Colonel Joseph Brant was the son of Ahyonwaeghs, Chief John Brant of the Mohawk tribe. Joseph reportedly received his education at the Moor's School of Connecticut ( later to become Dartmouth College). He spent considerable time in England, where he was warmly received at the Court of the king. During the American war he was a loyal and fierce ally of the British.
He claimed that, on the day of the Cherry Valley massacre, he attempted to protect some of the citizens of that community.