USA > Massachusetts > Nantucket County > The history of Nantucket County, island, and town : including genealogies of first settlers > Part 20
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February 10th 1746-7.
Then we the Indions of Saghedan hat our wood taken away and our stuffs and daken away by the English men on Nantucket. and this is what they do In all Indion placeis ad nantuckket they will not let us haue no Good Ground to blandt but they take the best of our land to make pastors for there creders, this what they do all Times.
and we the East end Indions of nantuckkit are Turneth away from our land by the English men of nantuckkit and they Turn to the Sagh Indion blascet to dake away there blanding Ground from. them and also there wood and stufs. this was done In the Yeare 1746 and to the Honoured Gouernor atd Boston and to the Counsel also thy poor Indion seruans at nantuckkit blasce called in Sagkedan Desire this fauer if you Blease that we may haue the Judgment Crelounsed ** for us In Times bassett of our land saghe- don at nantukket bee Desire it may fillished at Boston for we se there is no man will com to nantuckkit to do anly thing for us up- pon the Judgmend you made for us for what these English men do only magk us Dituertį with us friends and English concerning of our land for there is all against us, no Judge will do anly thing for us so we pray to your honours that this Judgmend may be fillished at Boston for se and know that you sent your men to come and when them come they do nothing for us and we Desire the Judgmend may be fillished here and if there be anly thing for us then we shall Receued and if not then we must be contented."
May 6, 1747, probably while consideration of the matter was still pending, the Indians supplemented their complaint with the fol- lowing: *** "This what it was done at Nantuckket sakedan Indion Town that I paul quaab is much abusit by these English men and they henter me that I may not be preparing for our court peusi- nesses which is to be In Nantuckket by the order of the honouredt Gouernour at Boston. Mr. James Gase sent write by the Constable to be serued uppon me and which constable dit at my house and I was going to say sumthing to him but he would not care what I said to him but he laid hans on me boolst me out my house then I Remembered the writing I had from General Court at Boston to daketh with me that men maid se that I had peusiness at Court and he call helbe and come two Einglish men to helbe constable to carre me away and they carre me neare a mile and they bind me with line and they fasten me on hoses neck, this they do to sent me out whaling that I should not be at home when the Court sit and should haue not time to make any Raternes for the Court. James Gasc sent write by constable to be served upon me when I was no ways obliged to him by any account or bromes to go whal- ing so long time or I neuer bromesth. Ebene Carnashaw longe I
*hurt.
tplant.
#place.
** the meaning is obscure. ttpast.
##The poor penmanship and dialect spelling of the Indians some- times makes their meaning very obscure.
*** State Archives. Indians, Vol. 31, p. 546.
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would go whaling for him but when constable had me before Josiah coffen the Judge he passet sentance uppon me to pay for Court charges which is one pound fifteen shillings-and now I paul quaab make my complaineth to this court against these English men and I Desire this Honourable court to se whether Justely serued or not.
The honourabeth Judges of this Court, Sir I am fard' that these Justises In Nantuckket do not do * * * with m'e In all times for I should be Glad if you would look In my case and if you Gentlemen Se I must loos my case shall be all well for I cannot put any trust In them."
"June the 1st 1747 then I Paul quaab haue seen so much of some of these Good m'en of Nantukket. one Ebene Ganar* he nauer would mak op our accounts In three year . . but when he was mad with me then we must mak op our accounts bedwen he and I and I know his harth was not rithd me then any In our maken op our accounts. I se how he did he Reckoneth op for him things which I payeth for before, and here is another which Eben Garnar did. he want that I should go to Boston for him and he was to Giue me twenty five pounds In money and he was let me money to buy mete and drink going and comeing and he let me six pounds In money and old chaketh and New Suth and pare houes and he chargeth ine Seventeen Pounds for all these things he let me haue. heare is an- other pesiness to this honourable court which is to be at Nantuckket that I paul quaab was sent by the Town Indions of Sakedan to go and for Bid Barnabas Spatsoo from daking our wood and stufs any more from our land. we sakedan Town Indions and as I spoke to the said Barnabas Spahsoo In the behalf of Sakedon Town Indiors Desire laid my hand to dak him away from Giting any more wood from our land-and this barnabas Spahsoo he go and git writ for me and make his complaineth that I hidde in and constabie come for me with writ and when I come before the Judge Josiah Coffen I se there was no witness ony one boy there to be a wit- ness against me, which was fourthteen years of auge. the Judge Coffen never asketh him of what he knew of the said case ony what constable asketh him In time going to the Court and no more and I paul quaab was Judgmend passeth by Josiah Coffen and also nathan foulger giue sum Derektions In the said case and I was to be whip'd or to pay Ten shillings and which I payeth with my own money and also pay for court charges and which money was payeth by my mas- ter Ebene Garner he payeth for me sume of two pounds and 12 s-s and I paul quaab make my complaineth against the Judgemend was passeth uppon me to the honourable court to se whether it is Rite or not."
."I Salomon Zechariah was at that corld sam time and there was no other witness appear agains paul quabb that time ony the said boy and the Judge neuer ask him of what he know of the complaint was made aginst paul quaab by barnabas Spatsoo, but the Judge made paul quaab pay Two pound-12s-and Ten shillings more he payeth for whiping. this I sai is true where of I witnesseth with my own hand mark.
SALOMON ZACHERIAH, his mark"
"I John Titus can cay the same of what Solomen Zachariah says of the case for I was at that corld same time I heare all and se all. this is true whereof I witnesseth with my own hand mark.
JOHN TITUS, his mark"
"nen paul quaab nosooquoh whonk."
* Eben Gardner.
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HISTORY OF NANTUCKET
To the foregoing complaints the Selectmen of Nantucket sent the following reply :
"To His Excellency William Shirley Esq Captain Generall and Governor in Chief of the Province of the massachusets Bay in New England and to the Honourable Council and House of Repre- sentatives in Generall Court assembled May ye 27: 1747 and by ad- journment to August the 12th following :-
May it plese your Excellency and Honours, haveing been served with a Copy of a Petition or Memorial Put into the Generall Court in February Last by Paul Quaab in behalf of himself and sundry Other Indians of Nantucket s'd Petition Setting forth sundry Abuses that they received from the English People there; that is thay have their wood taken from them and the best of their Land taken from them to plant and for pastures for Our Cattle and other Indians turned on their Land to plant & cut wood. may it plese Your Excel- lency and Honours, the said Complaints are altogether false and Groundless for we have not molested nor hindred them from plant- ing for they Yearly plant as much land as they want and have let part of their Land this Year to both English and Indians, even the Complainants themselves and it is so far from being true as to tako- ing their wood from them that we have allow'd the Complainants and others hitherto to cut what wood and stumps they have occasion to burn upon Our Land that we have Purchased of their Avowed Sach- ems and other owners for which we have good Deeds for and what occationed their Complaints Concerning Wood was because we allow- ed the Indians from other parts of the Island that had no wood to cut wood on Our Lands above mentioned and their is not any among us that had any particular Tract of Land fm the Sachems but Enjoys it unmolested by us, nor have these any share in Paul Quaabs Complant. the said Paul Quaab and his Complainants they nor their Ancestors Never had nor were allowed any other Land by the Sach- ems but a planting Right and that they payd the Sachems an ac- knowledgement yearly for which we alow in full (haveing purchast of the Sachems) without any acknowledgement or gratuity neith- er have we pastured our cattle on any land but what we have pur- chas'd as above mentioned. and touching the killing their Creat- ures. in the Year 1746 their hath not a Creature of theirs been killed except a few unruly dogs they had which we killed for the more safety of Our sheep which the province laws seemed to support us in. we have Great Reason to think that s'd Paul's Petition or Complaint was first formed by some Evil minded persons among us that makes a trade of supplying the Indians with Rum and have had the produce of their Land and Labour for little or no value and from the reasons above mentioned pray that y'r Ex- cellency and Honours in your Wisdom would Dismiss said Paul's Complaint and as in Duty bound shall ever pray
THOMAS MACY MATTHEW JENKINS RICHARD COFFIN PAUL STARBUCK NATHAN COFFIN GRAFTON GARDNER"*
Selectmen of the Town of Sherbourne
John Bunker of the Selectmen did not sign the remonstrance for some reason.
*State Archives. Indians, Vol. 31, p. 538.
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HISTORY OF NANTUCKET
At about the same time the following petition was presented to the General Court:
"To His Excelency William Shirley Esq'r Captain Generall aud Governour in chief in and over his majesties Province of the massa- chusetts Bay in New England and Honourable his Majesties Councill and house of Representatives in General Court Assembled May ye 27: 1747.
the Petition of Abashai Folger in behalf of the Town of Sher- born on Nantuckett-,-
May it plese Your Excellency and hounours there was a Com- plaint put into the great and generall Court in february 1746 by Paul Quawb an Indian of Nantuckett setting forth Sundry abuses that s'd paul and other Indians received from the Inhabitants and Authori- ties in Sherborn aforesaid upon which the s'd grt and generall Court ordered a Committ'e to Repair to Nantuckett and to Enquire into the Grounds of the abovesid Complaint.
With Submission to yo'r Excellenc'y and hounours What yo'r Petitioner hath to ofer is this when s'd Complaint was put into s'd Court the Town of Sherborn had no Representative in Court to make answer to s'd Complaint. If it had been Otherwise y'r Petitioner is of Opinion that the s'd Complaint would have been Dismissed.
Y'r Petitioner in behalf of his said Town* Prays that y'r excel- lency Hounours would Reconsider s'd Vote or order of Court and Grant that s'd Town of Sharborn may be Notifed with a Copy of s'd Paul's Complaint and that they make their answer in Some rea- sonable time which y'r Petitioner thinks would be means of Saveing a Considerable Charge for y'r Petioner is well Acquainted with the afairs amoung the Indians at Nantuckett and thinks the Abovesaid Complaint altogether Groundless and y'r Petitioner as in Duty bound shall forever pray.
ABISHAI FOLGER"
In the House of Rep'tives June 5, 1747
Read and Ordered that the Pet'r serve the Town of Sherburne with a Copy of this Pet'n and the Pet'n of Paul Quaban within re- fer'd to
And the further Consideration of said Pet'n is refer'd till the first fryday of the next Sitting of this Court and all Proceedings with respect to the Committee appt'd to repair to Nantucket are suspended in the mean time.
Sent up for concurrence T. HUTCHINSON SPK'R ..
In Council June 6, 1747.
Read and Concurr'd J. WILLARD SECY.
Consented to
W. SHIRLEY."
But the Indians were persistent with their complaints and un- der date of July 14th drew up the following: t
"Then This written Instrumend was mad at the place called Sakkedan Indion Town at Nantuckket. This is whad These Einglish men haue done onto us the poor Indions at Nantuckket when the Einglishmen dak us out whaling with Them to Sea they will let us
*Mr. Folger was the Representative of Nantucket in the General Court.
¡State Archives. Indians, Vol. 31, p. 542.
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HISTORY OF NANTUCKET
no time to Rest on the sabbath days if they see whal or whales then we must Row after them if it be on the sabbath day all day long, we must be Rowing after whal or whales or be killing whal that sab- bath day. This is what Nantuckket Einglish men do onto us we poor Indions of Nantuckket and now we heare they say at Genald corte that the Indions of Nantuckket are no ways like christions and the Gouernour at Boston and the Counsel know nothing of whad these men do, how can we be any ways be like christians when we should be praying to God on the Sabbath day morning then we must be Rowing after whal or killing whal or cutting up whal on Sabbath day when we should be at rest on that day and do no worly labour only to do sum holy duties to draw near to God and when on land then we have no time to go to the meeting and then we are call to go away again to sea whaling. how can we serve God or to worship him on the Sabbath days or at any time when our masters lead us to darkness and not In light and these young Indions which are brought op by the Einglish of Nantuckket they dak no notice of the sabbath day if they be at meting house they will go away again to see there Friends and there is Indion In our Town which are willing to worship God or to Serve God In all times if they can and I hope there is some of us Indions which haue true fear of God. it is we it was brought op by our own parants and had see our fond Fathers ways to worship God. we are all will to do what we can to serue God but these Einglishmen henter us from being more Constand to serueing God, and we In- dions say by these Einglish as they say by us they are no ways like Christions for if they was they would go by Rules of the Gospel and should be In true fear of God, now we Indions on Sakkedan Town make our complaineth of these Einglish men of Nantuckket to this Honourable Genald Courld at Boston-and we old Fathers make complaineth with these Town Indions concerning our children. the names of these old men is Saul quaskenit and old Stauel caleb and old daster and James pocknit.
and we are the men this Sakkedan Town Indions we will dak the consel of these old men it makes the complaineth to this courld* the Names of these men is John quaab, and James Asal and Israel akailka."
This was followed on August 4 by still another complaint. The seeming frivolity of some of the Indian complaints, viewed from the English standpoint would make them of minor interest, but viewed from the standpoint of their apparent inability to fully comprehend a law which allowed even their sachems to dispossess them of rights in lands they and their ancestors had enjoyed from time immemorial, as suggested by Henry B. Worth, Esq., they seem invested with mnuch importance to them.
The complaint of August 4 alleges; "Then this written Instra- mend was made for all the Nantuckket Indion places of there com- plaineds against the Einglish of Nantuckket, now the Est end of Nantuckket Indions make these Complaind against the Einglish for taking there hay away from them which they cut of there mattrest and when the Einglish tak Indion whalman out our place to go to the sea whaling if there be any whal or whales to be seen on the Sabbath day Indions must go and Row after them and if whal be killed then it must be cut op if it can be; so, too, if it be on Sab-
*This word wherever used means Court.
+Mass. Archives, Indians, Vol. 31, p. 544.
¿Probably meadows is intended.
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bath day this is knowing by whalmen, it comes from Barnstable Einglish and Indions they sent done and the owners of these vessels know that the masters of there vessels will kill whal on Sabbath day if they can yet they say nothing to them. this is true no lye. we will tell no lyes concerning these Nantuckket whaleman for we no ways angry with these men. to they will let us no time to Read our Books on Sabbath days but we are sore when we see these things done by these men-and nantuckket Einglish men say nantuckket Indions are no christions. it is true we cannot be a true Christions for we haue no Books that we may haue under standing by them but we are willing to do what we can to serve God In all times Especially on the Sabbath days-
These Einglish of Nantuckket tell you that we are no christions. These men tell you so that you Gread men at Boston that you will leaue us In there hans, to do what they will with us and our land-and these men Desire no peace with us we poor Indions. if they are for peace they would not henter the chosen men from com- ing on Nantuckket to see how the case is between them and us-
And we poor Indions pray the Honoureth Gouernour at Boston and the Honoureth Counsel also to be our helpe where you see it is Good for us we poor Indions.
And we Desire more Fauer of your Honours to Giue us the Indion Books that we may learn our Children to Read and say there Catechis that may haue learning to know God and know how serue God in true fear-
John Quaab is the chief in this concearn to all Indions In Nan- tuckket chord with him In this consearn and the names of these Indions are heare written-Titus Ezekil, Amsiah manoras, James pockinit, Joseph Pocknit, Abram toalyu, Eben Kain, John Titus, Samuel Papomoo."
Another petition dated August 9, 1747* sets forth that the Indians have had all their land at S'kwam taken away and threat- ened that their houses would be moved; that they are deprived of land of which they have deeds that have been recorded and from which 509 loads of hay have been taken. The English are driving them to the west end of the Island where no corn can grow. Eight "dayes past they mad a General Call among we poor Indions to Com and hear the paper that Gouernor Sharle had sent and we went the munday falling and heard it Red by Abisha folger and Johnathan Coffin and Richard Coffin and they Rad we was to plant as much as they Likt apeas three men thought fit and where they Liked. thay Will Giue Liberty and without thare consent wee shall do nothing and that we should Let no Land to aney pour man thay Neead not Giueing that Charge We Cant Git it to plant our one becase they Ceep it out of our hands and I pray you to take it in consideration and Assist us and I pray that God mit be of our side and be your Gide and do the thing that is Jest. we want not B folger nor no other man that is Liueing on the Island to be ouer us for all thay that are Liueing on hear that are Concarned in Comens, there Sperits are of the diuel and thay cant do nothing that is Good or Jest concearning us. all we want is our Land in witch is Colled Skwarn for us to make use of as we haue all our dayes past tell thay haue Euen as taken it by fose it away. We desire to haue it Returned to be our one our Life time and for Euer and not to be destorbed from our Comfort in this world. I dont
*Mass. Archives. Indians, Vol. 36, p. 545.
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under sand why thare should not be Jestes for us and why our Names may be oap out
ISAACK NOOSSE ouat APRAN NORSKOV ouat
The Council considered these complaints, as in duty bound to do, and on August 15, 1747, took the following action-"Read and Ordered that Samuel Watts, Ezekiel Cheever & James Minot Esqrs with such as the hon'ble House shall join be a Committee to hear the Parties now attending & report what they judge proper for this Court to do thereon." On August 18 the House concurred with the order and joined Major White, Mr. Rice, Mr. Millen and Captain Wilder.
The records would seem to imply that there was something in the nature of the filing of affidavits by Paul Quaab and others .* Quaab alleged that he was carried by a constable before Judge Cof- fin and by him committed to prison not, as he states, for any offence he had committed but because " I liued In the house which belong- eth to we Town Indions and This house was made by our fore Fathers and also our own Fathers this Town Indions made this house for the Towns use or for their Saichem to liue Ineth and our fathers took care to mend the hous and to seteth where they all Greed to set there houses and no Town Indions do the same to mend the said house and to seteth where we shall all Gue to Set- eth."
Paul goes on to state that he told Judge Coffin that he would be glad to have the General Court settle the question about the house and asserts that the Judge told that neither the Governor nor coun- sel should hinder him from settling any case brought before him. He also alleges that the constable (Micah Coffin) told him that no authority at Boston could remove him from his (the constable's) custody. Paul therefore calls those two men enemies and asserts an unwillingness to be judged by them. He names to prove his case Stephen Caleb, who is nearly 100 years old, and Saul Quahnit nearly as old. Their statements over their own signatures (or marks) are appended. Other affidavits of a similar nature are signed (by marks) by Amsiahmanuas Abel Nannohoo and others.
It must be that the investigation halted badly or was not push- ed at all for in 1749, the subject is again brought to the attention of the Court-this time by the Guardians of the Indians, in the fol- lowing report. t
"To the Honourable Spencer Phips Esq'r Lieutenant Gov- ernour and Commander in Chief of the Province of the Massa- chuseetts Bay in New England and the Representatives in Generall Court assembled on the Twenty-second of November, 1749.
May it Plese your Honours:
Pursuant to the order of the Great and Generall Court in the may sessions last we the subscribers Guardians for the Indians on Nantuckett have Enquired in to the Grounds of Poul Quaabs Complaint set forth in his Petition in June last Setting forth that
* Mass. Archives. Indians, Vol. 31, p. 546.
+Mass. State Archives, Indians, Vol. 31, p. 658.
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HISTORY OF NANTUCKET
the English take away all the best of their Lands at Nantucket-we find the said Complaint all-together Groundless and no foundation for the same for the Village of Indians where the said Complainant us'd to live which seems to be the Place he aims at there is about twenty five familys of Indians which have the Yearly choice of above twenty-five Hundred Acors of Land where they Live to Plant un- molested and a great part of the same as good Planting Lands as any on the Island of Nantuckett, neither do they yearly plant one quarter part of the same that is in good order for Planting tho unmolested by the English, and as Touching the Complainants set- ting forth that they cannot have their Accompts made up with the English people we haveing diligently Enquired into the same-can- not find one Single Instance and are therefore of Opinion that the whole of the Complaints are without any foundation of truth.
JONATHAN COFFIN Guardians RICHARD COFFIN for the
ABISHAI FOLGER Indians
The General Court seemed entirely satisfied with the statement of the Guardians and the report was ordered accepted by the Council December 8, 1749. The House concurred on January 1 following and the proceedings were at once consented to by Governor Phips.
The settlement, however, was only a brief one for under date of July 23, 1754, another petition was sent to the General Court by the Indians setting forth that they were wrongfully deprived of their lands and that the English repeatedly trespassed on their pro- perty. and they could obtain no remedy. They petitioned that the question of titles be adjudicated in some other County. This petition was signed by Issac Woosoo, Titas Ezehorta, Amssi, Issak Joel, Jo Samsun, Atunnenapass, John Napass, Sambopomas, Rogkcabe, John Titas, Tam Sass, John Bakin, Nanjomu Isnooey, Nenoben Cain, Ban- geman Jo, Ruben Kunoo, Ruben Job, Appaum Sam .*
Following this complaint is a peculiar and interesting series of documents. The first is a complaint purporting to be drawn by Benjamin, John Quaab and Ben Joab and endorsed "This Eng- lished by me. Exp. Mayhew" and dated July 6, 1751 .; The second purports to be the will of Sachem "Neekonusoo" devising to his sons Puttumpantanum Noosoo, What Nooso, James Nooso and Paul Nooso certain lands "The first Bounds in Mashquttoohk or Read River and as far as Apaqunuminnohkite and as far as Aqunoonogquesit (or the hole Where a stone stands) and Then as far as Hashkinuitchaocket Westward of ye hill from thence as far as Mashquapomtit, Quite to ye River."# This is dated January 9, 1668. The third is a statement purporting to be under the hand and seal of Wawinit, Tatahquamomoy, Keostahkaw, Wunaoa- uohquen, me Themanum and Benj'a Joab Yompasham alleging their right to the land, which right is also attested by Peter Tup-
* Mass. Archives, Indians, Vol. 32.
¡Mass. Archives. Indians, Vol. 32, p. 167.
Ib. 168.
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HISTORY OF NANTUCKET
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