Chemung History
Elmira, New York

"Kanaweola" (sometimes Canaweola) was one of seven Indian villages in Chemung County. The name, a not very pleasant Seneca word meaning "head on a pole." In the 1730s a Seneca chief had been tried for alleged treachery to his tribe, was convicted, decapitated, and his head was placed on a pole as a warning to others. This spot was at the confluence of Newtown Creek and the Chemung River (the exit 56 area on Water Street at Interstate 86). Kanaweola was a village of 20 well-built houses. The town was destroyed by General John Sullivan's army.

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New Chemung was located on the north bank of the Chemung River in Chemung, NY.

Newtown was located near today's Lowman, NY.

Middletown was located between Lowman and Elmira.

Rununvia was located in Big Flats, near today's intersection of Winters Road and County Route 64.

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Apalachin - "from where the messenger returned"

AshinsinkAwega - now Owego

Canandaigua - "the chosen spot"

CattaraugusCanisteo or Kanisteo - "board on water"

Cayuga - named for the tribe "Kihuga"

Cayuta

Chemung - or Shumounk, Skeemunk, Shamunk - Delaware (Algonquin) for "big horn" or "horn in the water" also could be French Chamonaque

Chequaga or Shequaga - "tumbling waters"

Cohocton - "trees in the water"

Conongue - same as Chemung

Cowanesque meaning "overrun with briars"

Diohoga - now Tioga - meaning "at the forks," describing a meeting place

Kanaweola or Canaweola- meaning "head on a pole"

Keuka - Iroquois work meaning "canoe" or "canoe landing" in Iroquois, and "lake with an elbow" in Seneca

Montour - named for Seneca Queen Catharine Montour

Seneca - named for the tribe

Sheshequin - Lenape for "at the place of the gourd rattle"

Shenango - now Chenango - meaning "large bull-thistle."

Susquehanna - Algonquin word meaning "muddy current"

Painted Post - named for a painted wooden post

Tioga - "at the meeting of the waters"

Towanda meaning "burial ground"

Wesauking - "place of good canoeing" or "let's go canoeing"

Welawanung - now Wilawana

Wyalusing - "place of the old man" or "good hunting grounds"

Wysox - "grape vines"