580 INDIAN LAND CESSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES [kth. ann. is 



There is but little on record by which to judge of the policj' adopted 

 iu rehitimi to the dealiugs of New York with the Indians in reference 

 to their hxnds, from the close of Dutch (control nj) to the middle of the 

 eighteenth century. A few items noticed are presented here as having 

 some bearing upon the question. 



By the instructions to the Earl of Bellomont, August ;!1, 1607, he is 

 directed to call before him the Five Nations, and upon their renewing 

 their subnussion to His Ma,jesty's government he is to assure them that 

 he will protect them as subjects against the French King; and when 

 an opportunity offered for purchasing " great tracts of land for His 

 Maj'-^ from the Indians for small sums," he was to use his discretion 

 therein as he judged for the convenience of or advantage to His Majesty. 

 This was a clear recognition of the Indians' possessory right and an 

 indication of an intention not to disregard it. However, it appears 

 that under the preceding governor (Fletcher) large grants had been 

 made to individuals with little regard to the Indians' rights, or unau- 

 thorized or pretended purchases Jiom the Indians. For example, a 

 considerable portion of the Mohawks' land was obtained by fraudulent 

 and unauthorized purchases, and the grants, notwithstanding the 

 protests of the Indians, were confirmed by Governor Fletcher.' 



One of these grants was to Colonel Nicholas Bayard, a member of 

 the council, for a tract on both sides of Schoharie creek, some 24 to 30 

 miles in length. Another to Godfrey Dellins, 70 miles in length from 

 Battenkill, Washington county, to Vergennes, in Vermont. One to 

 Colonel Henry Beckmau, for IG miles square in Dutchess county; and 

 another on Hudson river, 20 miles in length by 8 in width. One to 

 William Smith, a member of the council, on the island of Nassau, 

 containing about aO square miles. One to Captain Evans, 40 miles in 

 length by 20 in width, embi-acing parts of Ulster, Orange, and Rockland 

 counties, etc. 



However, it shimld be remarked that Governor Fletcher, in his reply 

 to the charges made against him, stated that one of the instructions 

 received from the King was " that when any opportunity should offer 

 for purchasing great tracts of land for him from the Indians for small 

 sums he was to use his discretion therein, as he should judge for the 

 convenience or advantage which might arise to His Majesty by the 

 same," and that the ])arties to whom the grants were made had jire- 

 sented evidence of their purchases from the Indians. It will be 

 observed, however, ,;hat these purchases do not appear to have been 

 made for or on behalf of the King, but solely for the individuals 

 named. 



On July lit, 1701, the deed presented above, under the section 

 relating to the English policy, by the Five Nations to their " Beaver 

 Hunting Ground" was executed. As this has already been referred to, 

 it is unnecessary to add anything concerning it, except to say that it 



1 New York Colonial Documents, vol. iv, pp. 345, 346. 



