At White Plains, in October, 1776, their united
Woach, Woach, Ha, Ha, Hach, Woach
"
!
rang out
as when of old they had disputed the supremacy of the Dutch, and their blood mingled with that of their chosen allies. 3
Active
hostilities
brought
sifting
time
to the Six Nations.
Notwithstanding the efforts of the Johnsons and the pleadings of Brant, they were not united in the alliance with the British, The Mabicans claimed several tracts
brothers, that we are sincerely disposed to
extending even west of the Hudson. Their principal claim, however, was for a portion of the Livingston patent
keep our covenant of peace with you our
and for lands at Westenhuck. The latter they claimed to have leased to the whites for a term of years, but had lost the papers.
Indians). See Proceedings Provincial Convention of Neio fork, i, 803, 8055 n,
of land,
The matter has been before the legislature of New York several times, but like the claim of the Wappingers, has never been adjusted.
2 " We, the head of this place, with our brethren the Tuscaroras and some of the Onondagas and Mahicandcrs, being * * assembled. hope you will give no heed to the false reports that
We
are
going
about,
for
we
assure
you,
brethren."
(Letter to Justices of Kingston signed by chiefs of Tuscarora and Esopus
301,419, 424. To what extent these Indians were compromised with Brant is not known, but it is quite certain that a large number of the Esopus Indians became his obedient followers. The Indians were stationed on Chatterton's hill, under Colonel Haslet, and were in the heaviest of the engagement on the z8th of October. Book, n, 822.