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Pieskaret

Pieskaret (pees-ka'-ret) (died 1647) was a famous chief of the Adirondac Indians. His tribe fought against English forces helping French in the early 17th century. Adirondacs under him drove the Iroquois Confederation out of Canada.

Pieskaret is reported to have distinguished himself by going at night just by himself into an Iroquois village, where he hid himself during the day, and for three successive nights attacked and scalped the members of a tribal lodge.

He was killed in 1647 when he encountered a large band of Iroquois.

Pieskaret. The Algonkin name, often written Piskater, of a noted Algonkin (Adirondack) chief, who lived on the N. bank of the river St. Lawrence, below Montreal, in the first half of the 17 th century. According to Schoolcraft ( W. Scenes and Remin ., 87,1853) the dialectic form in his own tribe was Bisconace ('Little Blaze'). Although he became noted by reason of his daring, comparatively few incidents of his life have been recorded. Charlevoix (New France, II, 181, 1866) says he was "one of the bravest men ever seen in Canada, and almost incredible stories are told of his prowess." His most noted exploit occurred during an excursion into the Iroquois country with but four followers, well armed with guns, when they encountered on Richelieu r., in five boats, a band of 50 Iroquois, most of whom they killed or captured. On another occasion Pieskaret ventured alone within the Iroquois domain, and coming to one of their villages, by secreting himself during the day, succeeded in killing and scalping the members of a household each night for three successive nights. He was ultimately brought under the influence of Catholic missionaries and in 1641 was baptized under the name Simon, after which he was commonly known among the whites as Simon Pieskaret. After his acceptance of Christianity so much confidence was placed in his prudence and ability that he was commissioned to maintain peace between the French and the Indians, as well as between the Hurons and Algonkin; he was authorized to punish delinquents, "and especially those who committed any fault against religion. It is wonderful how he discharged his office." (Jes. Rel. 1647, XXXI 287, 1898.) He was present and made a speech at the conference between the French governor and the Iroquois and other tribes at Trois-Rivières, Quebec, in 1645. Two years later, while a large body of Iroquois were going on a pretended visit to the governor some of their scouts met Pieskaret near Nicolet, r., and treacherously killed him while he was off his guard.