Wenrohronon facts for kids
The Wenro people were a Native American group who spoke an Iroquoian language. They lived in what is now western New York state. They might have also lived in parts of northern Pennsylvania.
The Wenro people were conquered by the powerful Iroquois Confederacy. This happened in two main wars between 1638 and 1643. These wars were part of bigger conflicts called the Beaver Wars. During these wars, the Iroquois fought to control the valuable fur trade.
The Iroquois often attacked in winter, which was unusual for Native American groups. Their strong campaigns led to the defeat of many tribes. These included the Huron people and the Neutral people. After defeating the Huron in 1649, the Iroquois also attacked the Tobacco people. They continued to expand their control westward.
Where the Wenro Lived
During the early 1600s, the Wenro tribe lived near Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Their territory also included the Niagara River, which connects these two lakes. Their land stretched from the west side of the lower Genesee River valley. This area is near present-day Rochester, NY.
Their territory also went west along the eastern side of the Niagara River. This was opposite the lands of the main Neutral people in what is now Canada. From the Niagara River's source at Lake Erie, their land continued a shorter distance along the southern shores of eastern Lake Erie.
The Wenro's southern and western borders are not fully known. However, their land along the southern shore of Lake Ontario was about 65 miles (105 km) long. It likely extended south from Lake Ontario, possibly into hunting grounds shared with the Erie tribe. These shared lands were near the headwaters of the Allegheny River.
The Wenro people are not well-known today. This is because they faced many challenges, including diseases and wars. We mostly know about them from writings by French missionaries. These writings are called the Jesuit Relations. Their villages seemed to be fewer than their neighbors' due to wars in the late 1500s.
The Wenro's small territory was protected by the deep gorges of the Genesee River to the east. It likely had few resources other than hunting lands. They survived for a while by trading with both the Huron and Iroquois. They acted as a "buffer state," meaning they were a neutral area between these often-fighting groups.
Wenro History
A Franciscan missionary named Joseph de La Roche Daillon recorded meeting the Wenro in 1627. He found them at a place called Oil Springs. Daillon noted that the tribe used crude petroleum as a medicine.
It is thought that the French met the Wenro after they had lost a war. This war was probably with the Senecas. This might explain why their territory was relatively small. At that time, the Wenro were on good terms with the Erie, Neutral, and Huron tribes.
In 1639, many Wenro people moved from western New York to Huron territory. Many died during this journey. The few who survived were welcomed into the Huron tribe.
Later, in the 1640s and 1650s, the Beaver Wars became very intense. The Wenro had a disagreement with their former allies, the Neutrals. This made it impossible for the Wenro to stand against their long-time enemies, the Iroquois. The Iroquois nations eventually conquered the Wenro. This was similar to how they later defeated the Susquehannocks and the Erie nation. After the battles, there were few survivors, and their society was broken.
Iroquoian cultures sometimes adopted survivors from defeated nations. One French observer in the 1870s believed that most Iroquois people had been adopted. Many Wenro survivors might have joined the Seneca Nation. The descendants of the Seneca still live in some of the Wenro's former territory today. Some remaining Wenro survivors were sent to Huron territory.
Wenro Language
Quick facts for kids Wenro |
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|---|---|
| Region | New York, Pennsylvania |
| Extinct | 17th century |
| Language family | |
| Linguist List | qgv |
Wenrohronon was an Iroquoian language. This means it was related to languages like Susquehannock, Wyandot, and Erie.
