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.  

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Jonathan Capen's Account of the Ponkapog Indians for the Year 1772

Digital Heritage
Community
Native Northeast Research Collaborative, Massachusett at Ponkapoag
Category
Work, Poverty, & Economy, Culture & Society, Politics, Power, & Sovereignty
Summary
A detailed accounting of expenditures for individual Ponkapoag Indians, as well as, collective expenses
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Response of Samuel Niles to Joseph Billings' Petition to the Massachusetts General Court

Digital Heritage
Community
Native Northeast Research Collaborative, Massachusett at Ponkapoag
Category
Politics, Power, & Sovereignty
Summary
An explanation of the actions of Samuel Niles and Robert Spur, guardians, in response Joseph Billings' petition regarding the inability of all three guardians to meet and file their annual accounts for the Ponkapoag Indians
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Petition of Joseph Billings to the Massachusetts General Court

Digital Heritage
Community
Native Northeast Research Collaborative, Massachusett at Ponkapoag
Category
Politics, Power, & Sovereignty
Summary
A complaint by Joseph Billings regarding the difficulty of getting Robert Spur and Samuel Niles to meet and submit annual accounts for their dealings with the Ponkapoag Indians
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Petition of Samuel Moho and Others to the Massachusetts General Court

Digital Heritage
Community
Native Northeast Research Collaborative, Massachusett at Ponkapoag
Category
Geography, Land, & the Environment, Politics, Power, & Sovereignty
Summary
A request by members of the Moho and George families, on behalf of the community, for the appointment of a committee to investigate the mismanagement of land and wood resources by the guardians of the Ponkapoag
1754.11.13.00_page1petitions_masa_na_45X_0032_0084_0001.jpg

Confession of Samuel Miller to the Massachusetts General Court

Digital Heritage
Community
Native Northeast Research Collaborative, Massachusett at Ponkapoag
Category
Geography, Land, & the Environment, Politics, Power, & Sovereignty
Summary
An impassioned request by Samuel Miller for forgiveness from the Court for Miller's negligence in regard to his duties as one of guardians of the Ponkapoag
1754.03.27.05_page1petitions_masa_na_45X_0032_0073_0001.jpg

Petition of John Shepard to the Massachusetts General Court

Digital Heritage
Community
Native Northeast Research Collaborative, Massachusett at Ponkapoag
Category
Geography, Land, & the Environment, Politics, Power, & Sovereignty
Summary
A response to charges of mismanagement leveled against him and an impassioned request that the matter be examined thoroughly by committee
1754.03.22.00_page1petitions_masa_na_45X_0032_0068_0001.jpg

Petition of the Ponkapoag Indians to the Massachusetts General Court

Digital Heritage
Community
Native Northeast Research Collaborative, Massachusett at Ponkapoag
Category
Geography, Land, & the Environment, Politics, Power, & Sovereignty
Summary
A request by Abigail George, Samuel George and others of the Ponkapoag community for the re-appointment of the Samuel Miller as guardian for the tribe
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Response of Samuel Miller and John Shephard to the petition of Samuel Moho and Others to the Massachusetts General Court

Digital Heritage
Community
Native Northeast Research Collaborative, Massachusett at Ponkapoag
Category
Geography, Land, & the Environment, Politics, Power, & Sovereignty
Summary
An answer from Samuel Miller and John Shephard, guardians of the Ponkapoag Indians, to tribal complaints concerning mismanagement of lands and wood resources
1769.05.00.06_page1petitions_masa_na_45X_0033_0101_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 enough Indian land so as to pay debts that have accumulated and a further request that the General Court allow for a road to be built through Ponkapoag lands
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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 a ten acre tract of 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