Native American History

The Death of Jane McCrea: Fact and Fiction

August 2, 2020 by Guest Contributor 3 Comments

What could be more symbolic of British imperial domination, immorality, and unfettered disrespect for human life than the murder of Jane McCrea at the hands of British-allied Indians near Fort Edward, NY, on July 26, 1777?

Word spread fast, and McCrea’s slaying excited legion numbers of patriotic American militia to seek righteous revenge against the sinister “savages” and General John Burgoyne. Burgoyne could later reflect upon this sad event as the beginning of the end of his sinister, failed military expedition.

At least, this is what authors, enthusiasts, and yes — even historians — have led us to believe for centuries. [Read more…] about The Death of Jane McCrea: Fact and Fiction

Apaches in Paris and New York

July 20, 2020 by Jaap Harskamp 3 Comments

In 1912, investigative journalist Alfred Henry Lewis published The Apaches of New York, an anecdotal narrative of notorious gangs in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

What strikes here is the use of the word “apache” in the sense of urban gangster. The term was re-imported from French slang in reference to thugs that roamed the eastern districts (“faubourgs”) of Paris prior to the First World War. [Read more…] about Apaches in Paris and New York

Kieft’s War Against Native People: A Primer

July 2, 2020 by Jordan Baker 2 Comments

The series of conflicts known as Kieft’s War (1643-1645) owe their origins to several factors.

Primary among these was the Dutch inability to understand the concepts of land use among native people. When the Dutch gave wampum, muskets, and other trade goods during land negotiations, they believed they were purchasing the land. Native people however, considered the Dutch to have, at best, leased the land. Convinced they had purchased the land in and around Manhattan, Dutch settlers drew ever closer to Native American villages. And, when Native Americans hunted on the ground the Dutch believed they had purchased, the New Netherlanders sought to punish the offenders. [Read more…] about Kieft’s War Against Native People: A Primer

Prehistoric North America (Historians Podcast)

June 26, 2020 by Bob Cudmore Leave a Comment

This week on The Historians Podcast, archaeologists Kathleen O’Neal Gear and her husband W. Michael Gear. The Gears have written over 60 novels about prehistoric North America. Their latest book, set in what is now Utah, is People of the Canyons. [Read more…] about Prehistoric North America (Historians Podcast)

NY Natives: Joseph Shauquethqueat’s Joe Pye Weed

June 25, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

June 22-28 is National Pollinator Week and one of New York State’s important pollinator friendly species is Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.), a native essential for any garden seeking to attract and help pollinators.

According to legend, Joe Pye was a Native American herbalist who used local plants to cure a variety of illnesses including typhoid fever. For years, it was unknown if Joe Pye was a real person or a botanical myth, that is until research confirmed the plant’s name originated from the nickname of Joseph Shauquethqueat, a Mohican chief who lived in Massachusetts and New York in the 18th and early 19th centuries. [Read more…] about NY Natives: Joseph Shauquethqueat’s Joe Pye Weed

Iroquois Indian Museum Cancels All 2020 Special Events

June 12, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

In response to COVID-19 and in the interest of public health, The Iroquois Indian Museum in Howes Cave, Schoharie County, NY, has announced they are cancelling all special events for 2020. [Read more…] about Iroquois Indian Museum Cancels All 2020 Special Events

A New Novel of Survival During the Revolution

May 9, 2020 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

Based on a true story, Craig Pennington’s new novel West of the Alleghenies: A Story of Survival during the Revolutionary War (Self-Published, 2020) is the epic tale of one man’s struggle to survive in a war-torn land and return to the woman he loves. [Read more…] about A New Novel of Survival During the Revolution

Settler Fears of Indian Conflict Near Albany Before 1664

April 26, 2020 by John Warren Leave a Comment

Noted local historical archeologist David R. Starbuck has said that the interconnected routes from the Richelieu River at the north end of Lake Champlain to Albany has the highest density of military sites in North America in the 1700s.

The large military encampments that attended the big campaigns of that era were among the largest cities in America, albeit for short intervals. [Read more…] about Settler Fears of Indian Conflict Near Albany Before 1664

King William and Queen Anne Wars in NYS

April 22, 2020 by John Warren 6 Comments

In the 1680s and 1690s the latest in a long string of European wars broke out. The War of the Grand Alliance, also known in New York State as King Williams War (1688-1697), pitted France against England, the Netherlands, and Austria.

It quickly spilled over to a bitter conflict of raids and counter-raids which took place between New France and frontier settlements of Eastern New York and Western Massachusetts. Each side employed their Indian allies to fight on their behalf and to guide their small armies to their respective enemies. [Read more…] about King William and Queen Anne Wars in NYS

One Woman, Three Colonial American Worlds

March 18, 2020 by Liz Covart Leave a Comment

Colonial America comprised many different cultural and political worlds. Most colonial Americans inhabited just one world, but today, we’re going to explore the life of a woman who lived in three colonial American worlds: Frontier New England, Northeastern Wabanaki, and Catholic New France.