Ponkapaug

The Ponkapaug are a group of Massachusetts Native people whose historical territory lies in the Blue Hills of Massachusetts.  Their winter home was the village of Ponkapaug ("a spring that bubbles from red soil") and in the summer they lived around the mouth of the Neponset River.  After European settlement, English authorities established the Ponkapaug Plantation as an Indian Praying Town in 1654.  

Petition of John Hunter to the Massachusetts General Court

To His Excellency Sir William Phips, Knight Governour of Their Majesties' Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England and to the Honorable Council and Representatives Now Assembled in General Court at Boston, October 1692

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Tribes

Petition of John Quincy, Trustee of the Indian Proprietors at Ponkapoag, to the Massachusetts General Court

Province of the Massachusetts Bay

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To His Excellency Jonathan Belcher, Esq., Captain General and Governour in Chief in and over the Said Province and to the Honourable His Majesty's Council and House of Representatives in General Court Assembled, March 26, 1741

Tribes

Petition from Natick and Ponkapoag Indians to the Massachusetts Governor and Council

Digital Heritage
Community
Native Northeast Research Collaborative
Category
Culture & Society, Politics, Power, & Sovereignty
1676.10.05.00_page1petitions_masa_na_45X_0030_0037_0001.jpg

Petition of Thomas Swift to the Massachusetts Council

Digital Heritage
Community
Native Northeast Research Collaborative, Massachusett at Ponkapoag
Category
Politics, Power, & Sovereignty, Settlement, Migration, & Resettlement
Summary
A request by Thomas Swift asking for an allowance for overseeing the Ponkapoag Indians
1783.02.06.00_page1petitions_masa_na_45X_0144_0024_0001.jpg

Resolve of the Massachusetts General Court on the Remonstrance and Petition the Guardians of the Ponkapoag Indians

Digital Heritage
Community
Native Northeast Research Collaborative, Massachusett at Ponkapoag
Category
Work, Poverty, & Economy, Geography, Land, & the Environment, Politics, Power, & Sovereignty
Summary
A resolution granting the guardians of the Ponkapoag authority to sell lands and settle debts on behalf of the tribe, and dismissing said guardians from their trust
1782.06.27.00_page1petitions_masa_na_45X_0144_0024_0003.jpg

Remonstrance and Petition the Guardians of the Ponkapoag Indians to the Massachusetts General Court

Digital Heritage
Community
Native Northeast Research Collaborative, Massachusett at Ponkapoag
Category
Work, Poverty, & Economy, Geography, Land, & the Environment, Politics, Power, & Sovereignty
Summary
A request that the Court revisit an earlier petition and grant the guardians authority to sell lands and settle debts on behalf of the tribe, with the additional request that the Court accept the resignation of said guardians
1776.07.05.00_page1petitions_masa_na_45X_0210_0001_0003.jpg

Resolve of the Massachusetts General Court on the Petition of Jonathan Capen

Digital Heritage
Community
Native Northeast Research Collaborative, Massachusett at Ponkapoag
Category
Work, Poverty, & Economy, Geography, Land, & the Environment, Politics, Power, & Sovereignty
Summary
A resolution granting Jonathan Capen, guardian of the Ponkapoag, authority to sell lands and settle debts on behalf of the tribe
1776.05.29.00_page1petitions_masa_na_45X_0210_0001_0001.jpg

Petition of Jonathan Capen to the Massachusetts General Court

Digital Heritage
Community
Native Northeast Research Collaborative, Massachusett at Ponkapoag
Category
Work, Poverty, & Economy, Geography, Land, & the Environment, Politics, Power, & Sovereignty
Summary
A request that the Court grant Capen the authority to sell lands and settle debts on behalf of the tribe
1773.06.25.00_page1petitions_masa_na_45X_0033_0125_0005.jpg

Resolve on the Petition of Jonathan Capen, Guardian to the Ponkapoag Indians, to the Massachusetts General Court

Digital Heritage
Community
Native Northeast Research Collaborative, Massachusett at Ponkapoag
Category
Work, Poverty, & Economy, Politics, Power, & Sovereignty
Summary
A resolution granting Jonathan Capen the authority to sell as much Indian land as required to pay the debts of the tribe
1773.05.00.01_page1petitions_masa_na_45X_0033_0125_0001.jpg

Petition of Jonathan Capen, Guardian to the Ponkapoag Indians, to the Massachusetts General Court

Digital Heritage
Community
Native Northeast Research Collaborative, Massachusett at Ponkapoag
Category
Work, Poverty, & Economy, Geography, Land, & the Environment, Politics, Power, & Sovereignty
Summary
A request seeking authorization to sell Indian land so as to pay debts that have accumulated and with the residual to pay himself for six years worth of service to the tribe