Chronology of American Indian History

Indians, most of whom are unwilling to pay it.
Their refusal increases the animosity of the New
Netherlands colonists toward surrounding Indian
groups.

The Huron begin embroidering in moose hair.
In Quebec, five French nuns establish a seminary for
Huron girls, whom they teach to embroider floral
designs using needle and thread. When their supplies
run out, the young women improvise, using individ-
ual strands of moose hair colored with vegetable dyes
in place of thread. Dyed moose hair had long been
used by the tribal craftspeople to decorate items made
from birch bark. By the 19th century, the Huron of
Quebec will create a sizable industry selling clothing
embroidered in moose hair to non-Indians.

1641

The Dutch offer bounties for Indian scalps.
A group of Hackensack Indians kill two Dutch
farmers who allowed their cattle to trample the
Indians’ corn fields. Following tribal tradition, the
Hackensack tribe offers their widows wampum to
atone for the murders, but Dutch officials demand
that the tribe give up the killers. When the Indians
refuse, New Netherlands governor Willem Kieft of-
fers bounties for Hackensack scalps.

1643

Roger Williams’s Key into the Language of
America is published.
A student of Narragansett language and culture,
Providence’s founder Roger Williams (see entry for
1636) compiles A Key into the Language of America.
The book is among the earliest works on Indian
language written by a non-Indian. As well as re-
cording Narragansett words such as succotash and
squash, which have entered the colonists’ language,
Williams also notes that the Narragansett have ad-
opted versions of English words, including moneash
for money and pigsuck for pig.

The Susquehannock drive off Maryland

settlers.

Frustrated by the movement of Maryland settlers

onto their lands, the Susquehannock ask their

Swedish trading partners (see entry for 1638) liv-

ing along Delaware Bay for help. The Swedes give

the Indians advice as well as guns and ammunition,

which the Susquehannock use to force the whites

off their territory.

The Iroquois become Dutch allies.

The powerful tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy

negotiate a treaty of alliance with the Dutch. In the

agreement, the Indians promise to give the Dutch

furs in exchange for guns—an arrangement that

will spell doom for many of the Iroquois’ enemies.

In the next decade, the Iroquois wage war against

the Huron, Petunia, Neutral, and Erie (see entries

for MARCH 1649, 1650, and 1654).

Mohegan leader Uncas kills Narragansett

chief Miantonomo.

Colonial leaders grow tired of dealing with Mian-

tonomo, a Narragansett Indian leader who resists

the whites’ constant demands for land and their

increasing efforts to subjugate his people. On the

instructions of English officials, the troublesome

chief is assassinated by Mohegan leader Uncas. Born

a Pequot, Uncas formed the Mohegan tribe and

supported the English in their brutal war against his

people (see entry for MAY 25, 1637). (See also entry

for 1847.)

February 26

The Dutch massacre 100 Indians at Pavonia.

Just after midnight, 80 Dutch soldiers set upon a

camp of Wecquaesgeek Indians seeking refuge from

Mohawk raiders at the Dutch settlement of Pavonia

in present-day New Jersey. The Dutch had ignored

the Wecquaesgeek’s pleas for help and allow the Mo-

hawk to attack their camp. Although the surviving

Wecquaesgeek pose no threat to Pavonia, Governor

Willem Kieft orders a Dutch force to kill all of the

Wecquaesgeek men and take the women and children