Petition of Nathan Pocknet and Other Mashpee Indians to the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

To the Honorable the Senate and Honorable the House of Representatives in General Court Assembled

We, the subscribers, proprietors and inhabitants of the Plantation of Mashpee, respectfully represent that we have been informed that a portion of our tribe, led on by one Apes, a Pequot Indian, who has lately come among us, are about to petition the General Court for a repeal of the law and regulation respecting Mashpee Plantation, so that we may manage our own affairs in our own way.

This Apes, pursuant to his intention to change the government of Mashpee and render himself absolute on the plantation, has moved his family on our lands and gathered around him individuals like himself and assumed the whole management of our concerns.  He first prevailed on individuals to dismiss our excellent minister, the Reverend Mr. Fish, who was settled over us by the government, and whose salary is chiefly paid by funds under the direction of Harvard University, and forbid that institution paying him any further salary.  He then, with his followers, proceeded to dismiss the Board of Overseers, appointed by the government, and threatened to throw them from the plantation if they came on it to interfere with his orders or arrangements.  He then, with his followers, proceeded to prevent the execution of contracts, made by the overseers, in the sale of wood from the plantation for our support, and riotously prevented the delivery of the wood, and taking it away by those to whom it was lawfully sold.

This unprecedented impudence was immediately communicated to His Excellency, the Governor, who promptly sent one of his council, the Honorable Mr. Fiske, to inquire into these proceedings and make report.  This Apes with two of three of his followers were apprehended on a warrant, indicted by the grand jury for the County of Barnstable, convicted by a traverse jury at the September term of said court, imprisoned by the court for a riot and, after suffering the punishment inflicted by the court, have returned to the plantation, probably ready for new scenes of riot and mischief.  Apes, while in prison, is said to have drawn a lengthy petition to the legislature to be presented at their present session, the contents of which have not yet transpired but if the natives will sign it, will be produced.  The report is that the petitioners pray, that the laws respecting the guardianship of the Indians in Mashpee may be repealed, and they permitted to manage their own affairs in their own way, or in other words, that he may manage them; that our excellent minister may be dismissed, our guardians discharged, and the individuals permitted to dispose of their property as they shall see fit.  To these propositions (if true) we most respectfully remonstrate, and believe if they were granted, not a foot of land would remain to the natives of the plantation, in ten years from this time.

We state, without the fear of contradiction, that the Plantation of Mashpee was never more prosperous and happy, than before this Apes came among us.  Our resources have been well managed, our poor have been well provided for, our sick well attended, and the bills for medicine and attendance, of all unable to pay, promptly discharged by our overseers. Our schools have been kept both summer and winter on the plantation, and school houses have been erected, and built, by the munificence of the government and our poor "have had the Gospel preached to them, without money and without price".  We are not in debt.  We lived within our own means.  We have as much care taken of us, as we need, and as much liberty as we know what to do with.  We are, therefore, totally averse to any change in the government of Mashpee and desire no additional act except a power to be granted to our overseers to remove nuisances from the plantation who come to disturb our repose, and subvert those laws and regulations which our fathers before us highly prized, and which till of late we have quietly enjoyed.

Years of experience have taught us and convinced respectable committees appointed to consider our situation, that no better regulations can be made for the government of Mashpee, than what now exist; and for a proof of the truth of this remonstrance, and the things we state to be facts, we respectfully ask the General Court, to inquire of the Honorable Mr. Fiske of whose report we have never heard a word, but being agent for the Government sent to inquire into our situation, who with much pains sought into the various subjects of complaint, made by Apes and his followers, is well qualified fairly to represent our true state and condition.

And as in duty bound will every pray.

Quam and Bethiah Hazard request to be considered as signers but opportunity did not permit their putting their hand.

January 1, 1834          

Legislative Action:

Remonstrance of Mashpee Indians to Petition of William Apes and Others / Remonstrance of Sundry Mashpee Indians against an Alteration in the Form of their Government, Nathaniel Hinckley of Barnstable1 / Running title left hand Mashpee Indians / House of Representatives, January 19, 1834, Referred to the Committee on the Mashpee Indians,  Sent up for concurrence, L. S. Cushing, Clerk / In Senate, January 30, 1834, Concurred, Charles Calhoun, Clerk / House of Representatives, January 26, 1834, Laid on the Table / House Number 18

• 1. An annotation in pencil suggests that this petition may have been printed.