NYYM_minutes_Page_117

the views of the Yearly Meeting; the Committee performed the service, and on their return reported as follows; Agreeably to our appointment we have made a visit to most of the Indian Nations on the frontier of this State. We first visited those settled at Brothertown, which is about one hundred and twenty miles northwest of Albany; they consist of about 35 families, being parts of several tribes from New London, Narraganset and Long Island, and have some knowledge of the English language, habits and manners; some of them can read and write, and all progress a belief in Christianity. They possess about 10,000 acres of very fair land, given them by the Oneida Tribe, which is laid out in farms of 50 to 150 acres to a family: a number of them appear to be desirous of religious improvement, and frequently meet together on the first day of the week for the purpose of religious instruction, and employ the time in reading and exhortation From Brothertown we proceeded to a settlement made by the Stockbridge Tribe, about 15 miles further west and within 5 miles of the principal town of the Oneidas, who gave them the tract on which they are now settled, containing six miles square of excellent land; they removed from Massachusetts to this place about 10 years since. The Stockbridge Indians are generally unacquainted with the English language, and retain their native dress and manners; some of them have separate farms, but they are very indifferently tilled, as