Sachems / Chiefs - Leaders

The following is a list of other names associacted to the Notoweega /Mingo - Reprinted her verbatum

MINGO INDIANS

(Iroquois or Six Nations)

What follows was intended to be a LOT longer, but alas I may never get time to complete my research on the Mingo Indians. It seems that a number of our members are interested in their Native American roots so I submit the following notes to aid such persons in their understanding of the "Indians" who roamed central West Virginia.

I will not go into a debate as to which family of natives lived on the Potomac. It is clear, however, that Indian occupation of the Tygart Valley in Randolph and Barbour Counties was never numerous, and that the only group ever to occupy that area were the "Mingo".

Below will be found the notes I have accumulated about that family of Native Americans. I have tried to cite my sources fully. The list at the end is an index of references I have found to SPECIFIC Mingo or Iroquios individuals. These persons would have been relatives or acquaintances of the Tygart Valley Mingoes. I have included only people whose names I have found in source records.

Since the Mingoes had no written language, the spellings are those rendered by the white man, based upon how the names sounded to him. It is best if interested persons try and read the names out loud to get a "feel" of how the Mingo language and names would have sounded. I submit the following as a tribute to the many forgotten Native Americans who were here to witness the onslaught of Europeans into a once pristine America.

George Washington's 1753-54 map of Ohio Country shows Mingo Town about 20 miles below present Pittsburgh, about two miles below Logs Town. An anonymous map of the Ohio drawn about 1755 shows the notation at the same location that "Senecas moved from here last summer". These two sources will show that the Mingoes were also considered as Senecas. Brown, Lloyd Arnold, EARLY MAPS OF THE OHIO VALLEY, Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Press, 1959

The Return of Prisoners from Detroit by Lt. Robert Holmes 26 Dec 1760, reports that Charles Grant of Montgomerys Highlanders, who had been taken prisoner with Major Grant in 1758 was prisoner with the Mingoe Indians. Stevens, BOUQUET Ibid.

Minutes of Indian Conference at Pittsburgh 8 Jan 1759 shows among the participants "Canigaatt, the White Mingo" Stevens, Sylvester K. and Kent, Donald H., EDs., THE PAPERS OF COL HENRY BOUQUET., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Historical Commission, 1943

At Ft Pitt 6 Jun 1761 a speach was sent by a 6 nation chief called Otchithenengush and was delivered by The White MingoStevens, BOUGUET PAPERS, Ibid

Thomas Hutchins map of the Western Country and the Ohio 1778 shows Mingo Town at presentday Steubenville, Ohio. Brown, EARLY MAPS, Ibid.

Augusta County Court Papers Petitions March 1775, Mary Gregory appeared before John Poage and made oath that Mingo Indians about five years previous (1770) had came to her house on the Head of Greenbrier and stole 4 hogs and 1 horse. Chalkley, Lyman. CHRONICLES OF THE SCOTCH IRISH SETTLEMENT Vol I page 511

Notes of Thomas Jefferson 1784 shows Mingos as numbering 60 in 1779 and living on the Scioto River in Ohio, also there the Shawnees. Jefferson lists the Mingos as separate from the Senecas, who he shows as numbering 650 in 1779 and living in the north. Bergh, Albert Ellery, Ed., THE WRITINGS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON, Washington, DC, The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association, 1907

When the white man first penetrated the Monongahela and Allegheny River Valleys the land was partially occupied by roving bands of Indians whose primary settlements were near the confluence of the rivers, but who had in the interior a few transient villages or camps. These were chiefly Delaware and Shawnee, but they had living among them several colonized bands of Iroquois called "Mingoes", who had been sent by the powerful six nation Iroquois to live among their vassals the Delawares. In 1768 the "castle" of the "White Mingo" was on the Allegheny River a few miles above it's mouth. Crumrine, Boyd, HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, Philadelphia, L. H. Everts and Co., 1882

Joseph Friend in 1784 in Harrison County made an entry for 200 acres on the West Side of the Tygart Valley River as assignee of Joseph Hastings who was assignee of Charles Grigsby. The entry was to include the "Mingo Cabin" Harrison County Entry Book

Title of Mingo, WV (Indian Village Site):

  • Randolph County Deed Book 1 pg 78: 6 Nov 1788 Joseph Pennell of Chester, PA to Stephen Sherwood of Fairfield, Conn. Lot 3 surveyed 5 April 1786 for Pennell as assignee of Alexander Dick for 3000 acres on LOTW 19473 adjoin on the west land of Thomas ?Pennell? and Joseph Pennell (calls in deed no good)
  • Randolph County Deed Book 9 page 348: 15 April 1826 Brown Jenks to Edward Wood, Lot 3 in "so called Sherwood Survey" patented 1787 in the name of Joseph Pennell and sold by him to Stephen Sherwood and by Daniel Sherwood to Jenks. Begin three white oaks "the Derby Corner", to forks of River, 3000 acres except 26 acres off of west side of tract sold to Ferdinand Stalnaker at request of Wood on Mingo Run
  • Randolph County Deed Book 9 page 408: 8 March 1826 Brown Jenks to Ferdinand Stalnaker WEst of Tygart Valley nRiver in lots 2 & 3 of Sherwood Survey 800 acres Hauley Bush Run and 26 acres adjion on the east of 800 on Mingo Run

    Specific Individuals

    ASHENOCH, of the Onondagas, at Indian Conference at Easton Aug 1761 (Bouquet Papers)

    KING BLUNT, a Tuscarora Chief addressed in speech sent from Winchester Aug 1756 (Writings of Washington)

    BUNT, see CHENAUGHEATA

    CANASSATEGO, a Six Nations Cheif reprimanded the Delawares at a treaty council at Philadelphia 1742 (Crumrine's HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY)

    CANIGAAT, aka White Mingo, participant in conference at Pittsburgh Jan 1759, and delivered speech of Otchithenengush, six nation chief at Ft Pitt JUn 1761 (Bouquet Papers) his "Castle" was on Allegheny River, west side, a few miles above it's mouth (Crumrine's WASHINGTON COUNTY) ?could "Canigaat" be "Chenaugheata" below?

    CAUSTRAX, a Seneca Chief, (sign of his nation the High Hill), sign Groghan Purchase deed 1768 (Augusta DB 22/1)

    CHENAUGHEATA, aka Bunt, an Onondaga Chief, (the sign of his nation the Mountain) sign Groghan purchase deed 1768 (Augusta Deed Book 22/1)

    COSSWERTENICEA, six nation chief at Log Town 1749 sell tract to George Groghan on Monongahela River (Augusta DB 22/1)

    GAYACHIOUTON, a Seneca and deputy of the 6 nations, attendee Indian Council at Wyandott town near Detroit Jun 1761 (Bouquet Papers)

    SENECA GEORGE, speaker at Indian Conference at Easton, PA August, 1761. (Bouquet Papers)

    HALF KING, see TANACHARISSON

    IONONERISSA, six nations chief at Logs Town 1749 sell tract on Monongahela River to George Groghan (Augusta DB 22/1)

    IENOCHIAADA, chief of the Onondagas, sent string to Governor at Indian Conference at Easton Aug 1761 (Bouquet Papers) Also called Ienochryada same document

    CAPTAIN JACK, a Tuscarora Chief, addressed in speech sent from Winchester Aug 1756 (Writings of Washington)

    KANNADAGAWYA, a Mohawk Chief, speaker at Pittsburgh Jan 1765 (Bouquet Papers)

    KEYASHUTA, a Seneca, speaker at Tuscarawas October 1764; (Bouquet Papers)

    MONACATOOCHA, MONOCATOOTHE, see SCARCYADIA

    OTCHINNEYAWESSA, a chief and ruling man of the 6 nations, made speech May 1761; mentioned by Bouguet as a great Indian Jun 1761; (Bouquet papers)

    OTCHITHTHENENGUSH, a 6 nation chief Jun 1761; (Bouquet Papers) ?Possibly Otchinneyawesssa above?

    SAGNARISERA, aka Hendrick, a Tuscarora Chief, (sign of his nation the cross) sign Groghan P{urchase deed 1768 (Augusta DB 22/1)

    SCARCYADIA, aka MONACATOOCHA, a six nation chief, at Log Town sell tract Monongahela River to George Groghan 1749 (Augusta DB 22/1) mentioned in Washington's report to Dinwiddie at Great Meadows May 1754; as Monocatoothe, friend of Andrew Montour in invitation from Washington to Montour October 1755.(Writings of Washington, footnote calls him aka Scarrooyady, an Oneida and a Mingo chief)

    SENNGHORS, aka William, Oneida Chief, (sign of his nation the Stone) sign Groghan Purchase deed 1768 (Augusta DB 22/1)

    TEAATORERINSE, aka TEAATORIANCE, a Senesa and deputy of the 6 Nations, called Nightengale by the French, brought speech of 5 nations to Detroit Jun 1761; attendee Indian Council at Wyandott Town near Detroit Jun 1761; (Bouquet Papers)

    TANACHARISSON, aka "Half King", as "Half King", addressed by Washington at Wills Creek April 1754 a Seneca Chief (Writings of Washington) an Iroquois sachem who lived at Logs Town 1748 (Crumrine's HISTORY OF WAHSINGTON COUNTY PA)

    TOKAHAIO, or TAGAAIA a Cayuga Chief, speaker at Indian Cinference at Easton PA Aug 1761 (Bouquet Papers); (sign of his nation the pipe) sign Groghan purchase deed 1768 (Augusta DB 22/1)

    TYAHANESERA, aka Abraham, a Mohawk Chief (sign of his nation the Steel) sign Groghan purchase deed 1768 (Augusta DB 22/1)

    With available records the above list o£ individual Native Americans could be expanded into the thousands. The above includes only individuals who could be identified as Iroquois, but similar lists could be compiled for other native groups. I had at one time intended to maintain an index of every Native American whose name I could recover, but time does not permit m to undertake such a project now. Perhaps some industrious member would like to take up where I have left off?

    David Armstrong, 201 Graham St, Elkins, WV 26241


    The Allegheny Regional Family History Society
    Post Office Box 1804
    Elkins, West Virginia, 26241
    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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