“A Gentile Woman, Karanondo, … Now Called Lidia,” 1664–1750

Abstract

The final chapter surveys the eighty-six years following the surrender of New Netherland to the English in 1664. A close study of the records of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) reveals that by 1698 approximately 8% of the adult Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) population had become communicant members, which was no small feat given the literate nature of Protestantism and the systematic process of conversion demanded of those making profession of faith. These professions were certainly a result of groundwork laid by the Kanien’kehá:ka and New Netherlanders like Megapolensis who established personal relationships with one another. By 1754, at least 368 Indians had been baptized; the vast majority of whom were babies born to the Indian communicant members of the DRC.