Catherine Montour facts for kids
Catharine Montour, also known as Queen Catharine, was an important Iroquois leader. She lived in a Seneca village called Queanettquaga, which was also known as Catharine's Town. This village was located in what is now western New York.
Many people have confused Catharine Montour with other famous women from her family. These include Elizabeth "Madame" Montour, who was an interpreter and advisor, and "Queen Esther" Montour. After the Iroquois people had to leave their lands, several places in western New York were named to honor Catharine Montour.
Catharine Montour's Early Life
Catharine Montour was likely born in Pennsylvania or New York. Her mother was Marguerite Fafard Turpin, who was part Iroquois and part French. She was also known as Margaret Montour or "French Margaret." Margaret was either the daughter or niece of Madame Montour.
Catharine's father was Katarioniecha, also known as Peter Quebec. He was a Caughnawaga Mohawk. This means he was a Mohawk who had converted to Catholicism. He lived in a mission village called Kahnawake, which was founded near Montreal in the early 1700s.
Catharine had a sister named Mary (or Molly). She also had two brothers named Andrew Montour and Nicholas Quebec. It's important not to confuse her brother Andrew with another famous Andrew Montour. That Andrew (who lived from about 1720 to 1772) was probably Catharine's uncle. He was a well-known interpreter in Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Marriage and Family Life
Catharine Montour married a Seneca chief named Telenemut, also known as Thomas Hudson. Catharine and her husband lived in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Their home was in the Seneca town of Queanettquaga, which later became known as Catharine's Town.
During the American Revolutionary War, in 1779, American forces destroyed their village. This happened during an event called the Sullivan Expedition. After this, Catharine Montour and other Seneca people moved to Niagara. At that time, the British controlled Niagara. Later, this area became part of New York state.
After the American Revolution, new settlers from Europe came to Schuyler County in western New York. They decided to name several places after Catharine Montour to honor her. In 1791, Catharine's sister Mary asked to live at a Moravian mission village. A missionary recorded that Catharine Montour was still living near Niagara at that time.
Places Named for Catharine Montour
Many places in Schuyler County, New York, were named after Catharine Montour. This happened after the American Revolution when new communities were being formed.
