Massachusetts General Court Order regarding the Pequot Country
Whereas Mr. John Winthrop, Jr., and others have by allowance of this court begun a plantation in the Pequot Country, which appertains to this jurisdiction as part of our portion of the Conquered Country and whereas this court is informed that some Indians who are now planted upon the place where the said plantation is begun are willing to remove from their planting ground for the more quiet and convenient settling of the English there so that they may have another convenient place appointed, it is therefore ordered that the said Mr. Winthrop may appoint unto such Indians as are willing to remove, other lands on the other side which is one the east side of the Great River of the Pequot Country or some other place for their convenient planting and subsistence which may be to the good liking and due satisfaction of the said Indians and likewise to such of the Pequot Indians as shall desire to live there submitting themselves to the English government reserving to the Commissioners of the United Colonies what properly belongs to their disposing concerning the said Pequots. And also to set out the place for the said plantation and to set out lots for such of the English as are there already planted or shall com to them. And to govern the people, according to law as occasion shall require until this court shall take further order therein. And whereas Mr. Thomas Peters is intended to inhabit in the said plantation, this court doth think fit to join him to assist the said Mr. Winthrop for the better caring on the work of the said plantation according to this order.
May 20, 1646/7
Notation: Plantation in the Pequot Country for Mr. Winthrop, etc., May 20, 1646/7
B: Pequot Plantation
Legislative
Action: The magistrates have agreed upon this order with reference to the deputy’s
concurrence here. / John Winthrop, Governor / Consented to by the deputy’s /
Cataloguing: 8