Catherine's Town (Seneca town)
Encyclopedia
Catherine's Town was an Iroquois
town named for the Seneca
leader Catherine Montour. It was located at the south end of Seneca Lake
, near present-day Watkins Glen
(and the towns of Catharine
, Montour
, and Montour Falls
, named for Catherine Montour). The Iroquois leader Red Jacket
was said to have practiced his speeches at Shequaga Falls — the waterfall located in Montour Falls
— and according to "Historical Sketch of the Chemung Valley, Etc.." was also buried there.
Catherine's Town was destroyed by the Sullivan Expedition
of 1779. At the time the town was reported to have 30 houses, fields of corn, and fruit orchards, all of which were burned.
It was also known as French Catherine Town, Catherine's Landing, Catherinestown, Catharine Town and Havana.
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...
town named for the Seneca
Seneca nation
The Seneca are a group of indigenous people native to North America. They were the nation located farthest to the west within the Six Nations or Iroquois League in New York before the American Revolution. While exact population figures are unknown, approximately 15,000 to 25,000 Seneca live in...
leader Catherine Montour. It was located at the south end of Seneca Lake
Seneca Lake, New York
Seneca Lake is the largest of the glacial Finger Lakes of the U.S. state of New York, and the deepest lake entirely within the state. It is promoted as being the lake trout capital of the world, and is host of the National Lake Trout Derby. Because of its depth, Seneca Lake has been a testing site...
, near present-day Watkins Glen
Watkins Glen, New York
Watkins Glen is a village in Schuyler County, New York, United States. The population was 2,149 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Schuyler County.The Village of Watkins Glen lies on the border of the towns of Dix and Montour....
(and the towns of Catharine
Catharine, New York
Catharine is a town in Schuyler County, New York. The population was 1,930 at the 2000 census. The town is one of two in the county named after Catherine Montour, despite the variation in spelling of the name...
, Montour
Montour, New York
Montour is a town in Schuyler County, New York, United States. The population was 2,446 at the 2000 census. The town is one of two towns in the county named after Catherine Montour....
, and Montour Falls
Montour Falls, New York
Montour Falls is a village in Schuyler County, New York, United States. The population was 1,797 at the 2000 census. A waterfall in the village gives the village its name...
, named for Catherine Montour). The Iroquois leader Red Jacket
Red Jacket
Red Jacket was a Native American Seneca orator and chief of the Wolf clan...
was said to have practiced his speeches at Shequaga Falls — the waterfall located in Montour Falls
Montour Falls, New York
Montour Falls is a village in Schuyler County, New York, United States. The population was 1,797 at the 2000 census. A waterfall in the village gives the village its name...
— and according to "Historical Sketch of the Chemung Valley, Etc.." was also buried there.
Catherine's Town was destroyed by the Sullivan Expedition
Sullivan Expedition
The Sullivan Expedition, also known as the Sullivan-Clinton Expedition, was an American campaign led by Major General John Sullivan and Brigadier General James Clinton against Loyalists and the four nations of the Iroquois who had sided with the British in the American Revolutionary War.The...
of 1779. At the time the town was reported to have 30 houses, fields of corn, and fruit orchards, all of which were burned.
It was also known as French Catherine Town, Catherine's Landing, Catherinestown, Catharine Town and Havana.