_ CHAPTER I 



The Wi-ten-a-ge-mot Oak — The Charter Oak — The Pelham Oak — 

 The Fox Oaks — The Salem Oak — The Wadstoorth Oak — The 

 Bappite Oak. 



The Wi-Ten-A-Ge-Mot Oak 



This veteran oak is still standing on the ancient Indian Council 

 Ground at Schagticoke, N. Y. It is in the rear of the old Knicker- 

 bocker Mansion where Washington Irving was a frequent visitor and 

 where he discovered the original of his famous character, Dietrich 

 Knickerbocker. 



Nearly two hundred and fifty years ago, at the close of King 

 Philip's War, Governor Andros, of New York, planted the oak, the 

 only Tree of Welfare ever dedicated to the Indians. 



In 1676, Governor Andros formed a Board of Indian Commis- 

 sioners, at Albany, and, able diplomat that he was, set about prevent- 

 ing the exodus to Canada of discontented Indians from the Hudson 

 River and Hoosac Valley and influencing them to stay in their own 

 country. It was during this visit to Albany that he planted the Tree 

 of Peace at Schagticoke, for the purpose of strengthening the friend- 

 ship between the Hoosac and Mohawk Indians, and between the 

 Militia at Fort Albany and the River Indian scouts ; and in honor of 

 the occasion, called a meeting of the conference known as The Wi-ten- 

 a-ge-mot or Assemblage of the Wise, named after the National 

 Assembly of early Saxon times prior to the Norman Conquest. About 

 one thousand warriors, representatives of the Iroquois, Hoosacs, 

 Pequots, Narragansetts, Pennacooks, Delawares, Mohawks arid other 

 nations obeyed the summons to the conference. 



Governor Andros and his staff, the royal militia in their brilliant 

 uniforms, the Board of Indian Commissioners, judges and clergymen 

 completed the gathering. Two Dutch pastors of Albany and two 

 Jesuit Priests of the Mohawk Missions offered prayer while the 

 Calumet or pipe of peace was solemnly passed around, whites as well 

 as red men smoking it in turn, to seal their compact of good will. 



Belts of wampum embroidered with the Swastika were given by 

 the Indians to their white friends, and the Governor presented the 

 River Indian Scouts with tobacco, pipes and uniforms. Three of the 

 Chiefs broke their bow-strings and buried the hatchet at the foot of the 

 newly planted oak. Soquon, the orator of the Hoosacs, announced 

 that the blood had been cleansed from the blade of the hatchet just 

 buried, and that the warriors would henceforth dance in peace beneath 

 the Tree of Welfare. 



The ceremony and the compact of friendship, symbolized by the 

 planting of the tiny oak, were long and lovingly remembered by the 



11 



