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Show 56 r.ioMAsl MASSACHUSETTS' POLICY TOWARD THE INDIANS 607 unusual or extraordinary cases, or iu disputed cases which could not otherwise be settled. Reverend Peres Forbes, in his description of the town of Raynham (1793), says that lands (8 by 4£ miles) originally known by the name Oohanat, "in the colony of New Plymouth," were purchased of Massasoit by Elizabeth Pool and her associates. According to Drake,' the following purchases were made of King Philip: " In 1665, he sold the country about Acushena ^now New Bedford,) and Coaxet, (now in Compton.) Philip's father having previously sold some of the same, £10 was now given him to prevent any claim from him, and to pay for his marking out the same." In 1662 Wrentham was purchased 6f him by the English of Dedham. Iu 1669 au additional purchase was made by Dedham. In 1667 he sold to Constant Southworth anil others all the meadow lands "from Dartmouth to Matapoisett;" also to Thomas Willet and others "all that tract of laud lying between the Hiuer Wanascottaquett and Cawatoquissett, being two miles long and one broad." He sold and quitclaimed several other tracts, viz, "eight miles square," including the town of Rehoboth; au island near Nokatay; "a considerable tract of land in Middleborough;" land lying "near Acashewah in Dartmouth;" a tract "twelve miles square" south of Taunton, and a few days later "four miles square more." These examples are sufficient to show that to some extent at least the lands as occupied by the colonists were purchased from the Indians; yet the lack of evidence, absence of records, and even want of tradition iu regard to some of the towus lead to the iuference that possession of the lauds was otherwise gained, as at Boston, Salem, and other places. Iu 1643 an act was passed by the Plymouth colouy prohibiting all traffic in land with the Indians; and in 1657 and 1662 the general court took measures to protect the natives' fields aud grounds from the stray cattle and swine of the English. Among the articles of the confederation or alliance of 1643 between the four colonies-Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven-was the following: It is also by these confederates agreed, that tho chargo of all just wars, whether offensive or defensive, (upon what part or member of this confederation soever they shall fall,) shall both in men and provisious, and all other disbursements, be borne by all the parts of this confederation, in different proportions, according to their different abilities, in manner following, viz. That the commissioners for each jurisdiction, from time to time, as there shall be occasion, bring account and number of all tho males in each plantation, or any way belonging to or undor their several jurisdictions, of what quality or condition soever thoy be, from sixteen years old to sixty, being inhabitants there; and that according to tho different numbers, which from time to time shall be found iu each jurisdiction, upon a true and just account, the service of meu, and all charges of the war be borne by tho poll. Each jnrisdic- 1 I Mil iaus of North America (183:1), hk. 3, chap. 2, p. 14. |