I didn't want to say so in the last thread that mentioned this, because it was an Obit thread and I didn't want to degrade it with a joke.
But so far as I can see, the deciding factor in the original story was Zebulon Hoxie, the Quaker who faced the Indians so calmly. The Mohawks clearly realised that a guy with a name like was not a man to be lightly crossed.
You just don't get churchmen with impressive names like that any more - if more churches had pastors with names like Zebulon Hoxie, the world would be a better place!!!!
- Ian B