June 12, 1661 - The Great Flood of Mohawk River in 1661

Thomas E. Burke, author of Mohawk Frontier, cites heavy rains and several years of severe weather that plagued settlers prior to the flood of 1661 including very hard winters and wet springs as the cause of the Great Flood of 1661. A freshet laid the area for miles around under water. This was followed by inhabitants being forced to evacuate their dwellings and “fly with their cattle for safety to the woods on the adjoining hills”. Incalculable damage was caused as wheat and other grain were all destroyed affording scarcely seed sufficient for the next spring.