Page:A Topographical Description of the State of Ohio, Indiana Territory, and Louisiana.djvu/222

206 their claims were extinguished, retread back, and found new places of residence.

The most northern and eastern nations, near the lakes, are the Six Nations. They have been so called by the English and Americans, but the French styled them Irquois. They call themselves Aganuschioni, which in their language, signifies the United People. This confederacy, which consisted at first of only five nations, is of ancient date. The nations who first united were the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Senecas, and Cayugas. About eighty years ago they were joined by the Tuscaroras. The Mohawks were formerly at the head of the confederacy, and were a very powerful nation. They inhabited on Mohawk river. The old Mohawk town was at the mouth of Schohary creek, twelve miles west of Schenectady, which was not entirely abandoned until 1780. Here is still the remains of an old church, built in the reign of Queen Ann. They were strongly attached to Sir William Johnson, and the Johnson family. About 300 went with Sir John Johnson, to Canada in 1776, and reside in Upper Canada, on the northern waters of Lake Erie.

At the time of the American revolution, the Six Nations were in alliance with the English, engaged on their side, and made great depredations on the frontiers: In the year 1779, the American troops gained a complete victory over them, and destroyed all their towns. By a treaty at Fort Stanwix, in 1784, a tract of land was assigned them, bordering on Lake Erie and Ontario, and a quantity of goods given them for their use and comfort. And by a subsequent treaty, at Konon-daigua, in 1794, their boundary lines were varied, in conformity to treaties they had made with the State of New York, and the tract confirmed to them by the United States. This tract is called the State Reservation, on which they now reside. In consideration of the extinguishment of their claims to other lands, and to secure perpetuate peace and friendship, the United States delivered to the Six Nations, and to the Indians of other nations, residing among them, and united with them, a quantity of goods to the value of 10,000 dollars, and stipulated an annuity of 4,500 dollars, to