ABORIGINAL PLACE» NAMES OF NEW YORK IO3 



which the town derives its name, flows through it." There is the 

 usual variety in the journals of Sullivan's campaign, but no one 

 changes the meaning of beautiful valley. 



Che-non-da-nah of 1754 was written Che-nan-do-a-nes in 1774. 

 At that date and later it was called Little Beard's town quite often, 

 after its chief. On Pownall's map it is on the west side of Genesee 

 river, about 15 miles from Lake Ontario, which is too far north. 

 At first it was east of the river. The name comes from the national 

 title of the Senecas. 



Co-ne-sus is now the name of a creek, lake and town. Morgan 

 gave Ga-ne-a'-sos for the lake and outlet, place of nannyberries. 

 A. Cusick defined it long strings of berries. Doty gives it as 

 Gah'nyuh-sas, but places the name Yz mile south of the head of the 

 lake, where sheepberries ( V i b u r n u m n u d u m) are abundant. 

 The name is also said to have come from the old mode of scooping 

 up fish at the outlet, but this lacks support. The variants of the 

 alternate name of Ad juste have been given. In the journals of 1779 

 the name of the town also appears as Canexa, Canesaah, Canneh- 

 sawes, Canough, Canaghsoos, Keneghses, Kanaghsas, Kagnegasas, 

 Kanaghsaws, Kanieghsas, Kanegsas or Quicksea, Kaneysas or 

 Yucksea, Yoxsaw and Yorkjough. Some are alternate names. 



Sullivan's army encamped at Kanaghsaws, September 16, 1779. 

 "This place, it is said, was commanded by a negro, who was titled 

 Capt. Sunfish, a very bold, enterprising fellow." It was also the 

 home of Big Tree, who favored the Americans and tried to keep the 

 Senecas neutral. The story goes that he saw the destruction of 

 the place, and some of his companions told him that was how the 

 Americans treated their friends. He replied that it was the common 

 fortune of war, and that they could not distinguish between the 

 property of friends and foes. There is no question as to his 

 friendship, but he is commonly supposed to have taken part with 

 his nation. While here one of Sullivan's officers wrote : "At this 

 town liv'd a very noted warrior called the Great Tree, who has made 

 great pretensions of friendship to us & has been to Phyladelphia & 

 to Genl Washingtons head Quarters since the war commenced & 

 has received a number of Presents from Genl Washington & from 

 Congress yet we suppose he is with Butler against us." 



