Haudenosaunee and Captain de Chazy: The Indigenous and Colonial History of Chazy, New York
- Guadalupe Vanderhorst Rodriguez
- Feb 8
- 4 min read
Where is Chazy, New York, and why is it historically important? Chazy is a town in New York, located along the western shore of Lake Champlain in Clinton County.
Long before European settlement, this land was part of the homeland and travel corridor of the Haudenosaunee, particularly the Mohawk Nation.
Chazy’s history begins not with colonization, but with Indigenous sovereignty, diplomacy, and resistance.
Who lived in the Chazy, New York area before European settlement?
Before the arrival of the French, the Chazy region was used by the Mohawk people for:
seasonal travel along Lake Champlain
hunting and fishing
diplomacy and trade routes connecting the St. Lawrence River and Mohawk Valley
The Mohawk Nation, the eastern door of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, played a central role in defending this corridor.
Who was Agariata (Agoriata)?
Agariata was a Mohawk war leader active during the mid-1600s, a time of intense upheaval for the Haudenosaunee. His life is known primarily through French colonial records written between 1663 and 1666.
This was a period marked by:
widespread disease affecting Indigenous nations
ongoing warfare with rival tribes
increasing French military pressure
Agariata emerges in the historical record during negotiations and conflicts between the Mohawk Nation and New France.
Why did the French target the Mohawk Nation in the 1660s?
In 1665, France dramatically escalated its military presence in North America by sending the Carignan-Salières Regiment to New France.
This force arrived under the authority of:
Alexandre de Prouville de Tracy, Lieutenant-General of New France
Daniel de Rémy de Courcelle, Governor of New France
Their mission was clear: force the Haudenosaunee into submission or peace through military action.
What happened at Fort Sainte-Anne near Chazy, New York?
In July 1666, a small group of Mohawk warriors encountered seven French officers near Fort Sainte-Anne, located at the northern outlet of Lake Champlain—within today’s Chazy region.
The French officers included:
Louis de Canchy de Lerole
Captain de Chazy, a relative of Marquis de Tracy
A skirmish broke out. According to French accounts:
Captain de Chazy was killed
another officer, de Traversy, was also killed
Lerole and others were taken captive
French chroniclers attributed the killing of Captain de Chazy to Agariata.
How did this event affect the future of Chazy, New York?
The death of Captain de Chazy transformed this local encounter into a political crisis. What happened next reshaped the region’s history.
By August 1666, French prisoners were returned by a Mohawk leader known as the Flemish Bastard, who sought peace. Another Mohawk chief—possibly Agariata—also delivered captives to Montreal.
Both men were received ceremonially by Marquis de Tracy in Quebec, following Indigenous diplomatic customs.
How did Agariata die?
French sources disagree on the exact details, but all agree on the outcome.
One account states that Agariata openly claimed responsibility for killing Captain de Chazy and was immediately executed by order of Tracy.
Another claims the French demanded his surrender under threat of war, and that Mohawk warriors delivered him to the French.
Letters from Marie de l’Incarnation and entries in the Jesuit Journal suggest the execution occurred in early November 1666, shortly after the French military campaign against Mohawk villages.
Agariata was likely executed in Quebec.
Why is this history important today?
The story of Agariata and Captain de Chazy reveals that:
Chazy, New York was not an empty frontier
Indigenous laws and diplomacy were overridden by colonial power
place names often memorialize colonial figures while Indigenous leaders are forgotten
This land remembers conflict, resistance, and survival.
Chazy, New York: A Haudenosaunee Homeland
Understanding the history of Chazy requires recognizing the Haudenosaunee presence that shaped the region long before European settlement. The events of 1666 are not just colonial history—they are Indigenous history tied to land, sovereignty, and memory.
Research Your Ancestral Connections
If your ancestors lived in Clinton County, New York, along Lake Champlain, or within Haudenosaunee territories, this history may intersect with your own family story.
Explore Indigenous-centered genealogy and early New York history through the Tan American Historical Association, where land, people, and history are studied with respect, accuracy, and cultural context.
Chazy’s past begins with the Haudenosaunee—and that story still matters today.
About the Author:
Dr. Guadalupe Vanderhorst Rodriguez, D.Ac., L.Ac., is a Licensed Acupuncturist and genealogical researcher with more than 40 years of experience uncovering, preserving, and interpreting family histories—particularly those affected by migration, marginalization, and record loss.
Her genealogical work has been featured on the television program Who Do You Think You Are?, a nationally recognized series that brings personal ancestry and historical truth to the forefront. This appearance reflects her long-standing commitment to accurate, ethical, and place-based research.
Dr. Vanderhorst Rodriguez is also the author of Tan Americans of Clinton County, New York, a meticulously researched work documenting the lives and lineages of Tan American families in northern New York. The book notably includes ancestral connections linked to Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, illustrating how local and regional histories often intersect with nationally recognized figures.
Throughout her career, Dr. Vanderhorst Rodriguez has assisted individuals and families in navigating complex genealogical challenges, especially where traditional records are incomplete, misclassified, or missing altogether. Her approach emphasizes:
Historical and geographic context
Cultural sensitivity, particularly in Indigenous research
Respect for oral history as a valid source
Ethical documentation and interpretation
In addition to research and authorship, she has created genealogical websites for families to ensure their histories—documents, photographs, oral narratives, and ancestral knowledge—are preserved and accessible for future generations.
She also maintains an educational YouTube channel focused on genealogy, where she explores historical case studies, research strategies, and practical guidance designed to empower others to investigate their own family histories with confidence and care.
Bridging the disciplines of healing and history, Dr. Guadalupe Vanderhorst Rodriguez brings the same attentiveness she practices as a Licensed Acupuncturist to her genealogical work—listening closely, honoring the whole story, and restoring what has been overlooked.
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