British in Syracuse, New York
Encyclopedia
The British
began to take an active interest in the land around Onondaga Lake
in the early 1700s. They befriended the Onondagas by giving them guns, which were highly prized. A British
agent, William Johnson, acquired 200000 acres (809,372,000 m²) of land in the Mohawk
country near present day Johnstown, New York. In 1751, Johnson heard that the French
intended on securing a military post in the vicinity of the salt springs. He discussed the consequences of that action with the Onondagas and proposed that they grant him rights to all of Onondaga Lake
and a two-mile band of land around it. The Onondagas agreed and were paid £350 sterling.
William Johnson wanted either the British
or the Colony of New York to reimburse him for his purchase and take control of the land, however, the Colonial Council instead gave the land to Johnson and his heirs. In 1756, Johnson was named sole agent and superintendent of the Six Nations of the Iroquois
. By this time the Tuscarora’s had joined the confederacy. Johnson continued to have a positive relationship with the Onondagas and worked to secure their neutrality or allegiance to the British
in matters with the French
and the Americans.
and the Americans sought Iroquois
support. The British
succeeded and by the end of the war, only the Oneidas and Tuscaroras had remained neutral or friendly to the Americans.
William Johnson died in 1774, and after the Revolutionary War his rich estates and the land around Onondaga Lake
were lost by his heirs and became public lands of New York State.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
began to take an active interest in the land around Onondaga Lake
Onondaga Lake
Onondaga Lake is a lake in Central New York located northwest of Syracuse, New York. The southeastern end of the lake and the southwestern shore abut industrial areas and expressways; the northeastern shore and northwestern end border a series of parks and museums. Although it is near the Finger...
in the early 1700s. They befriended the Onondagas by giving them guns, which were highly prized. A British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
agent, William Johnson, acquired 200000 acres (809,372,000 m²) of land in 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...
country near present day Johnstown, New York. In 1751, Johnson heard that the French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
intended on securing a military post in the vicinity of the salt springs. He discussed the consequences of that action with the Onondagas and proposed that they grant him rights to all of Onondaga Lake
Onondaga Lake
Onondaga Lake is a lake in Central New York located northwest of Syracuse, New York. The southeastern end of the lake and the southwestern shore abut industrial areas and expressways; the northeastern shore and northwestern end border a series of parks and museums. Although it is near the Finger...
and a two-mile band of land around it. The Onondagas agreed and were paid £350 sterling.
History
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
or the Colony of New York to reimburse him for his purchase and take control of the land, however, the Colonial Council instead gave the land to Johnson and his heirs. In 1756, Johnson was named sole agent and superintendent of the Six Nations of the Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
. By this time the Tuscarora’s had joined the confederacy. Johnson continued to have a positive relationship with the Onondagas and worked to secure their neutrality or allegiance to the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in matters with the French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
and the Americans.
French and Indian war
As the Revolutionary War approached, both the BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the Americans sought Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
support. The British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
succeeded and by the end of the war, only the Oneidas and Tuscaroras had remained neutral or friendly to the Americans.
William Johnson died in 1774, and after the Revolutionary War his rich estates and the land around Onondaga Lake
Onondaga Lake
Onondaga Lake is a lake in Central New York located northwest of Syracuse, New York. The southeastern end of the lake and the southwestern shore abut industrial areas and expressways; the northeastern shore and northwestern end border a series of parks and museums. Although it is near the Finger...
were lost by his heirs and became public lands of New York State.