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Life of Thomas Eddy

SW_WH1793_Page_260

among them, persuaded the Indians, when in a stateof intoxication, to sell them their improvement, withseveral lots of 100 and 200 acres. About the year 1794, a deputation of Indians, from Brothertown,came to some Friends of this city, and stated theirsituation to be very deplorable, owing to the imposi-tion and very bad conduct of the white people, whomthey had admitted into their settlement. TwoFriends went with these deputies to the Governor,and the situation of the Indians were represented tohim. Agreeably to the orders of the Governor, thesheriff took a number of civil officers, and turned offthe intruders. In two years after this, the Indianscame again to New York, and represented that thewhite people had returned with additional numbers.and that their situation was now much more deplo-rable. The subject was referred to the Legislature,then in session. An act passed, appointing three Commissioners to proceed to Brothertown, and adjustthe business, with the concurrence of the Indians, inany way they might be of opinion would be most totheir advantage. It was agreed by the Commis-sioners, with the consent of the Indians, to set off inone corner of the tract, about 6000 acres, and settlethe same in lots of 50 to 100 acres to each of the in-truders, who were to pay the state for the same fiveor six dollars per acre, the state to pay the interest(seven per cent.) on the proceeds of the sale (amount-ing to 2169 dollars a year) to three persons, to beappointed superintendents of the affairs of the Bro-thertown Indians, to be laid out by them, for sup-porting a school, and other purposes, for the benefit of the Indians. The remainder of the land was divi-ded into 100 and 50 acre lots, and allotted, 100 to afamily, and 50 to a young man. By an act confirm-ing the acts of the Commissioners, five Indians wereto be annually appointed, called peace makers, whowere to act the same as justices of the peace, to holda court monthly, to settle differences, and issue exe-