Young King (1760–1835) or Koyengquahtah was a "Hoyaneh" or revered traditional chief of the Seneca nation. He was born in the village of Canandaigua, Seneca nation in 1760. He was a nephew of Sayenqueraghta (also known as Old Smoke or Old King), who was the war leader of the Seneca at the Battle of Wyoming. Young King grew to adulthood during the tumultuous time of the American War of Independence, and fled to Fort Niagara with his mother during the Sullivan Campaign. He was later elected war chief and was a renowned warrior, a wise counsellor and was possessed of high social qualities among his own people and the Americans.[1]

He was a delegate to and a reluctant signatory of the Treaty of Big Tree on September 15, 1797. The treaty was delayed, as his people would not commit to the treaty until Young King arrived. He apparently was at the funerals of a friend and a cousin and had been delayed. He originally refused the terms of the treaty but was convinced by the clan mothers and others to accept the treaty.

During the War of 1812, together with the other Senecas, he supported the United States, and was seriously wounded in one battle.[1]

Young King moved to the reservation at Buffalo Creek, where he took to drinking and dissipation. He was seriously wounded in a brawl, losing an arm.[1] He eventually stopped and became a converted Christian. He died on the reservation in 1835.[2] He was initially buried in the Old Mission Cemetery on the reservation. but his remains were relocated to Buffalo's Forest Lawn Cemetery in 1884.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 United States National Museum, United States National (1886). Report Upon the Condition and Progress of the U.S. National Museum During the Year Ending June 30, Part 2. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 163. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  2. ↑ Morris, Robert (1 January 1897). A history of the treaty of Big Tree : and an account of the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the making of the treaty, held at Geneseo, N.Y., September the fifteenth, eighteen hundred ninety-seven. Dansville NY: Bunnell. ISBN 978-1429734288.
  3. ↑ "The Graves of Red Jacket". Western New York Heritage. Retrieved Apr 9, 2021.


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