Brant, Joseph (Thayendanegea) | A scarce autograph letter by the great Mohawk leader Joseph Brant

Brant, Joseph (Thayendanegea)

Autograph letter signed ("Jos. Brant") to Mr. Gorham, introducing "a particular friend," Mr. Fairchild

One page (221 x 185 mm), Grand River, 13 November 1791, with a lengthy autograph postscript signed with initials ("J.B."); leaf inlaid or reinforced at margins, a few pinholes at central horizontal fold.

The Mohawk Joseph Brant was the best known and most influential of Native American miilitary and political leaders allied with Great Britain. He was the brother-in-law of Sir William Johnson, the British Superintendent of Indian Affairs for New York, and he commanded both Indian and Loyalist troops during the Revolution.

At the time of the present letter, Brant was living at Grand River (in what is now southwestern Ontario and now known as Six Nations Reserve). He had received a massive grant of land from Frederick Haldimand, Governor of the Province of Quebec, in 1784 and had moved there with most of the Mohawk people. The Haldimand Grant was meant as partial compensation for the vast lands the Mohawk had lost to New York State.

The recipient of this letter was likely Nathaniel Gorham, who, with Oliver Phelps, acquired the title to some 2,000,000 acres of Iroquois land: 

"The Bearer Mr Fairchild Being a particular friend of mine any Civilities you please to Show him will be acknowledged." The postscript continues, "N.B. I am Sorry that Business prevented me from paying my Friends in Your Quarter a visit last Summer Should the Winter prove good I intend to do myself the pleasure of coming to See a few lines from you by the Bearer will be very exceptable."

The person being introduced may have been either Isaac Fairchild or his brother, Benjamin. Issac traded with the Mohawks in New York, while Benjamin became an Indian interpreter for the Canadian government after being abducted by the Mohawks and held captive for several years. 

Autograph letters signed by Brant are very scarce; only three others are recorded in the auction records since the present was last sold nearly twenty-five years ago.

PROVENANCE:

Christie's New York, 10 December 1999, lot 33 (undesignated consignor)