Governor Blacksnake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chainbreaker
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| 'Tah-won-ne-ahs, Thaonawyuthe | |
Chainbreaker, painted by John Phillips, 1845
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| Seneca leader | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Between 1737 and 1760 |
| Died | December 26, 1859 Allegany Reservation, New York. |
| Resting place | Hillside Haven Cemetery, Cattaraugus County, New York |
| Relations | Uncles, Cornplanter and Handsome Lake |
| Known for | Fought with the British at Battle of Oriskany, during the American Revolutionary War; fought with the Americans in the War of 1812 |
| Nicknames | Blacksnake, Governor Blacksnake |
Tah-won-ne-ahs or Thaonawyuthe (born between 1737 and 1760, died December 26, 1859) was a respected Seneca leader. His people called him Chainbreaker. European settlers knew him as Governor Blacksnake. He was a powerful sachem, which is a chief, and a skilled war chief.
Chainbreaker led warriors alongside other Iroquois chiefs, like Mohawk leader Joseph Brant. They fought with the British during the American Revolutionary War (1777-1783). He was well-known for his role in the Battle of Oriskany. In this battle, British allies surprised American forces. After the war, Chainbreaker supported his uncle, Handsome Lake, a significant religious leader.
Later, Chainbreaker joined the Americans in the War of 1812. He also encouraged his people to find ways to live peacefully with European-American settlers. He even allowed missionaries and teachers onto the Seneca reservation. A very important part of his life was leading a successful fight in New York in the 1850s. This was after white men illegally bought Seneca land. He helped win a court case that gave the Oil Springs Reservation back to the Seneca people in 1861.
Contents
Chainbreaker's Early Life
Chainbreaker was born near Seneca Lake in western New York. His village was called Kendaia (Apple Town). His mother was a Seneca woman from the Wolf clan. His father was known as De-ne-oh-ah-te, or "The Light".
In the Iroquois nations, children belong to their mother's family and clan. This is called a matrilineal system. The mother's brothers, especially the oldest, were very important in a child's life. Chainbreaker's maternal uncles were the war chief Cornplanter and the sachem Handsome Lake. They were very influential figures.
He grew up in Canawaugus, a Seneca village. This village is now part of Avon, New York. The Wolf Clan, his mother's clan, traditionally had males serve as war chiefs for the Seneca.
Historians believe Chainbreaker lived an incredibly long life, at least 100 years. His gravestone says he was born in 1737, which would make him 122 when he died. However, most historians think he was born later, closer to 1760. As a young adult, he became known as a war chief. He even traveled with his uncle Cornplanter to meet General George Washington. They also met members of the Continental Congress.
After the American Revolutionary War, Chainbreaker moved to land in Pennsylvania. This land was given to his uncle Cornplanter for his service. Chainbreaker's home village was sold to the United States. He became a follower of his uncle Handsome Lake's religion, which promoted traditional Seneca ways. He later moved to Coldspring with Handsome Lake.
Chainbreaker believed in many of Handsome Lake's teachings, like being sober and moral. But he disagreed with his uncle about fighting in "white man's wars." By the 1840s, Chainbreaker had his own ideas about traditional ways. He often suggested finding ways to compromise. He allowed missionaries and Western schools on the reservation. He encouraged his people to work together and get an education.
Chainbreaker's Role in Wars
In 1777, Chainbreaker fought with the British during the American Revolutionary War. He took part in the attack on Fort Stanwix. He also fought in the Battle of Oriskany. In 1778, he was part of the Battle of Wyoming. In 1779, he tried to defend Seneca villages from an attack by Colonel Daniel Brodhead. He also carried messages for the British.
After the Revolutionary War, Chainbreaker accepted that the United States was now an independent country. He also understood that the Seneca and other Iroquois nations had lost much of their land. He then chose to fight on the American side in the War of 1812. He participated in the Battle of Fort George.
Fighting for Oil Spring Reservation
Governor Blacksnake played a key role in saving the Oil Springs Reservation for the Seneca people. His victory in this New York State court case was very important. It set a rule for future land claims, like the one settled in 2005 over Cuba Lake.
After the War of 1812, some American colonists bought land next to the Seneca Oil Spring Reservation. These men, Stanley Clark, Benjamin Chamberlain, and William Gallagher, claimed parts of the reservation for themselves. They even gave a quarter of the land to Horatio Seymour, who later became the governor of New York.
The Seneca people decided to fight back in court. They filed a lawsuit called Seneca Nation of Indians v. Philonus Pattison. They argued against the claims made by Seymour, Gallagher, Chamberlain, and Clark.
Governor Blacksnake had been at the original meetings that created the reservation. He testified in court that he and Joseph Ellicott had surveyed the Oil Spring lands. He explained that a full description of the land was accidentally left out of the treaty. He showed a map that clearly marked the Oil Spring Reservation as Seneca land.
In 1861, the court ruled in favor of the Seneca Nation. The men who had claimed the land were forced to leave the reservation. Even though some land was later lost to roads and tourism, Governor Blacksnake's actions helped protect a large part of Oil Spring as Seneca land.
Later Years
As Chainbreaker got older, his political influence became less strong. Younger Seneca men started to take on more leadership roles. However, he continued to take part in important Seneca ceremonies, even into his nineties.
Chainbreaker died on the Allegany Indian Reservation in Cattaraugus County, New York, in late December 1859. The Seneca Nation remembers him as a person with great intelligence and strong morals.
