The Documentary History of the State of New York/Volume I/Chapter I/Article IV

by Edmund Bailey O'Callaghan

PRESENT STATE OF THE NORTHERN INDIANS

IN THE DEPART^t OF SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON BART.,
COMPREHENDED UNDER THE SIX NATIONS AND OTTAWA CONFEDERACIES, ETC.,
CONTAINING THE NAMES, NUMBERS AND SCITUATION OF EACH NATION,
WITH REMARKS.   NOV. 18, 1763.

[Lond. Doc. XXXVI]

{Table 1.}

SIX NATION CONFEDERACY, COMPREHENDING THAT OF CANADA, OHIO, &c.
Names.	Number of men.	Scituation.	Remarks.
Mohocks	160	Two villages on the Mohock river, with a few emigrants at Scohare about 16 miles from Fort Hunter.	Of the Six Nations the Mohawks or Mohocks, Onondages and Senecas are considered as the chief and elder branches. The Oneidas, Cayuagas and Tuscaroras are younger; the last mentioned Nation having many years ago retired from the South, and were admitted into the confederacy with the then Five Nations, the Oneidas giving them land and they now enjoy all priviledges with the rest.
Oneidas	250	Two villages, one 25 miles from Fort Stanwix, the other twelve miles west of Oneida Lake, with emigrants in several places towards the Susquehanna river.
Tuscaroras	140	One village 6 miles from the first Oneidas, and several others about the Susquehanna.
Onondagas	150	One large village 6 miles from the lake of their name (which is the place of the Congress for the confederates) with a smaller at some distance.
Cayugas	200	One large village near the Lake of their name with several others from thence to the Susquehanna.
Senecas	1050	Have several villages, beginning about 50 m. from Cayuga, and from thence to Chennussio, the larges about 70 m. from Niagara, with others thence to the Ohio.	Of the Senecas, two villages are still in our interest, vizt. Kanadasero and Kanaderagey, the rest have joined the Western Nations.
Oswegachys	80	Emigrants from the Six Nations chiefly Onondages settled at La Galette of the river St. Lawrence.	These are at peace with the English.
Nanticokes, Conoys, Tutecoes, Saponeys, ettc.	200	A people removed from the southward, and settled on and about the Susquehanna on lands allotted by the Six Nations.	These people are immediately under the direction of the Six Nations, and at peace with the English.
		INDIANS OF CANADA IN ALLIANCE WITH THE SIX NATIONS.
Caghnawagas	300	Emigrants from the Mohocks, settled at Soult St. Louis near Montreal, with emigrants at Aghquissasne, below la Galette which is the seat of the Mission.	All these Nations are in alliance with the Six Nations, and warmly attached to the British Interest, as are all the other Indians in Canada. Caghnawaga is the seat of a Mission, as is the village of Lac du deux Montagnes.
Canassadagas, Arundacks, Algonkins	150	These three Nations now reside together, at the Lac du deux Montagnes at the mouth of the Ottawa river near Montreal.
Abenaquis	100	Their village having been burned at St. Francis below Montreal during the war, they have since lived scattered except a few.	These Indians are originally from New-England; if they were all collected they would amount to more than is represented. They have likewise a Missionary who is a Jesuit.
Skaghquanoghronos	40	Reside at Trois Rivieres, they are originally Algoukins.	(There are several other Nations to the Northward, who avoid any connection with the white people; and as they have not fixed residence, their numbers, though considerable, cannot be ascertained.)
Hurons	40	Reside at Loretto near Quebec, a very civilized people.
		INDIANS OF THE OHIO.
Shawanese	300	Removed to the River Sioto, and other Branches.	These people are greatly influenced by the Senecas, and reside on land allotted them by the permission of the Six Nations. They are now a war with the English.
Delawares	600	In several villages on and about the Susquehanna, Muskingham, ettc. and thence to Lake Erie.
Wiandots, ettc.	200	Some villages in the neighborhood of Sandosky Fort near Lake Erie.
Total	3960	There are also in the Six Nation Confederacy, many Indians, whose numbers cannot be computed as they have no fixed residence.

{Table 2.}

OTTAWA CONFEDERACY, COMPREHENDING THE TWIGHTWEES, ETTC.
Names.	Number of men.	Scituation.	Remarks.
Wyandots or Hurons	250	Reside opposite Detroit, their village is the seat of a Jesuit Mission, their language bears affinity with that of the Six Nations.	This Nation has a great influence over the rest, and has been greatly instigated by the neighboring French to commit acts of hostility.
Powtewatamis in the neighbourhood of Detroit	150	Resided about a mile below the Fort, but abandoned their village on the commencement of hostilities.
... In the neighbourhood of St. Joseph	200	A little below the fort
Ottawas residing in the neighbourhood of Detroit	300	Resided about Detroit, but with the former, form a flying camp.	With these and the above Indians are joined several others, who form a flying camp under Pondiac, an Ottawa Chief.
... In the neighbourhood of Michilimakinac	250	Resided in different villages, but are now probably with the former. Michilimakinac is the seat of a mission.	The Ottawas in the neighbourhood of Michilimakinac are well attached to us for the most part.
... In the neighbourhood of St. Joseph	150	Resided at a small distance after the reduction of the Fort probably joined the rest.
Chipeweighs or Mississagais: in the neighborhood of Detroit	320	Resided above the Detroit, now probably in arms with the rest.	These are the most numerous of all the Ottawa Confederacy and have many villages about Lakes Superior, Huron, Erie, ettc. whose numbers cannot at present be acertained with exactness.
... In the neighbourhood of Michilimakinac	400	Had several different villages in the country, and the environs of the Lake Huron.
Meynomoenys Folsavoins Puans Sakis Foxes	110 110 360 300 320	All these nations reside on the west side of la Baye at Lake Michigan and in the neighbourhood of the Fort there.	Thes nations are a present in alliance with the Ottawa Confederacy, but appear inclined to our interest, nor did they take the fort at La Baye, the officer abandoning it on the news of the rupture as he could make no defence.
		MIAMIS OR TWIGHTWEES
Twightwees	230	Near the Fort on the Miamis river.	The Twightwees were originally a very powerfull people, who, have been subdued by the Six Nations were permitted to enjoy their possessions. Tere are many tribes and villages of them, but these are all who are perfectly known.
Kickapous Mascoutens Piankashaws Wawiaghtonos	180 90 100 200	These nations reside in the neighbourhood of the Fort an Wawiaghta, and about the Walache river.
Ottawas , Chipeweighs, ettc.	4000	Residing thro' all the extent of country from the Lakes to the Great Ottawa River, and abt. Lake Superior, ettc.	This is the most exact computation that can be made of these numerous people, who are scattered throughout the Northern Parts and who having few places of fixed residence, subsisting entirely by hunting, cannot be ascertained as those of their confederacy, residing near the outposts.
Illinois   number uncertain		Reside about the Illinois River and hence to the Mississippi.	We have hitherto had nothing to do with these people, who are numerous and variously computed. The Six Nations claim their country, but their right of conquest thereto does not appear so clear as to the rest, as represented in the letter herewith.
Sioux   number uncertain		Reside in the country westward of the Mississippi, they are much addicted to wandering and live mostly in camps.	The Sioux who are the most numerous of the Norther Indians, are little known to us, they do not appear well affected to the Western Indians, and promise to send Deputies to me in the spring.
Total, . . . . . .	8020

November 18th, 1763.		WM. JOHNSON