And first I am not possessed of sufficient materials to judge of the Validity of their Claim, and the properest method of proceeding to recover their Right if they have any, nor can I procure them from the Indians, who are so extremely ignorant that after many Endeavours for that Purpose I cannot make understand what I want, -- and I have nor can get no farther Instructions relating to their Title, than what the ' Order of this Board contains and a Copy of tlie Town Order mentioned in the Order of Council, on which I would beg Leave to make some Observations.

It appears that the Land the Indians claim is part of the Township of Southold, granted to the Inhabitants formerly by Letters Patent, and I presume was purchased from the Indians, as they do not pretend the Contrary, but claim under the Order made at the Town Meeting.

PAPERS RELATING TO SUFFOLK COUNTY. 393

I understand that the Township was granted in Joint-Tenancy, and that all the Right the Inhabitants have to hold in severalty, is the Orders made at their Town Meetings and entered in their minutes, and that tho this could convey no legal Title to hold in severalty, yet the Courts of Justice considering tlie Ignorance of those Times, and the Confusion the Contrary would introduce, have admitted them as valid for that Purpose.

The Indians therefore if the Order respecting them is similar to those respecting the other Inhabitants, upon the same Principles will have as good a Title as the other Inhabitants have there, if their Right is not barred by any Thmg subsequent to that Order.