Mohawk – Wyandot Ancestry of Lt. John Young's ... - Davidkfaux.org

CONCLUSION:Interpretation in Light of the Above Evidence - First it is important to note that theincompleteness of the record sources from the various communities of the MohawkValley and the Grand River Valley (e.g., baptismal and marriage registers), it has beennecessary to rely on the material that retains a “fuzzy” quality and is at times open tomore than one interpretation. Hence, as is true of much genealogical work, it is possibleto derive a family tree which is likely correct – but it has to be admitted here that it maynever be possible to put forward a completely definitive version of Catharine Young’sancestry.The major aim of the present study was to explore the evidence relating to the ancestry ofCatharine, the mother of all four children of Lt. John Young – Abraham Young, JohnYoung Jr., Elizabeth (Young) Nelles, and Joseph Young. Based on the preponderance ofevidence, and on a balance of probabilities, the mother of Lt. John Young’s childrenwas Catharine Brant Kayakhon (1747 – 1793), daughter or step-daughter ofNicholas Brant Canadiorha (a Mohawk sachem of the Wyandot Beaver Tribe /Clan) and biological daughter of Margaret Hill Kayadontyi (Mohawk Bear Tribe /Clan, Astawenserontha family).It is important to note that Captain Joseph Brant Thayendenagea took the surname Brantfrom the given name of his step – father Brant Canagaradunckwa. He was the step –brother of Nicholas Brant Canadiorha, and Catharine Young was Joseph Brant’s step –niece. Therefore while there is a family connection between the families of John Youngand Joseph Brant, it is clearly not biological.More Conservative Interpretation – If one were to be perfectly frank about the data, andput aside the natural tendency to want the fruits of one’s research to yield a detailedgenealogy of distant ancestors, the following must be considered. There are “gaps” in theinformation stream that can be filled, but by sometimes something of a Procrustean fit.Hence if we were to look at only what can be said with relative certainty a morebones” interpretation in relation to Catharine Young emerges:“barea) The surname of Catharine, first wife of John Young, is unknown.b) Catharine was, at least in the maternal line, of Six Nations Indian ancestry.c) Catharine was of the Mohawk Bear Clan, Astawenserontha family, linkedto the Hill family formerly of Ft. Hunter. The evidence shows that a tiepredates the Revolution and the death of Catharine.d) A Mohawk Bear Clan chiefly title, Tahanata, meaning Towards hisvillage, is associated with the family. It came to the Young – Nellesfamily in 1817 when Warner H. Nelles was raised up in this name by theSix Nations in Council.e) There is a relationship in the maternal line with the former holder of thetitle, Chief Francis Cotter Tahatonne, meaning He is coming to the end ofit, of the Upper (Canajoharie) Mohawks who in 1817 joined the Wyandot53