Little Beard, Si-gwa-ah-doh-gwih, (translation- Spear Hanging Down) was a Seneca chief who participated in the American Revolutionary War on the side of Great Britain. He resided in the town to which he gave his name. His village, Little Beard's Town was located near two other Seneca villages in modern day Leicester located in Livingston County New York, and consisted of about 130 houses. He was noted both as a warrior and councilor, as well as posessing great firmness and zeal, and, though not an orator, was a fluent talker. Physically, he was a favorable specimen of the Indian chieftain, rather below the medium size, yet straight and firm. In faith a pagan, he always awarded respectful attention to the views of christian teachers. Border annals show how fierce his nature was, yet after the Revolution, he proved friendly to the pioneers and was esteemed by them for his good faith. No Indian was better informed, none more sociable than he, and with none could an hour be more profitably spent. He conversed with good sense on the events of the colonial wars, and the future of his race.

He is perhaps best locally known for presiding over the torture and death of Boyd and Parker, captured scouts of the Sullivan Expedition of 1779. It is a fact well established that he not only consented to the death of the scouts, Boyd and Parker, but quite likely suggested the exquisite tortures to which these devoted soldiers were subjected. Yet it must be recollected, he was chief of the village menaced by Sullivan’s army. Moreover, he took these two men in the act of securing information that would enable the American General to march directly to the destruction of his peoples’ homes, and possibly to put to death any of his people who chanced to fall into the Generals hands. facts which serve to mitigate, perhaps, though by no means to excuse this act of almost unparalleled barbarity. Subsequently, Little Beard's Town was destroyed by the American forces. Mary Jemison, the famous white women of the natives, then a resident of the village, fled with the natives to more secure villages.

After the wars conclusion, Little Beard became reconciled with the outcome and continued to reside in New York. The modern town of Cuylerville was built at the spot of Little Beard's Town. A few of Little Beard's most notable historical contributions were his participation in the Cherry Valley massacre of 1778, as well as the fact that Little Beard was one of the Seneca chiefs whom signed the Treaty of Canandaigua of 1794 that established reservations for the Iroquois. Little Beard died as the result of injuries received during a quarrel at the old Stimson tavern in Leicester, in 1806, He was thrown from the outer door, and falling upon the steps, received an injury from which, as he was advanced in years, he shortly died. The great eclipse, which occurred soon after his death, filled the Indians with superstitious fears. The manner of his taking off could not but give him offence, the natives thought, and they imagined he was about to darken the sun, so that their corn could not grow. The hunters assembled and shot arrows and bullets at the obscured luminary, while others screamed shouted, and drummed, until the brightness was fully restored.