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He was a signatory along with Cornplanter and fifty other Iroquois, of the sale of most of the Seneca land in western New York for $100,000 to Robert Morris. He originally tried to prevent the sale, but was not able to convince the others, and gave up his opposition. The sale was at Big Tree (now Geneseo, New York in present Livingston CountyLivingston County is a county located in the U. State of New York. As of 2000, the population is 64,328. It is named after Robert R. Livingston, delegate to the 1775 Continental Congress, member of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independenc) in 1797Events January 3 The Treaty of Tripoli (a peace treaty between the United States and Tripoli) is signed at Algiers. January 7 The parliament of the Repubblica Cisalpina adopts the Italian Tricolore as official flag: here starts the story of the Flag of It and was well greased by a great deal of liquor and bribesBribery is the practice of offering a professional money or other favours in order to circumvent ethics in a variety of professions. It is a form of corruption and is generally illegal, or at least cause for penalties from professional organisations. of trinkets to the Iroquois women. Morris who had previously purchased the land from Massachusetts, subject to the Indian title, then sold it to the Holland Land CompanyMap of the Holland Purchase From 1840s Divided into Counties and Townships ''And Including Morris Reserve Lands The Holland Land Company was a purchaser of the western two-thirds of the western New York land tract known as the Phelps and Gorham Purchase., retaining only the Morris ReserveThe Morris Reserve was a 500,000 acre (2,000 km²) tract of land owned by Robert Morris in western New York in the late 18th Century. It was originally part of the 6,000,000 acre (24,000 km²) purchase in April 1788 of the pre-emptive right to all of Massac, an estate near present day RochesterRochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, Rochester had a population of 219,773. There is also a Rochester in Ulster County, New York; for that town see Rochester, Ulster County, New York. For other places calle.

Red Jacket took this name, one of several, for a highly favored embroidered coat given to him by the British for his wartime services. The Senecas took the British side during the American RevolutionThe American Revolution refers to the series of events, ideas, and changes that resulted in the political separation of thirteen colonies in North America from the British Empire and the creation of the United States of America. The American Revolutionary, a costly mistake, since their ally lost. In the War of 1812, Red Jacket supported the American side.

Red Jacket was also known for his speechmaking skill. His alternative name, Segoyewatha, roughly translates he keeps them awake. He is best known for his response to a New England missionary (a Mr. Cram) had requested in 1805 to do mission work among the Senecas. His speech is listed in Bartleby's List of the World's Famous Orations whereby Red Jacket spoke as an apologist for the Native American religion.

Red Jacket had a problem with alcohol and deeply regretted the first drink. Once a lady asked him if he had any children. Red Jacket who had lost most of his children to illness replied sorrowfully:

Red Jacket was once a great man, and in favor with the Great Spirit. He was a lofty pine among the smaller trees of the forest. But, after years of glory, he degraded himself by drinking the firewater of the white man. The Great Spirit has looked upon him in anger, and his lightning has stripped the pine of its branches.

In his later years he lived in Buffalo, New York. Red Jacket's grave and a monument to his honor are in Forest Lawn Cemetery.

A public school system, Red Jacket Central, is named in honor of Segoyewatha and serves the communities of Manchester and Shortsville in Ontario County, New York.