THE CONFERENCE AT DEERFIELD, MASS.,
AUGUST 27–31, 1735.
between cow belcher AND SEVERAL
TRIBES OF WESTERN INDIANS.


THE CONFERENCE AT DEERFIELD, MASS.,
AUGUST 27–31, 1735,
BETWEEN GOW. BELCHER AND SEVERAL
TRIBES OF WESTERN INDIANS.
BY Hon. GEORGE SHELDON,
OF DEERFIELD.
B O S T ON :
PRESS OF DAVID CLAPP & SON.
1906.
[Reprinted with additions from the N. E. Historical and Genealogical Register
for July, 1906.]



THE CONFERENCE AT DEERFIELD, MASS., AUGUST
27–31, 1735, BETWEEN GOV. BELCHER AND
SEVERAL TRIBES OF WESTERN
INDIANS.
WHILE engaged in gathering material for the history of Deer-
field, some thirty-five years ago, I heard from Miss Harriet Hitch-
cock a tradition, told her by Charles Hitchcock, her father, that a
treaty had been made with the Indians at Deerfield a long time ago,
aud that the meeting was held on the home-lot then owned by
Jonathan Hoyt,” who was our common ancestor. This tradition
was unsupported by any record which had come to my knowledge,
and observation had taught me that local traditions with no records
to back them were, as a rule, to be taken with a great many grains
of salt. However, with this tradition had come down a single Indian
word. This word had apparently been so often repeated, I rea-
soned, that it stuck, and may have become a by-word in the town.
Therefore, there must be some foundation for the story of the
Meeting. This word was "squawottock,” meaning " more rum.”
With this fantastic foundation for my faith, I set about an ex-
haustive search for traces of this convocation in the formidable mass
of manuscript at the State House, and was at length rewarded by
finding some bills of expenses attending a Conference with the
Housatonics and other tribes at Deerfield, in August, 1735. But
at this point I was confronted with a statement by our eminent
historian, Gen. Epaphras Hoyt, f in his “Antiquarian Researches,”
that the Conference of 1735 was held at Fort Dummer. Further
search revealed the record of a similar Conference at Fort Dummer
two years later, October, 1737. In the very first speech at this
Conference, made by Ontosogo, the Indian orator of the Cagh-
nawagas said to Gov. Belcher, “Brother of the Broadway, Two
Years Past I was at Deerfield, the matter then delivered to us by
you was, that the old Covenant of Peace and Unity between our
brother of the Broadway and us might be continued.” In replying
to Ontosogo, the Commissioners allude to “the Covenent of friend-
ship renewed two years ago at Deerfield between this Government
and the Cagnawaga Tribe.” This settled the question that the
* Born 1688, died 1779.
t Born 1765, died 1850.

4.
meeting in 1735 was at Deerfield. Gen. Hoyt had evidently seen
the report of this meeting at Fort Dummer, and in quoting from
it had substituted "Fort Dummer” for “Deerfield.” Having no
clue to a conference in his native town, and according to Miss
Hitchcock held on his grandfather's own home-lot, Hoyt interpreted
* Deerfield” as covering the whole frontier, as “Boston” often stood
in Canada for the whole colony. This slip of Gen. Hoyt should
not discredit his general accuracy.
The question of location being settled, I renewed my search with
ardor, but unfortunately I confined my efforts to the records of
Indian Conferences and the manuscript Archives, and brought but
little more to light. From these slight traces, and knowledge of
the procedure in like Conferences, was made up the account of the
Treaty printed in the History of Deerfield. It is primarily to give
a fuller and more correct account of the Conference at Deerfield,
August, 1735, that this paper is prepared. At this point I quote
from the History of Deerfield.
“As I have said, no record of this conference at Deerfield has
been found, but we are indebted to Miss C. Alice Baker for two
important papers relating to it, which she has lately discovered in
the manuscript Archives at Quebec. One is a ‘Letter from M.
de Beauharnois to the Minister [in France], 1735 12th October.”
In this letter, written six weeks after the Conference, is enclosed
the full text of a speech which Beauharnois says he had prepared
and sent to Deerfield to be delivered by Ontosogo, the Caghnawaga
Chief, as his own. Beauharnois writes, “My Lord, You will see
by the words subjoined that I have had a journey to Deerfield made
by trustworthy people, and the speech I have had made to them
. . . . which astonished them not a little.”
This speech is skilfully drawn to hide all trace of French origin,
and made to appear as if it were a spontaneous outbreak of the
Caghnawaga chieftain, enraged by the reports of an English settle-
ment on lands which he claimed as his own. These two papers
were printed in full in the History of Deerfield as authentic addition
to my sketch of the Conference. The reason for calling attention
to this incident will appear in the next stage of this narration.
Years later, Judge Francis M. Thompson, while hunting material
for his History of Greenfield, in the Public Library at Boston, hap-
pened upon an official printed pamphlet containing the entire record
of the Conference at Deerfield, August, 1735.” Here was a “find”
indeed, and Judge Thompson was desirous of making a perfect
copy for his history, but proper facilities were denied, and he was
hampered in his efforts. Later, however, I was conceded the privi-
lege needed for making a verbatim copy of this document.f Now,
* See Thompson’s History of Greenfield, vol. 1, pages 141-162. . . -
# It is the writer's intention to reprint this article, adding to it his copy of the docu-
ment.

5
the record thus brought to light reveals a queer sequel. The pro-
ceedings of each day of the Conference, and the speeches of each
day, are given minutely, and from first to last there is not a word,
or a hint, of the speech or subject matter of the speech, which
M. de Beauharnois says he prepared for Ontosogo, and which,
when delivered by Ontosogo at Deerfield, “astonished them not a
little.” It may be here added that at the Conference at Fort Dum-
mer, two years later, there was neither word nor hint of this incen-
diary speech by Ontosogo. Instead of waving the bloody axe and
breathing threatenings and slaughter at Deerfield, as represented
by Beauharnois, the Caghnawaga chief appears to be the most serene
and happy man alive. In his farewell speech, August 29, he says,
“I salute the Governor and all the Gentlemen here. I have been
so handsomely treated since I have been with you that I have almost
fancied myself in Heaven.” Could Gov. Belcher and Ontosogo
read the Canada version of this Conference, they would no doubt
be “astonished not a little.” How are these contradictions to be
explained? How is the official Report of Gov. Belcher and the
official letter of Gov. M. de Beauharnois to the Court of France
to be reconciled 2
One is reminded of a conumdrum founded upon what a boy
declared to be an impossible relationship to certain people. The
solution of the puzzle given was, “The little brat lied.” Does not
the solution in this case, at least, squint in the same direction ? But
who was the author of this old conundrum ? Each must be his own
judge. Could Gov. Belcher have suppressed such a speech after
he had promised to send each tribe a printed copy of the proceed-
ings? Indians never forget. Did Ontosogo keep the speech in his
breast and report its delivery to Beauharnois with its astonishing
effect on the English Hardly, when 142 Indians present could bear
testimony against him. Were the grievance, and the threatening
speech, made up and sent to France, to show the King what a faith-
ful and watchful governor he had as his representative in Canada?
Did Beauharnois assume that his report would be forever buried in
the Archives of France? He could not then have reckoned with
Miss Baker a century and a half later.
One more document should be preserved, and explained in this
connection. Oct. 28, 1903, Rev. Anson Titus published in the
Boston Transcript a manuscript found in the Archives of the New
England Historic Genealogical Society, which he called "A Diary
of Surpassing Interest, for the first time published.” This Diary
was written by a gentleman who attended the Deerfield Conference
in the train of Gov. Belcher; but it was devoted mainly to the
incidents of travel by the way. So far as it goes, in reciting the
action of the Conference, it bears out the text of Gov. Belcher's
report with a single exception. The diarist says that one of the

6
tribes present was "the tribe of Mohegans.” Knowing the history
of the Mohegans, it was a justifiable presumption which led me to
question the statement of one of the actors in the Conference, as
to the presence of this tribe. Thinking there might have been an
error in the copyist or typesetter, I examined the original, and ascer-
tained there was no error in the printed copy; “Mohegan ” it was.
But the doubt still remained, and a comparison of the diary with the
Official Report revealed the fact that the diarist unwittingly or ig-
norantly used the name "Mohegan ” to designate the Mohawks,
who were actually present, associated with the Scattakooks and not
otherwise named by him as a distinctive body. Where he writes
“Mohawks” it applies to the French Mohawks, or Caghnawaga tribe.
It was the discovery of this error, and the untoward incident of
the Beauharnois letter, which moved me to publish this paper, that
the close student of Indian affairs of the period might not be misled
by the writer of the diary, or by the historian of Deerfield, in their
reports of the Conference in 1735.
There is another word that might be said touching this representa-
tive gathering, but by no means confined to it. It shows in gener-
al the parliamentary method of procedure in the public business
meetings of the savage and the intruding white man. We see here
the native savage imposing upon the representative of the highest
civilization his own modes and forms of conducting public affairs.
This emphasizes the fact that the impact of civilization upon savage-
ry in this direction had been successfully resisted. These forms
and ceremonies of the Indians handed down from a far-off age, from
generation to generation, were so deeply rooted as to defy all induce-
ments for conformity to the English methods. I have said else-
where, from information obtained chiefly in conversation with Miss
Alice Fletcher, an eminent authority on Indian affairs : —
“The red man is generally spoken of as the child of freedom;
but no galley slave was more firmly bound to his oar, than was the
North American Indian to the customs and traditions of his tribe.
He had no will of his own. His costume, his habits, his conduct
in war or peace, were all marked out for him by inexorable law.
- Contact with civilization made not a whit of change in
his mode of conducting public business, whether in the State House
at Boston, or by the Council fire in the wilderness. At the Court
of the Grande Monarche Louis XIV., etiquette was not more
strictly enforced than with the tribes, in their conferences and trea-
ties with the whites. The latter were obliged to conform as best
they could to the ceremonial forms of the savage. Governors and
Embassadors gravely smoked the Pipe of Peace . . . ; lifted
or buried the hatchet, brightened the Covenant chain, sent or re-
ceived the wanpum belts, and gave the inevitable present; for no
promise was sacred and no treaty binding which was not ratified by

7
an exchange of gifts.” With this strong attachment to their inter-
national civil forms, it would seem an utterly hopeless task to at-
tempt a change in their religious rites relating to the unseen and
controlling powers all about them. But the fact remains, account
for it as you may, that the devoted English missionaries were par-
tially successful in their attempts to “convert” the natives to Chris-
tianity; albeit it generally proved in the end a ruinous operation to
the natives, as they took more readily to the vices than the virtues
of their Christian neighbors. At this same Conference of which
we write, a minister was ordained to go among the people of one of
the tribes, to labor for their conversion. The history of the Housa-
tonic Indians shows that this effort met with a considerable meas-
ure of success. They as a tribe accepted the new Deity, the new
forms of worship, and many of the ways of civilization; thus they
were held constant friends of the English in subsequent French and
English wars. -
The Diary quoted below had never before, so far as known, been
published. In his introduction Mr. Titus said:—
“The following diary was kept by a member of the council of
Governor Jonathan Belcher, on the tour to consult with the Indians
in the western part of the Bay Province. It is not known by whom
it was written.”
This itinerary is condensed, but the entries bearing on the Confer-
ence are given in full.
DIARY.
“On Wednesday morning August 20". 1735. about six o'clock
His Excellency, attended by a number of Gentlemen, set out from
Boston on a Journey to Deerfield, about 120 miles.”
That day they reached Col. Chandler's at Worcester; August
21st, reached Col. Dwight's at Brookfield; the 22d, Col. Stoddard's
at Northampton; the 25th, they went up to Deerfield.
“26". Tuesday tarry'd at Deerfield.
27". Wednesday at Deerfield. There was a Tent erected of
about 100 Foot long, where the Gov. din'd with the rest of the
Gentlemen, & where in the afternoon the Tribe of the Cagnaroagas
(or French Mohawks) f was sent for, & after the usual Salutations
& Conference they were dismist.
28". Thursday at Deerfield. The same was done to the Hoase-
tonnocks, & to the Scattacooks & Mohegans [Mohawks] together,
in the forenoon. In the afternoon the Mohawks [French Mohawks
*July 10, 1735, John Wheelwright was allowed by the Council six hundred pounds,
for the purchase of “a present to the Western Indians to be given them at the intended
Interview at Deerfield. ”
t The Caghnawagas were an offshoot of the Mohawks, one of the Five Nations.
They had been converted by Catholic missionaries and induced to remove and settle
ºn the Sorel River in Canada. There they were a bulwark against invasion from the
South. They were known as “French Mohawks. *

8
were sent for again, & had a conference. It lasted about an hour
& an half. -
29". Friday at Deerfield. The Housetonnocks were sent for,
& had a conference: it lasted about an hour & an half (in the fore-
noon) Then the Mohawks [French Mohawks] were sent for,
reciev'd their Presents after a short Conference, & din’d with the
Governour & Gentlemen in the Tent, & after Dinner the Gov". took
his Leave of them.
30". Saturday at Deerfield. The Housetonnocks were sent for,
& after some Conference reciev'd their Presents, & were dismist.
Then the Scattacooks were sent for & in like manner reciev'd their
Presents, the Mohegans [Mohawks] reciev'd theirs after Dinner
without any further Conference. These three Tribes [Housatonies,
Scattakooks, Caghnawagas] din'd with the Governour.
31". Sabbath Day at Deerfield. In the forenoon, the Rev". M'.
[John] Sergeant was ordain'd to preach the Gospel to the Tribe of
the Housetonnock Indians. The Rev". M. [Jonathan] Ashley of
Deerfield began with Prayer, the Rev". M. [Nathaniel] Appleton
of Cambridge preach'd from 2 Tim : 2: 21. ‘If a man therefore purge
himself from these he shall be a Wessell unto Honour, sanctified &
meet for the Master's use, & prepared unto every good work.” The
Rev". M. [William] Williams of Hatfield gave the charge, & the
Rev". Mº [Stephen] Williams of Springfield the right hand of Fel-
lowship. In the afternoon the Rev". Mº Williams of Springfield
preach'd from 2: Is : 4: ‘And he shall judge among the nations,
& shall rebuke many peoples: and they shall beat their swords into
ploughshares, & their Spears into Pruning Hooks.’”
Sept. 1, Monday, they rode up to Fort Dummer; Sept. 2, they
rode through Northfield, Montague, Sunderland, and Hadley, to
Kelloggs ferry, where the Governor and party crossed over to North-
ampton; Sept. 3, they went to Westfield, and thence to Springfield;
Sept. 4, homeward bound, they reached Brookfield; Sept. 5, at
Marlborough ; and Sept. 6, arrived at Boston. -
In the official report of the Conference by Gov. Belcher, there i
a notable lack of the picturesque and embellished oratory which
writers generally put into the mouths of Indian speakers. In fact,
the language of Gov. Belcher is more figurative than that of the In-
dians.
CONFERENCE.
At a Conference held at Deerfield in the County of Hampshire, the
Twenty seventh Day of August, Anno Regni Regis GEORGIJ Secundi,
Magnæ, Britanniae, Franciae et Hiberniæ, &c. Nono Annoq : Domini,
1735. By & between His excellency
JonATHAN BELCHER, Esq;
Captain General and Governour in Chief in and over His Majesty's Prov-
ince of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, and Ountaussoogoe and

9
others, Chiefs of the Cagnawaga Tribe of Indians, &c. who were accompa-
nied by a Number of the St. Francois Indians, who at their own desire
were included in the Treaty with the Cagnawagas, the whole being Twenty
seven.
e Cuneaupot Captain, with his Lieutenant and several others of the Chiefs
of the Houssatonwoo Indians &c. being upwards of Forty in the whole.
Marsequunt, Naunautooghijau, and Weenpauk, Three Chiefs of the
Soºcoºk Tribe and others, including Seventeen of the Moheegs,” making
Eighty in the whole. -
His Excellency being seated at a large Table under a spacious Tent for
that Purpose prepared, attended by a Quorum of His Majesty’s Council,
and a Committee of the honourable House of Representatives, thereto ap:
pointed by the General Court; with a great Number of Gentlemen and
other Spectators.
Wednesday Aug. 27.
The Union Flagg flying at the head of the Tent.
His Excellency first received the Cagnawaga Tribe of Indians, with the
St. Francois, who were placed on Seats at a suitable Distance over against
His Excellency; they having first made their Compliments to the Gover-
nour by shaking Hands &c.
Joseph Kellogg, Esq.; being a Sworn Interpreter.f
Governour—to the Interpreter—Inform the Chiefs I shall speak.
My good Friends and Brethren,
I Am glad to see you: I give Thanks to the Great God who has safely
conducted you through a long and tedious Journey; It is a great pleasure
to me that we have the Opportunity of refreshing our Faces with the sight
of each other.—Holding out one String of Wampum,_proceeds, and says,
My good Friends and Brethren, This is to wipe away all Tears from
your Eyes.—Then holding out a second–This is to open your Throats that
you may speak with all Freedom—Then a third–This is to wipe away all
Blood, and to comfort you under all your past Difficulties.
And then His Excellency delivered them the three Strings in one.
Auountauresaunkee Indian Speaker.
We that are deputed from our Tribes are come at Your Excellency's
Call—at your desire—and are glad we are got safe here, after a long and
tedious Travel over Hills and high Mountains, and join with the Gover-
nour in our Thanks to God that we see the Faces of each other in Health
and Peace. As Your Excellency has done to Us, we do the same in an-
swer to You—holding a String of Wampum—proceeds and says, Our
desire is that all Tears may be wiped from Your Excellency’s Eyes.—
* So Clerk Wainwright wrote the name of the Mohawks, which by the diarist is
extended to Mohegans. Other writers have used the same term. But the Mohegans
lived at the southeast corner of Connecticut, while in every reference in the Legisla-
Fº" to the Indians in conference at Deerfield, they are called the “Western
in ClallS.
t In the raid on Deerfield in 1704 Joseph Kellogg, at the age of 13, was taken cap-
tive and carried to Canada. After a while he was allowed considerable freedom, trav-
elled and traded among the Indians, and learned their language as well as that of the
French. In 1714 he came home on the promise of official employment. He became a
º º the * º #. º: and Commander of the “Truck House ’’
Ort Dunannel. e was made official Interpreter, and at his death in 175 W.
at the head of the Hollis Indian School. preter, 756, he was

10
Then holding out a second String–That your Throat may be open, that
all freedom of Speech may be had, we desire the Path may be clear and
open, and no difficulty in the way.—Then holding out a third String—We
*. the Place where the Governour stands may be clean from all filth of
OOO! :
And then he delivered the three Strings to the Governour.
The Governour sent for Three of Us, but usually more of us come than
are sent for, we are Eight instead of Three. We have brought our Wives
who we always want with us. (Then delivers a Belt of Wampum, being
º º to One the Governour sent them by the Messenger that called
them.
We incline to be short lest we should be troublesome to the Governour.
We are here the Representatives of the Three Families of the Cagnawaga
Tribe, Ountaussoogoe and Three others, one of the Families having sent
two Delegates.
We desire nothing may be taken amiss by Your Excellency; if a wrong
Word should happen to fall from us, we desire it may be taken up and
rectifyed; it is what has been usual, and we desire it may be so now.
The Way is now clear, and the Door open for Freedom of Speech; but
we have nothing to say at present. We were sent for, and it is not cus-
tomary for those that are drawn by the Hand to speak first, and therefore
wait to hear what Your Excellency has to say, and desire You would
please to appoint the time, when we shall be ready to attend.
Governour. It is not at all disagreeable to me that more of you are
come than were sent for ; You are all doubly welcome, and I am glad to
see you all; and if more had come than are here they should have been
very welcome too; I am glad to see your Wives and Children also.
Ountaussoogoe. Brother, Governour, and Broad Way, we have now
shaken Hands, finished Salutation, and we take it the Method thereof is
now ended according to the Custom of Our Forefathers.
Governour. I take it so too. I shall signify to you by Capt. Kellogg
when I shall be ready to speak further to you on Business, which I intend
to Morrow in the forenoon.
His Excellency drank a Health to King George to them.
They all drink with proper Salutations.
Ountaussoogoe. We are here at Your Excellency's Call, and when You
say we are dismiss'd we are ready to go: We return Thanks that we have
been well provided for since we have been here; we have wanted nothing,
and thank the Governour. When we came from Home we told Our Peo-
ple purposed to returu in forty Days, we have been in this Place near
thirty, and now wait Your Excellency's Pleasure for our Return.
Governour. It is in some measure owing to your Selves that so much
time is already spent; Your Answer to me not coming seasonably, I waited
for it a long while, more than Six Months. It is the Great God that gov-
erns the Winds and Weather, and by his Providence the Vessel sent by
the Government from Boston with Stores has been delayed.
Ountaussoogae. When we received Your Excellency's Message Our
Young Men were out at War, and we inclined to see the Event; for if
great Loss had happed, we should have been obliged to revenge it Our
Selves; and we are now come at Your Excellency's desire. Although I
am an Old Man, I am not wanting of Business, sometimes being called to
one Place, sometimes to another, on publick Affairs or otherways; and
here we are now.

11
Governour. We can't avoid Disappointments; I will endeavour you
shall be early dispatch'd; there are other Tribes here expecting to be
treated with as well as you, but I consider your distance, and shall give
you the first dispatch.
Owntaussoogoe. We take it all Matters are over as has been customary
by Our Fathers at first meeting on such Occasions, and are now ready to
take leave.
Then the Indians made their Compliment and withdrew.
Thursday August 28. 1735.
The Conference Continued.
Present His Excellency Jonathan Belcher, Esq; Captain General and
Governour in Chief, &c. Cuncaupot Captain, and Chief of the Houssato-
nuoc Tribe of Indians, attended with Twenty three Men and Twenty In-
dian Women and Children.
The Indians made the usual Compliment by Shaking Hands, &c.
Governour. I thank GoD who has brought you here in Safety and
Health after a long and tedious Journey. I look upon you as my Child-
ren, and hope you are good Subjects of King GEORGE: I shall always
take the same Care of you as of the English, and take you under my Pro-
tection at all times; if you meet with any Difficulty at any time, I expect
to have Notice of it; and if you have any thing to lay before me now I
am ready to hear it.—After some Pause by the Indians—If you are not
prepared now to speak, I will give you a further Opportunity till the after-
noon, or to morrow Morning. And I will now go on.
Indians. We are come here to pay Our Respects to the Governour, and
hear what the Governour has to say to Us, but we have nothing to say at
this time.
Governour. I rejoyce very much at your Disposition to receive the
Gospel by One of Our Ministers, I hope you are all well satisfied with Mr.
Sargent, and with Mr. Woodbridge, (who are your Minister and your
School-Master,) and that you will diligently and constantly attend on Mr.
Sargent and Mr. Woodbridge with your Children, to receive Instruction
from them. Religion is a serious thing, and it ought to be always born on
your Minds. If you have any thing to say or propose further to me herein,
I shall rejoyce in it, and be ready to do it for the good of your Souls.
I hope you have been well entertained since you have been here, and
that every thing has been agreable to you.
Indians. Yes Sir.
Governour. I have nothing further to say to you at present, I will meet
you when you are ready, this Afternoon, or to morrow Morning.
I drink to you all with an Heart full of respect: I drink the great King
George's Health to you.
Capt. Cuneaupot. We drink a Health to King GEorge, and the Gover-
110 ur.
Indians. We are very glad the Governour takes so much Care of us, it
takes all sorrow from our Hearts, and we hope (as GoD shall enable us)
to perform what Your Excellency has recommended to us.
Governour. I have nothing further to say to you at present, but when-
ever you would speak to me I shall be ready to hear you.
The Indians withdrew.

12
Thursday August 28, 1735.
The Conference Continued.
Present His Excellency Jonathan Belcher, Esq; Captain General and
Governour in Chief, &c. Marsequunt, Naunautooghijau, Weenpauk
Chiefs of the Seautacooks, with Sixty three Men and Women attendin.
and also Seventeen of the Moheeg Tribe with them. sº
The Chiefs above with the others, paid the usual Compliment to the
Captain General, by shaking Hands &c.
Governour. I am very glad to see such a Number of King George's
good Subjects in Health and Peace here together; I look upon you all as
my Children, and shall take the same Care of you as I do of the English
at all times: If you meet with any Difficulty at any time from the People,
you must repair to me, where you shall meet with all manner of Justice.
The Government has set up a Trading House under Capt. Kellogg’s Care,
that you may be continually Supplied in the best manner, and not cheated
in your Trade; they have also sent a Minister to the Trading House at
Fort Dummer and another to Houssatonnoc, that you as well as the Indians
there may be instructed in the true Knowledge of Jesus CHRIST.
The Government as well as particular Gentlemen are very willing to be
at great Charge in spreading the Gospel among you, that you may live the
better here, and be happy for ever hereafter. 'Tis the highest Respect
and Friendship the Government can shew you to instruct you in the true
Religion; and I hope you’l express your thankfulness for it to God, by
leading better Lives than ever yet you have done, and that you your Selves
as well as your Wives will make it your business to attend on the Minis-
ters, and observe their Instructions, especially on GoD's holy Day, and
that you will command your Children also, that they may be taught to
Read and to Write, and that they may be instructed in the true Religion
of Jesus CHRIST.
I hope you have been well entertained here, and that every thing has
been agreable to you since you have been here.
Indians. In the Morning we eat, are well entertained at Noon, and at
Night lye down to Sleep; We sleep well and are in good Health.
Governour. If you have any thing to propose or offer to me now or to
Morrow, or at any other time; when you are ready I am ready to receive
it.
Indians. Our Father, We have heard Your Excellency Say, We take
extraordinary kindly Your Care of us, not only for our temporal Good, but
for the good of the Life to come (which is of the greatest Concern) that
so it may be well with us with that God who takes care for all Men, and
with whom all are alike.
And then laid down a Belt of Wampum, which they said was according to
their Custom of shaking Hands.
Governour. I have nothing further to say to you at this time; I am
ready to hear whatever you may have to say to me when you please.
His Excellency drinks King GEORGE's Health to the Indians.
The Indians return the Compliment; drink King George's Health and
the Governour's, and expressed their thankfulness for the Opportunity of
so doing; and then took leave, and withdrew.

13
Thursday August 28, 1735.
The Conference Continued,
Present. His Excellency Jonathan Belcher, Esq; Captain General and
Governour in Chief, &c. Ountaussoogoe, and the others of the Cagnawaga
Tribe.
Governour. My good Friends and Brethren, There has been a long
Friendship between King GEORGE's Subjects, and the Five Nations from
whence you originally came, and there was a special Covenant made be-
tween this Government and You (the Cagnawaga Indians) at Albany,
eleven Years ago,” which you on Your part as well as we on Ours, have
faithfully observed hitherto; and we now readily acknowledge that you
have testified your Faithfulness in divers Instances of your Friendship;
and I now come by the desire of the People of this Government to renew that
Covenant, and to brighten the Chain, that a good Understanding of Peace
and Friendship may be Cultivated and Continued for ever, that so the
Children unborn may in times to come rejoyce in Our meeting together
this day.
His Excellency delivers them a large Belt of Wampum.
Auountawresaunkee Indian. It is not to be questioned but when the
Goveruour has done saying, He will inform us. He has done.
Governour. There are some of your People who resort to Fort Dum-
mer, where Captain Kellogg Commands: The Government have placed a
Father there, who will be ready to learn them and their Children to Read
and Write, and to inform them of the Principles of Our Religion; If any of
you are willing to be instructed therein, I look upon you to be a free Peo-
ple, You are my Brethren, and you need not be afraid of any body, nor of
receiving Knowledge: It will cost you nothing to have your Children in-
structed by the Father that lives at that Fort. It is from the same respect
and love that I have for my self, that I would have you and your Children
Instructed. And this Matter I leave to your Consideration at your return
Home.
Then His Excellency delivered another Belt of Wampum.
There is a Present from the Government to be given you, which you
shall have to Morrow.
I have done speaking for the present.
Auountauresaunkee, Indian Speaker–Stands up, And distinctly repeats
every thing His Excellency has said, and he in the Name of the rest, re-
turns their hearty Thanks for the Governour's Care over them and Kind-
ness for them; gratefully acknowledging the Respect shewn them by the
Governour, and proceeds—It is exceeding kind of the Governour (and we
rejoyce to see it) that the Broad Way is kept Open between Us, that there
is safe passing, and no hindrance or stop therein. Matters of such Conse-
quence as these are of great Moment, and deserve the Attention of a bet-
ter Head than mine (which is weak) to speak to, especially what the
Governour mentions as to the Covenant made about eleven Years ago at
Albany.
Quºtaussoogoe, Indian Chief-Rises up, And repeats again Article by
Article what His Excellency had said: Then lays down a large Belt of
Wampum doubled; and in answer to the Governour, (with one End of the
Belt) says,
*A treaty was concluded there July 3, 1724, during Father Rasle's War.

14
Brother, the Broad Way. I am poor in the Case: Don't expect a full
Answer from us here; but I take up Your Word and shall carry it home
to them that have sent us here; they are now upon their Knee waiting for
Our return, they are the Three Families of the Cagnawaga Tribe, and
they with us will take these Affairs, which are of such great Weight under
Consideration, in order to give the Governour an Answer.” And we give
thanks to the Great God that has given Your Excellency and Our Breth-
ren of the Broad Way, an Heart to continue of the same Mind as when
the Covanant was entred into: We also rejoyce that God has continued
Us of the same Mind, and that there is no seeking of any kind, but Good.
With the other End of the Belt. He returns thanks for the Favours
received.
And now we have gone through the Work, what have we further to do?
We desire to know His Excellency's Pleasure when we may be returning
Home.
Governour. I have had News from Boston to day; there is a Ship
lately arrived from England, and brings the Account that the Peace is
still subsisting between King GEORGE and the French King; but if there
should happen a War between King GEORGE and the French King, yet I
shall have a good Opinion of your Fidelity. If it should be War, there is no
question but your Justice and Faith, as well as your Interest will hold you
to Peace with us ; You will be always honestly dealt with by Capt Kellogg
at the Truck House, where you may have such things as you need, at a
cheeper rate than any others can or will let you have them.
It is with a great deal of Pleasure I have undertaken the fatigue of this
Journey to meet you here, and save you the trouble of going to Boston.
The Way to Boston is open and clear, and I shall always be glad to see
you there, whenever you please to come. On Monday I hope you will be
ready to be going home, when you shall have Provision for your Journey:
But you must dine with me to Morrow—when you shall have the Present,
and take leave after dinner.
The Governour drinks lasting Health and Prosperity to their Tribe.
Ountaussoogoe drinks King GeoRGE’s Health and the Governour's, &c.
Friday August 29, 1735.
The Conference Continued.
Present His Excellency Jonathan Belcher, Esq; Captain General and
Governour in Chief, &c. Cuncaupot Captain, and the others of the Houssa-
tonnoc Tribe &c. -
Governour. Captain Cuneaupot, I am now ready to hear what you
have to say. I understand you desire what you have got to say should be
drawn up in Writing, and that Mr. William's will read it, which shall be
rendred to you again by your Interpreter, in short Sentences. .
And it was accordingly done, and thereupon the Indians manifested an
universal Approbation thereof; which is in the words following, viz.
Deerfield August 29th. 1735.
May it please Your Excellency, -
We thank Your Excellency as Our Father, that we have received Your
Kindness and Love, and we would express Our Duty and Subjection to
Our Rightful Sovereign King GeoRGE, whom we pray God long to pre-
Serve.
* The Answer was given at Fort Dummer Oct. 6, 1737.

15
We are desirous to receive the Gospel of Our LoRD JESUS CHRIST;
and hope that Our Hearts are in what we say, and that we don't speak
only out of our Lips: And we are thankful that Mr. Williams and ºther
Ministers are come to us, and especially that Mr. Sargent, and Mr. Wood-
bridge, have been sent to us, and pray to the Great God to keep them, and
cause they may have Health, and live long with us.
And Sir, Our Father, We did not come to you of our Selves, and tell
you that we wanted any thing, and yet you have taken Care of Us as your
Children, and given us Learning &c. No Child says to his Father, I
would have so and so; but a Father when he sees his Children in want, is
ready to help them: And so we think Your Excellency as our Father is
willing to do to us upon every account; and we pray that when we are
wanting any thing we may be directed to tell Col. Stoddard * of it, that he
may send to Your Excellency, that what we want may be done for us.
Sir, Our Father, As we have been taught the Gospel, so we hope to
have it to Our Heart for ever.
Sir, Our Father, Our Children are afraid of strict Laws, and of being
brought into trouble, and put in Prison for Debt &c. and we pray that Care
may be taken by your Excellency as Our Father, and by the General As-
sembly, that we be not hurt by the severity of the Laws, seeing we don’t
understand how to manage in such Affairs, so as that there may not be any
danger at any time that Our Children be taken away from us for Debt &c.
We don't pretend to desire any thing, but that if any of Our People
should commit Murder or any other crying Wickedness, they should be
liable to the Law.
Sir, Our Father, We are concerned for our own Children, as we think
you, as a Father are for Us, and therefore we pray that it may be given us
in Writing (or establish’d by a Law) that Our Children after us be not
wronged or injured.
We thank your Excellency, You sent for Us here to see Your Face,
and so many honourable Gentlemen, and that there has been such Care
taken of us all Our Journey, and since we came to this Place. We find
that by what we have experienced of Your Excellency's Care for us, that
we need not Crave of You, but leave Our selves to your Care for the time
to come. And are
Your Excellency's dutiful Servants,
CUNCAUPot [his mark] Captain.
UMPECHENY [his mark] Lieutenant.
WAUNTAUGA This mark] Meet.
NAUNAUNE [his mark] Canutt.
in the Name of the rest.
e * then Capt. Cuneaupot laid down a parcel of Deer Skins as a Pres-
Ilt.
Governour. I take very kindly what you have said, and you shall have
a particular Answer to it to Morrow.
The Governour drinks the great King George's Health to the In-
dians, and says, That under God, the King is the common Father of them
and us, and wishes they may always prosper in Soul and Body.
Captain Cuneaupot returns the Salute, and drinks the King's Health.
* John Stoddard of Northampton.
16
Governour. I shall see you to Morrow, when there will be a Present
for you from the Government, and after dinner I shall take leave of you.
One of the Indians complained he had left a Gun at Mr. Stebbins's at
Worthampton, and can’t get it again.
Governour. I will inquire into that matter, and shall give direction to
Col. Stoddard that Justice be done therein.
Indian. There were also Eight Deer Skins at Mr. Miller's, which I
can’t have any account of.
Governour. When you meet with any Injustice you may repair to Col.
Stoddard, as you have desired, who will see you have Justice done you.
His Excellency then gave them a Caution against drinking too hard, by
º they would prevent their being imposed on or defrauded by any
ody.
After which the Indians withdrew.
Friday August 29, 1735.
The Conference Continued. Present. His Excellency Jonathan Belcher,
Esq; Captain General and Governour in Chief, &c. Ountaussoogoe Chief,
and others of the Cagnawagas.
Governour. I hope you are all well this Morning.
Ountaussoogoe. No Sir, One was taken Sick this Morning, and a Child
has been Sick ever since we came.
Governour. I am sorry for it; the Doctor shall tend on them—I ex-
pect none here now, but those of the Cagnawaga Tribe.
(Some others being under the Tent.)
The Present of the Government which lays before you, is designed only
for your Tribe, and you must take care that it be justly distributed among
your Selves: The Government has made other Provision for the others.
Then the Present was delivered.
I hope you will carefully lay up all I have said to you, and though we
are at such a distance in Our Persons, yet I hope Our Hearts will be al-
ways near one another: And you shall be provided with what may be
necessary for your Journey, as well Provisions as Skins for Shoes &c.
To Morrow will be the last day of the Week, and the next Day will be
God’s Day, so you had best tarry till Monday morning; but I don't say
this to put you out of your Way. You shall do as you please.
Auountauresaunkee Indian Speaker. We return thanks for the Care
Your Excellency has taken of us, and for the Present of the Government.
Your Excellency has minded us of Our Duty, and we shall keep it in
mind and observe it.
Governour. I drink King GEORGE’s Health, and wish you Health and
Happiness.
Ountaussoogoe. I Salute the Governour and all the Gentlemen here.
I have been so handsomely treated since I have been with you, that I have
almost fancied my self to be in Heaven, and I shall not be able to forbear
Weeping when I leave the Governour.
The Present was delivered, and the Indians dined with His Excellency
&c. under the Tent.


17
Saturday August 30, 1735.
The Conference Continued.
Present His Excellency Jonathan Belcher, Esq; Captain General and
Governour in Chief, &c. Cuncaupot Captain, and others of the Houssa-
tonnoc Tribe.
Governour. I Am glad to see you this Morning: I hope you are all in
good Health. I shall now make you a particular Answer to what you said
to me yesterday.
My good Friends of Houssatonnoc, I take very well the Expressions of
your Duty and Loyalty to Our common Father the great King Georg E.
and I shall do my self the Honour of giving Him the Account of it; and
you may be assured He will always look on you as his Children and good
Subjects, and I shall think it my Duty as his Governour and Representa-
tive to let you feel upon all Occasions, the Advantage and Happiness of
being under so good and gracious a Sovereign. -
There are good Laws provided by this Government to save you and
your Children from being hurt, or from their being taken away from you
for Debt, and if you should meet with any difficulty on this or any other
Account (as you have desired) you may with the greatest Freedom apply
your selves to Col. Stoddard of Worthampton, whom I have directed to
take a particular Care of you, and you may depend on his favour and
friendship, and that he will do everything in his power that you may have
Justice done you from time to time.
My Friends and Children, Although I am much pleased with the Duty
you express to my Royal Master King GEORGE: yet it rejoyces my Heart
above all things that you are desirous to know and understand the Gospel
of Our LoRD JESUS CHRIST, who is GoD as well as Man, and the only
Saviour of all Men; by the Knowledge of His Glorious Gospel, aud by
living in Obedience to it, you will become good Subjects to the King of
Kings, and be led in the Way to be happy here, and eternally so in a bet-
ter World.
I am thankful to GoD, and well pleased with you that you so kindly
receive and entertain the Ministers of JESUS CHRIST, who have been sent
among you, and more particularly Mr. Sargent, and also your School-
Master Mr. Woodbridge. These Gentlemen are sent to you by an honour-
able Company of Gentlemen in Old England, who alone are at the Charge
of their Preaching to you and Instructing you; and as I am One of their
Agents here, I think it is a Respect and Honour due to them to let you
know this, that you may in due time express your thankfulness for their
pious Care and Compassion to your Souls.
And I must also take Notice to you how the God of the Spirits of all
Flesh, seems to be encouraging and supporting your worthy Minister in
the difficult Undertaking he is engaged in for your best Happiness, and I
expect you will carefully attend upon his Instructions, and always pay him
great respect and honour.
To morrow will be the Lord's Day, and the time intended for the Ordi-
nation of Mr. Sargent to the special Work of a Minister of Jesus CHRIST
among you; and that you and your Children may thereafter as you may
become worthy, enjoy the priviledge and happiness of the holy Sacraments of
Baptism and the Lord's Supper; and I pray God so to succeed the Endeav-
ours used with you as to recover you from a state of Darkness, to the clear
Light of his blessed Gospel.

18
I have been sometimes informed that you live remote from one another,
and that you are not accommodated with Land sufficient to support your
Families: This Matter I shall lay before the great Council of this Gov-
ernment, and recommend to them the giving you Lands to Settle you more
conveniently and compact, and what may be enough for your living com-
fortably upon; and at the same time I shall recommend your whole People
to the special Care and Favour of this Government.
All I have said to you from Our first meeting here shall be printed, and
then be sent to you, that you may as often as you please refresh your
Memories with it.
I expect you to be very careful to morrow in observing the Lord’s Day.
It is GoD's Day, and always to be kept holy, and you must attend the
publick Worship both parts of the Day: You shall have a Place by Your
Selves, that you may the better see Mr. Sargent's Ordination.
I have nothing more to say at present.
Captain Cuneaupot. Father, We can't but thank you for the Love
and Care you have taken of us as to Our Knowledge of the Gospel.
Sir, Father, We can’t but return Our humble thanks for the Kindness
shewn us, while we have been here.
Governour. I now deliver you the Government's Present.
After the Lord's Day is over you shall be going homewards whenever
you please, and you shall be provided with Necessaries for your Journey;
and while you stay here you shall be kindly entertained.
I intend to go away next Monday; and if you would say any thing to
me in the mean time by Mr. Williams, he will tell me; and I would have
you dine with me to Day.
I drink King GEORGE’s Health to you, and wish you Health and
Prosperity.
The Indians drink the King's Health, and return the Salutation.
Ompawmet One of the Chiefs of this Tribe being Sick, sent his Son to
inform His Excellency he could not wait on him Personally, but had sent
him to thank the Governour for his Favours to their Tribe.
Saturday August 30, 1735.
The Conference Continued.
Present. His Excellency Jonathan Belcher, Esq; Captain General and
Governour in Chief, &c. Marsequunt, and the Two other Chiefs, and the
rest of the Scautacooks, &c.
Waunautookeaw. Indian Speaker. Our Father and the Governour. We
have considered what Your Excellency said to us the day before yesterday,
and we take great Pleasure in it.
Lays down three Beaver Skins in token thereof.
Furthermore, Father – the Governour – In all you have said we ad-
here.
And ºn token thereof lays down three Beaver Skins.
Our Father, We thank Your Excellency, that ever since we have had
Knowledge of the Way it has been kept very Streight without any Crook;
and we thank Your Excellency you have kept it so very plain and clear.
Lays down three Beaver Skins ºn token thereof.
We pray Your Excellency, that as it has formerly been agreed that Your
Excellency has been Our Father, and We Your Children, so Our hearty
desire is that that Agreement may be continued.

19
Lays down three Bever Skins in token thereof.
We have done.
Governour. I hope you are all in good Health.
Indians. We are all well.
Governour. I hope you are entertained to your own Satisfaction. I
take particular Notice of what you have said now. I depend you will al-
ways continue faithful Subjects to King GeoRGE, and then you will have
the Favour and Protection of this Government; You shall always be
treated like the rest of the Children of this Country. I am glad you are
come near to the Fort to live, and I shall endeavour you shall have Land
to live on.
You must carefully and diligently attend on the Instructions of Mr.
Hinsdale your Minister. And in token and confirmation of all I have said
to you, I deliver you this Belt.
The Governour delivers them a Belt of Wampum.
To morrow is the Lord's Day, I expect you keep your selves sober,
and attend on the publick Worship of GoD at the Meeting House.
I shall be glad to hear from you by Capt. Kellogg, whenever you have
anything to say to the Governour. And whenever you have a mind to it,
I shall be glad to see any of you at Boston.
And in token of the Friendship of this Government, there is the
Present They have sent you.
I drink King GeoRGE’s Health to you, and wish you all Prosperity.
The Indians manifested great Satisfaction in what the Governour said,
and returned the Salutation.
Weenepauk. We return Your Excellency thanks for all Favours, and
we thank God Almighty that he has given us Opportunity to see Your
Excellency, and so many Gentlemen with you.
Though we are ignorant and not capable of seeing for want of Under-
standing, yet we praise GoD that he has fixed a Day—this Day; and the
time of Day—about Noon—When the Sun shines so bright upon us.
Here follows the Order of the Proceedure in the Ordination of Mr.
Sargent, within mentioned, viz.
Deerfield, September 1st, 1735.
Yesterday being the Lord's Day, the Reverend Mr. John Sargent, the
Gentleman, that has been sometime preaching to the Houssatonnoc Indians,
was solemnly set apart, and Ordained to the Work of the Ministry in
presence of His Excellency Our Govor Nour, the honourable His Majesty's
Council, and a Number of the Gentlemen of the honourable House of Rep-
resentatives, who accompanied His Excellency at the Conference with the
Indians; and also a very numerous Assembly being present, both of Eng-
lish and Indians.
The Houssatonnoc Indians being seated by themselves in one of the
Galleries of the Meeting House, many of the Indians of the Cagnawaga.
and Seautacook Tribes with the Moheegs being also present; the whole
Affair was carried on with great decency and solemnity,
The Ministers that managed the Ordination were the Reverend Mr.
Williams of Hatfield, Mr. Appleton of Cambridge, Mr. Williams of Long-
Meadow (Springfield) Mr. Hinsdale," and Mr. Ashley; the said Gentlemen
having the day before the Ordination made Inquiry of Mr. Sargent, and
received satisfaction as to his Orthodoxy.
* Rev. Ebenezer Hinsdale, Missionary to the Indians about Fort Dummer.

20
The Reverend Mr. Ashley began with Prayer, the Reverend Mr. Appleton
preached a suitable Sermon to the Occasion from 2 Tºm. 2. 21. The Rev.
erend Mr. Williams of Hatfield as Moderator opened the Affair, and in a
particular manner addressed himself to His Excellency the Gover Nour,
as Head of the Commissioners of the honourable Company for Propaga-
ting the Gospel among the Indians in New England, and Parts adjacent;
and asked Him whether it was his desire that Mr. Sargent should be set
apart to the Work of the Ministry (among the Indians at Houssatonnoc) by
Ordination; and His Excellency said, it was.
The Moderator then proceeded to Mr. Sargent's Consent herein &c.
And then Hands were laid upon Mr. Sargent by all the Ministers before
named. The Reverend Mr. Williams of Hatfield made the first Prayer
after Imposition of Hands, and then gave the Charge; the Reverend Mr.
Appleton made the other Prayer; and the Reverend Mr. Williams of Long
Meadow gave the Right Hand of Fellowship to Mr. Sargent.
After which Mr. Williams turned himself to the Houssatonnoc Indian
Tribe, who were Seated in the Gallery by themselves; and asked them if
they were desirous of having Mr. Sargent for their Minister; that if they
were, they would shew some Sign or Manifestation thereof; Whereupon:
they all rose up by one Consent, and with grave as well as chearful Coun-
tenances signified their full, and hearty Acceptance of him.
The Sermon in the Afternoon was from Isaiah 2, 4, by the Reverend
Mr. Williams of Long Meadow.
Prov. of the
Mass. Bay.
The aforegoing Conference was taken as it passed by and between His
Excellency Jonathan Belcher, Esq; Captain General &c. and the respec-
tive Indians within mentioned.
By His Excellency's Command.
John WAINwright, Cler
Boston, May 7, 1906.
A verbatim copy.
Attest: GEORGE SHIELDoN.
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7 26 - Gºſt º Hºur.
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º 3-2-42