Show description

A short distance outside of town, the Moravians ran into a constable whose angry words drew an equally angry crowd. 89 The Moravians who remained at Shekomeko continued to quietly minister to the Indians, while assuredly looking over their shoulders. Not permitted by law to preach or hold services, they turned to their Indian acolytes, in particular Johannes, Isaac, and Jacob, to do their preaching for them, something they also attended to at Wechquadnach and Pachgatgoch. 91 In May 1745, Martinus Hoffman, who a short five years before had kindly directed Rauch to the Indians near Stissing Mountain, “let the Brethren at Checomeko know that they should not take anything from their house that is attached or nailed down.

14 Introduction From New Milford, but without Sister Mack, whom the justices had “acquited,” they were marched some forty miles downriver to “Old Milford,” where they appeared before a tribunal consisting of Governor Law, several other colonial officials, one of whom was Justice Canfield, and a couple of Protestant clerics. The three were thoroughly examined, the governor finding that since Pyrlaeus had not preached and nothing had been found in his disfavor, no charges would be brought. 59 There, they met again with the Reverend Mr.

Brother Post and Rachel, the Indian woman from Pachgatgoch he had married, lived there from the closing of Shekomeko until late February 1747. Post passed the time much like the Indians among whom he was now considered family, making baskets, brooms, and canoes, and fishing. He also gathered flax and spun yarn for himself. These homely activities allowed him to engage in religious conversations and to monitor their effect, for many of the Indians going out to work for surrounding farmers were sorely tested by drink given them as wages.