Friday, March 20, 2009

Western/Central New York timeline / 1680-1689

1681
Mar 4
William Penn receives the grant for his colony from Charles II. It includes land as far north as Syracuse and as far south as 40° latitude.


1682
Swedes from the Delaware area visit near present-day Big Flats.


1683
The French leave the Seneca country. Jesuit missionary Father Julien Garnier returns to New France.


1684
State
Father Hennepin publishes Description de la Louisiane nouvellement decouverte, in France, reports seeing a giant waterfall between lakes Erie and Ontario - Niagara Falls. ** Colonial governor Thomas Dongan orders the coat of arms of the Duke of York placed on a gate at the Seneca village of Gannonata (near today’s town of Mendon), to proclaim the area as England’s.

Indians
War breaks out again between the Five Nations and France, in western New York; is settled by the peace of September 5th, at Famine Cove, on Lake Ontario. ** Father Garnier visits the Senecas at Irondequoit Bay.


1685
Feb 6
The Duke of York is crowned as James II. New York becomes a royal province.

Dec 21
New York City native Jan Vinje (Jean Vigne, Vienje, Finje, Van Gee), a frmer, miller and brewer, dies at the the approximate age of 65.


1686
May 8
New France governor Jacques-René de Brisay, Marquis de Denonville, writes to the Marquis de Seignelay, Minister for the Colonies, recommending the construction of a fort at Niagara with or without a peace with Indians.

Nov 1
French Jesuit Father Lamberville writes to Chevalier de Callieres, Governor of Montréal, to inform him that New York's governor Thomas Dongan had assembled the Iroquois Nations in New York City and told them to keep the French out of English territory and to break off all relations with them.


1687
January
France's Minister of the Navy the Marquis de Seignelay prepares a memo for Louis XVI warning of English plans to use the Iroquois to help drive the French out of Canada, and proposing military strategy to keep the English away from territory claimed by France.

May 22
The Marquis de Denonville, governor general of New France, having decided on a campaign against the Iroquois in New York, has mass said at Québec and sets out to rendezvous with his flotilla of canoes at Notre Dame de l‘Etrisse, about ten miles upriver. Denonville then goes on ahead to Montréal. The fleet is halted by strong winds at Villeneuve.

May 26
The fleet sets out, stopping at Trois-Rivièr where Denonville confers with post governor de Varenne. Setting out again he is halted by squalls and takes refuge at the house of the farmer La Force, at the entrance to Lake Ontario. Denonville and his wife are rescued when their canoe almost overturns.

Jun 11
Two companies of Denonville’s force set out from Montréal.

Jun 14
The last of the French force passes through the rapids at Montréal. Denonville and the Intendent move on overland to La Présentation (Ogdensburg, New York).

Jul 4
Denonville’s forces leave Cadaraqui (Cataraqui, Kingston) Ontario.

Jul 10

Some of Denonville’s French and Indian forces arrive at the future site of Pultneyville.


Jul 11
Denonville lands a large invasion force - 1500 Frenchmen, including the Baron de Lathonton (author), Daniel Duluth (founder of the city), Henri de Tonty (explorer), François d’Orvillers and Louis Hector de Callieres - and 1500 Ottawa and Mohawk Indian allies) at the mouth of Irondequoit Bay, not daring to cross the sand bar. They meet a number of Algonquin allies coming from the west. A small log enclosure is built and Denonville's boats are sunk so they will not blow away. French trader Fontaine Marion is executed for guiding English traders.

Jul 12
After building a temporary fort to protect his boats Denonville marches his army southeast toward the Indian village of Gannagaro (Ganandogan), stopping for the night at the southern end of Irondequoit Bay.

Jul 13
In the midst of intense heat, 800 Seneca, forewarned, attack Denonville's forces - the
Denonville Ambuscade. The Indians withdraw when the remaining French forces come
up. Casualties are moderate for the Indians; the French loses close to a hundred men. A
thunderstorm begins during the night.


Jul 14
After the rain stops they march through the future site of the village of Victor and enter
Gannagaro, which the Indians have burned and abandoned.


Jul 15
The French under Tonty, Calliere and Vaudreuille destroy Seneca corn collected at
their granary at Gahayanduk (Gandouaree/Fort Hill at Ganondagan) on Mud Creek.
The fort is also destroyed. The remaining Seneca will all survive the winter.


Jul 17
The French arrive at the Seneca camp at Totiakton (Rochester Junction), find the Indians
gone. The French spend the next day feasting on crops and pigs.

Jul 19
The French destroy Totiakton, claim the area for France, and start back for Irondequoit
Bay.

Jul 20
The French destroy Gannounata (Lima-Avon). Denonville discovers a coat of arms sent by
lieutenant-governor Dongan claiming the area is English territory.

Jul 23
The French camp at three small lakes, today’s Mendon Ponds Park.

Jul 24
Denonville's forces burn their log fort on the bay.

Jul 26
Denonville departs from Irondequoit Bay, bound for the Niagara area and then to Montréal in August.

Aug 5
Dongan presents propositions to the Iroquois to not to make peace or war with the French.

Aug 6
The Iroquois respond that they will continue to fight the French and inform Dongan of any articles of peace made with them.

November
The entire Iroquois League allies itself with the English.

Nov 10
James II issues a warrant to governor Dongan, ordering him to protect the Five Nations as Royal subjects.

State
Baron La Hontan visits the Buffalo area, suggests that a fort be built there. Fortifications are erected by Denonville at the future site of Fort Niagara.



1688
Feb 8
Dongan tells the Iroquois that the French claim to have purchased land from them in the past.

Feb 13
The Iroquois respond that the French have no claim to their land.

Feb 16
The Iroquois tell Dongan they do not trust the governor of Canada and want the French removed from their beaver hunting grounds.

State
Fortifications erected last year at the future site of Fort Niagara are dismantled.


1689
Aug 1
The Albany Convention is established for protection against a French attack.

State
Approximately 2250 Seneca inhabit the colony.

© 2011 David Minor / Eagles Byte

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