The Wakan Circle

Molly Brant - Mohawk

Molly Brant is very typical of the difficulties in identifying true facts in research materials printed about Native women. There is no question that Molly was by far the most powerful and influential woman in the Mohawk Nation. She single-handedly is credited with maintaining British loyalty throughout the Iroquois Confederacy. HOWEVER:

Her date of birth is given as both 1735 and 1736
Her Mohawk name was either Gonwatsijayenni, Degonwadonti or Tekonwatonti depending upon your resource
She died in Brantford, Ontario, Canada in 1795, OR in Kingston, Ontario, Canada in 1796
There is even disagreement over whether she was Mohawk or Iroquois

We do have some fascinating facts about Molly that are not in dispute. She was born to a Mohawk father and an Iroquois mother in Conajoharie, New York, the older sister of the famed Mohawk leader Joseph Brant. Following the death of her natural father, Molly's mother married an Iroquois man who had been given an English name - Nicklaus Brant - and thus the English last name. She apparently had an uneventful childhood, and received an education that was unusual for any woman of that time period.

It was at the age of 17 that Molly's destiny began to take shape when she met William Johnson, a famous British trader who later became Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the British Indian Department's Northern District. Johnson was clearly quite taken with Molly for, by the time she was 23, she had moved into his home and was fulfilling all the duties of wife, political consort, and hostess of his considerable estate. She went on to bear Johnson 9 children.

Some accounts hold that Molly and Johnson were married in Native tradition, but it is established that they were never married in a white ceremony. Even though she was considered only Johnson's mistress by white leaders, she was nonetheless accepted as their peer and equal. Her skill as a diplomat was admired by the political leaders of the day. Her grace and dignity as a hostess made the Johnson estate a major destination to visitors from this country, Canada and Europe who could find an excuse to"stop by". In return for her hospitality, Molly received many gifts of every type and description. The personal items such as clothing, she carefully packed away. Other items were proudly displayed for all to see.

Never shy, Molly used her considerable influence with the British to see that her people were well cared for. In times of disagreement, it was she who traveled into the villages and met with the Sachems (chiefs) to urge their continuing loyalty to the Crown. So effective was she that provisions were made by the British to support her financially for her entire life! Her yearly pension even exceeded that of her famous brother.

Prior to his death in 1774, Johnson had the foresight to make a will which left all of his wealth and property to Molly. Additionally, he set out political appointments for the children and for Molly's brother, Joseph. As the armies of the American Revolution drew closer to her home, Molly knew that word of her loyalties to the British were too well known for her to be safe there. She gathered her worldly goods and moved into Canada. Even so, the invading armies reported digging up several barrels of dresses which had been left behind......buried in the backyard.

Molly remained safe in Canada until her death. Even there, her efforts to keep the Iroquois loyal to the British never weakened. Molly Brant's life, and her influence over events of her time, are indeed legendary.

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