Shekomeko, New York facts for kids

Shekomeko was a small, historic village located in what is now Dutchess County, New York. It was once home to the Mahican people, an important Native American group. The village was situated near a stream that was later named Shekomeko Creek by English settlers. The name "Shekomeko" comes from the Mahican language and means "people of the place of eels." Eels are long, fish-like creatures, and the name describes a place where these fish were common.

The Moravian Mission in Shekomeko

In 1740, a group called the Moravians arrived from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. They started a special mission in Shekomeko. Their goal was to teach the Mahican people about Christianity. Slowly, many Mahican people began to accept the Moravian teachings. By 1743, the Moravians had built a small church, or chapel, in the village. This made the Mahican community the very first Native American Christian group in what is now the United States.

Challenges for the Missionaries

Not everyone was happy about the Moravians' work with the Mahican people. Some colonists, who were settlers from Europe, did not like that the Moravians were helping the Native Americans. Others even accused the Moravians of being secret Jesuits. Jesuits were a group within the Roman Catholic Church, and the New York colony had a law against them since 1700. These colonists claimed the Moravians were trying to turn the Mahican people against the settlers and support the French.

The Missionaries Are Expelled

Because of these accusations, the Moravians were called to appear before government officials in Poughkeepsie. Even though some people spoke up to support them, the colonial government decided to remove the Moravians from New York. They were forced to leave at the end of 1744. The government claimed the Moravians were "in league with the French," meaning they were secretly working with the French.

One of the Moravian missionaries sadly passed away in early 1745 and was buried in Shekomeko. After the missionaries left, the Mahican people felt very sad and discouraged. They decided to leave their village and move to other areas. English colonists then took over the land where the Mahican people had lived.

Shekomeko Today

Today, the area where Shekomeko once stood is now home to a small community called Bethel. This area is located by County Route 83. Bethel is part of the town of Pine Plains, which was created in 1823 from a section of the town of North East.