John W. Quinney
John W. Quinney was a significant figure in the early 19th century for the Mahican (Stockbridge) tribe, particularly noted for his efforts to preserve tribal identity amid pressures from white encroachment. Educated in English, he contributed to the translation of religious texts into the Mahican language, highlighting his commitment to cultural preservation. Quinney played a crucial role in the acquisition of Menominee land in Wisconsin, which served as a refuge for his people after their displacement from the Hudson River valley.
During a period when the U.S. government offered citizenship to Christianized tribes like the Stockbridge, Quinney notably resisted this proposal, fearing it would erase the tribe’s distinct identity and land rights. He was appointed grand sachem in 1852, a position he held until his death in 1855, although it was likely more honorary than hereditary. Throughout his life, Quinney harbored resentment towards the Mohawk, reflecting the complexities of tribal dynamics and historical grievances. His legacy is marked by both his leadership and his dedication to safeguarding his community's legacy during a time of significant upheaval.
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John W. Quinney
- Born: 1797
- Birthplace: New Stockbridge, New York
- Died: July 21, 1855
- Place of death: Stockbridge, Wisconsin
Category: Tribal spokesman, translator
Tribal affiliation: Mahican (Stockbridge)
Significance: Quinney was a Mahican leader at the time the tribe relocated from the East to the Great Lakes area
As a young man, John W. Quinney was taught to read and write English. He assisted Moravian missionaries in translating religious works into printed, phonetic Mahican (Stockbridge).
White encroachment in the early 1800’s pushed the Mahicans from the Hudson River valley, and Quinney was instrumental in purchasing Menominee land in Wisconsin. The U.S. government was willing to grant citizenship to the Stockbridge, since the vast majority were Christianized. This would have effectively ended their existence as a separate tribe and ended their need for their own land. Quinney resisted American citizenship for his tribe.
Quinney was appointed grand sachem in 1852, although his family was not of the hereditary line of sachems; the appointment may have been largely honorary. He served until his death in 1855. Quinney was hostile to the Mohawk throughout his life and was resentful that his people were removed and the Mohawk were not.
Bibliography
LePoer, Barbara Leitch. A Concise Dictionary of Indian Tribes of North America. Edited by Kendall T. LePoer. Algonac, Mich.: Reference Publications, 1979.
Skinner, Alanson. “Mahican Ethnology.” Bulletin of the Public Museum of the City of Milwaukee 2, no. 1 (1912): 87-116.
Trigger, Bruce, ed. Northeast. Vol. 15 in Handbook of North American Indians, edited by William C. Sturtevant. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1978.