On January 3, 1753, Timothy was appointed as guardian of the Mohawk children at the boarding school. In February, the boarding school mysteriously burnt down, and Hawley lost everything. It was widely believed that the Williams/Dwight/Kellogg faction had set the fire, although this was never proven. As a result, it was decided that Hawley might be more successful if he lived among the Mohawks, instead of having them come to him. So, on May 22, 1753, Timothy and Gideon took a trip to Onaquaga, in Iroquois territory. The British were especially motivated to establish a relationship with the Six Nations as they foresaw the onset of the French and Indian War.