Sayenqueraghta

Who was Sayenqueraghta?

Sayenqueraghta was the war chief of the eastern Seneca tribe in the mid-18th century. His name in the Seneca language is phonetically rendered as Kaieñãkwaahtoñ, and was spelled in a variety of ways, including Gayahgwaahdoh and Kayenquaraghton. In historical records he is most often known as Sayenqueraghta, which was his name in the Mohawk language, or by nicknames such as Old Smoke or the Seneca King. He was called Old Smoke because he held the official position as the "smoke-bearer".

He was born the son of a prominent Seneca chief of the Turtle clan in western New York. He lived most of his life at Ganundasaga, near the present day town of Geneva, New York. He obtained his rank of war chief in 1751. Before the American Revolution he was referred to as chief of the Senecas.

He served on the British side during the French and Indian War and was present at the Battle of Fort Niagara.

During Pontiac's Rebellion he was the Seneca war-chief who defeated the British at the Battle of Devil's Hole. A portion of the Seneca fought the British during Pontiac's Rebellion of 1763. In 1764 the Seneca came to Fort Niagara where they made peace and Sayenqueraghta "buried the Axe".