Kanadaseaga

Kanadaseaga (aka Kanadesaga or Kanatasaka or Kanadasaga or Canasadego or Ganûndase?'ge? or Seneca Castle or Canadasaga), was a major village, perhaps a capital, of the Seneca nation of the Iroquois Confederacy in west-central New York State, United States.[1] It was located between the northern ends of Seneca and Canandaigua lakes, one and a half miles northwest of the present-day city of Geneva in the township of Seneca. The village was situated on both sides of Kanadaseaga Creek.[2] The Seneca established this village at least as early as 1687.[3] It was likely established by the former residents of Ganondagan, after its destruction by the French.[4]

Around 1754, the Senecas moved north from the nearby New Ganechstage village (and prior to that, the White Springs village) to a settlement that would become known as Kanadesaga.[5]

A blockhouse was built here in 1756 by Sir William Johnson,[6] the remains of which were in existence in 1779.[2] During the Revolutionary War, the British added defensive fortifications against the Americans. The village contained about sixty well-built houses.[7]

Long known for being one of the most powerful Iroquois towns, it was destroyed by the American army Sullivan Expedition of 1779, on September 9, during the American Revolutionary War. American army forces were seeking to punish the Iroquois for their raids and attacks on frontier settlements, especially in the Mohawk, Cherry and Schoharie valleys.

Marker, near Geneva, NY Front view

References
  1. "Glossary of Seneca Words". Internet Sacred Text Archive.
  2. New York (State). Governor (1901). Public Papers of Governor. 5. State Printers. p. 238. Retrieved 2015-02-20.
  3. Tanner, Helen Hornbeck; Adele Hast; Jacqueline Peterson; Robert J. Surtees; Miklos Pinther (1987). Atlas of Great Lakes Indian History. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 33. ISBN 0-8061-2056-8.
  4. Conover, G.S. (1889). Seneca Indian Villages: Principal Settlements Between Canandaigua and Seneca Lake. The author. p. 2. Retrieved 2015-02-20.
  5. Hilary Smith, staff writer. "How Senecas live in Geneva, from 1688 to 1779 - News - MPNnow - Canandaigua, NY". mpnnow.com. Retrieved 2015-02-20.
  6. Pierce, Preston E. "Canandaigua Becomes the Ontario County Seat". ny-ontariocounty.civicplus.com. Retrieved 2015-02-20.
  7. Hardenbergh, J.L.; Clark, J.S.; Hawley, C.; Beatty, E.; Grant, T.; Dearborn, H. (1879). The Journal of Lieut. John L. Hardenbergh: Of the Second New York Continental Regiment from May 1 to October 3, 1779, in General Sullivan's Campaign Against the Western Indians. Knapp & Peck, printers. p. 48. Retrieved 2015-02-20.

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