35 Facts About Molly Brant

Joseph Molly Brant, who became a Mohawk leader and war chief, was her younger brother.

Since 1994, Molly Brant has been honored as a Person of National Historic Significance in Canada.

Molly Brant was long ignored or disparaged by historians of the United States, but scholarly interest in her increased in the late 20th century.

Molly Brant has sometimes been controversial, criticized for being pro-British at the expense of the Iroquois.

Molly Brant had a step-brother named Joseph Brant, not to be confused as biological siblings.

At some point, either before or after her birth, Molly Brant's family moved west to the Ohio Country, which the Iroquois had reserved as a hunting ground since the late 17th century.

Molly Brant was raised in a Mohawk culture that had absorbed some influences from their Dutch and English trading partners during a period of extended contact.

In 1754, Molly Brant accompanied her stepfather and a delegation of Mohawk elders to Philadelphia, where the men were to discuss a fraudulent land sale with colonial leaders.

Molly Brant was then about nineteen years old and described as "pretty likely", meaning "good looking".

Shortly after Johnson's first common-law wife, Catherine Weisenberg, died, Molly Brant moved into Fort Johnson.

Molly Brant lived with Johnson at Fort Johnson, and then his personal residence of Johnson Hall after 1763, when the British had defeated the French in the Seven Years' War.

Molly Brant played a prominent role in the life of Fort Johnson, managing household purchases, from expensive china to sewing supplies.

In Johnson's will, Molly Brant is referred to as his "housekeeper", which at the time meant that she ran the household, served as hostess, and supervised the female servants and slaves.

Molly Brant returned to Canajoharie with her children, personal belongings, and slaves.

Molly Brant supported the British Crown during the American Revolutionary War.

The Oneida and rebel Americans retaliated against Molly Brant by pillaging Canajoharie.

Molly Brant fled with her children to Onondaga, the central city of the Iroquois Confederacy.

Molly Brant's departure was so precipitate that she had to leave most of her belongings behind.

Molly Brant criticized Sayenqueraghta's advice, invoking the memory of Sir William to convince the council to remain loyal to the Crown.

Much of Molly Brant's influence came from her connections to Sir William Johnson and her stepfather Molly Brant Kanagaradunkwa.

Brant has been described as the "head of the Six Nations matrons", although historian Robert Allen writes that "there is no substantive evidence to suggest that Molly was ever a clan matron or mother within the Iroquois matrilineal society".

In late 1777, Molly Brant relocated to Fort Niagara at the request of Major John Butler, who wanted to make use of her influence among the Iroquois.

At Niagara, Molly Brant worked as an intermediary between the British and the Iroquois, rendering, according to Graymont, "inestimable assistance there as a diplomat and stateswoman".

In 1779, Molly Brant visited Montreal, where some of her children attended school.

Molly Brant returned to Fort Niagara when the Americans began their Sullivan Expedition that year.

Molly Brant was unhappy with having to live in an army barracks with her children.

Molly Brant was assigned Farm Lot A in Kingston Township, along the northern limit of the town.

Molly Brant was under the 1779 Act of Attainder, so the property reverted to the state.

Molly Brant lived in Kingston for the remainder of her life, a respected member of the community and a charter member of the local Anglican Church.

Molly Brant was long ignored or disparaged by historians of the United States, but scholarly interest in her increased in the late 20th century with a better understanding of her role and influence in Iroquois society.

Molly Brant has sometimes been controversial, criticized for being pro-British at the expense of the Iroquois.

Molly Brant identified first as Mohawk and made strategic choices that she believed would best benefit her peoples.

Molly Brant was portrayed by Tantoo Cardinal in the 1990 television film Divided Loyalties.

Much of the original site of the Molly Brant homestead had already been disturbed by industrial activities.

The sculpture of Molly Brant was unveiled in the eastern courtyard.