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Show 55 606 INDIAN LAND CESSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES [ETH.AXN.18 In 1697 purchases of land from the Indians were made by the town of Truro, as appears from an old book of records kept by the town.' The principal part of the town of Hopkinton was purchased from the natives by Mr Leverett, then president of Harvard College, for the purpose, it is said, of perpetuating the legacy of Edward nopkins to the college. In 1644 the following lands were purchased: "A tract of land called Pochet, with two islands, lying before Potanumaquut, with a beach and small island upon it; also all the land called Namskeket, extending northward to the bounds of the territory belonging to George, the sachem excepting a small island (Pochet). They bought at the same time all the lands belonging to Aspinet." The inhabitants of Eastham also, in 1646, purchased "the neck of land lying at the mouth of the harbor, the island Pochet, and the tract" extending from the northern limits of Nauset to a. little brook named by the Indians Sapokonisk and by the English Bound brook. The Indian deed for the lands purchased of them for the town of Haverhill is as follows: KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS; that wee Passaquo and Saggahew, with the consent of Passaconnaway have sold unto the inhabitants of Pentuckett all the land wo have in Pentuckett; that is eight miles in length from the little river iu Teu-tuckett westward, six miles in length from the aforesaid river northward, and six miles in length from the aforesaid river eastward, with the islands and tho river that the islands stand in as far in length as the land lyes, as formerly expressed, t h a t is fourteene myles in length; and wo the said P..ssaquo and Saggahew with the consent of Passaconnaway have sold unto the said inhabbittants all the right that wee or any of us have in the said ground, and islands and river; and do warrant it against all or any other Indians whatsoever uuto the said inhabbittants of Pentuckett and to their heirs and assigns forever. Dated the fifteenth day of November: AnuoDom: 1642: Witness our hands and seals to this bargayne of sale the day and yeare above written (in the presents of us). Wee the said Passaquo and Saggahew have received in hand, for and in consideration of the same, three pounds and ten shillings.1 Zaccheus Macy, in his account of Nantucket,3 throws a little light on the subject of Indian deeds, where he says: " I have observed also, that some of our old deeds from the Indian sachems were examined by Teter Folger, and he would write something at the bottom of the deed and sign it, in addition to the signature of the justice; for he understood and could speak the Indian tongue." In what capacity Folger signed these deeds does not appear. He was one of the commissioners appointed to lay out lots in Nantucket, but this had no relation to purchases from the Indians. However, it appears that the magistrate's signature was necessary. This would indicate, as stated above, that the authority governing these purchases remained practically in the towns, and that reference to the general court was made only in 1 Collections Massachusetts Historical Society, vol. in. »Op. cit., vol. IV (1810), pp. 109-170. • Collections Massachusetts Historical Society, vol in. first series, p. 159. |