USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Salem > The history of Salem, Massachusetts, vol 1, 1924 > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
1New English Canaan, by Thomas Morton, chapter III, page 23.
"Advertisements for the Unexperienced Planters of New England, &c., by Capt. John Smith, 1631, page 9.
41
THE INDIANS
sympathy and affection which are found only in society. When the English came, no resistance was offered, nor any claim of title to the land made or thought of. The red men were simply passive, waiting for the end.
The Indians in this region belonged to the great Algonquin race, called by William Wood1 and other early writers Aber- ginians, probably meaning aborigines. They were mainly a sedentary and agricultural people. The territory of original Salem was situated within the jurisdiction of two distinct tribes, the dividing line running from the bay up Danvers River, then between the ancient grants of Endecott and Porter, and then northerly on the northeasterly side of Wills Hill, in Middleton. To the east of this line was the land of the Agawams,2 and to the west that of the Massachusetts.3 In the town records of Salem is recorded a statement of four Indians, describing the territory of the Massa- chusetts tribe, as follows :-
Natick : 5: 7br : 1684:
these may fertyfie whom it may Concern yt we whofe names are vnder Riten can testsyfie yt the Land weh Is caled by the Name of Salem wh Is In Endyan Caled by the Name Naomkag & frost fish Riuer betw" the farmes formmy of m" Ennekod & farmer porthers farm thence to westward ouer Epswech Riuer the North side hill Caled Wills hill & toward to Andeuor & about meet anny Cross ouer the Road from Salem & the south side the andevor towne soe away toward Shassink Riuer to the farmms of m" Danell & the North said towne of opon & from thence to uppoind to marlden town Lyne Run the south side spoot pond & soe towne to Marlden mill & from thence to wend wenessemett wards all these fower old Endyan men they can testyfie the Land belongs : the saemin not only seallom but also all other town part of this .towne all this fower ald Endyan men can testyfie the Land this Is apone ritten this trackt of Land et belongs & properly to won- oppanoshow & Sagmen George ths hee Is her rite there this trak Land & this wittnes hee put his hand Euery one
JNº WOUTTAWASHAM his ? mark OLD MAGUSS his C mark
OLD MAWANAT his + mark
OLD JOHEJEKIN his ± mark
further full vnderstand about that Land or ye trak Land so now these two women sagamore George his dafter one her Name Susan and one her Name Sarah & the yong men one his Name dauied & Sam & Jnº. This the yong men Sagamorn George his grand Child so this all hee right his Land ye trak Land becaus Sagamorn George hee dead this truth no want other wittnes
this Is a true Copey taken of a Endyan the 7th 7br 1686.4
1New Englands Prospect, chapter V.
"Agawam means fish-curing place .- Hewitt.
"Massachusetts means "at or about the great hill."-Trumbull.
*Salem Town Records, volume V, pages 93 and 94.
42
HISTORY OF SALEM
In the registry of deeds at Salem the following depositions were recorded June 19, 1696 :- 1
EUIDENCES RELATING TO NAUMKEEGE
James Rumney Marsh aged about fifty yeares ye Son of Jnº Indian Testifieth that on his Certaine knowledge that ye riuer that runns vp between ye Townes of Salem & Beuerly Called Bafs riuer hath all- waies within his remembrance for about forty fiue yeares past been knowne & Caled by ye name of Naomkeage riuer & that riuer which lyeth between ye Towns of Salem & Marblehead now Caled fforrest Riuer : was formerly Caled by ye name of Mafhabequa James Rumny- mash perfonaly appeared tendring his Oath to ye Truth of ye aboue written whom upon Examination I found well to understand ye Nature of an Oath & accordingly I admitted him: who made Oath to ye Truth of ye aboue written this 7. 7br 1686. before me Barthº Gedney one of his Majties Councill for his Territory & dominion of New England.
Sufannah Potoghoontaquah daughter of Sagamore George afirmed ye truth of ye aboue written Euidence of James Rumney Marsh this 7th September. 86.
The 17th of September 1686.
Thomas Queakufsen alias Capt Tom Indian now liuing at wamefit neare Patucket Falls aged about Seuenty fiue yeares Testifieth & Saith that many yeares Since when he was a youth he liued with his father Deceafed named Poquanum who Sometime liued at Sawgust now Called Linn he married a Second wife & liued at Nahant and himfelfe in after times liued about Miftick & that he well knew all thofe parts about Salem Marblehead & Linn & tthat Salem & ye riuer running vp between that Neck of land & Bafs Riuer was Caled Naamkeke & ye Riuer between Salem & Marblehead was Caled Mafha- bequash alfo he Sais he well knew Sagamore George wth no Nofe who married ye Deponents Owne Sister Named Joane who died about a yeare Since & Sagamore George No Nofe left Two daughters Named Sicilye & Sarah & Two grand Children by his Son Nonnumpanumhow ye one Caled David & ye other wuttannoh & I My Selfe am One of thier kindred as before & James Rumnimafhs mother is one of Sagamore George his kindred & I know Two squawes more liuing now about pennekooke one Named Pahpochkfitt & ye others name I know not & I know ye Grandmother of Thefe 2 Squawes Named Wenuhuf She was a principle proprietor of thofe lands about Naamkege & Salem all thefe perfons aboue named are Concerned in ye Antient propriety to ye lands aboue mentioned
the marke of THOMAS U QUEAKUSSEN alias CAP® TOM :
Thomas Queakufsen alias Capt Tom : psonaly appeared before me at Cambridge The Day & yeare aboue written & being an Indian of good repute & profefsing ye Christian Religion & being Examined
1Essex Registry of Deeds, book II, leaves 131 and 132.
43
THE INDIANS
Knew ye nature of an Oath did depofe vnto ye Truth of what is aboue written ye I7th of zber 1686. before me Daniel Gookin Sen" appointed & authorifed by ye prefident & deputy prefident of his Majties Territory in New England to be ye Ruler among ye Christian Indians
Thomas Queakvisen alias Capt Tom affirmed ye Truth of his aboue written Euidence on ye former Oath before me
BARTHO. GEDNEY one of ye Councill
The Testimony of old Mahanton aged about ninety yeares Saith that ye Land that is Testified about by Seuerall ancient Indians that are Deceafed which did belong to Sagamore George as is Exprefsed in ye Euidence is ye Truth & properly doth now belong to Dauid that is old Sagamore George his Grandchild & Scicily & Sarah ye daughters of Sagamore George & ye wife of John Owufsumug now a widow Peter Ephraims wife & ye wife of Appooquahamock thier daughter & old Mahanton & James Rumney Marsh by right of his mother a neer kinsman of Sagamore George in his lifetime & This he ye Said Nahan- ton doth offer to Testify vpon Oath
Taken vpon Oath the Seauenth Day of October by old Mahanton before me at Cambridge as attest : Daniel Gookin Sen" J : of peace & Ruler of ye Indians
Dated ye Seuenth Day of October 1686.
The Testimony of Daniel Tookuwompbait & Thomas Wauban Saith that Sagamore George when he came from Barbados he liued Sometime and dyed at ye houfe of James Rumley Marsh ye Said Daniel heard ye Said Sagamore George Speake it & ye Said Thomas Saith he heard his father Old Wabun Speak it that all that land that belonged to him that is from ye Riuer of Salem alias Nahumkeke riuer: vp to Malden mill brooke running from a pond Called Spott pond that before his death he left all this land belonging to him vnto his kinsman James Rumley Marsh vpon yo Condition that he would looke after it to pro- cure it This they offer to Testify vpon Oath ye 2ª day of October 1686. as Witnis thier hands
DANIEL TOOKUWOMPBAIT THOMAS WAUBAN
The Two persons aboue named viz Daniel Tookuwompbait pastor of ye Church at Natick aged about 36 yeares & Thomas Waban a mem- ber of ye Church aged 25 yeares being Examined touching ye Nature of an Oath they both made Oath before me this Second of October 1686 vnto ye Truth of the abouesd Testimony as is Attested p me Daniel Gookin Juftice of peace & Ruler of ye Christian Indians.
John Waabaquin alias John Magus of Natick aged about fiuety fiue yeares doe Testifie that I haue not only heard my aged father lately Deceafed yt almost a hundred yeares of Age when he dyed Say But I know my Selfe that thofe lands where Salem Stands & parts adjacent was ye rightful pofsefsion & Inheritance of Sagamore George no nofe Called winnepurkin & his father & ancestors : & doth now belong to his Children & grand Children viz Sicily & Sarah his Two daughters & Dauid his Grandson by his father Deced Ma-na-tach-que and Dauid
44
HISTORY OF SALEM
had another Brother but I haue not Seen him lately And thier other kindred are Thomas Quehufson & James Rumny marsh alias Munmin- quash and alfoe I haue understood that Naamkeke is ye riuer that runns vp on ye North East of Salem Towne weh is now as I understood named Bafs riuer
Taken upon Oath before me by John Magus who is a Christian Indian & a Ruler of them at Natick & well understand the Nature of An Oath: Taken ye Seuenth Day of October 1686. before me Daniel Gookin J : of peace & Ruler of ye Indians p order
The Testimony of John Devoreux of Marblehead aged about Eighty years Testifieth & Saith yt about ye yeare of our Lord One thoufand Six hundred & Thirty I came ouer from old England to New England & ye place of my abode and refidence has been at Salem & Marblehead Euer Since & when I came hither here was an old Sqwah Called old Sqwaw Sachem ye Sqwaw of ye Deced Sachem which had three reputed Sons viz John James & George whoe were ye Reputed Sachems & Owners of all ye Lands in thefe parts as Salem Marblehead Linn & as farr as Miftick & in thofe dayes ye Land where Salem Towne now Stands & ye Lands adjacent was Called Nahumkege by ye Indians & English Then Inhabiting in thefe parts: Sworne marblehead Decem- ber ye 24. 1694. before vs.
JOHN HATHORNE Just. PR & Coram BENJAMIN BROWNE JOHN HIGGINSON Juste peace
To ye best of my Remembrance when I came Ouer with my father to this place in ye yeare 1629 being then about 13 yeares old there was in these parts a widow woman Called Sqwaw Sachem who had 3 Sons Sagamore John kept at Miftick Sagomore James at Saugust & Saga- more George here at Naumkeke Whether he was Actual Sachem here I Cannot Say he was young then about my Age & I thinke there was An Elder man yt was at least his Guardian but ye Indian Towne of Wigwams was on ye North Side of ye North riuer not farre from Simondes's & y" both ye north & South Side of that Riuer was together Called Naumkeke So that I remember Seuerall that wrote ouer Then to Their friends in England sd y' ye Indian name of ye place where they were building a Towne Called Salem was Naumkeke :
JOHN HIGGINSON
Att A Generall Sesfions of ye peace holden at Salem December ye 25th 1694: m' John Higginson Pastor of ye Church at Salem made Oath to ye Truth of ye aboue written Euidence to which [h]is name is Subícribed
Jurat in Court attest STEPH. SEWALL Clere
After mentioning various tribes to the north, Captain Smith wrote: "To those are alied in confederacy, the Countries of Aucocisco, Accominticus, Passataquak, Augawoam and Naem- keck, all these for anything I could perceiue differ little in lan- guage or anything, though most of them be Sagamos, and Lords
-
45
THE INDIANS
of themselues, yet they hold the Bashaber of Pennobscot the chiefe and greatest amongst them."1
The only Indian settlement in original Salem whose location can be identified from records was near the corner of North and Osborne streets in Salem. Rev. John Higginson, who came to Salem in 1629. stated, in 1694. that "ye Indian Towne of Wigwams was on ye North Side of ye North riuer not farre from Simondes's"2
The only sagamore of the Agawams known to history was Masconomet.ª sometimes called John. Rev. William Hubbard wrote,4 in 1680, that when Gov. John Winthrop arrived in Salem, in 1630, "Masconomo with one of his men came aboard, being the sagamore, (which is the lord proprietor) of that side of the country towards Cape Anne, to bid them welcome, staying with them all the day." Although the next year," he was banished from every Englishman's house for the space of one year, on the penalty of ten beaver skins,6 he was always kindly disposed and a peaceable neighbor to the whites, and with four sachems he volun- tarily signed an agreement, March 8, 1643-4, submitting himself to the government, and promising to be true and faithful thereto, aiding in its maintenance and willing to be instructed, from time to time, in the knowledge and worship of God." He signed the deed to John Winthrop, in 1638, with his mark. He died before June 18, 1658 ; and was buried on Sagamore Hill, now within the bounds of Hamilton, his gun and other implements being interred with his body. On the sixth of March following, curiosity and wanton sport prompted a person to dig up the remains; and to carry his skull about the highways in Ipswich.
Masconomet left a widow and several descendants. Thomas Tyler of Martha's Vineyard, in 1673, was a son.8 Three grand- sons, John Umpee, Samuel English and Joseph English, were
1Advertisements for the Unexperienced Planters of New England, &c., by Capt. John Smith, 1631, page 14.
2Essex Registry of Deeds, book II, leaf 132. Mr. Symonds' house occupied the present site of the Upham School building.
3 Also spelled Masconomo, Masquenomenit, Muschonomet and Musquo- nomet.
*History of New England, by Rev. William Hubbard of Ipswich, 1680, page 130.
July 5, 1631.
6Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, volume I, page 89.
"This submission is printed in full in the Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, volume II, page 55; where is also given the questions and answers as to religious belief, etc.
8Thomas Mayhew wrote, in 1673, that "ye Said Thomas Tyler is ye Sonne of ye Sagamore of Agawum, a known man in ye Countrey he Sold ye Towne of Ipswich all or ye most part of it all ye old planters know him that had ought to do with ye Indians in those daies: George Can Inform Concerning him he that hath lost his nose."-Essex Registry of Deeds, book 8, leaves 106 and 107.
46
HISTORY OF SALEM
living in Middlesex County in the winter of 1700-I. "Joe" English was faithful to the whites, and had been captured in Dunstable, and taken to Canada, but escaped and returned to Dunstable. The hostile Indians determined that he should die, and pursued him constantly. Lieutenant Butterfield and wife, while riding on horseback between Dunstable and Chelmsford, with "Joe" on foot, as a companion and guard, were fired upon by the savages. The horse was killed and the lieutenant and his wife fell. "Joe" and the lieutenant escaped. One of the Indians was left in charge of Mrs. Butterfield, and the other followed "Joe" who ran for his life through the woods. At length a shot struck his arm, breaking it. His gun fell, and he redoubled his speed, but as he gained the thick woods another shot struck him in the thigh and he fell. He heard a shout of triumph of his pursuers, and then a hatchet ended his earthly career. This was on July 27, 1706, and the place was "Joe English hill" in New Boston, N. H.1 On behalf of the widow of "Joe," the province of Massachusetts Bay was petitioned Aug. 14, 1706, that some provision might be made for her, "for his [Joe's] good service in giving intelligence of ye enemies motions" and "being lately killed in the Country's service." She was given four yards of Duffields to make blankets for herself and two children.2
Nanepashemet, the sagamore of the Massachusetts, lived in Saugus, and was killed in an attack by another tribe about 1619. His widow succeeded him in the government, probably because of the youth of his children. She was called by the English "squaw sachem" and she lived most of the time at Concord. They had five or six children and a number of their descendants became professed Christians.8
The Indians founded neither state nor city, and engaged in no regular commerce. Here are some of their graves and sites of their habitations and fortifications ; but the only impress that they left upon anything was in the names they gave to rivers and localities, which from time immemorial had been their dwelling places.4
Toward the English settlers of Salem the Indians then resid- ing here always showed great courtesy and affection, negativing the idea then current that they were envious and possessed of rancor and an inhuman disposition. They liked the coming of the white men, probably because their frequent wants might be relieved by them, and in them would be found a new defence
"History of New Boston, N. H., by Elliott C. Cogswell, 1864, page 304. 2Laws of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, volume I, chapter 61.
3See deeds from the Indians to Marblehead (Essex Registry of Deeds, book 7, leaf 1), Salem and other towns.
4See Historical Collections of the Essex Institute, volume 2, pages 5 and 6.
.
47
THE INDIANS
against their eastern enemies.1 They assisted the settlers in many ways, giving them advice and help which were of great advantage to them. The Indians instructed them in the planting of corn, teaching them to select the finest seed, to observe the best season, to plant in hills at a distance from each other and to dress and cultivate it through the season.
Within a few years after the first settlement by the English, the Indians became their wards, and in 1640 laws were enacted by the general court for protection of the corn and rights of the Indians.2 Numbers of them, as Masconomet, signed a submission to the government of the colony and its laws, agreeing to be bound thereby and faithful thereto. They also promised to for- sake their gods, both good and evil, and be instructed in the knowledge and worship of God. In a letter from the Company of the colony, evidently to John Endecott, dated Feb. 16, 1628-9, they wrote: "wee trust you will not be vnmindfull of the mayne end of our plantacon, by indevoringe to bringe ye Indians to the knowledge of the gospell: weh yt it maye be speedier & better effected, ye earnest desire of our whole compa is, y yo" have dilligent & watchfull eye on our owne people, that they live vnblameable & without reproofe, & demeane themselves iustlye & curteous towards ye Indians, thereby to drawe them to affect our psons, & consequentlye our religion as alsoe to endevour to gett some of theire children to trayne up to readinge, & con- sequentlye our religion, whilest they are yonge ; herein to yonge or olde to omitt noe good opportunitye y' maye tend to bringe them
1Richard Brackenbury of Beverly who came to Salem in 1628, stated, in 1680, that the settlers in Salem and Beverly never had been disturbed by the Indians (Essex Registry of Deeds, book 5, leaf 107) ; and Humphrey Woodbury of Beverly, who also came in 1628, stated, in 1680, that "when we setled, the Indians never then molested us, in our improuement or sitting downe, either at Salem or Beuerly sides of the ferry but shewed themselves very glad of our company, & came and planted by us, & often times came to us for shelter, saying they were afraid of theire indians up in the contry, & we did shelter them when they fled to us, & wee had theire free leave to build & plant where we have taken up lands" (Essex Registry of Deeds, book 5, leaf 108). William Dixie of Beverly, who arrived in Salem in 1629, stated, in 1680, that "when wee came to dwell heare the Indians bid us welcome, & shewed themselves very glad that wee came to dwell among them, & I understood they had kindly entertained the English that came hither before wee came, & the English & the Indians had a feild in comon fenced in together, & the Indians fled to shelter themselves under the English ofttimes, saying they were afraid of theire enemy Indians in the contry: in p'ticular I remember somtime after wee arrived the Agawam Indians com- plained to Mr. Endecott that they were afraid of other indians caled as I take it Tarrateens : Hugh Browne was sent with others in a boat to Agawam for the Indianes reliefe, & at other times we gave our neighbour Indians protection from theire Inemy Indians" (Essex Registry of Deeds, book 5, leaf 107).
2Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, volume I, page 293.
3Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, volume I, page 384.
48
HISTORY OF SALEM
out of y woefull state and condicon they now are in." To em- phasize their extreme accountability to God, a law was passed by the general court, Nov. 4. 1646, making blasphemy, by both English and Indians, punishable with death.1 The powwows also received the attention of the general court, which decreed, on the same day. "yt no Indian shall at any time powwow or pforme out- ward worship to their false gods, or to ye devill. in any pt of o" jurisdiction. whether they be such as dwell here. or shall come hith"." In each case, the powwow was to be fined five pounds, the pro- curer, a similar amount, and each assistant twenty shillings .?
In the first general letter of the governor and deputy of the New England company to the governor and council for London's plantation in the Massachusetts Bay, dated at Gravesend, April 17, 1629, it says: "take heede of beeing too secure in trusting the Indians, weh wee againe comend to yor care," etc."; and also sug- gests that they "bee not p"mitted to come to yor plantacon but at certaine tymes and places to bee appointed them."" March 1, 1630-I, the general court "ordered, that whateuer pson hath re- ceaued any Indian into their ffamylie as a serv' shall discharge themsleues of them by the Ith of May nexte; & that noe pson shall hereafter intertaine any Indian for a serv' without licence from the court." This order was repealed May 22, 1646, being unnecessary, because Indians would rarely enter into service. June 10, 1644, the general court passed a law prohibiting Indians from coming into any town or house of the English upon the Lord's day, without leave, except to attend public meetings ; or at any Englishman's house on any day, unless they first knock at the door and then not to enter until they are given leave. They were also to meet in certain places to be instructed in the gospel by some of the English Christians.
The authorities early regarded the possession, by the Indians, of guns and ammunition as dangerous ; and the court of assistants ordered, Sept. 28, 1630, "that noe pson whatsoeur shall, either directly or indirectly, imploy or cause to be imployed, or their power pmitt, any Indian to vse any peece vpon any occacon or pretence whatsoeuer, vnder payne of x1 ffyne for the first offence, & for the 2 offence to be ffyned & imprisoned att the discrecon of the Court."5 Repair of guns of Indians was also prohibited, and
1Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, volume II, page 176.
2Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, volume II, page 177.
3 Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, volume I, page 386.
4Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, volume I, page 394.
5Sept. 4, 1632, the general court ordered "that Richard Hopkins shalbe seuerely whipt, & branded with a hott iron on one of his cheekes, for selling peeces & powder & shott to the Indeans. Hereupon it was ppounded if this offence should not be punished hereafter by death. Referred to the nexte Court, to be determined."
49
THE INDIANS
selling or giving guns or any military weapon or ammunition was included in the prohibition May 17, 1637.1
By a law enacted by the general court, May 14, 1656, no horses were allowed to be sold to the Indians under a penalty of one hundred pounds. Boats, as they were a "means to disturb our peace and quiet," were also prohibited to be sold to the Indians, under a penalty of fifty pounds, by an act passed on the fourteenth of the succeeding October.
The settlers soon learned the evil effect of the use of in- toxicating liquors by the Indians, and July 2, 1633, the general court passed a law that "noe man shall sell, or (being in a course of tradeing) giue any stronge water to any Indean." Nov. 13, 1644, this law was so far modified that the sale of wine to the Indians was permitted. In the language of the records, their drunkenness became "swinish" and Oct. 18, 1654, to prevent it, the general court ordered that neither wine nor other strong liquor be sold to them, except by certain persons, under penalty of twenty shillings per pint. In Salem and other towns that had been set off from Salem, no one was appointed to this right.
May 9, 1657, becoming convinced that the Indians could not use liquor moderately, and that "the fruites whereof are murder and other outrages," the general court prohibited its sale to them, under a penalty of forty shillings per pint. May 23, 1666, liquor in the possession of Indians was ordered to be seized ; and drunken Indians were to be confined until they told where and of whom the liquor was obtained, and fined ten shillings.
In the letter of the Company in England to the governor of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay in New England, dated at Gravesend, April 17, 1629, already mentioned, says: "If any of the saluages ptend right of inheritance to" the lands endeavor to purchase their titles "that wee may avoyde the least semple of intrusion ;"2 and this was repeated in the second letter of the Com- pany, dated at London May 28, 1629.3 The general court ordered, March 4, 1633-4, that "noe pson whatsoeuer shall buy any land of any Indean without leaue from the Court." The policy of the colonial government always was to treat the Indians fairly. It was discussed by the general court, and finally, Oct. 19, 1652, it was ordered, that, being "willing that there may be a free passage of justice for their right amongst us," as well as for the English, what lands the natives have by possession or improvement, by subduing the same, they have just right unto, and that if they come
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.