Petition of Moses Sampson and Others of the Pequot Tribe

To the Honorable General Assembly of the State of Connecticut to Be Holden at New Haven on the First Wednesday of May A.D. 1850.1

The petition of Moses Samson, Lucius S. Fowler, James Simons, Esther Samson, Catherine M. Samson, Phebe P. Fowler, Elizabeth T. Doxator, Hannah Brushel, Henry P. Skeesucks, Eunice Crosley, Lucinda Anthony of the State of Wisconsin respectfully represent that they are descendants of the Pequot Tribe of Indians, a tribe of Indians located in the Town of Ledyard, County of New London and State of Connecticut.  That they are now permanently located in said State of Wisconsin that they are as descendants from and members of said Pequot Tribe of Indians with those that have chosen to remain on said tribe land.  That they are not now benefited in any manner by said funds and tribe lands.  That they are, by an act of Congress approved by the President on the 3rd day of March A.D. 1839, citizens of the United States.2  They, therefore, pray Your Honorable Body to grant to them the right to sell and convey such share as they may have in said tribe lands asking only for such as can prove to the satisfaction of the overseer of said tribe that they are legal descendants of said Pequot Tribe of Indians.

And as in duty bound your petitioner will ever pray,

• 1. The first Wednesday in May 1850 was May 1st.
• 2. By the provisions of Section 7 of "An Act for the relief of the Brothertown Indians, in the Territory of Wisconsin," the Brothertown Indians of Wisconsin became citizens of the United States. Statutes at Large 5 (1839): 349-351.