The Mohawk River, a vital artery in upstate New York, stretches 149 miles from its source near Lake Ontario to its confluence with the Hudson River. Historically, it was a key corridor for the Mohawk people, part of the Iroquois Confederacy, who allied with the British during the American Revolutionary War. In the 17th century, Dutch and French traders used the river for fur trading, leading to conflicts like the Beaver Wars with the Huron. The river’s strategic importance grew with settlements like Schenectady, founded by the Dutch in the 1660s, despite challenges in controlling unsanctioned trade.

The Winne family, originally from the Hudson Valley, moved north in the 1700s, becoming prominent along the Mohawk River. Pieter Winne secured vast land patents, including a 1740 Indian deed near Canajoharie on the river’s south side and a 1741 patent for 2,000 acres in Herkimer County, covering West Canada Creek and islands. The family established farms, sawmills, and timber operations, using the river for transport and trade. Pieter and his wife Jannettie Adams, both European-born, left a legacy in their 1677 joint will, shaping the region’s colonial economy.