Sagoyewath

Sagoyewatha ["Red Jacket"] (1751-1830) Chief of the Wolf Tribe of the Senecas: Sagoyewatha was born at Old-Castle, near Geneva, New York. His name means "He keeps them awake." Settlers called him "Red Jacket" because he had a richly embroidered red jacket, which a British officer had given him. During the Revolutionary War, Sagoyewatha and his nation fought with the British. In 1784, he was present at a meeting at Fort Stanwix to negotiate a peace treaty between the United States and the Six Nations, of which the Senecas were one. Sagoyewatha spoke strongly against the treaty that was proposed. Nevertheless, it was eventually ratified. When a peace treaty was concluded in 1792, President Washington gave Sagoyewatha a silver medal, which he wore until his death. A tall, dignified man, Sagoyewatha was an eloquent orator and a fervent patriot of the Senecas. He promoted Indian ways; and was contemptuous of the dress, language and other aspects of white culture. He also disliked the presence of Christian missionaries among the Indians, and delivered a speech at an 1805 meeting expressing his concern over the phenomenon. After the death of Joseph Brant, Chief of the Mohawk Iroquois, in 1807; Sagoyewatha became the most important man in the Six Nations. In 1810, he provided information to Indian agents on Tecumseh's attempts to convince the Senecas to join his federation. In the War of 1812, he led the Senecas on the side of the United States against Britain. Although some described him as being physically cowardly, he proved his courage in his fighting during the War of 1812, especially in 1813 near Fort George. Sagoyewatha died on January 30, 1830, in Seneca Village, New York.