Caughnawaga, New York facts for kids

Caughnawaga was once an important place in what is now Montgomery County, New York, United States. It was both a former town and the name of a significant Mohawk village. The name "Caughnawaga" comes from the Mohawk language and means "at the rapids." This refers to its location along the Mohawk River.

The Mohawk Village

The original Caughnawaga was a village where the Mohawk people lived. It was active from 1666 until 1693. In 1693, French colonists attacked and destroyed the village. Today, the area is known as the Caughnawaga Indian Village Site. It is a special archeological site recognized by the state. This means it's a place where scientists study old human history by digging up artifacts.

Life in the Village

Historians believe the Mohawk village of Caughnawaga was first located a bit further upstream. Around 1679, the French attacked the village. After this, the Mohawk people moved their village to a new spot. An expert named Dean Snow thinks about 300 people lived in the village at its new location. Some Mohawk people had moved to Canada by this time.

The French Mission

French Jesuits, who were Catholic missionaries, started a mission in Caughnawaga. This mission was open for about ten years, from 1668 to 1679. The Jesuits taught some Mohawk people to read and write in French. They also shared information about Christianity, specifically Roman Catholicism.

The "Praying Indians"

Over time, French and other European settlers started calling certain Mohawk people "Caughnawaga." This term was used for Mohawk people who lived near the Lachine Rapids on the St. Lawrence River. They were also known as the "Praying Indians." This name was given to them because they were Mohawk people who had become Roman Catholics. This happened because of the French missionaries.

Caughnawaga as a Town

Later, when Dutch colonists arrived, they formed an early settlement. This settlement was in what is now the eastern part of the village of Fonda, New York. They also called their settlement Caughnawaga. Many Mohawk people were still living in this area at that time.

Before 1788, the British and later the Americans called all the land north and south of the Mohawk River the "Mohawk district" or "town." In 1788, the land north of the river became officially organized as the Town of Caughnawaga. It was named after the Dutch settlement.

The Town's Division

The Town of Caughnawaga did not exist for very long under that name. In 1793, the town was divided into several new areas. The town of Amsterdam was created from its territory. Also, parts of the former Caughnawaga became the Fulton County towns of Broadalbin, Johnstown, and Mayfield.