History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

168 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1722-1724.
Engaged in Laying Little public busiiiess of importance was
Out New Towns. transacted, especially in this region, in
wb.icli lie was not called to participate.
The record of his services already presented, exhibits only
in part the multifarious labors that fell to his lot. In 1722,
when townships were petitioned for on the Hoiisatonnuck,
Col. Stoddard and Ebenezer Pomeroy were members of a
committee to divide the tracts granted, and lay them out.
From this section five towns and parts of three others were
established. Again in 1735, in connection with Col. Israel
Williams, he bought of the Indians ten miles square of
land above Fort Dummer, on Deerfield River. The next
year he was engaged with Ebenezer Pomeroy and Thomas
Ingersoll in laying out a township (Stockbridge), at Housatonnuck.
He had charge of the settlement, and did much
towards establishing the celebrated Indian mission there,
subsequently presided over by Rev. Jonathan Edwards.
For many years, especially when hostilities
Employed in Negotiations
with the with Canada were threatened or in actual
Indians.
progress,
, • ,
negotiations
• n
were carried
i
on by
the Province with the Five Nations and with the Six Nations,
their neutrality or alliance being assiduously sought.
In many of these transactions Col. Stoddard was employed,
frequently entertaining the Indian ambassadors at his own
private expense. The red men were usually ready to parley,
never refusing the presents that frequently preceded
the overtures, and always followed the treaty. The Five
Nations sent delegates to Boston, in 1722, but nothing
seems to have been accomplished. The following year the
scene of negotiations was changed to Albany, and Col.
Stoddard was appointed one of the commissioners to treat
with them. Two meetings were held, one in May, 1723,
and another the following year. Col. Stoddard set out
from Northampton, Sept. 8"\ 1724, and arrived at Albany
on the 11"'. On his return he reached home Sept. 26"', At
the conference in May and June, 1723, Mr. Stoddard, who
was dissatisfied with the way in which the government
treated his accounts, showed righteous indignation, and
proposed to throw up the whole matter and return home.
His colleague, Ebenezer Pomeroy, "hopes Col. Stoddard