The Schenectady Name: |
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Q. I grew up in Schenectady and was wondering where the name came from? A. The name Schenectady seems to have as many understandings as there are sources to research.The Hope Farms books web site (Reference: http://www.hopefarm.com/schenec1.htm ) describes the derivation this way: The name Schenectady thought to be derived from Schau-naugh-ta-da, which in the language of the Iroquois signifies "over the pine plains," or "across the pine plains," which originally referred to designate Fort Orange (now Albany which was "across the pine plane from the Iroquois Confederacy). The Dutch afterward applied it to the place where Schenectady now stands, as being "over the plains from Albany." In the book "Chronicles of the Hudson" we find a 1680 journal of travels written by Jasper Dankers who says Schenectady comes from the Dutch words Schoon (beautiful) + echten (section) + deel ( a diminutive suffix meaning little) or Schoonechtendeel (Beautiful little section). However, the book's author Roland Van Zandt's footnote indicates that this is a forced corruption. Reference: Chronicles of the Hudson, Roland Van Zandt 1998, pp26-27, Black Dome Press, Hensonville NY 518-734-6357. The earliest Dutch name for Schenectady seems to have been "Groot Vlatte" or Great Flats which is what Arendt Van Curler called this area when he discovered Schenectady in 1644. He also reportedly described the area as " the most beautiful land ever seen by the eye of man." Although Schenectady has changed some since then, you can see in Van Curler's statements justification for the second derivation. I'm sure with further research, you can find other interpretations as well. However, after nearly 400 years, the truth probably holds elements of both stories. Schenectady was traditionally held by the Mohican Indians. However, in the early 1600 Mohawks and Mohicans -- traditional enemies at that time-- fought a series of disastrous wars. The Dutch - who wanted to trade with both tribes, negotiated an uneasy peace that allowed the Mohawks to cross the Mohican land west of Fort Orange (Albany) for the purpose of trade. This intrusion by the Mohawks made it unsafe for the Mohicans who retreated to the eastern side of the Hudson. By 1661, when Van Curler bought the land from the Mohawks, the area had been abandoned by the Mohicans for forty years. Although the Mohawks didn't feel they "owned" the land, and since Van Curler was the Manager for Van Rensselaer and no doubt knew it was technically Mohican land; they entered into a deal for the land that was to become Schenectady. A land swindle you might say... but who swindled whom? Although the deed's language indicates that the land lay outside the Traditional Mohawk territory, four Mohawk Sachems claimed that the land was Mohawk! Yet, the Mohawks even went so far as to include a clause indemnifying the settlers "from all pretensions which other Indians may have." hmmm... This was the first recorded purchase of land from the Mohawk tribe by the Dutch. But it gets better. Because the Mohawks (Maquis in historical documents) had no concept of ownership or of the total and permanent transfer of title to the land, apparently they thought that they were only selling what can be called "grazing rights" and that they were in effect leasing the land for agriculture! With certainty, I can tell you that by 1661 the term "Schenectady" was in full use as shown by the deed of grant (patent) for the land issued by Dutch West Indies Company. By 1704 a hymn had been written called "Schenectady!" a scratchy recording of which can be downloaded from the Library of Congress web site. Additional Research: The Mohicans and their land 1609-1730, Shirley W. Dunn, 1994, pp116-117 Purple Mountain Press, Fleischmanns NY 914-254-4062. |