Oliver’s own handwriting he states, “We lay no claim to Royal blood, except as handed down through the Royal house of the Mohawks. We bear no empty titles,

Picture of Brant’s house in Burlington, Ontario

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gained through political pull or Court intrigue but claim a right to an emblem emblazoned with signs and insignias proclaiming the origin of our family.” Editorial comment- I wonder what the deeper meaning of this is all about.

4. The Moore School had to be a severe come-down from what the young Indian braves expected from an education. No hunting, no fishing, no secrets of the forest were taught. Instead, students were expected to sit on wooden benches with wooden paddles labeled with cute little bible verses such as: “In Adam’s fall, we sinned all.” “Zacchaeus, he Did climb a tree, His Lord to see.” Editorial comment-It is hard to imagine any one from the Indian culture of the time tolerating such an educational environment. How was 19 year old Joseph brant disciplined enough to stay?

5. The docent at the Mohawk Royal Chapel informed us that Brant spoke 7 languages fluently. Editorial comment- Is that possible?

6. brant brought a golden ring home from England. It was inscribed “Theyendanegea, 1776”. His wife Catherine kept it with her as a keepsake after brant died. She lost it four years later. It was found 26 years after that by a little girl in a field near Wellington Square, Ontario and returned to Catherine in her elderly years. She is said to have been most grateful. Editorial comment- I wonder if the little girl played dress-up with it until her parents discovered her with it?

7. The docent at the brant House told us that Catherine chose to not live in the brant House after he died. Instead, she returned to a wigwam. Editorial comment- This is indeed hard to believe..

8. On one of brant’s audiences with King George III he was expected to kiss the King’s hand upon a formal greeting. brant refused but saved his own dignity by kissing the hand of the Queen instead. Editorial comment- Understandable as brant thought of himself as “ Indian King”.

9. Some of the Mohawk elders at the relevant time

are said to have been in doubt as to whether or not brant was a pure blooded Indian. Some believed him to have some “white blood” in him. Editorial comment- Gossiping Old Indians!

10. On his first trip to London, brant had his portrait painted by artist George Romney. I believe the picture was idealized because brant looks more English than Mohawk on the canvas. Editorial comment- I wonder how brant liked the image?11. In 1710 brant’s natural father was one of four Iroquois Chiefs to also visit England. This was at the invitation of Queen Anne. Her intent was the same as

King George III, to secure the Crown loyalty of the Indians. They too were wined, dined, entertained, and fawned over by the English high society. Editorial comment- If the French had the social judgment to do likewise, our Revolutionary War might have a different story behind it.

REFERENCES AND SOURCES USED IN THE RESEARCH OF THIS STORY

books/booklets

1. Joseph brant, A Man of His People. Helen Caister Robinson. Longan Canada LTD., 1971.

2. Joseph brant, Man of Two Worlds 1743-1807. Isabel Thomson Kelsay. Syracuse University Press, 1984-86.

3. Joseph brant,

Mohawk Chapel in Branfort, Ontario

Picture of Brant’s painting as an old

man.

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Theyendanegea. Mary M. Graser. Halton Press LTD., burlington, ONT.

4. Joseph brant. A. Roy Petrie. Fitzhenry and Whiteside LTD., 1978.

Articles

1.“Worshipful Joseph brant, Canadian Hero Commemorated”. Rural Lodge AF&AM #8 Masonic District of Massachusetts. www.rurallodge.com.2.“Joseph brant- The Greatest Tory”. Joseph E. bennett, FPS. Philalethes Society. www.freemasonry.org.3.“Joseph brant, A Masonic Legend”. bro. David Harrison. International Masonic Review. The Rising Point. Summer. 2008.

Unpublished Paper Documents

1. The Last Will and Testament of Joseph brant.2. Genealogy of the brant Family by members of

the brant Family. Circa- Mid-1900.3. Program for the Pilgrimage, The Institute of

Iroquoian Studies, 1967.

Other sources of Information

1. Docent Lecture (and conversation) at Her Majesty’s Royal Chapel of the Mohawks.

2. DVD-“ Last of the Mohicans”, Daniel Day-Lewis.

brant’s memorial statue

Painting of brant, possibly middle age.

Watercolor portrait of Joseph brant (Thayendanegea)

Source: National Archives of Canada via Canadian Heritage Gallery Author - William Armstrong (1822- 1914)

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Statue of Joseph Brant at the Valiants Memorial in Ottawa