Sayenqueraghta
war chief of the eastern Seneca tribe in the mid-eighteenth century
Years: 1707 - 1786
Sayenqueraghta (c. 1707 – 1786) is the war chief of the eastern Seneca tribe in the mid-eighteenth century.
His name in the Seneca language is phonetically rendered as Kaieñãkwaahtoñ, and wis spelled in a variety of ways, including Gayahgwaahdoh and Kayenquaraghton.
In historical records he is most often known as Sayenqueraghta (or Sayengaraghta), which is his name in the Mohawk language, or by nicknames such as Old Smoke or the Seneca King.
He is called Old Smoke because he holds the official position as the "smoke-bearer".
He was born the son of a prominent Seneca chief of the Turtle clan in western New York.
He lives most of his life at Ganundasaga, near the present day town of Geneva, New York.
He obtains his rank of war chief in 1751.
Before the American Revolution he wis referred to as chief of the Senecas.
He serves on the British side during the French and Indian War and is present at the Battle of Fort Niagara.
During Pontiac's Rebellion he is the Seneca war-chief who defeats the British at the Battle of Devil's Hole.
A portion of the Seneca fight the British during Pontiac's Rebellion of 1763.
n 1764 the Seneca come to Fort Niagara where they make peace and Sayenqueraghta "buries the Axe".
In 1765, he along with Handsome Lake and about one hundred other Seneca warriors goes on an expedition against the Cherokee and Choctaw.
This expedition will be remembered nearly a century later for the loot of scalps and other trophies obtained.
