MOLLY BRANT AND
SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON
In 1756 Sir William Johnson was appointed as the
Crown agent for the Northern District and was responsible to court and
maintain the allegiance of the Iroquois people to the Royal cause.In 1759 Molly Brant became the consort of Sir William Johnson and resided at Johnson Hall, a large elegant colonial mansion at Johnstown New York. Molly Brant maintained the morale and loyalty of the Mohawk people during the
darkest hours of wartime. She was a Mohawk woman of great fortitude and of keen intelligence with remarkable ability to bridge an understanding
between two different cultures. Her contacts with high ranking Indian
families and her union with Sir William Johnson enabled her to wield
incredible influence at critical moments.
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Johnson Hall, Johnson, NY, Indian Council Meeting 1775.
Courtesy of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte |
Sir William
Johnson, 1715-1774
Courtesy of the
New York Historical Society |
Molly Brant's contributions lay
largely in her efforts to gain and maintain the active support of the
Mohawks in fighting the American rebels. The Mohawks in this way
contributed significantly to the defence and preservation of the land that
eventually became Canada. The Canadian Postal Corporation issued a
commemorative stamp in 1986 for Molly Brant. The Anglican Church of
Canada recognized her valuable contribution by including her in the revised
calendar of the book of Alternative Services.
For more information please check out the Old Fort Johnson web site.
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Canada Post's Stamp
"Canadian Personalities,
Molly Brant,"issued in 1986
Stamp reproduced courtesy of
Canada Post Corporation |
THE SETTLEMENT AT TYENDINAGA
The Mohawks and others of the Iroquois Confederacy fought as
military allies of the British during the American colonial rebellion of
1775 to 1783. Following the outbreak of hostilities, the Mohawks were
forced to leave their indigenous homeland in upper New York and removed
themselves to Lachine, near Montreal. At the end of the war, on 22 May,
1784, the Tyendinaga Mohawk people resettled from their ancient castles of
Canajoharie and Fort Hunter in Upper New York to the lands provided by King
George III in recognition of loyal and faithful service as His Majesty's
Indian allies. The great leaders at that time Captain John Deserontyon,
Aaron Hill and Captain Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea) took the Mohawk people
north, where they settled at Tyendinaga and along the Grand River at
Oshweken.
Captain Joseph Brant
(Thayendanegea) 1742-1807
by Romney
National Archives of Canada
C-019352 | 
King George III, 1738-1820
Her Majesty The Queen's collection |
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