Petition of Charles Brigham, Jr. to the Massachusetts General Court

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

Charles Brigham of Grafton in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth aforesaid, Trustee for the Grafton or Hassanamisco Tribe of Indians, respectfully represents that there is a small tract of land with a dwelling house thereon situate in the City of Worcester in said county worth probably from three to five hundred dollars, which was till recently occupied by the widow and heirs of Moses Gimbee, one of said Tribe, but is now vacated by reason of the death of said widow and heirs.1  And that there are other lands in different towns in said county in the same situation.

Therefore, your petitioner prays that he may be authorized to sell and convey by deed the aforesaid real estate in said City of Worcester.  And also all the real estate now under the control of said Commonwealth of whatever name and wherever situated, which has been occupied by any of the members of said Tribe, but now vacated by reason of the deaths of such as had the legal right to occupy.  And that the proceeds of such sale be deposited in the Treasury of said Commonwealth, the interest or any other part of which to be drawn out annually by the probate judge of said county and paid over by him to the different individuals of said Tribe according to their wants and necessities or be disposed of in any other way that shall be thought proper.

• 1. Zona Leonard Gimbee, widow of Moses Gimbee, aged 57, died of consumption on January 30, 1850 in Worcester, Massachusetts. Her son Moses Leander Gimbee died on June 17, 1847 in the same city. Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841-1915, Grafton, Massachusetts, 1. Ancestry. Massachusetts Town Death Records, 1620-1850. Ancestry.