"The Tonawandas" by Ken Mountain
The Founding of the Tonawandas
When I, maybe too eagerly, volunteered to write a short essay about Tonawanda, little did I know! What I “knew” was the sales tax is lower across the bridge; Zeffrey’s was the best place to meet friends; we had the bus station, Tonawanda once had an NFL franchise, Delaware Lanes were the premier bowling alleys, etc. I quickly dashed off an essay. Smugly, I congratulated myself, and went to bed.
When I woke and stumbled to the kitchen to turn on the coffee, I read what I had created the night before. I no longer needed the coffee! I began peeling the layers to find the heart of Tonawanda. Like peeling an onion, there was always another layer to examine. You start to accumulate dates and verifiable facts. Then describe what must have happened to yield that result. And rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. It ends up being a lot of work! New facts, information, and data are always exciting, but require rethinking and rewriting.
Four European countries were competing for expansion, treasures, influence, and ultimately, power and dominance on the world scene. The Portuguese seemed to be interested in a few islands, South America, and the Inca treasures.
The Spaniards were an ambitious lot, seeking everything from the Fountain of Youth, Aztec gold and silver, and land, land, land. Anything and everything west and south of Florida was of interest to Spain. So far, little or no impact on the Niagara Frontier.
Now France and England, that was another story. England had managed to penetrate 200 miles inland the entire length of the eastern seaboard. They established a new way of populating the new colonies. Literally, anyone, debt-free, a noncombatant, and willing to pledge allegiance to the Crown were welcomed, regardless of national origin or language. The Englishmen were opportunistically-oriented, pursuing a policy of “persistent gradualism”; constantly pushing westward.
The Frenchmen, equally opportunistic, were currently occupying what is now Eastern Canada. Allied with the Church, the French were extremely persuasive, elaborate in praise, and not above well-placed bribes. The Church-Government relationship was totally symbiotic. The Church would provide clergy, settlers, and some semblance of legitimacy for the large number of Government troops. The Government would provide free transportation, a church, a fort/compound, a homestead, and “protection”.
The exact timing relative to dates are conflicted, depending on source. The sequencing however had to work something like what is detailed here. Remember that some elements of an exploration mission statement were State Secrets. The real secrets may be buried in Texas, where LaSalle was killed. So the best we have are the results, from which a scenario could be created.
In early 1678, LaSalle set sail to New York City, with a full crew, 30 settler couples, 20 extra “Grenadiers”, adequate clergy, extra supplies, and special gifts and trinkets. At New York, LaSalle, Father Hennepin (leader of the clerical contingent), and Grenadiers boarded a smaller boat to travel up the Hudson River.
This very secret side-trip was to an Iroquois Nation Council, held at a “Longhouse” about 50 miles north of the city. This meeting with the “Chiefs of the Chiefs” was comparable to a Joint Session of Congress. The Iroquois Nation was huge, occupying nearly 1.5 million square miles! This was, clearly, not a clambake at Nantucket. “Elders”, representing the Seneca, Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, and the Ononagwa tribes were about to make choices that would have ramifications that are still felt to the present. (ed. note: The Tuscaroras had not yet arrived in the area.)
LaSalle extended greetings from “his tribe and Chiefs”. He declared his hatred for the “Red Coats” and expressed the need for mutual defense and trade pacts. He revealed his vision of the future. Father Hennepin talked of the “Oneness” of the “Great Spirit”, and talked of the inevitability of a French and Iroquois expansion to all of North America. He played heavily on the egos and was a master of manipulation. They left the Council with implied agreements and some “Sign” that would assure safe passage anywhere in the Iroquois Nation. Before leaving, they left a small chest of trinkets for each tribe.
They returned to the ship (the Belle) and immediately set sail for Montreal. At Montreal they off-loaded the settler women, re-supplied, and “garrisoned-up” with additional Grenadiers. When the ship was readied, they departed west. After about 4 or 5 days of endless tacking against the westerly winds, they spotted the mouth of the Niagara River (present day Youngstown).
They sailed the Belle, into a natural harbor, dropped anchor, and studied the scene. They ground searched the area and found no evidence of other humans in a 10 mile radius. LaSalle, known as a “fort builder” decided that this place was in a strategic location. He authorized the immediate commencement of activities to create Fort Conti. (Now, Old Fort Niagara)
At a minimum, structures had to be erected before too long. It was mid-to-late summer of 1678. Fortifications could happen later. Winter preparations were the priority. There was an incredible amount of work to be accomplished, let alone, a run back to Montreal for additional supplies and the settler women. Rudimentary shelters were completed; the ship prepared for winter, and a winter routine was established. Finishing work continued on the chapel.
The Sun was dropping lower every day, signaling approaching winter. At a minimum, structures had to be erected before too long. It was mid to late summer of 1678. Fortifications could happen later. Winter preparations were the priority. There was an incredible amount of work to be accomplished, let alone, a run back to Montreal for additional supplies and the settler women. Rudimentary shelters were completed, the ship prepared for winter, and a winter routine was established. Finishing work continued on the chapel. Autumn was an opportunity to explore, document, and plan for the next phase of the of the LaSalle expedition. Fr. Hennepin began his survey and mapping of the lower river. They explored the gorge, and saw Niagara Falls for the first time. The falls were every bit as impressive as were the written descriptions. It was clear that unless they could get the ship up the escarpment, the voyage was over.
The winter of 1678-79 was a difficult time for LaSalle. He decided to find a safe place above the falls and build a boat to continue his quest west. He designed a 35-40 foot “Brigand”, probably a Ketch design. He sent out scouts to find the location, so that come spring, construction could start. They had selected a place 5 or 6 miles above the falls with ample wood and a semi-deep water creek (later known as Cayuga Creek).
In early March 1679, he dispatched a crew of craftsmen to the site to start preparation activities. He scavenged the Belle for any components needed for the new boat. After assigning work activities at Fort Conti, he joined his work crew at the construction site. A few days later, the site was visited by a scouting party of Tonawanda Seneca Indians. He was summoned to a Longhouse Council in 2 days.
The next day, LaSalle, Father Hennepin, and a few Grenadiers followed a guide up the river. The Iroquois Longhouse was “on a crick, by a crick”. In fact, it was the south-west corner of where present day Ellicott Creek runs into the canal. The main Tonawanda Seneca village was on the south-east corner.
The next morning, LaSalle presented his credentials (The Sign), greetings from the French Government, and saluted his hosts. Then he described his activities since the last Longhouse Council meeting. It was almost a year since the New York meeting. LaSalle described Fort Conti, and it’s current status. The Fort was incomplete without fortifications, but that task would be resumed after the crops were planted.
He reviewed his mission and bemoaned his plight relative to being at a dead-end because of the falls. The alternate plan of a second boat was disclosed. He described the Brigand-class boat they were building and his intent to carry-on the mission using this new boat. He had named the boat “Griffon”.
The Iroquois Elders nodded their approval of the presentation. The Tonawanda Indians knew of their arrival, the work on Fort Conti, the boat building activities, and the general daily routines; so this was a critical test. To leave no doubt about who was in charge, an Elder invoked the mutual defense pact and insisted on having some Grenadiers and settlers nearby on a parcel of land at the mouth of Tonawanda Creek as it empties into the river, about 1/2 mile west.
(ed. note: The settlers could have been hostages if things went bad. Also, astute warriors position themselves east of their adversaries.)
LaSalle agreed to setup a compound, a chapel, a barracks and some housing for 3 to 5 families as quickly as possible. It was understood that the Indians would supply some of the labor. The Council ended with much happiness showing on all faces. Father Hennepin went to the site and Consecrated the Earth for the soon to be village.
The summer of 1679 was a very busy period for LaSalle: three active construction sites, several families to relocate, a boat to complete, a trip with the Griffon to plan, and long sessions with Father Hennepin. They planned for Father Hennepin to temporarily take charge until a “civilian” leader emerged.
LaSalle wintered at Fort Conti. In the Spring, LaSalle departed west on Lake Erie, aboard the Griffon. It was 1680, and LaSalle left Fort Conti, a base camp (Lewiston), some boat building jigs (at Cayuga Creek) and a little village named....Tonawanda, established - 1679.
(ed. note: The dates of the early 1800’s must refer to the rebuilding after the British burned it during the War of 1812.)
Copyright 2004 by Ken Mountain
kelco@neto.com
Ken Mountain is a systems engineer and history buff, who takes an analytical approach to studying history and his writing style combines the historical facts he gathers with a sytems approach to logic and the possibilities of how events played out in times gone by.