Philippe-Thomas Chabert de Joncaire

Philippe-Thomas Chabert de Joncaire (c. 1707 – c. 1766), also known as Nitachinon by the Iroquois,[1] was a French army officer and interpreter in New France who established Fort Machault in the 18th century.

[1] When larger French forces arrived with Paul Marin de la Malgue in 1753, he found support among the local Delaware and Shawnee who wanted to challenge the Iroquois.

[1] In 1752, Marquis Duquesne was appointed Governor General of New France and began a campaign to remove British traders from the Ohio Country, as "the nations of these localities are very badly disposed towards the French, [having been]...seduced by the allurements of cheap merchandise furnished by the English.

The Lenape chief Custaloga assisted the French by capturing and handing over two traders who had just arrived at the trading post.

[9] In 1753, Governor Jean de Lauson decided to build a fortified trading post at the confluence of the Allegheny River and French Creek at Venango.

[10] In December 1753, Major George Washington arrived at Fort Machault on an expedition to deliver British demands and assess the French military situation.