Onondaga Indian Chiefs and Leaders

Black Kettle. An Onondaga chief, called by the French Chaudïere Noire. When in the first French war the governor in Montreal sent one of his officers with 300 men to attack the Iroquois at Niagara, Black Kettle, with 80 warriors, gave the invaders a long running fight, from which the latter were the chief sufferers, although his force was in the end wiped out. In the following season he laid waste the French settlements in w. Canada. In 1691 the Iroquois planned the destruction of the French settlements and trading posts w. of Montreal. Their plans were revealed to the French commander by captive Indian women who escaped, and after the defeat of the expeditions the French destroyed parties that were encamped in their hereditary hunting grounds between the Ottawa and St Lawrence rs. Black Kettle retaliated by killing Indians who traded with Montreal and the French escort sent to guard them. On July 15, 1692, he attacked Montreal and carried off many prisoners, who were retaken by a pursuing party; and in the same season he attacked the party of de Lusignan and killed the leader. In 1697 he arranged a peace with the French, but before it was concluded he was murdered by some Algonkin while hunting near Cattaraugus, although he had notified the French commander at the fort of the peace negotiations.

Canasatego. An Onondaga chief who played an important role in the proceedings of the council at Philadelphia in 1742. A dispute arose between the Delaware Indians and the government of Pennsylvania concerning a tract of land in the forks of Delaware r. It was on this occasion, evidently in accordance with a preconcerted arrangement between the governor of Pennsylvania and the Iroquois chief, that the latter, addressing the Delawares, made the memorable statement: "How came you to take upon you to sell land at all? We conquered you; we made women of you; you know you are women, and can no more sell land than women. We charge you to remove instantly; we don t give you liberty to think of it." The choice of Wyoming and Shamokin was granted, and the Delawares yielded. Little more is recorded regarding this chief. His son, Hans Jacob, resided on the Ohio in 1758.

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Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico

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Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico, Frederick Webb Hodge, 1906