When we talk relationships in New France between First Nations and European we think of European men and Firsts nations women. During my seminar this week there was an interesting question posed by another student which was; “we often hear about European men and first nations women but did European women and First Nations men every have relations?” I found this to be an interesting questions because we rarely ever think about these types of questions. Tracy, our professor had one person come to mind and that was Joseph Brant. Me, being a person who never likes to have a question unanswered started to research him. I found out that he had quite and interesting story.
Brant did in fact marry a European woman. The tale of how they found each other was quite a tangled web. Brant had not one but three wives. The first wife was a non aboriginal woman named Peggy. Peggy was taken captive when young by Native Americans. She was forced to assimilate with the Northwest First Nations. Joseph and Paggy had two children children before Peggy passed away of tuberculosis.
Brants second wife was Suzanna who was a Peggy’s half sister. When requesting marriage from the Church of England was denied due to close kinship. Brant had to go to German minister to marry them. Shortly after Suzanna dies of tuberculosis.
Brants third and final wife was Catherine Croghan, who was the daughter of a Irish Indian Agent father and mohawk mother. Croghan and Brant had seven children.
I found this tangled web very interesting, I don’t think that many people have thought about First Nations men and European women but it did in fact happen. Sometimes three times from he same men. I think that history has to be looked at from not only a woman’s point of view but from a man’s as well.
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