I had a gut feeling I was going to find this coin at the Crossroads Antique market. This replica was under five dollars, the original bronze coins have been seen online and sold for over 400 dollars. I’m always on the lookout for the original coin. Many of the coins were modified and made into ribboned amulets.
The Joseph Brant Memorial cost $16,000 and was unveiled in Victoria Square October 13 , 1886 by the Hon. John Beverly Robinson , Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. The cornerstone was laid earlier on August 11, 1886, by Chief Ka-non-kwe-yo-teh.
Victoria Square in Brantford, designed by the British born architect John Turner, is laid out in the plan of the Union Jack Flag with four diagonal paths intersecting at the centre where the Joseph Brant Memorial was unveiled in 1886 at a cost of $16,000.
The memorial consists of a colossal statue of Brant, nine feet in height, two groups of three life sized figures each, and two trophies flanking the sides of the upper base, and four bassi-relievi upon the lower base, which terminates in a step upon the ground line.
The pedestal is of gray granite, quarried near Penryn, Cornwall, England and weighs slightly less than fifty tons. The stone is of the very finest quality and chosen with regard to a coarse grain.
The right hand group as one faces the memorial shows chiefs of the Mohawk, Tuscarora, and Oneida Nations, furnished with the scalping knife, spear, and pipe of peace. The left-hand group shows the Seneca, Onondaga, and Cayuga Natives, with the bow and arrows, war-club, and flintlock gun. The trophies consist of artistic arrangements of their weapons and instruments, including snowshoes and lacrosse sticks. The totems of the Six Nations, the bear, the wolf and the tortoise, are introduced in the memorial, especially at the request of the Indians themselves.
FourtyBee is an outlet to publish aerial photos, videos, and stories about the evolution of drone technology, documenting ongoing land encroachments; residential and commercial development. We capture images, videos and stories from landmarks to people, we research the history of Grand River Country (and beyond) from a Mohawk perspective.
On the front of the lower base is a bas-relief, showing about 15 Indians engaged in a war dance. At the back another relief shows Brant addressing the chiefs in council.
Two circular reliefs at the sides are devoted to the bear, with winter Canadian scenery, pines, etc., and the owl with maple tree foliage etc.
The trophy at the back of the memorial exhibits the designations of the six tribes or nations and upon the trophy in front is inscribed in bold characters the single word “Thayendanegea”.
Her Majesty’s Government recognized the importance of the work by granting 13 bronze cannon weighing about 600 pounds each, to be melted and used in the casting of several statues. Some of these guns were over a hundred years old, formerly cast at Woolwich and a number of them were in use during the Crimean War.
The sculptor, Percy Wood of London, England, received his education at University College, London, England, and studied medicine for some little time. The knowledge of anatomy thus acquired has doubtless proved serviceable in the profession which he subsequently adopted.
The inscription at the memorial reads:
This national monument erected by the Brant Memorial Association, incorporated 41 Vic. Ch. 62 S.O. to
THAYENDANEGEA
(Colonel) Capt. Joseph Brant, born 1742, died 1807, interred at the Mohawk Church and to the Six Nations Indians for their long and faithful services on behalf of the British Crown and their strict observance to treaties.
Contributed to by the Six Nations Indians, the Chippewas, the Dominion of Canada, Province of Ontario,the City of Brantford, the Counties of Brant and Bruce, and private subscriptions.
The British Government presented bronze cannons for the statues.
Patrons: H.R.H. Duke of Connaught, the Marquis of Lorne, The Earl of Dufferin, the Marquis of Lansdowne.
Directors: Allen Cleghorn, president; I. Cockshutt, v.p.; Robt. Henry, treas.; G. H. Muirhead, sec.; Alex Robertson, Lt.-Col. Gilkison, Wm. Paterson, M.P.; C.B. Heyd, Mayor; H. McK. Wilson, Q.C.; Wm. Buck, J. W. Digby, M.D.; A. J. Wilkes, LL.B.; Dan’l Burt, Warden C.B.; Wm. Watt, R. Henwood, M.D.; J. H. Stratford.
Chiefs: Ska-na-wa-dih, Ah-wem-in-neh; Ska-ko-ka-nyes, Kenehdageh, Ka-non-kwe-yo-teh, A. G. Smith, Interpreter.
Sculptor: Percy Wood, (gained by international competition).
Cornerstone laid August 11, 1886, by Chief Ka-non-kwe-yo-teh.Unveiled October 13th by the Hon. J. B. Robinson, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario.
Post Revisions:
- 31 December 2019 @ 00:04:23 by Benjamin Doolittle U.E.
Article Attachments
Land Information:
- Brantford Town Plot: This is the April 1830 Plot of Brantford Township. It was to be sold for the benefit of Six Nations. This plot was 807 acres. Not all lands were sold (some given away); some were under appraised. Crown has not shown that all money was placed in Six Nations Trust Fund Accounts. This land claim has been filed with the crown by Six Nations.
