Mohawk Upper Castle Historic District
Encyclopedia
Mohawk Upper Castle Historic District is a historic district
in Herkimer County, New York
that was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1993. It includes the Indian Castle Church
, built in 1769 by Sir William Johnson
, British Superintendent of Indian Affairs, as a missionary
church for the Mohawk
in the western part of their territory; the Brant Family Barn, a rare surviving example of Dutch colonial barns in the Mohawk Valley; as well as important archaeological site
areas revealing life in Nowadaga, as the western part of the Mohawk village of Canajoharie was known. The fortified village was called the Upper Castle by European colonists.
Its name differentiates it from Lower Castle to the east, another fortified Mohawk village, known as Tiononderoge, near the confluence of Schoharie Creek and the Mohawk River. The Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
is near the former village location.
of 1693. They reestablished their settlements in both areas.
Indian Castle Church was built in 1769 as a missionary church to the Mohawk in this western settlement, by Sir William Johnson
, British Superintendent of Indian Affairs, on land donated by Mary Brant
, his consort
, and her younger brother Joseph Brant
, Mohawk leaders allied with Johnson. It has a nearby Mohawk cemetery, a contributing site. Following the Revolutionary War and the exodus of most Mohawk from New York, the church was used by a variety of Protestant congregations: Dutch Reformed (1800-1820), an interdenominational Union Congregation, a "short-lived" Presbyterian congregation, and Lutherans from 1838-1855.
A new Union Church Society took over the church and accomplished some renovations beginning in 1855, including changing the orientation of the building, so that the short ends face north and south. The Society used the church until 1925. To save the property, local residents formed the Indian Castle Church Restoration and Preservation Society, and have raised funds for it during the years. Due to their efforts, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1971. The Society operates the property as a public historic site.
The Brant Family Barn is believed to have been constructed about 1754, at the time the family established the homestead. The houses later occupied by Mary Brant and her brother Joseph were both burned down during the war, as were most structures existing in the valley before the war. They migrated to Ontario, where they settled on the Six Nations Reserve. The 49.6 acre tract was privately held and used primarily for agriculture. In 1940 Ralph Welden bought the property from the Green family, and it is still held by his descendants. They allowed archeological assessments in the 1970s and 1980s, and have worked to preserve the land where substantial resources were found.
Historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
in Herkimer County, New York
Herkimer County, New York
Herkimer County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was created in 1791 north of the Mohawk River out of part of Montgomery County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 64,519. It is named after General Nicholas Herkimer, who died from battle wounds in 1777 after taking part...
that was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1993. It includes the Indian Castle Church
Indian Castle Church
Indian Castle Church is a historic mission church at Indian Castle in Herkimer County, New York. The church is located on NYS Route 5S near Danube. It is a one-story, rectangular wood frame structure, clad in clapboard with a gable roof and steeple. To the rear of the church is a burial ground...
, built in 1769 by Sir William Johnson
William Johnson
William Johnson may refer to:Arts and Entertainment* William Allen Johnson , organ builder, Johnson Organs* William Gary Johnson , called Bunk Johnson, American jazz musician* William H...
, British Superintendent of Indian Affairs, as a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
church for the Mohawk
Mohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
in the western part of their territory; the Brant Family Barn, a rare surviving example of Dutch colonial barns in the Mohawk Valley; as well as important archaeological site
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
areas revealing life in Nowadaga, as the western part of the Mohawk village of Canajoharie was known. The fortified village was called the Upper Castle by European colonists.
Its name differentiates it from Lower Castle to the east, another fortified Mohawk village, known as Tiononderoge, near the confluence of Schoharie Creek and the Mohawk River. The Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, also known as Erie Canal National Historic Landmark, is a historic district that includes the ruins of the Erie Canal aqueduct over Schoharie Creek, and a long part of the Erie Canal, in the towns of Glen and Florida within Montgomery County, New York...
is near the former village location.
History and resources
The Mohawk concentrated their town life in the villages known as "Castles" following the destructive raids by French Canadians and their Indian allies during King William's WarKing William's War
The first of the French and Indian Wars, King William's War was the name used in the English colonies in America to refer to the North American theater of the Nine Years' War...
of 1693. They reestablished their settlements in both areas.
Indian Castle Church was built in 1769 as a missionary church to the Mohawk in this western settlement, by Sir William Johnson
William Johnson
William Johnson may refer to:Arts and Entertainment* William Allen Johnson , organ builder, Johnson Organs* William Gary Johnson , called Bunk Johnson, American jazz musician* William H...
, British Superintendent of Indian Affairs, on land donated by Mary Brant
Mary Brant
Molly Brant , also known as Mary Brant, Konwatsi'tsiaienni, and Degonwadonti, was a prominent Mohawk woman in the era of the American Revolution. Living in the Province of New York, she was the consort of Sir William Johnson, the influential British Superintendent of Indian Affairs, with whom she...
, his consort
Consort
Consort may refer to:Titles:* Queen consort, wife of a reigning king* Prince consort, husband of a reigning queen* King consort, rarely used alternative title for husband of a reigning queen...
, and her younger brother Joseph Brant
Joseph Brant
Thayendanegea or Joseph Brant was a Mohawk military and political leader, based in present-day New York, who was closely associated with Great Britain during and after the American Revolution. He was perhaps the most well-known American Indian of his generation...
, Mohawk leaders allied with Johnson. It has a nearby Mohawk cemetery, a contributing site. Following the Revolutionary War and the exodus of most Mohawk from New York, the church was used by a variety of Protestant congregations: Dutch Reformed (1800-1820), an interdenominational Union Congregation, a "short-lived" Presbyterian congregation, and Lutherans from 1838-1855.
A new Union Church Society took over the church and accomplished some renovations beginning in 1855, including changing the orientation of the building, so that the short ends face north and south. The Society used the church until 1925. To save the property, local residents formed the Indian Castle Church Restoration and Preservation Society, and have raised funds for it during the years. Due to their efforts, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1971. The Society operates the property as a public historic site.
The Brant Family Barn is believed to have been constructed about 1754, at the time the family established the homestead. The houses later occupied by Mary Brant and her brother Joseph were both burned down during the war, as were most structures existing in the valley before the war. They migrated to Ontario, where they settled on the Six Nations Reserve. The 49.6 acre tract was privately held and used primarily for agriculture. In 1940 Ralph Welden bought the property from the Green family, and it is still held by his descendants. They allowed archeological assessments in the 1970s and 1980s, and have worked to preserve the land where substantial resources were found.
External links
- Dean R. Snow and David B. Guldenzopf, "Indian Castle Church, the Mohawk Upper Castle Historic District National Historic Landmark", 1998-2001, Indian Castle Church Website