Petition of Benjamin Allen to the Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives
To the Honorable the Senate and Honorable House of Representatives of Massachusetts
The subscribers respectfully states that he fairly and lawfully bought a piece of land of Nathan Francis and Hannah, his wife, laying in Christiantown, so-called, within the bounds of Tisbury which land was laying at that time in common with others but had, from time immemorial, been enclosed and been improved by the legal ancestors of the said Hannah and by right of marriage to the said Nathan,1 who was living at and a Native of Gay Head, said land was conveyed to me as per deed in 18162 and for in money at the time to its full value3 and by me improved until 1829 with others, the Honorable Legislature about that time passed an act authorizing His Excellency, the Governor, to appoint three persons as a committee to divide said Town of Christiantown equitably amongst the several claimants. This they have done and set my land to a Negro, who never was a Native or proprietor in said place but merely a squatter and, in fact, can claim no right whatever. Your memorialist respectfully prays that Your Honors will take his case into your wise consideration and remunerate him for the loſs he has sustained in endeavoring, heretofore, to do those Colored people a kindness by the purchase of said land.
All which is respectfully submitted,
|
Legislative Action: |
House of Representatives. February 14, 1832. Referred to Committee on Claims. Sent up for concurrence. L. S. Cushing, Clerk. In Senate, February 14, 1832. Concurred, Charles Calhoun, Clerk / Petition of Benjamin Allen praying remuneration for land taken from him by Commissioners who divided lands among the Christiantown Indians in Dukes County / Presented by Smith Mayhew / Claims. |
|
Docketing: |
9246/1 |
- 1. Hannah Ompany and Nathan Francis were married sometime before 1815. Pierce and Segel, Wampanoag Families of Martha's Vineyard, 274.
- 2. On February 27, 1816, Nathan Francis and his wife sold one third of property in Christiantown on which formerly resided Samuel Ompany and then his son Hoseah, both deceased to Benjamin Allen. DCRD 22:336 in Pierce and Segel, Wampanoag Families of Martha's Vineyard, 274.
- 3. The purchase price was $125. Pierce and Segel, Wampanoag Families of Martha's Vineyard, 274.