Cornplanter
Cornplanter was a prominent Seneca leader and war chief born between 1732 and 1740 to a Seneca mother and a Dutch trader in what is now New York. His early life was marked by experiences of alienation due to his lighter skin. After the American Revolution, Cornplanter advocated for peaceful coexistence between the Seneca Nation and the United States, promoting diplomatic relations even amidst internal tribal conflicts. He participated in key treaty negotiations, including those at Fort Stanwix and Fort Harmar, which resulted in significant land losses for the Senecas.
Despite facing opposition from traditionalist factions, Cornplanter maintained a pro-U.S. stance, believing it was essential for the survival of his people. In recognition of his efforts, he received a substantial land grant from Pennsylvania, which became a focal point for many Senecas in the Allegany region. His legacy included advocating for educational and agricultural support for his people through partnerships with Quakers. Following his death in 1836, his land was passed down to his heirs, who faced challenges, including loss due to the construction of the Kinzua Dam. Cornplanter’s descendants have continued to celebrate his heritage, reflecting the enduring impact of his leadership on the Seneca community.
Subject Terms
Cornplanter
- Born: Between 1732 and 1740
- Birthplace: Conewaugus, New York
- Died: February 18, 1836
- Place of death: Cornplantertown, Pennsylvania
Tribal affiliation: Seneca
Significance: Cornplanter achieved prominence as an Iroquois war chief fighting for the British in the American Revolution; at subsequent treaty conferences he emphasized the need for peaceful coexistence between Indians and the United States
Cornplanter, the son of a Seneca woman and a Dutch trader, John Abeel (or O’Bail), was born at Conewaugus on the Genesee River sometime between 1732 and 1740. Little is known of his childhood except for his recollections of being teased because of his light skin.
Along with Red Jacket, he argued for neutrality in the American Revolution, but when his view did not prevail, he joined the British, participating in the Wyoming, Cherry Valley, and Newtown campaigns (1777-1778). During the attack on Canajoharie (1780), he met his father and refused to take him prisoner.
Emerging from the Revolution as a major Seneca war chief, he decided the wisest course for the Senecas was to establish peaceful coexistence with the United States. He was present at the treaty negotiations at Fort Stanwix (1784) and Fort Harmar (1789), which resulted in the loss of Seneca lands to the Americans. He later complained to U.S. officials about the tactics used to exact Seneca concessions. Despite strong opposition from Red Jacket’s more conservative faction, he maintained this pro-U.S. policy and mediated with other Indian nations to promote friendship with the Americans. His assistance at the Treaty of Fort Harmar allowed Pennsylvania to acquire the Erie Triangle, and he was given fifteen hundred acres in gratitude. He visited Philadelphia in 1789 to voice complaints before the Pennsylvania Assembly about white incursions on Indian land and remained to meet President George Washington. Cornplanter requested technical assistance for his people, and Washington recommended the Quakers, who established a model farm and school for the Senecas. Thus began an association that would last two centuries.
The land promised by Pennsylvania was patented to Cornplanter in 1796, and many Senecas in the Allegany region lived on his grant pending settlement of reservation boundaries in New York. Among those with him was his half-brother, the prophet Handsome Lake, whose visions were recorded by resident Quakers.
The land was deeded to Cornplanter as an individual and therefore lacked reservation status. When agents tried to collect taxes, he appealed to Pennsylvania, and in 1822 the land was declared tax exempt as long as it was held by Cornplanter or his descendants. Following his death in 1836, the land was partitioned among his heirs. In 1871, Pennsylvania erected the first monument to an Indian in the U.S. in recognition of his friendship and aid.
Cornplanter’s descendants continued to live on the land grant until the early 1960’s, when most of it was flooded by the backwaters of Kinzua Dam. The descendants organized to fight the dam but lost because of a lack of federal protection. Their association continued into the 1990’s, with descendants gathering from throughout the United States for an annual celebration of their Cornplanter heritage.