Petition of Benoni Occom and Tabitha Cooper to the Connecticut General Assembly concerning Leave to Sell Indian Land
To the Honorable General Assembly to be Holden at Hartford within and for the State of Connecticut on the Second Thursday of May A.D. 18071
The petition of Benoni Occom and Tabitha Cooper, wife of Joshua Cooper, late of Mohegan, deceased, of the Mohegan Tribe of Indians humbly and respectfully sheweth that they are the children of the Reverend Samson Occom, and that they are the surviving heirs of said Samson Occom, Lemuel Occom, and Andrew Occom, sons of said Samson, deceased, and that said Samson, Lemuel, and Andrew, when in full life, were the owners and possessors of a certain lot of land lying and situated in Mohegan containing four acres and is bounded northerly on land belonging to the heirs of Anna R[ illegible ], late deceased, easterly by land belonging to the Mohegan Tribe, southerly by the same, and westerly by land late Solomon Coopers and Tribe land.
And your petitioners would further inform Your Honors that their said lot is not fenced and is so situated that they cannot improve or rent the same, and that the same lies more than two miles from any other lands owned by your petitioners or the said Samson, Lemuel, and Andrew when in life. And your petitioners pray Your Honors that you would grant them liberty to sell said lot of land to enable them to discharge some debts which they now owe and also to2 supply themselves with necessary clothing, etc. And your petitioners pray Your Honors to give them liberty to sell said land under the direction of the Honorable William Hillhouse or such other person or persons as Your Honors may appoint.
And3 they as in4 duty bound5 will ever6 pray,
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Certification: |
We certify that the facts stated in this petition are true and wish that the same may be granted. |
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John Cooper, his mark |
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Andrew Ashbow, his mark |
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Indian Overseers or Headmen of said Tribe |
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Certification 2: |
We certify that the facts stated in the foregoing petition are truly stated and are fairly represented. |
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James Fitch, Overseer
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Legislative Action: |
In the Upper House, the prayer of the foregoing petition is granted with liberty of a bill in form, etc. Test, Samuell Wyllys, Secretary. Concurred in the House of Representatives. Test, Lyman Law, Clerk |
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Benoni Occom, etc. / Petition / May 1807 / Granted Upper House / Concurred House of Representatives / Bill / Passed Upper House / Concurred Upper House / Concurred House of Representatives / Copy / Entered |
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Cataloguing: |
68 a, 68 b, 68 c, 68 d, 88, 89 |