"Mohawk Chief John Norton" Topic

"NORTON, JOHN (Snipe, Teyoninhokarawen), schoolmaster, Indian Department interpreter, Mohawk chief, army officer, and author; b. probably in Scotland, the son of a Scottish mother named Anderson and a Cherokee father named Norton; fl. 1784–1825.

The date of John Norton's birth is not known. His father had come from the Cherokee nation, "having been taken, a boy, from Kuwoki, when that village was burnt by the English," according to one report. His mother was an Anderson who was probably living near Dunfermline, Scotland, when their son John was born. It is also probable that the son received his education in a good school in Dunfermline, and in a print shop, perhaps his father's. The letters, speeches, and journal which John composed later show that he had had good training in the writing of English.

He came to Canada as a private soldier. The muster rolls of the 65th Foot record his enlistment at Mullingar (Republic of Ireland) early in 1784. He arrived in the province of Quebec with the regiment in the following year and accompanied it to Fort Niagara (near Youngstown, N.Y.) in 1787. There he deserted. In 1788 he received his discharge…"
From here
warof1812.ca/norton.htm

Amicalement
Armand

I believe this warrior chief deserves much credit for assistance to the British army during the War of 1812 in Upper Canada.

For a well researched book on his life see " A Mowhawk Memoir from the War of 1812: John Norton – Teyoninhorkarawen" by Carl Benn.

Thanks!.

Amicalement
Armand

As I have before, I really encourage people to watch the TV series "Nations at War" produced by APTN here in Canada. There is quite a bit about Norton.

His life would make a great novel if he weren't overly moralistic (at least for my taste). The Carl Benn book is excellent and could be the frame for the novel, as Norton participated in many of the significant events of the war.

I would also add that the website for the Series "Nations at War" (which has been renewed for a second season) is a wealth of information on conflicts in North America.

Great website, thanks for sharing!

The memoir itself can be found here:

link

A preview can be found on Google Books:

link

And the book can also be found here:

link

Thanks!.

Amicalement
Armand

Norton's memoir arrived and it looks extremely interesting. Thanks very much for the heads-up.