| Citation |
NEWJ.736.033
21 Dec 1736:22 (507)
By a letter from Hartford, Novemb. 30. we are inform'd that
the Indians lately had a meeting for a dance at Middletown,
and that the Rev. Mr. Treet went among them to prevent if he
could those excesses which they usually run into on those
occasions, and was so successful in his endeavours, that a
considerable number of the Moheags and from Farmingtown and
Middletown, withdrew from the rest, and kept in good order,
while it was sorrowful to see the rest wallowing in their
filthiness: By this means in the midst of their jollity
they were broke up.
Again the poor creatures gather'd in a great body this
fall, from New-Milford, Patatuk and other places, to wash
off mourning as they call it by a dance; when John Mattawan,
the Christian youth at Farmington was so affected that he
came to the Honourable Governour Talcott at Hartford for
advice, who bid him make haste back and get together all the
youth, who he said had desire him to come to the governour,
and then go all together in a body to the dance, and openly
testify against their vici[ ] manners, and the bad effects
of such customs; which they did, and were instrumental to
abate the frolick, and shame their parents for their
drunkenness & brutality.
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