Western/Central New York timeline - 1650-1659

1650
The approximate date the remaining Neutral Indians on the Niagara frontier are captured and adopted by the Seneca.


1653
Nov 3
The Iroquois sign a general peace with the French at Montréal.

State
Jesuit missionary Father Le Moyne comes to Onondaga with a party of Huron and Onondaga chiefs, as an envoy to ratify the peace treaty with the French.

Indians
The Cat Nation (Eries) send 30 ambassadors to New York’s Senecas to renew peace. An Erie accidentally kills a Seneca during a lacrosse game. The Senecas kill 25 of the ambassadors; 5 escape. The Erie burn a Seneca village. They ambush the rear guard of a Iroquois war party, killing 80 of the Indians. Erie scouts capture the Iroquois leader Annencraos, murder him. The Iroquois will raise 1800 warriors, surround the Erie fortress of Rique (Rigue), overcome 3-4,000 warriors and take the fort.


1655
The approximate date the Seneca establish a town in an area known as the Dann-Mack site. today in Mendon township, probably abandoning the site by 1670 and moving on to found Totiakton (Rochester Junction). ** The approximate date a French settlement in the future Onondaga County area is abandoned. ** The final Neutral and Erie tribes are driven out of the Niagara Peninsula by the Iroquois.


1656
Jul 11
A party of 50 French workers arrive at Onondaga Lake, along with four Jesuits, lead by Father Claude Dablon, to establish a mission, which will be named Sainte Marie Gannentaha.

State
The last 600 Erie surrender to the Iroquois.


1657
Father Pierre-Joseph-Marie Chaumonot visits the Senecas at Boughton Hill (Ganagarro).


1658
Mar 20
The French outpost of Sainte Marie de Gannenhata, on Onondaga Lake, is abandoned.

State
Settlers from Onondaga Lake, fearing an imminent Indian attack, flee, pausing to bury gold and cannon on Stowell (Treasure) Island, in the Oswego River.

Indians
The Iroquois, backed first by the Dutch, then the English, begin nine years of devastating warfare against the French.

© 2009 David Minor / Eagles Byte