Andrew Montour (c. 1710 – 1772), also known as Sattelihu, Eghnisara,[2] and Henry,[note 1] was an important mixed interpreter and negotiator in the Virginia and Pennsylvania backcountry in the latter half of the 18th century.
He also commanded raiding parties in Ohio in 1764 during Pontiac's War (1763–1766) at the behest of Sir William Johnson, British superintendent of Indian Affairs.
Montour was likely born in Otstawonkin, a native Lenape village located at the mouth of Loyalsock Creek on the West Branch Susquehanna River, about 1720.
His mother was known as Madame Montour and was a well-known, influential interpreter, and his father was Carondawanna, otherwise known as Robert Hunter, an Oneida war chief based in New York.
The latter described him by the following: This man had a countenance like another European but around his whole face an Indianish broad ring of bear fat and paint, and had on a sky-colored coat of fine cloth, black cordovan neckband with silver bugles, a red damask lapelled waistcoat, breeches over which his shirt hung, shoes and stockings, a hat, and both ears braided with brass and other wire like a handle on a basket.
In May 1745, Montour accompanied Conrad Weiser and Shikellamy from Pennsylvania to Onondaga, the central meeting place of the Iroquois League in New York.
In 1748, Weiser recommended Montour as a person especially qualified to act as an interpreter or messenger, and presented him to the Pennsylvania Council of the Proprietary Government.
He abused me...when he was drunk..."[note 2][6] Richard Peter described Montour at another time in a letter as "a dull stupid creature", "untractable", and a "fellow who kept low company of which he was more than likely to be the dupe."
Peters wrote: He has been arrested for fifty pounds and indeed, I would have suffered him to have gone to jail for he is a lavish man, having a wife who takes up goods at any rate and to any value.
At a council held in Philadelphia during August 1755, one month after Braddock's defeat, Montour told the assembly for Scaroyady: We Six Nations must let you know that it was the pride and ignorance of that great General that came from England.
Later, under Sir William Johnson's Indian Department of the Northern District, Montour was given command of a raiding party in Ohio in 1764 during Pontiac's War (1763–1766).