Onaquaga facts for kids

Onaquaga was a large Iroquois village located in what is now Windsor, New York. It sat on both sides of the Susquehanna River. During the American Revolutionary War, American soldiers destroyed Onaquaga in October 1778. This was done in response to attacks by British and Iroquois forces on frontier settlements.

Life in Onaquaga

Onaquaga was a busy village, home to many different Native American groups.

Early Residents

The village was first settled by members of the Oneida tribe. The Oneida were one of the original Five Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. Later, the Tuscarora people moved north from South Carolina. They joined the Iroquois Confederacy in 1722, becoming the Sixth Nation. Some Tuscarora settled in areas around Onaquaga.

Growing Population

In 1753, Nanticoke people, who were refugees from Virginia, also moved to Onaquaga. That same year, a missionary named Gideon Hawley started a mission in the village. This mission caused more Christian Native Americans to move to Onaquaga, increasing its population.

After the Treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1768, many Mohawks were forced to move. Some of them settled in Onaquaga, just west of the new treaty line. These new residents were successful farmers. They raised cattle and poultry, grew gardens, and had fruit trees. Many people in the village were Christians.

Village Diversity

By the time of the American Revolution, Onaquaga was a very diverse place. It was home to people from all Six Nations of the Iroquois. There were also Algonquian-speaking Lenape people. In addition, many Loyalists (people who supported the British during the Revolution) lived there. The total population was about 400 people.

Onaquaga During the Revolution

The American Revolutionary War brought big changes to Onaquaga.

Raids and Retaliation

In 1778, during the war, a Mohawk leader named Joseph Brant used Onaquaga as a base. From here, he led raids on American frontier communities in New York and Pennsylvania. Captain Jacob (Scott) of the Saponi (Catawba) tried to stop the community from taking part in the Cherry Valley Massacre.

In response to these attacks, the American army planned a raid on Onaquaga. Lieutenant Colonel William Butler led this American force.

Village Destroyed

When the American soldiers arrived, the people of Onaquaga realized they were outnumbered. They decided to leave their homes and abandon the village. After the villagers left, the American soldiers burned Onaquaga to the ground.

Village Name: Many Spellings

The name of the village, Onaquaga, was spelled in many different ways throughout history. This happened because different people wrote it down using their own understanding of the sounds.

Historian Francis Whiting Halsey noted that the name was spelled almost every way imaginable. Some common spellings included Oneaquaga, Oughquagy, and Oghwaga.

The word might have different meanings. Some believe Okwaho means "wolf." Others, like A. Cusick, thought the word meant "place of hulled-corn soup."