Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 6.djvu/122

 io 4 THE GRANITE MONTHLY.

THE BIOGRAPHY OF COL. JOSEPH BRANDT.

��BY HON. G. W. NESMITH, I.L. D.

He was a Mohawk Indian, born about Buder. Brandt also served under St.

j 740, and \slio died nt his residence, Leger, in 1777. in the investment of

at the head of Lake Ontario, Canada Col. Gansevort at Fort Stanwix. and

West, Nov. 24, 1807. Sir William was a leader in die severe battle of Johnson married, for his second wife, Oriskany. fought August 6, 1777. He Molly, sister of Joseph, and he became was not engaged in the massacre at n member of Johnson's family. 1 1 Wyoming, hut was a paiticipant in die August, 1 761, Sir William sent Brandt destruction of the town of Cherry to Dr. Elcazer Wheelock's Indian Valley in New Yoik, a town named Charity School, then established at alter ("apt. Cherry, of Londonderry, Lei anon, Conn. one of its first setders, and which had He remained there until Sept. 19, been largely filled hy citizens from 1763 — more than two years. The ex- that to\ui and Windham, both in this l- 1. e of his education, as charged hy state. The centennial of that destruc- Dr. Wheclock, during the time he was lion was recently celebrated, and the there, was nearly twenty five pounds, address on that c<< asion was delivered, His board was five shillings per week, by Judge Campbell, a descendant from and his tuition two shillings. The the family of that name which had balance of the expense for his educa- emigrated from Windham, N. H., tion was principally expended for his to that town. In July. 1779, ne clothing. had obtained the commission of A favorite coat for the Indian stu- colonel f;on the British government, dent, ina..c irom a bear-skin, and and led the hand that destroyed Mini- leather breeches, tanned from the sink, and defeated Col. Tuslen and his deer, or moose-skins, were then much command. Under Johnson, in 1770, worn. he was one of dv most efficient op- While at this school, it is said he ponents of Gen. Sullivan in his expe- translated the Gospel of St. Mark dition against die Indians. He com- ii. to (he Mohawk language. manded die right wing of the enemy Before he joir.ed the school, he is in the battle of Newton, and, being reported to have taken an active part, posted behind a strong intrenchment under Sir William Johnson, in the Ni- of logs, he was enabled to inflict con- agara campaign of 1758 and 1759. sielerable lo:s upon our New Hamp- After his return home, in 1 763, he was shire tn ops. Jt was here Capt. ("loves, engaged in the war ag unst Hontiac. of Fitzwilliam, and Lt. McCauley, of Sir William Johnson died in 1774, Litchfield, were killed. Also Paymaster anel his son-in-law, Guy Johnson, he- Kimball, of Plaistow, and Major Tit- came superintendent of the Indian comb, of Dover, and Ensign John Department in Canada, and his iiiflu- Bean, of Salisbury, were severely ence extended over the Mohawks in wounded. After the war was over, New York, or the Six Nations, as they Col. Brandt exerted his influence in were usually called. behalf of the American?, and induced In 1775 Brandt was induced to visit the Mohawks to make a permanent England, and by the influence of Sir peace with them.

Guy Johnson he was induced to take In 1786 Col. Brandt again visited

up arms against the Colonies, and was England anel was received with marked

employed first in a predatory incur- distinction. He then and there col-

sion against our settlements in connec- lected funds for the first church which

tion with the Tory refugee, Col. John was built in Upper Canada. He, upon

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