Seneca Topics – Access Genealogy

Collections of the New Hampshire Historical Society

The Collections of the New Hampshire Historical Society is a 15 publication series documenting the state’s history through various primary sources, including manuscripts, letters, and public records. It collates valuable narratives that were previously difficult to access, providing insight into events, individuals, and communities in New Hampshire. Each volume offers focused topics and historical analyses, and most volumes contain individual indexes.

Governor Stokes’s Uncompleted Plans

In March 1836, Governor Stokes became the sub-agent for the Cherokee, Seneca, and Shawnee tribes at Fort Gibson, receiving a modest salary of $750 annually. He faced numerous challenges, including a cramped office space and subordination to a disbursing officer, complicating his relations with the tribes. Stokes advocated for the rights of the Half-Breed reserves of the Osage Nation but struggled to secure assistance for them. Despite his dedication, his term ended without reappointment, and he passed away in November 1842, leaving a significant legacy.

History of Ontario County, New York, part 1

“History of Ontario County, New York: With Illustrations and Family Sketches of Some of the Prominent Men and Families” is a comprehensive historical compilation, organized by Lewis Cass Aldrich and meticulously edited by George Stillwell Conover. Published in 1893 by D. Mason & Co., Syracuse, N.Y., this monumental work illuminates the rich tapestry of Ontario County’s past. Recognizing the voluminous nature of the original single volume, it has been thoughtfully divided into two parts for convenience and accessibility. Part 1 encompasses the historical and biographical narrative of Ontario County, laying the foundation for the genealogical treasures contained in Part 2.

Governor Houston at His Trading Post on the Verdigris

In February 1828, Colonel Brearley led the Creek immigrants to the Verdigris, following governmental commitments from the 1826 treaty. During this time, Samuel Houston, a former U.S. Army officer and politician, was redefining his life among the Cherokee. After abandoning his political career and personal troubles, he became deeply involved with the Cherokee, adopting their customs and language. Houston’s influence grew as he criticized corrupt Indian agents and sought to improve conditions for Native Americans, eventually being adopted into the Cherokee tribe in 1829.

Western Garrison Life

Holland Coffee, a trader at Fort Smith, led a trading expedition into western Indian territories alongside Robert M. French. They set up a trading post near the Red River, at the old Pawnee village, aiming to capitalize on friendly relations established by Colonel Dodge with western tribes. Despite challenges, including unrest among the tribes regarding treaty assurances, a significant conference was held at Fort Gibson in 1835, resulting in the first treaty with western prairie tribes, crucial for U.S. plans to relocate eastern Indians.

Fort Gibson Conference with the Indians, 1834

Catlin Painting a Chief at the Base of the Rocky Mountains

In September 1834, Colonel Dodge convened a significant council at Fort Gibson with chiefs from various tribes, including the Osage, Cherokee, and Kiowa, following earlier negotiations with the Comanche and others. More than 150 representatives attended amidst an atmosphere of curiosity and caution. The conference aimed to solidify peace and arrange future treaties, which were essential for the U.S. expansion into the Southwest. Despite the potential for violence, Dodge successfully navigated tensions, ensuring safe resolutions and presenting gifts to symbolize friendship.

The Osage Massacre

In the summer of 1833, following a treaty council breakdown, Osage warriors attacked a Kiowa village, resulting in a brutal massacre where many women, children, and elderly were killed, and the heads of the victims displayed in brass buckets. Among the captives were two children, Gunpä´ñdamä and Tunkahtohye, later purchased by Colonel Hugh Love for potential diplomatic gains. The ensuing U.S. military expeditions aimed to restore order and negotiate peace, but many faced logistical challenges and poor preparation, resulting in numerous setbacks and casualties.

Use Of Tobacco Among North American Indians

Tobacco, an essential cultural and spiritual element, originated in the Americas and was integrated into the lives of Native North Americans long before European contact. It played vital roles in rituals, ceremonies, and daily life, with various tribes employing diverse species of Nicotiana. Smoking methods varied, with pipes and mixtures often used, while chewing practices are less clearly traced to Indigenous origins. The use of tobacco extended beyond personal use to encompass significant ceremonial functions, underscoring its deep-rooted significance in Indigenous cultures across the continent.

Indian Wampums

The post highlights the Indian tribes’ reliance on oral traditions and wampum as vital historical records, given their lack of written language. These wampums, made of beads and symbols, conveyed their history and values to future generations. The account emphasizes the loss of authentic Indian history due to extermination and the importance of wampum in preserving their past, including treaties and significant events like the formation of the Iroquois Confederacy. Ultimately, it reflects on the tragic decline of Native American civilization and its cultural heritage.

Early Exploration and Native Americans

Ferdinand de Soto’s interactions with Native American tribes, specifically the Choctaws and Chickasaws, exemplify early European attempts to impose their ideologies of civilization and Christianity upon Indigenous populations. This approach set a precedent for further exploitation and oppression of Native Americans, as European settlers sought to acquire land and resources. Throughout history, tribes like the Chickasaws, known for their valor, remained steadfast allies rather than adversaries. This enduring alliance contrasts sharply with the overarching narrative of dispossession and extermination faced by Indigenous nations in North America.

The Discovery Of This Continent: It’s Results To The Natives

In 1470, Christopher Columbus married Dona Felipa, daughter of a renowned navigator, and settled in Porto Santo, where they shared dreams of discovering lands to the West. Their ambitions fueled Columbus’s determination, leading to his 1492 voyage that resulted in the European discovery of the Americas. However, this event marked the beginning of devastation for native peoples, introducing warfare, disease, and colonization that would decimate their populations and cultures, ultimately transforming their rich, diverse societies into shadows of their former selves.

The Meeting in 1811 of Tecumseh and Apushamatahah

Peter Perkins Pitchlynn was the Choctaw Principal Chief from 1864-1866

In 1811, Tecumseh, the Shawnee leader, met with Apushamatahah, a prominent Choctaw chief, to rally southern tribes against American encroachment amidst looming war between the U.S. and England. Tecumseh passionately urged unity against their common foe, warning of the dire consequences of inaction. Apushamatahah countered with a call for prudence, advocating for peaceful measures. Ultimately, the council resulted in favoring American alliance, thwarting Tecumseh’s ambitions. This pivotal meeting highlighted the contrasting strategies of the two influential leaders, shaping tribal responses during a critical historical period.

An Account of the Sufferings of Mercy Harbison – Indian Captivities

On the 4th of November, 1791, a force of Americans under General Arthur St. Clair was attacked, near the present Ohio-Indiana boundary line, by about the same number of Indians led by Blue Jacket, Little Turtle, and the white renegade Simon Girty. Their defeat was the most disastrous that ever has been suffered by our arms when engaged against a savage foe on anything like even terms. Out of 86 officers and about 1400 regular and militia soldiers, St. Clair lost 70 officers killed or wounded, and 845 men killed, wounded, or missing. The survivors fled in panic, throwing away their weapons and accoutrements. Such was “St. Clair’s defeat.”

The utter incompetency of the officers commanding this expedition may be judged from the single fact that a great number of women were allowed to accompany the troops into a wilderness known to be infested with the worst kind of savages. There were about 250 of these women with the “army” on the day of the battle. Of these, 56 were killed on the spot, many being pinned to the earth by stakes driven through their bodies. Few of the others escaped captivity.

After this unprecedented victory, the Indians became more troublesome than ever along the frontier. No settler’s home was safe, and many were destroyed in the year of terror that followed. The awful fate of one of those households is told in the following touching narrative of Mercy Harbison, wife of one of the survivors of St. Clair’s defeat. How two of her little children were slaughtered before her eyes, how she was dragged through the wilderness with a babe at her breast, how cruelly maltreated, and how she finally escaped, barefooted and carrying her infant through days and nights of almost superhuman exertion, she has left record in a deposition before the magistrates at Pittsburgh and in the statement here reprinted.

A Legend Of Slaughter At The Seneca Capital

The legend recounts a fierce battle between the Seneca and Wyandot tribes in 1755 after their alliance against the English at Braddock’s defeat. Upon their return home, tensions reignited. An old sachem, Ogista, intervened to propose a truce, allowing each tribe to select twenty warriors for single combat, culminating in a collective grave for the slain. The conflict ended with Ogista sacrificing his own son, leading to a pact of peace. This legend persisted until the investment of Fort Laurens in 1770, where subsequent violence erupted near the memorial mound.

Native Americans in the Revolutionary War

During the Revolutionary War, Native Americans found themselves in a complex position, with both the British and American sides vying for their allegiance. While the British secured many tribes through established relationships and resources, the Americans attempted to win their favor through treaties and gifts, ultimately failing to make significant impacts. Notably, tribes like the Cherokees and the Six Nations often sided with the British, resulting in violent conflicts and retaliatory expeditions by American forces. The war brought unprecedented cruelty, with massacres affecting both sides and deepening animosities.

Seneca Indian Village Site of Kanadesaga

The warriors journeyed from Canoga to Geneva, guided by Robert Breed, visiting significant Seneca sites. They explored Ganechtage at White Springs, notable for its ancient springs and burial mounds. They then visited Kanadesaga, a later Seneca village, where the burial site of Chief Grahta, an influential leader, is marked. Afterward, they continued to other village sites, including a possible birthplace of Red Jacket. This journey highlights the cultural significance and history of the Seneca people in the region.

History and Origin of the Senecas Indians

The Seneca Indians, known as Nundowaga or “People of the Hill,” were initially recognized by an external name, Sennecas, on a 1614 map. Their origin story involves a mythical serpent that threatened their community until a warrior defeated it, allowing the tribe to migrate to the shores of Seneca Lake. Historically, the Senecas were a prominent Iroquois tribe, known for their population and military strength, and have evolved towards agriculture and education, becoming model citizens in contemporary society.

Exploit of Hi-a-de-o-ni

The account recounts the daring exploits of HI-A-DE-O-NI, a notable Seneca warrior and father of chief Young King. Seeking glory, he ventured alone into Cherokee territory, where he stealthily killed three men, collecting their scalps. While evading capture, he cleverly feigned sleep to escape detection by a victim’s mother. This tale exemplifies Iroquois valor and has been preserved as a testament to their martial heritage and the tribal rivalries that shaped their history, particularly against the Cherokees.

Senecas Embassy of Peace to the Cherokees

During the conflict between the Six Nations and the Cherokees, eight Seneca ambassadors, including Little Beard and Jack Berry, sought peace. They were initially well received by the Cherokees, but one chief demanded they first engage in warfare against a common enemy. After a skirmish, Seneca leader Awl was captured and faced execution. However, he impressed his captors with a death song, distracting them long enough to escape. The Senecas successfully negotiated peace and returned home.

Vestiges of an Ancient Elliptical Work at Canandaigua

The post discusses the remnants of an ancient elliptical fortification associated with the Senecas, located near Canandaigua Lake. Known as Fort Hill, this site has largely been erased by agriculture, leaving only fragments of a wall, marked B, which suggests a structure with a substantial circumference. Human bones and artifacts have been discovered nearby during road construction, indicating historical significance. The fort’s strategic elevation implies it supported a sizable garrison and was fortified with palisades and gates.