NYYM_scrapbook_074

Brother Town 1 Mo. 20th 1819 Beloved friend As I am desirious for the wellfair of the Indians tribes and seeing their situation very trying and dan- gerous and more so since they have sold their land and part of them are gone with their families down to white River and the land they exp- ected was sold before they got down and the money they sold their land for here was put into John Serjants Jun. hands to be paid to them as they wanted it &; there was about a duzen Indians went down with him when they sold the land and they spent $700 in coming from Albany to Stockbrige and they that moved down took a bout $1500 with them that by the superinten- dants account from all their enquire &; solomon Hendrick says the same that theirs $3000 they can give no account of what is become of it they did not call on John serjant Jun. but enquired of the peace makers and those that they knew any thing about how the money was laid out or spent and could git no other information that the superintendants and solomon as well as they are much dissatisfi- ed and the tribe in general and think of pirtssoning to the assembly to revoke the sale of the 200 acres &; the old orchard sold to John serjant Jun. Solomon Hendrick told me that the town did not give their consent to sell it but Cap. Hendrick had fifty Dollars as a bribe &; Jacob Conhapot had the promise of Eight but got but four which he did not like it made him tell that John serjant Jun. had given them that money to sell him the land John Petoytar &; some others that was down when they did sell the land he did not know whether they had any money or the promise of any but consented to the sale of the land. They Called a counsel and sent for Thomas Dean to meet them he went and they were very desirous for him to go down to Washington to apply to Congress for some of land that the Dilawars had Promised them but had now sold it Thomas thought the prospect was poor and advis'd them not send or go but John serjant Jun. incouraged to go and offered hi servis to go and for incouragment told them he was well acquainted with the old Presidents Jefferson &; Matison and the present one and many of the Congress that he thought he could be of great servis to to them but they did not agree to send him they called another counsel to consult whether he should go ot not. John serjant Jun. brought prousion and made a great feast and when the table was all ready to set down to he says to them all now all of you that are for my going to Washington hold up your hand and you shall pertake of feast and they generaly held of the hand for him to go this solomon told me. a year ago the old man Jn. serjant got out of the $100 for their yuse as he and got an order from the peace makers for one hundred &; thirty on the superinendants but as the peace makers had drew orders on them for more money then would be due in one &; a half years they refused my son Thomas had been down to the asembly two winter on their business bore his own expenc and part of theirs to the amount of forty one dollars the peace makers sent for him to come and git his money when he went John serjant told him he had the money but could not