Kanuksusy

Kanuksusy or Kos Showeyha (c. 1701-November 1756) was a member of the Seneca tribe and son of Seneca chieftain Queen Alliquippa. He acted as a liaison between the Ohio Seneca and the Pennsylvania Colony during the French and Indian War as well as an intermediary and messenger for the Six Nations among other Native American tribes during the early part of the 18th century.

Known to the English as Captain Newcastle and Colonel Fairfax, Kanuksusy held numerous names among various other Native American tribes including Canachquasy, Cashuwayon, Ah Knoyis, Kosshoweyha, Cashiowaya and Cashunyon.

Biography

Although much of his early life is unknown, he was born to Queen Alliquippa of the Mingo Seneca and presumably grew up along the three rivers (the Ohio River, the Allegheny River, and the Monongahela River) near present-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

He is first recorded as Canachquasy, the leader of a band of ten young Mingo warriors whom he led from Kuskusky to Philadelphia arriving in the city on November 11, 1747. Delivering news of French activities in western Pennsylvania, the first reports to be heard from outside the colony, he later addressed the Pennsylvania Council that he and his group were representatives of the "Six Nations" and confirmed its neutrality during King George's War which had earlier been decided at the Onondaga Council. After leaving the capital, he spent the winter living with the Nanticoke tribe at the mouth of the Juniata River.

In November 1753, his name was listed as one of the Mohawk chieftains "now entrusted with the conduct of public affairs among the Six Nations". As allies of the British, he accompanied his mother to travel with a group of Mingo Seneca to Fort Necessity to assist George Washington.