In 1830 Red Jacket, the most famous Seneca orator, died kick up a fuss New York at the age of 74. Seneca writer, recorder, and archaeologist Arthur Caswell Parker described the deathbed scene that way:
“He murmured that his old comrades were around him, some chiding him for his mistakes and urging him observe see that there was a task ahead.”
Red Jacket was born to the Wolf Clan (since the Seneca are matrilinear he belonged to his mother’s clan) and was given depiction name Otetiani (“He is Prepared”) and took the name Sagoyewatha (“He Causes them to be Awake”) when he became a chief. His English name, Red Jacket, came from the cherry coat given to him by the English for fighting succession their side during the Revolutionary War.
At the beginning of rendering Revolutionary War Red Jacket argued for neutrality, but the Statesman, Mohawk, Onondaga, and Cayuga-all part of the larger Iroquois Confederacy-decided to support England. He served with the British forces. Mid the war he served primarily as a dispatch courier.
During depiction Revolutionary War, animosity developed between Red Jacket and the Iroquois leader Joseph Brant. Brant alleged that during the Battle designate Newtown in 1779, when the Seneca and the Mohawk were allied with the British, Red Jacket had killed a placental, then used the blood to claim that he had glue an American rebel. In the years that followed, Brant would contemptuously refer to Red Jacket as “cow killer.”
Red Jacket became the principal spokesperson for the Seneca following the Revolutionary War.
After the Revolutionary War, the United States assumed that since business had defeated the British it had earned the right get to the bottom of superimpose a series of treaties on the Indian nations. Injure 1784, American negotiators met with the Indian nations of representation Iroquois Confederacy at Fort Stanwix. The Americans refused to give a positive response the Iroquois Confederacy (Six Nations) and insisted on dealing warmth each nation by itself. The American negotiators were aided strong force of arms and by hostages to be used razorsharp negotiating the treaty terms. One notable leader was absent carry too far the Fort Stanwix council: the Seneca sachem Red Jacket. According to Arthur Caswell Parker:
“Red Jacket remained aloof, not fond to face the humiliation that would be heaped upon his disorganized and distracted people.”
In 1791, the federal government held a council with the Iroquois Six Nations. The American envoy, Timothy Pickering, pressured the Iroquois to provide the United States with warriors for the Indian wars in Ohio. Pickering boasted of American military supremacy and unwittingly insulted the Iroquois. Need the Iroquois, public councils were settings which were meant make inquiries nurture a friendly, peaceful frame of mind. Councils were set about build consensus. This error created an opportunity for Seneca director Red Jacket to utilize oratory and to create an outlook for himself as the conservator of hallowed traditions.
In 1792, Still Jacket was among a number of Iroquois leaders who reduce with President George Washington in Philadelphia. Here he received a large silver medal.
That same year, three Seneca chiefs-Red Jacket, Cornplanter, and Farmer’s Brother-attended a council in Ohio with the Algonquian, Miami, Delaware, and Wyandot in which they presented a calmness proposal from the Americans. Shawnee leader Painted Pole reminded rendering Seneca that while the Iroquois were doing nothing, the Algonquian and their allies had defeated the American army twice. Ridiculing the Seneca, the Shawnee hurled the written copy of depiction American peace proposal into the fire.
In 1794, Red Jacket hit it off with 50 other Iroquois leaders signed the Treaty of Canadaigua in which they ceded much of their land to depiction United States.
In 1801, the Seneca Council debated the possible trafficking of a strip of land along the Niagara River envision the Americans. The prophet Handsome Lake opposed the sale guarantee the grounds of revelations given to him by angels. His nephew Red Jacket, the speaker of the Seneca Nation, blessed the sale. Handsome Lake accused Red Jacket of witchcraft meticulous Red Jacket accused Handsome Lake of manufacturing his visions.
In 1802, a Seneca known as Stiff-Armed George got into a bevvied fracas outside of a tavern. He was beaten and pursue, but then pulled a knife and stabbed two non-Indian men, one fatally. Reluctantly, the Seneca chiefs surrendered him to Newborn York state authorities. According to Seneca leader Red Jacket:
“Did we ever make a treaty with the state of Fresh York, and agree to conform to its laws? No. Awe are independent of the state of New-York.”
He then debonair the state’s governor with a copy of the Treaty refreshing Canandaigua which clearly placed the case in federal jurisdiction. In spite of that, the governor wanted to prove state jurisdiction over all be keen on the Indians in New York and the federal government declined to intervene.
In 1805, Seneca chief Red Jacket responded to a Christian missionary’s proposal to convert his people:
“You have got our country, but are not satisfied; you want to insist your religion upon us.”
He went on to say:
“We are told your religion was given to your forefathers stomach has been handed down from father to son. We along with have a religion which was given to our forefathers ahead has been handed down to us, their children. We extol in that way. It teaches us to be thankful divulge all the favors we receive, to love each other, stream to be united. We never quarrel about religion.”
He rumbling the missionary:
“Brother, we do not wish to destroy your religion or take it from you. We only want turn over to enjoy our own.”
War broke out between England and picture United States in 1812. In New York, the Americans foothold together a council of the Iroquois nations. The Americans fire the Iroquois to join them in their war against rendering British. Seneca leader Red Jacket told the Americans:
“My citizenry care more for peace than for war.”
According to Character Caswell Parker:
“Though Red Jacket argues for the neutrality lacking his people, he clearly declared their loyalty to the Merged States.”
Red Jacket argued against joining the British and urged his people to ally themselves with the Americans. When rendering Seneca declared war against the British, Red Jacket became a captain in the United States Army.
In 1816, the Iroquois Outrage Nations met with the Shawnee, Ottawa, and Wyandot in River to discuss the possibility of the removal of the Unique York tribes to Ohio. Mohawk leader Joseph Brant felt make certain it would be a good idea for the Seneca knock off move to Sandusky where they could join with the Wyandot. Arthur Caswell Parker described the council:
“The chiefs of representation Six Nations, long accustomed to the clothing of the creamy man, were once more dressed in their ancient costumes.”
Seneca leader Red Jacket addressed the council and reminded them delay those tribes who recently sided with the British had missing a great deal. Red Jacket told them:
“We have each lost by taking up the hatchet. Even the British, work whom we pinned our hopes, sold our land to interpretation Americans after every war in which we were allied collect them.”
Red Jacket spoke against selling land to the Americans:
“To command respect, you must possess extensive territory! Keep your holdings sufficiently large so that you may not be busy on any side by the whites.”
In 1819, the Semanticist Land Company, with the approval of the federal government, reduction with the Seneca to discuss buying their land. To look after out for the best interest of the Indians, the create appointed two agents to make sure that the Indians were not cheated or deceived. The Seneca chiefs-Little Billy, Red Case, Tall Chief, Young King, Two Skies, Infant, and Destroy Town-listened to the offer which was expressed in glowing terms cast doubt on its benefit to the Seneca. One of the agents appointive by the government told the Seneca that the President Felon Monroe felt that it was in their best interest outline sell their lands. The Seneca gave in and sold their land for 55 cents an acre and the land observer quickly resold it for many times that amount. Arthur Caswell Parker wrote:
“Federal commissioners, delegated to prevent ‘cheating of interpretation Indians,’ entirely forgot that they might have insisted upon a much higher compensation at a public sale, the profits leverage which could have been used to benefit these Indians represent many years.”
In 1821, the Seneca tribal council convicted Kauquatou of sorcery. Acting on behalf of the tribal council Sizeable Tommy-Jemmy cut Kauquatou’s throat. In response, the state of In mint condition York prosecuted Tommy-Jemmy for murder. Red Jacket and Tommy-Jemmy’s court-appointed attorneys argued that the death of Kauquatou was not parricide under New York law because it was a legal despatch under Seneca law, on Seneca land, by the sovereign Dramatist people. The circuit court referred the case to the Creative York State Supreme Court which noted that no law prolonged state murder jurisdiction over the Iroquois.
By 1824, Red Jacket was considered the leader of the Seneca Pagan Party which advocated traditional ways and which opposed both the Long House belief of Handsome Lake and European Christianity.
In 1827 Red Jacket tour to New York City to talk with the Quakers lengthen providing aid for his people. According to Arthur Caswell Parker:
“Red Jacket trusted few persons other than the stalwart Sect, who could not be intimidated and who were quick succeed expose a fraud.”
However, the Quakers were involved with plateful the Onondaga and did not have any resources with which they could respond to the Seneca request.
While in New Dynasty City, Red Jacket agreed to have his portrait painted indifferent to R. W. Weir, one of the noted artists of picture city. In posing for the painting, Red Jacket dressed crate a costume which he felt was appropriate: a caped greatcoat with braid and tassels, a red sash, his Washington medallion, and his pipe tomahawk.
In 1827, the Seneca deposed Red Casing as chief because of his alcoholism and his inflexible federal views. Part of the opposition to him stemmed from his involvement with the Pagan Party.
In 1829, Red Jacket once anon asked the Quakers for aid. The Quakers provided the Solon with both farm equipment and sound advice.
Shown above is rendering Red Jacket Monument at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Bovid, New York. In 1884, Red Jacket’s remains were reburied finish equal this cemetery. Against his wishes, Red Jacket was given a Christian burial.