Young King (Seneca Chief)
Encyclopedia
Young King or Koyengquahtah was a "Hoyaneh" or revered traditional chief of the Seneca nation
. He was born in the village of Canandaigua
, Seneca nation in 1760. He was a descendent of Old Smoke or Old King who was the a leader of the retaliatory war party of the Wyoming Massacre. Young King grew to adulthood during the tumultuous time of the American War of Independence. Fleeing to Fort Niagara
with his mother during Sullivan's Campaign. He was elected war chief and was a renowned warrior, a wise counselor and was possessed of high social qualities among his own people and the Americans.
He was a delegate to and a reluctant signatory of the Treaty of Big Tree
on September 15, 1797. The treaty was delayed, as his people would not commit to the treaty until Young King arrived. He apparently was at the funerals of his friend and cousin and had been delayed. He originally refused the terms of the treaty but was convinced by the Clan mothers
and counsel to accept the treaty.
He moved to the reservation
at Buffalo Creek
. He took to drinking and dissipation, but eventually was relieved of this affliction. He converted to Christianity and died there in 1835.
Seneca nation
The Seneca are a group of indigenous people native to North America. They were the nation located farthest to the west within the Six Nations or Iroquois League in New York before the American Revolution. While exact population figures are unknown, approximately 15,000 to 25,000 Seneca live in...
. He was born in the village of Canandaigua
Canandaigua (city), New York
Canandaigua is a city in Ontario County, New York, USA, of which it is the county seat. The population was 11,264 at the 2000 census...
, Seneca nation in 1760. He was a descendent of Old Smoke or Old King who was the a leader of the retaliatory war party of the Wyoming Massacre. Young King grew to adulthood during the tumultuous time of the American War of Independence. Fleeing to Fort Niagara
Fort Niagara
Fort Niagara is a fortification originally built to protect the interests of New France in North America. It is located near Youngstown, New York, on the eastern bank of the Niagara River at its mouth, on Lake Ontario.-Origin:...
with his mother during Sullivan's Campaign. He was elected war chief and was a renowned warrior, a wise counselor and was possessed of high social qualities among his own people and the Americans.
He was a delegate to and a reluctant signatory of the Treaty of Big Tree
Treaty of Big Tree
Treaty of Big Tree was a formal treaty, held from August 20, 1797 until September 16, 1797, between the Seneca nation and the United States of America. The delegates for both parties met at the residence of William Wadsworth, an early pioneer of the area and Captain of the local militia, in what is...
on September 15, 1797. The treaty was delayed, as his people would not commit to the treaty until Young King arrived. He apparently was at the funerals of his friend and cousin and had been delayed. He originally refused the terms of the treaty but was convinced by the Clan mothers
Clan Mother
Clanmothers are the Elder Women of an Iroquois Clan, who are in charge of appointing Tribal Chiefs and Faithkeepers.Each clan should have one Clanmother who should all work together. Each clanmother has a Faithkeeper who is responsible for ceremonial preparations, weddings, funerals, and other...
and counsel to accept the treaty.
He moved to the reservation
Indian reservation
An American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
at Buffalo Creek
Buffalo Creek Reservation
The Buffalo Creek Reservation was a tract of land surrounding Buffalo Creek in the central portion of Erie County, New York. It contained approximately of land and was set aside for the Native Americans of the region...
. He took to drinking and dissipation, but eventually was relieved of this affliction. He converted to Christianity and died there in 1835.