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Mohawk Indian Trail
During historic times, the Mohawk Trail evolved with the mode of transportation, advancing from foot travel to the automobile. The early European settlers used the Indian Path to travel between the English settlements of Boston and Deerfield, and the Dutch settlements in New York. The white settlers and traders brought with them the horse and the wheel, which required the widening and slight relocation of the original path.
Over the course of the centuries, the native population had reached agreements on territorial matters of hunting and fishing. The Pocumtuck, of the Massachusetts portion of the Connecticut River Valley, shared salmon fishing spots with the Mohawk of New York on the Connecticut and Deerfield Rivers. The most notable of those fishing sites were turners Falls on the Connecticut and Shelburne Falls on the Deerfield.
Their population considerably reduced by disease from early contact with European explorers, the native people were not able to effectively protect their homelands. With English intervention from their settlement in the lower Connecticut River Valley and the Dutch in the lower valley of the Hudson River in New York, Political unrest was established between the agricultural Pocumtuck and the expansionist Mohawk. The Europeans wanted the Indian lands, and pitting one tribe against the other seemed a good way to accomplish their goal.
French King Bridge, ErvingThe English and Dutch arranged a "peace" conference between the two tribes. However, a Mohawk of high tribal standing was killed and the Pocumtuck people were blamed. The furious Mohawk sent their warriors quickly over the Indian Trail and annihilated the Pocumtuck settlements. The English now had no resistance to their advancement up the Connecticut River. Moreover, the Dutch took the opportunity of the Mohawk's diverted attention to pursue their interests farther up the Hudson River. With place names, then as now, the recognition goes to the victor..."The Mohawk Trail".
During the Colonial period many notable personages traveled "The Trail". Metacomet, called King Philip by the English, traveled "The Trail" about 1676 in an unsuccessful effort to recruit the Mohawk. King Philip's War also proved unsuccessful in stopping the European invasion.
Mohawk Indian Trail
During historic times, the Mohawk Trail evolved with the mode of transportation, advancing from foot travel to the automobile. The early European settlers used the Indian Path to travel between the English settlements of Boston and Deerfield, and the Dutch settlements in New York. The white settlers and traders brought with them the horse and the wheel, which required the widening and slight relocation of the original path.
Over the course of the centuries, the native population had reached agreements on territorial matters of hunting and fishing. The Pocumtuck, of the Massachusetts portion of the Connecticut River Valley, shared salmon fishing spots with the Mohawk of New York on the Connecticut and Deerfield Rivers. The most notable of those fishing sites were turners Falls on the Connecticut and Shelburne Falls on the Deerfield.
Their population considerably reduced by disease from early contact with European explorers, the native people were not able to effectively protect their homelands. With English intervention from their settlement in the lower Connecticut River Valley and the Dutch in the lower valley of the Hudson River in New York, Political unrest was established between the agricultural Pocumtuck and the expansionist Mohawk. The Europeans wanted the Indian lands, and pitting one tribe against the other seemed a good way to accomplish their goal.
French King Bridge, ErvingThe English and Dutch arranged a "peace" conference between the two tribes. However, a Mohawk of high tribal standing was killed and the Pocumtuck people were blamed. The furious Mohawk sent their warriors quickly over the Indian Trail and annihilated the Pocumtuck settlements. The English now had no resistance to their advancement up the Connecticut River. Moreover, the Dutch took the opportunity of the Mohawk's diverted attention to pursue their interests farther up the Hudson River. With place names, then as now, the recognition goes to the victor..."The Mohawk Trail".
During the Colonial period many notable personages traveled "The Trail". Metacomet, called King Philip by the English, traveled "The Trail" about 1676 in an unsuccessful effort to recruit the Mohawk. King Philip's War also proved unsuccessful in stopping the European invasion.