While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
I have made no attempt to change any of the spelling
in these documents. You might just get lucky and find an ancestor!
Copy of a paper endorsed, "A List of the Indian Children
put to service that came in (to Boston) with John of
Packachooge; presented To the Honorable Gen Court for
their Confyrmation, etc.
By the Commitee Appointed for ye affayre."
The document of which this is a copy, is in the
autograph of the Hon. Daniel Gookin. - Editor.
August 10, 1676
A memorandum of Indian children put forth unto service to the English, Beeing of those
Indians that came in and submitted with John Sachem of Pakchoog; with the names of the
persons with whome they were placed, and the names and age of the children and the names
of their relations, and the places they did belong to.
By Mr. Daniel Gookin senior, Thomas Prentis, Capt., and Mr. Edward Oakes, who were a
committee appointed by the Council to manage ye affayr. The termes and conditons
upon which they are to serve is to be ordered by the Gen Court who are to provide ye the
children bee religiously educated and taught to read the English tongue.
Boy, a maid. To Samuel Simonds, Esq, a boy named John his father named Alwitankus,
late of Quantisit, his father and mother parents both consenting; the boys age about 12
yeares. To him a girle named Hester, her father and mother dead, late of Nashaway;
her age ten years; her uncle John Woosumpegin of Naticke.
1. Boy. To Thomas Danforth, Esq., a boy aged about l3 yeares, his name John.
1. Boy. To Leift. Jonathan Danforth of Bilerekey, a boy aged twelve years son
of Papameck alius David, late of Warwick or Cowesit.
2. Boys. To Mathew Bridge of Cambridge, two boyes, the one named Jabez aged about ten
yeares, the other named Joseph aged six years; their father named Woompsleow,
late of Packachooge. One or both these boyes is run away with his father. Sept. 17th 1676.
3. A boy and two girls. To Mr. Jeremiah Shepard of Rowly, A boy named Absalom,
his father of the same name late of Mamhage; aged about ten years. To him, a girle,
sister to the lad, named Sarah, aged eleven yeares. These are kindred to Peeter Ephram of
Naticke. To him another girle aged about 8 yeares, her name Jane, her father and
mother dead.
1. Mayd. (maid) to Mrs. Mitchell of Cambridge widdow, a maid named Margaret aged about
twelve years, her father named Sukamuck of Quantisit, her mother dead.
1. Boy. To Thomas Jacob of Ipswich, a boy aged ten yeares on Wennaputanan his guardian and
on Upacuak of Quantisitt his grandmother was present; the named Sawoonawuk.
1. Boy. To Goodman Read a tanner of Cambridge, a Boy named John aged about thirteen yeares,
his father dead.
1. Boy. To Mr.Jacob Green of Charel Towne (Charlestown) a boy aged about seven yeares, his
parents dead, Lat of Quantisit but his mother of Narragansit.
1. Boy. To Thomas Woolson of Wattertowne, a boy aged about 14 yeares, his name John, his
father dead who was of Cowesit or Warwick, his mother present.
1. Boy. To Ciprian Stevens of Rumny Marsh, but late of Lancaster, a boy aged about six
yeares, son to Nohanet of Chobnakonkonon, the boy named Samuel.
1. Mayd. To Thomas Eliot of Boston, a carpenter, a maid about ten yeares, her name Rebecka.
1. Boy. To Jacob Green Junior of Charlestowne, a Boy named Peeter aged nine yeares, his
father dead, his mother present named Nannantum of Quantisit.
1. Boy. To Goodman Greenland a carpenter of Charlestown on Mistike side, a boy named
Tom aged twelve yeares his father named Santisho of Packachooge.
1. Girle. To Mr. Edmund Batter of Salem, a maid named Abigal aged sixteen, her mother a
widow named Quanshishe late of Shookunnet Beyond Mendon.
2. A Boy a Girle. To Daniel Gookin Senior, a Boy named Joshua aged about eight yeares, son
of William Wunuko late of Magunkoog; his father dead. To him a girle aged about six
yeares daughter to the widdow Quinshiske late of Shookanet beyond Mendon.
1. Girle. To Andrew Bordman, taylor of Cambridge, a girle named Anne sister to ye latter
named.
22 where of
14 male 8 femail verse
Page 2
1. Boy. To Thomas Prentis Junior, son to Capt. Prentis of Cambridge village, a boy name
John son to William Wunnuko late of Magnkeg that was executed for Thomas Buring, aged
therteen.
1. Boy. To Benjamin Mills of Dedham, a boy aged about six yeares named Joseph Spoonant
late Marlborow.
1. Boy. To Mr. Edward Jackson, a boy named Joseph, aged about 12 yeares, late of Magungook
cousin to Pyambow of Naticke.
1. Mayd. To widdow Jackson of Cambridge village a girle named Hope aged nine years, her
parents dead who were of Narraganset.
1. Boy. To Goodman Myls of Dedham, a boy of four years old, son to Annaweeken deceased,
who was late of Hassanamesit, his mother present.
1. Boy. To Capt. Thomas Prentis, a boy named Joseph son to Annawekin deceased,
brother to the last named, aged about 11 yeares. This boy was after taken from Capt.
Prentice and sent with Mr. Stoughton for England. Capt. Prentis is to be considered
about it for he has taken much care and paynes about those Indians.
1. Boy. To John Smith of Dedham, a boy aged about eight yeares; his father dead, late
Marlborow, he is brother to James Printer's wife.
1. Mayd. To Mr. John Flint of Concord a mayd aged about feeten yeares; her parent dead,
late of Narraganset.
1. Boy. To Mr. Jonathan Wade of Mistick, a boy named Tom aged about ll yeares; sonne to
William Wunukhow of Magunkog deceased.
1. Mayd. To Mr. Nathaniel Wade of Mistick, a maid aged about ten yeares daughter to Jame
Natonint late of Packachook, her father and mother alive.
10 in this page
22 in the other
page
----
32
It is humbly proposed to the Honorable Generall Court to set the times those children
shall serve, and if not less if till they came to 24 yeares of age, unto which those yet
had relations seemed willing. And also that ye court lay some penalty upon them if
they runne away before ye time expire and on their parents or kindred yet shall entice or
harbour and conceale if they should runne away.
Cambridge
Sept 28 1676 Signed by the Comittee above
named
Daniel Gookin Senior Edward Oakes
The following order in relation to this matter was after wards passed by the General
Court. The paper from which it is copied is endorsed: "Order about setling
our neighbors at 4 places at present, and stating the time of service of Indian children, put forth
or bought, and repealing sundry lawes touching the Indians since the beginning of ye warr.
p'curiam."
Wheras, after this time of trouble and warre with the Indians, the well ordering and
settlement of those that remaine and are under command is a matter of great concern to the
peace and security of the country, and the welfare, civilizing and good education of the
said Indians and their children; It is hereby ordered and enacted, that all such Indian
children or youths that are settled or disposed by order of Authority or with their
parents or relations consent to any of the english inhabitants within this jurisdiction
shall so remain with them as servants and to bee taught and instructed in the christian
religion untileach of them attayne to the age of twenty four yeares of age, except by
speciall contract it be otherwise provided. And for such indian children, youths or
girles, whose parents have beene in hostility with us, or have been among our enemies in
the time of ye warr, and were brought in by force, and given or sould to any inhabitants
of this jurisdiction, such shall be at ye disposall of their masters or their assigns
provided they bee instructed in civility and christian religion.
And for all other indians that are admitted to live within this jurisdiction as well such
as are called praying indians as well as others they shall be reduced to inhabit in four
places for the present, viz., Natick Punkapog, Hassanamesit and Wamesit and within the
limits of those townships as they are granted to them by the General Court, where they may
be continually inspected and from time to time ordered and governed by such as this court
or councill shall appoint. And when they are once settled as aforesaid, a lyst to
bee taken of all the men, women and children of the several companies, once a yeare at
least and kept upon record, with a strict charge and prohibition upon the penalty of the
displeasure of this court not to receive or entertain any stranger or forraigne indian or
indians into ye society without the knowledge or approbation of authority. And all
other lawes and orders relating to the Indians and made since the warr began as to ye
confynement to this or that place, or giving liberty to any to take or kill any of them
found without the limits appointed are hereby
repealed and declared voyd.
The matistrates have past this, their brethren the
deputies hereto consenting
Edward Rawson,
Secretary
5th June 1677
With this further addition that the Indians about Piscataquay shall be settled about
Cochecha as shall be further ordered by the council.
7 June
1677
Edward Rawson
Secretary
Consented to by the Deputyes
William Torrey
Cleric
NEHG Register, Volume 8, July 1854.
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