Coral’s family history · Chapter 5

Red Jacket

Red Jacket was born about 1750 in New York. He spent much of his life in the Genesee River Valley in Seneca territory. He was a Native American Seneca war chief of the Wolf Clan and a great orator. He proved himself to be very skillful in dealing with the whites. After he became Chief, he was named Sagoyewathna, which means “He keeps them awake” His American name was Red Jacket because of the Red Coats that were given to him by the British when he fought with them. He was once accused of cowardice in active warfare by some Native American leaders, including Cornplanter.

In later years he lived in Buffalo, New York and died in 1830. His grave and monument are in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo.