Friday Reprise: Chainbreaker of the Seneca

The Wolf Clan of the Seneca produced many notable leaders.  We've already looked at Red Jacket.  His maternal nephews were Cornplanter and Handsome Lake, whom we've already discussed.  Their maternal nephew was a war chief known variously as Blacksnake, Governor Blacksnake or Chainbreaker.  His native name or chiefship title is given as Tah-Wo-Ne-Ahs or Thaonawayuthe.

The first mystery in his life is his birth year, which is given from 1727 to 1760, depending mostly on estimates of his age at his death.  His tombstone gives the year 1737, but also claims in error that he served in the Continental Army.  That would have put him at over 120 years old when he died in 1859, which would be implausible without documentation.  He was documented as having served with the British during the Seven Years War (1755-1763), so a birthdate in the 1740's is plausible, making him at least 110 when he died, though he might have been older.  Most likely, he was born near Seneca Lake.  Using the Iroquois matrilineal kinship system, a maternal uncle, such as Cornplanter, would have provided his warrior training and sponsored his rise in Seneca society.  That his mentor was most likely Cornplanter is born out by the fact that he accompanied Cornplanter on a mission to George Washington during the Revolution and also to appear before the Continental Congress.  In 1788, he moved to his uncle's land when his own village was taken in the Phelps and Gorham Land purchase, which more in a later post. 

At some point around 1803, Cornplanter and Blacksnake had a falling out.  Blacksnake agreed to much of Handsome Lake's ideas, especially temperance and personal morality.  But he disliked the idea that Natives should not participate in White men's wars, seeing that the was often the only way for a tribe to gain advantage in preserving their lands.  After Handsome Lake's death, he adapted the Code which modified his views on war somewhat to encourage compromise.  He permitted missionaries to work on lands under his control and encouraged his people to attend school and work toward social harmony among themselves and with neighboring Whites. 

But he was a warrior and later attained the rank of war chief among the Seneca.  In 1777, he took part in the Siege of Fort Stanwix and the Battle of Oriskany. In 1778, he participated in the Battle of Wyoming (nothing to do with the present stat of that name), under Loyalist Major John Butler.  In 1779, he tried to defend Seneca villages from raids by Col. Daniel Brodhead during Sullivan's Expedition, which we've already discussed.  He also carried messages for the British.  After the War, he became reconciled to its outcome and focused on protecting Seneca land.  During the War of 1812, despite advancing age, he participate in the Battle of Fort George.  Throughout

this crucial time in his people's history, he was everywhere and witness to most of the events taking place, including several surveys of Seneca land by Settlers seeking to purchase, or convince the government to take control over, land that belonged to his people.  Blacksnake's testimony in a court case was crucial to saving the lands that became part of the Oil Spring Reservation, as he had in his possession maps which outlined the agreed-upon boundaries, thwarting attempts by land speculators to help themselves to more Seneca land.

As he grew older, his power waned, but he was still a respected elder among his people.  He died on the Allegheny Reservation in Cattaraugus County, New York, remembered as a man of rare intellectual and moral power.  He was buried in Hillside Haven Cemetery.