William Printup Jr. (abt. 1710 - abt. 1789)

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Biography

"Like his father, William Jr. became fluent in the Mohawk dialect. This provided an opportunity for him to serve as an Indian interpreter for Sir William Johnson for a period lasting at least 14 years, from 1750 to 1764, when the French and Indian War dominated America's development."

He was also a blacksmith, employed by the British government to make and repair guns and tools for the Mohawks in the Fort Hunter area at the junction of Schoharie Creek with the Mohawk River.

William Printup, an Englishman, father of the one named in the context, who was among the early settlers of the Mohawk Valley, was a blacksmith, and resided near the lower Mohawk castle. While there, he was employed by the British government to repair guns, make axes, hatchets, hoes, etc., for the natives. One day when Printup was at work in his shop, an Indian, who had taken umbrage at him from some cause, entered the shop and bade him kneel down and pray. "Pray!" said Printup, "for what ?" "Because I am going to kill you," was the reply. "To kill me? I’ll beat your head in with my hammer," he retorted, raising the instrument he held in his hand, and giving evidence of suiting the action to the word, as he turned upon his red foe. The latter, armed only with a knife, was taken all aback, and seeing the determined look of his antagonist, fled from his shop, hotly pursued by Vulcan in his leather apron, with uplifted hammer. The chase was continued for some distance, in the presence of many Mohawks, who were not a little amused; and who added several loud whoops, crying out, "Killum Print! Cha-etw.go- chetk-e-taw-go !" terrifying the poor fellow so that he buried himself in the recesses of the forest, and never again disturbed the labors of the King's blacksmith. The Indian word Cha-awgo-cheth-etaw-go, signifying Pursue and kill him if you can, was the name by which Printup was ever after called 'by the natives."—/. L. Groat. (From The History of Schoharie County.)

1779 Court Appearance: Printop, William, Jr., to New York State; Caughnawaga [Fonda], 20 Feb 1779. Printop's bond to appear before the Court of Common Pleas in Johnstown on 9 Mar 1779 to give evidence in the case of John Davis^[1] who was accused of stealing horses and of corresponding with the enemy.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ William Printop was witness at Capt. John Davis' baptism in 1741. But as this John Davis was reportedly killed (fighting as a Patriot) in the Battle of Oriskany (August 1777), this court document appears to be referring to his first cousin Sgt. John Davis, also a Patriot.
2. ↑ Excerpted from "The Ticonderoga Papers" as published in A Guide to the Revolutionary War Manuscripts in the New York State Library. American Revolution Bicentennial Commission (Albany, 1776). Stefan Bielinski, editor:
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• The Printup Family in America, Lawton & Printup, Gateway Press, 1989.
• FamilySearch.org Pedigree Resource File.
• Johnson, W. (1921). The papers of Sir William Johnson. Albany: The University of the State of New York, pp 307, 365, 625, 633.
• FamilySearch.org New York Births and Christenings 1640-1962.