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Subject: [GM-L] MBC Servitude: Indian Children Put to Service
Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 14:24:24 EST

Indian Children Put to Service 1676

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 auto-
graph 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 Cowe-
sit 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 wherof 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 Hassana-
mesit, 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 Magun-
kog 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 neigh-
bors at 4 places at present, and stating the time of
service of Indian children, put forth or bought, and re-
pealing sundry lawes touching the Indians since the be-
ginning 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 con-
cern 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 with-
in this jurisdiction shall so remain with them as servants
and to bee taught and instructed in the christian reli-
gion untileach of them attayne to the age of twenty four
yeares of age, except by speciall contract it be other-
wise 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 displeas-
ure of this court not to receive or entertain any strang-
er or forraigne indian or indians into ye society with-
out 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
Source:
NEHG Register, Volume 8, July 1854.
(communicated by Joseph Willard, Esq., Mem of the the
N.England Hist. Gen. Soc.)
____________________________________________________

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