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The Indians, thus settled, were instructed in husbandry, and were excited to a prudent as well as industrious management of their affairs. Some of them were taught such trades as were most necessary for them, so that they completely built a house for public worship, 50 feet in length and 25 feet in breadth.

The Indians, thus settled, were instructed in husbandry, and were excited to a prudent as well as industrious management of their affairs. Some of them were taught such trades as were most necessary for them, so that they completely built a house for public worship, 50 feet in length and 25 feet in breadth.

However, in less than five years after its foundation, Eliot was obliged to migrate the entire population of this first North American Christian Indian community to a 3,000-acre site some fifteen miles to the southwest, in the present town of Natick.<ref>[The Lantern, http://www.braintreehistorical.org/NewsLetters/March2007.pdf] Braintree Historical Society, VOL March 2007 XXV No.3</ref><ref>http://hassanamesit.org/images/documents/History%20Report%20-%20Final%2012012006.pdf</ref>.<ref>http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trm036.html</ref><ref>http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trm004.html</ref><ref>http://www.tyndalesploughboy.org/eliot-bible/</ref>  

However, in less than five years after its foundation, Eliot was obliged to migrate the entire population of this North American Christian Indian community to a 3,000-acre site some fifteen miles to the southwest, in the present town of Natick.<ref>[The Lantern, http://www.braintreehistorical.org/NewsLetters/March2007.pdf] Braintree Historical Society, VOL March 2007 XXV No.3</ref><ref>http://hassanamesit.org/images/documents/History%20Report%20-%20Final%2012012006.pdf</ref>.<ref>http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trm036.html</ref><ref>http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trm004.html</ref><ref>http://www.tyndalesploughboy.org/eliot-bible/</ref>  

Twenty years after the arrival of Eliot, the Massachusetts General Court established Natick (meaning  “Place of Searching”) as the  praying Indian village/town in 1651, helping them to  be able to to worship in peace. This was the first '''formally''' "Christian town" in America, and consisted at first of 51 inhabitants in seven villages, with seven more being later established.  The beloved (by the Indians at least) Eliot became known as the “Apostle to the Indians.”  

Twenty years after the arrival of Eliot, the Massachusetts General Court established Natick (meaning  “Place of Searching”) as the  praying Indian village/town in 1651, helping them to  be able to to worship in peace. This is considered by some to be the first '''formally''' "Christian town" in America, and consisted at first of 51 inhabitants in seven villages, with seven more being later established.  The beloved (by the Indians at least) Eliot became known as the “Apostle to the Indians.”  

Other praying Indian Towns also were established, including Ponkapoag (Stoughton, MA) and Nashoba (Littleton, MA), but also covering portions of Dover, Wellesley, and Needham in addition to Dedham. By 1675, it is estimated that 20 percent of the Native Indians in New England lived in praying Towns.

Other praying Indian Towns also were established, including Ponkapoag (Stoughton, MA) and Nashoba (Littleton, MA), but also covering portions of Dover, Wellesley, and Needham in addition to Dedham. By 1675, it is estimated that 20 percent of the Native Indians in New England lived in praying Towns.