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Your Worship's servant, MILES MORGAN".
Knowing that Miles Morgan could neither read nor write, one realizes that both text and signature are in the hand of John Pynchon. In the lower left-hand corner is the Latin equivalent of "turn over", and on the inside of the folded sheet he wrote:
"May 23, 1661. Sir,-
Here is a Dutchman came from Fort Aurania in February last who hath continued in Northampton ever since till about a week ago he came to Springfield town. He pretends skill in chirurgery and indeed had done some cures at Northampton as very credible persons do affirm and since he came hither hath done some things whereby it appears he hath some skill but how far it would reach know not. He hath taken Goodman Dorchester's leg in hand and thinks to cure it. And he says he thinks he could cure my daughter. He speaks very confidently thus far that he can bring her leg to right and straight. And he offers to cure her for £60. and yet withal says he will have nothing for his pains if he do not make a perfect cure that shall be so judged by any able chirurgeons. Myself and wife are fearful of meddling with him, being a stranger, lest he may do her hurt and therefore, though he hath been these eight days here and I have entertained him at my house, yet we have not hitherto employed him. But we have thoughts of trying him. He seems to be a sober man and says he will use no launching nor no violent means, but bathings, rubbings and chafing the sinews, and that he intends to follow two or three days, night and day. At first he intends to take little or no sleep for two or three nights. I thought at first he might be needy of money and his aim might be to get some, but he says I shall not pay him one penny till I see it be a cure and see her go without crutches or stick. If his endeavor should effect such a cure, I should wonder at it and have cause to magnify the goodness of God to us in so ordering it for us, which we deserve not.
JOHN PYNCHON".
250
WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
It may be confidently assumed that this massaging (so suggestive of the Sister Kenny treatment of modern times), provided relief. Crippled Mary Pynchon, ten years old when this letter was written, married at the age of nineteen, Joseph Whiting, Treasurer of the Connecticut Colony, and became the mother of two children. In those days, when a wife was manager of the household and responsible for the rearing of the children, even a wealthy man would hardly have chosen for a wife, a woman dependent on crutches. Pelatiah, son of Miles Morgan was killed by the Indians when far afield.
Bourn Von Hooren, the Dutchman, became a permanent resident of the town, where he was known as Born Van Horn. His name is perpetuated in Van Horn Park.
CHAPTER XXV
Land-Purchase Technique
W ILLIAM PYNCHON early realized that an understanding of the Indian language was vital to his plans for the future and his familiarity with Latin and Greek qualified him for the undertaking to a degree enjoyed by few others. As his studies pro- ceeded, he shared the results with his son, who also was determined to master the subject.
At the Forbes Library at Northampton is a Pynchon ledger on one page of which John Pynchon recorded his attempt to analyze the native words for the months of the year, "as far as I yet can understand them". In 1643, when the lad was seventeen years of age, Roger Williams had brought out his Key Into the Language". This phrase book must have bewildered and perplexed this eager student, for it is replete with inconsistencies. Few meanings are literal and much of the text relates to words that do not actually appear, but are merely implied. For instance, William gives nawwatick as "far off at sea", but the word includes nothing representing "sea", meaning simply "the far off place"; any sense of "sea" being merely of the mind.
On page sixty-six, taquontikeeswush is given as "harvest month", while on page one-hundred, nunnowwa is given as "harvest time". Actually, nothing in either word relates to "harvest". The first is from a root meaning "fall of the leaf", that is "autumn", which happens also to be harvest time. The root of the other word means merely, "it is dry".
After reading in Roger Williams' Key, that "they have thir- teen months, according to the several moons and they give each of them significant names", Pynchon protested that "pap sap quoho and lowatanassick they say are both one. And if they be reckoned both for one, they reckon but twelve months to the year, as we do".
Today informed scholars prefer to rely on the Pynchon studies, rather than on those of Roger Williams.
Eventually, John Pynchon mastered the basic language of the natives of Western Massachusetts, although he never fully compre- hended some of the dialectal changes, yet he became sufficiently fluent so that he could carry on ordinary negotiations with the Indians.
252
WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
For that reason his services were constantly in demand by projectors of new settlements, in purchasing lands for their designs, as at Northampton in 1653, Hadley in 1658, Hatfield in 1660, Deerfield in 1667 and Westfield in 1669.
In Hampden County Registry of Deeds, at Springfield, Liber A, Folio 6, is recorded "a copy of a deed of sale whereby Umpanchela, an Indian sachem, formerly of Nolwotogg, did sell and alienate his right and interest in certain parcels of lands on the west side of Quinecticott river unto Major John Pynchon of Springfield, for and in the behalf of the inhabitants of Hadley, as also his, the said Major John Pynchon's assignment of the same to the said inhabitants".
The tract described was what became known as "Hadley west side", and is now the town of Hatfield". From it was reserved the chickons, alias cottinyakies (kitikanakish, plantation ground), which is to say, their planting ground".
The deed reads,-
"Be it known unto all men by these presents that Umpanchela, alias Womscon, a sachem of Nolwotogg on the one part, being the chief proper owner of the land on the west side of Quinectcot river, from Cappowoungonuck (kuppo wonkun ohk, "place shut in by a bend") to the upper side of Mincomonk (min akam ohk, "over across land", i. e., "land across the brook") for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred fatham of wampam in hand paid besides several other small gifts and for other good causes and considerations, do sell, give, grant to John Pynchon aforesaid on the other part and to his assigns and successors for ever, this tenth day of July, 1660".
Then followed "the mark of Umpanchala" and "the mark of Etowomp, brother to Umpanchee, ownering and approving the sale of the land and is a witness to it".
Should one here picture a meeting of the prospective settlers under an elm tree by the river, Umpanchala and his brother Etowomp attending with a princely retinue? Were the wampum beads made up into those symbolic belts so beloved by the pageant-masters? Or how was the payment made ? What was the ceremony of the transfer ?
As the answer is a matter of such complete documentary evidence, the facts are here recited.
The word wampum, an abbreviation of wampum-peage, meant "strings of white beads", but was by common usage applied to both the white and black beads. A fathom was an arbitrary measure of length established in 1640 by the Massachusetts authorities as a string of two hundred forty wampum beads with a value of four a penny. At four a penny, a fathom of two hundred forty beads would have a value of sixty pence, or five shillings. The following accounts show that in 1660, a fathom was still valued at five shillings and that a hand of wampum (twenty-four beads) was one-tenth of a fathom and was valued at six pence. Thus, the three hundred fathom of wampum mentioned in the deed would have comprised seventy-two
253
LAND-PURCHASE TECHNIQUE
thousand beads, each one laboriously fashioned by hand from sea shells. The Pynchon account books are replete with entries showing payments to fellow townsmen for stringing such beads.
For more than half a century the Pynchon store served the Valley, from Wethersfield on the south to the most northerly upriver town, and from Brookfield on the east to Albany on the west. The account books of the store cover the years 1645 to 1700 and are more than mere ledgers, for their pages include intriguing stories. Innum- erable entries testify to Pynchon's intimacy with the natives.
JOHN PYNCHON'S STUDY OF THE NAMES OF THE MONTHS
From the Pynchon Account Book, with the Judd Papers in the Forbes Library, Northampton, Massachusetts.
Pap sap quoho, & Lowatanassick they say are both one: And then if they be reckned both for one: they recken but 12. month to ye veare as we doe. And they make ye yeare to begine in Squannikesos (as far as I yet can understand ym) & so call ye first month.
1-Squan ni kesos
pt of Aprill & pt of May When they set Indian corne.
2-Moone squa nimock kesos
3-Tow wa kesos
4-Matterl la nawkesos
5-Mi cheen nee kesos 6-Pa ?? qui taqunk kesos
7-Pepe warr
8-Qunni kesos 9-Pap sap quoho
About ye 6th day of January or Lowatanassick so caled bec: they account it ve midle of winter.
10-Squo chee kesos 11-Wee picum milcom
12-Na mossack kesos
pt of May & pt of June When ye women weed their corne.
pt of June & pt of July When they hill Ind. corne.
When squashes are ripe & Ind beanes begin to be eatable.
When Ind. corne is eatable. Ye middle between harvest & eat- ing Ind. corne.
Bec of white frosts on ye grass & grain.
Bec: ye sun hath strength to thaw. pt of February & pt of March. Bec: ye ice in ye river is allgon. pt of March & pt of Aprill. Bec: of catching fish.
In December, 1658, John Pynchon charged "to Seanan, the Wethersfield sachem, four yards of trading cloth and one yard of
254
WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
shag cotton which Kackionieh and Neesumbawcum, two other Wethers- field Indians engage shall be satisfied". At the same time were charges to "Seancut, a Hartford Indian 13/4 yards of shag cotton" and "to Seancut's squaw, 21/2 yards of red trading cloth". "Robin, a Wethersfield Indian had 21/2 yards of shag cotton" and "Japhet, the Indian that was Mr. Fitch's man had two yards of red cotton". Pynchon was ever just to the natives, yet he exacted payment in full. He noted,-"In page twenty of old book, John the Indian owes me ever since 1659, sixteen shillings six pence and may well allow me twenty shillings". On July 14, 1661 "Jack Commolan (Nosatuck of Nipnet, his son) was trusted for two shoes for which he promises me a great skin of beaver". Looming large below the entry is the word "Paid". On June 30, 1666 Pynchon "lent to Chuckehoagg, one bushel of Indian corn. To pay me after harvest". On January 1, 1667 Nathaniel Ely was charged five shillings on account of a pay- ment "to an Indian, Squompe, for bringing your horses to Chickuppy river, for which I agreed with him a bushel of Indian corn apiece". On July 11, 1671 "John Russell, junior, pastor of Hadley" was asked to reimburse Pynchon for one pound, "payment to the Indians who brought your negro man and the canoe from the Indian fort".
By continuous steps, Pynchon converted his merchandise and his wampum into cash or its equivalent. From the Indians he received furs and land. The furs he shipped to England; the lands he leased on shares or sold to his associates. From the English he received for his wares, either lands, produce or labor. So the endless chain continued.
On page 214 of the second volume of Pynchon's Account Books appear complete details of the manner of payment to Umpanchala.
Umpanchela ye Indian Sachem & owner of ye Land at Norwotog hath taken up of me towards pay for his land wch he promises to sell.
Imprims.
Sept. 23 2 yds. of Bilboe rug
01-15-00
1659.
red shag cotton 6s blew Trad. cloth 6s 00-12-00
wampam 2 fad. 6 h. 00-13-00
a shurt 00-10-00
all is 14 fadam.
Feb. 13.59. 1 coate
5 fad.
1 pr. breeches
1 fad.
01-12-06
red shag
5 h.
in wampam
7 fadam
01-15-00
in wampam
2 fad.
00-10-00
More, a coate
5 fad.
05-02-06
in wampam
15 fad. 5 h.
-
all is 36 fad.
50 faddam in all
LAND-PURCHASE TECHNIQUE
255
Apr. 12
1660. 14 fadam, viz
a coate Cotton Wamp.
5 fad. 1 7
2 h. 03-10-00
S h.
More
a gun
6
5 h.
-
Apr. 14th More two blew coates 10 fadam
02-10-00
More
Apr. 16th 16 fad. in a coate, 1 pr. of breeches & 10 fad. of wampam
04-00-00
in all 100 fadam is ye sum of
25-00-00
More dlrd ye 16th day of Aprill 1660 one shurt at 2 fad. is
00-10-00
Apr. 24th in shag cotton
1 fad.
00-05-00
1660 In wampam
7 fad. 01-15-00
Apr. 25th red shag 15 h & Wampam 8 fad. 5 h. is 10 fad.
02-10-00
(60)
Apr. 27th red shag 12 h. Wampam 3 fad. 8 h. & a coate 5 fad, Wampam
10 fad.
02-10-00
01 fad. 12
00-07-06
May 9 (60)
In wampam
08 fad. 1/2
02-02-06
2 Coates
10 fad.
02-10-00
May 17
a blew Wastcote & 10 Fad. wamp
12 fad. 4 h.
03-02-00
May 19 In wampam
03
00-15-00
June 1 In wampam
04
6 h. 01-03-00
In wampam
01
00-05-00
(60) June 7 (60)
A coate 5 fad. Wampam 5 fad. 10
02-10-00
June 19 In wampam 1 coate 5 fad. sh. cot. 3 f. & } red sh. 6 h. & wampam 4 h.
02-05-00
In all is 100 fad.
25-00-00
& above is 100 fadam in ye sum of
1 fad. 8 hands
00-09-00
June 20 1660.
Blew shag cotton
red shag cot. 14 h. & S. wamp.
2 2 hands
00-11-00
July 4
2 Coates shag
20
05-00-00
(60)
In wampam
02
00-10-00
To Joseph Parsons sum at
14
03-10-00
1
2 h. 02-10-00
Apr. 13th 10 fadam, viz red shag Wamp.
2 3 h.
02-10-00
256
WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
July 10th a coate & wampam dlrd at
1660. Joseph Parsons howse
10
02-10-00
To paymt to Mr. Goodwin To wampam
07
2 h.
01-16-00
July 30th 1660
To more wampam 5 fad. & a
10
02-10-00
August 23 (60)
To black wampam & shag To a red Coate
07
03-00-00
Sept. 6 (60)
To 2 fadam for yr being drunk
10
02-10-00
Sept. 14
To wampam 4 fad. but by yr ) Importunity I give one
03
00-15-00
To a Kettle
****
05
01-05-00
100 fad.
25-00-00
100 fadam above is 200 fad. all, wch is 300 fad. wch makes ye sum of
75-00-00
So much I ingaged to him for his land at Nalwotogg & have pd him all to his owne content in ye p'ticular abovesd,
Sept. 1660. This Acot. set off with Hadley Towne, it being pd for ye Purchase of theire Land. I have Reckned it wth them.
Sept. 1660. The Towne of Hadley, Dr. To ye Purchase of theire land on ye west side of ye River £75-00-00
Thus the transaction was completed. On July 10, 1660, Umpan- chela had executed the formal deed to Pynchon which he assigned to the Hadley settlers. How the town of Hadley paid him is not indicated, but, in other similar cases, he often accepted in full pay- ment, a sizable tract in a wilderness that was about to become a settled community, as in this instance.
The foregoing indicates that in his negotiations with the Indians, Pynchon's computations were in fathoms and hands, which were translated into pounds, shillings and pence in after dealings with the English.
A condensation of Umpanchela's account shows that he received for his land, ----
02
8 h.
00-14-00
coate 5 fadam is
05
To wampam, 4 fad. & yr *
****** }
257
LAND-PURCHASE TECHNIQUE
1421/2 fathom of wampum
35-12-06
One gun
01-12-06
One kettle and an undecipherable item
01-05-00
14 coats @ 1-5-0
17-10-00
2 @ 2-10-0
05-00-00
2 pair of breeches @ 5s
00-10-00
1 blue waist coat
00-12-00
2 shirts @ 10s 01-00-00
2 yards bilboa cloth @ 17s-6d
01-15-00
Blue trading cloth
00-06-00
Cotton cloth
00-06-00
Shag cloth of various colors
03-17-00
Debt due to Joseph Parsons
03-10-00
66
William Goodwin
00-14-00
Court fine for drukeness
00-10-00
One undecipherable item
01-00-00
300 fathom of wampum equal
£75-00-00
All this shows that in a year's time, this one Indian received of Pynchon £75 worth of wares (all at a profit to the trader) having a present-day value of perhaps $2,000. This English trader's opera- tions were so extensive that there should be little wonder that he became one of the wealthy men of the Valley.
Umpanchela's deed provided "yt all ye Indian corne feilds or old planted ground above Wequetayyage shall come to ye English after his death, and yn ye Indians to have and injoy only ye old planted ground in Wequetayyage and down to ye brook Cappowong- seate alias Mattoolanick".
Page 215 of Pynchon's second volume evidences that, despite this provision, this finery-loving native could not restrain his yearn- ing for European gewgaws. This reads,-
Sept. 29th, 1660. Trusted Umpancheale one coate at 5 fadam of wampam for wch he ingages to me his land wch is at Nattacouse, that is to say, 4 or 5 little Indian feilds or else I am to have come of his old Indian corne feilds at Wequittayyag 5 fad.
also for red shag cotton
2 fad. 6h.
sum is 01-18-0
November 28th 1660. Trusted Umpanchee for wch he ingages his cornfeilds below Wequittayyag 6 fad.
For some of his old ground below Wequittayyag In wampam 1 pr. Breeches red shag cotton
02 fad. 5 h. 01 2
00
08
sum is 02-12-6
\V. Mass .- I-17
258
WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
Decembr 17, 1660. Umpancheel desired to be trusted as followeth for wch he Pawnes all his land in Wequittayyag all ye corne feilds & what ever he reserved is now morgaged for
1 Red coate
2 ***** coates 2 yd. shag cot. 2 Kersey
5 fad. 5 h.
11 2 4
4
19 fad. 3 h.
If I am not pd in Bever when he comes from Koakeg, all his land is to be mine.
Dec. 25-60. Trusted him on ye same acot. one red cote 2 knives 5 fad. 9 h.
Umpanchee owes me on a gun he had 16 Dec. 1660 red shag 14 h. knives 9 h. 2
2 0
3
more he owes me 2
4
Sum is 7li 19s 6d
Decembr. 1660. Umpancheale having engaged his cornefeilds at Nattacouse &. Wequittayyag & his old ground below Wequittayyag all his corne feilds wch he had reserved he now make over all to me wch I take of him for Hadley Towne & yt for ye sum above :
in Sept. 1660 as above he had 1-18-00
viz. { in Nov. 60 as above 2-12-06
in Dec. as above 7-19-06
12-10-00
This Posted to Hadley acot I having bought out all Umpancheals ground yt he reserved, for ye use of ye Towne of Hadley.
De. (60) The Towne of Hadley, Dr.
To Umpancheale for all his corne feilds and old ground 12-10-00
In all early purchases from the Indians, the natives retained about everything of value to themselves, as at Springfield in 1636 they reserved "all that ground that is now planted and liberty to take fish and deer, ground nuts, walnuts, akornes and sasachiminesh, or a kind of pease". So Umpanchala, in 1660, had reserved for his people, in addition to their planting grounds, "liberty to hunt deere or other wild creatures and to take fish and to sett wigwoms on ye comons and to take wood and trees for use".
259
LAND-PURCHASE TECHNIQUE
In addition, the natives were inveterate beggars, continually returning for additional compensation after all agreements had been fulfilled by the purchasers. At Springfield, in 1636, to close finally his long negotiations, Pynchon was forced to allow to Wrutherna, "two coats over and above the said particulars expressed". In the hope of further inducements, Indians, supposedly acquiescing in a
Pittsfield from Washington Mountain
sale, deferred setting their marks. Pynchon bought the Chicopee tract on April 20, 1641, yet on May 24th, "when Secousk sett her hand, Mr. Pynchon gave her twelve hands of wampom and a knife". On October 9, 1643, "when Jancompowin sett his hande Mr. Pynchon gave him a coate and knife. He came not to sett his hand to this writtinge till this day". Not until June 27, 1644 was the transaction concluded when "the woman called Secousk, who was the widow of Kenix, came again to Mr. Pynchon, desyringe a further reward in respect she said that she had not a full coat as some others had; thereupon Mr. Pynchon gave her a childe coate of redd cotton which came to eight hand of wampom and a glasse and a knife which came to above two hands of wampom more, and she was fully satisfied.
260
WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
Also Nippumsuit had another large coate for his sister that he said had right in the land which came to sixteen shillings".
Eventually the sorely-tried English learned their lesson and insisted that all the grantors make their marks jointly. Regarding an uncompleted purchase at Springfield in 1674, Elizur Holyoke testified in 1679 that "they coming one at a tyme to me to subscribe it, when I told them they must come all together, the want of which was the only obstruction, for they often severally acknowledged the sale and this writing to be according to their minds and meaning".
Though Pynchon bought of Umpanchala "all his corne feilds and old ground that he had reserved", it is apparent that with familiar, tactics the wily Indian, by his "importunities", wheedled Pynchon into allowing him squatter's rights in what is still known as "Indian Hollow" and that he construed these rights to be rights of owner- ship. There the squalid band remained, a pest to be endured. The Colony laws provided "that the English shall keep their cattle from destroying the Indian's corn in any ground where they have right to plant and if any of their corn be destroyed for want of fencing or herding, the town shall make satisfaction. And for the encourage- ment of the Indians toward the fencing of their corn fields, such towns, farms or persons whose cattle shall annoy them shall direct, assist and help them in felling of trees, ryving and sharpening of rayls and holing of posts, allowing one Englishman to three or more Indians, and shall also draw the fencing into place for them and allow one man a day or two toward the setting up the same and either lend or sell them tools to finish it".
Here was a situation too burdensome to be continued, and in despair the town of Hadley appointed a committee of four to find a solution of the problem. The fencing of the entire "Hollow" being too expensive an undertaking even to consider, Umpanchala was on January 17, 1661-2, persuaded to sell again "the land yt I reserved to myself in Weequetaiogg under ye name of Chickons Cattones Akees, in all ye borders and partes ajasent thereunto, even all and evry persell of ye sd land". The once-bit twice-shy settlers were deter- mined that the controversy should not be prolonged by reason of legal verbiage. The sole consideration for the transfer was an agreement "to give to the sd Umpanchala, five acres of land within ye compass of ye sd land and to fence it next spring with a good sufficient ordinary fence in English account, and wt of ye sd five acres is not broken up, to break it up. And so broken up to leave it Umpanchala as his proper possession, provided yt haveing once broken it up and fenced it are not to maintaine it, but ye sd Umpanchela is to maintaine ye same".
Thus did Umpanchala dispose of his great heritage for little more than "a riband to stick in his coat". He had previously agreed that any property remaining to him at the time of his death should become town property. In any event, when the Indians deserted the Valley at the close of King Philip's War, all remaining Indian lands
261 .
LAND-PURCHASE TECHNIQUE
were taken over by the English. Never again did Umpanchela's name appear in the records in connection with landed property.
The foregoing is a typical exposition of Pynchon's methods. Though varying in details, the fundamentals of his transactions were consistently similar.
On April 10, 1674, he received from Mettawompe alias Nattawwas- sawet a deed for a tract that eventually became a part of Montague and Wendell, but the negotiations were initiated July 1, 1661, when the Indian was debited for "two large coats, almost four yards, eighteen fadam", this amount showing a price concession "because moth eaten". So continued the delivery of "blew coats, red wast coats and girdles" until the account was balanced thirteen years later with the entry "received by buying yr land for Swampfeild, 24-00-00".
The transfer of the South Hadley territory was completed on August 8, 1662, though a basic agreement had been arrived at on June 30th of that year, when the Indian chief Wequogan, with Squompe, his son and heir, came to Pynchon's office. Prompted by the natives, on the right hand side of a page of his ledger, Pynchon drew a map of the territory, from the upper side of Hadley Neck, down south to the Falls where Holyoke now is, including the Indian names for the mountains, rivers and some localities. At the left appears a memorandum of the details of the mutual agreement for the sale, followed by a running account of merchandise delivered up to the date of the formal deed, less than six weeks later. Wequogan and Squompe were numbered among Pynchon's "bright young men", whom he made frequent use of in his affairs and he had taught them to be prompt and businesslike.
CHAPTER XXVI
King Philip's War
F OR forty years the English at Springfield were at peace with the Indians, who from the very first were an enigma to them. 'It had been confidently expected that they would be of great assistance in domestic affairs and could be depended upon for at least a regular supply of corn. They were apt in imitation and skilful in the use of their hands, and it was hoped that they would readily learn the mechanical trades and greatly benefit both themselves and the English. By various wiles they, from time to time, secured the guns prohibited by law and with them could outshoot the average Englishman. They were irked by the meager supply of powder avail- able, though confident of their ability to fill their needs could they but learn the manufacturing process. In 1637 they abducted two girls from Wethersfield, from whom they expected to acquire the secret, but when they found that the girls knew nothing of the process, they reluctantly released them.
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