Summary of Complaints from Pequot and Narragansett Sachems to the Connecticut General Court
May 13, 1678
Cattapeset presented a writing under his father’s hand, attested by Mr. James Noyes, Nehemiah Palmer, John Stanton and Thomas Stanton, Jr., wherein said Cattapeset is stated heir of all his father’s lands after his death, and Cattapeset desires to know whether the Sunksqua, Ninigret’s daughter with her people, must always live upon his land and if it must be so, he desires that she should acknowledge the royalty of lands for hunting to be his, and that her people pay all the skins of what foxes they catch and white deer.
A paper was presented wherein the Mystic Indians under Momoho desire: 1. That he should have the sole rule of them under the English, thereby to shift Cassasinamon’s authority, 2. That they may have land assigned to them as their own to plant on and not that they be always forced to hire. To the first proposition (Momoho’s messengers that signed to the writing), we inquired why they made such a motion to be under Momoho. Hath Robin1 done you any wrong? If he hath, declare it. If he hath done you none, then why do you trouble us with such propositions? All that we can get is they are mute, being ashamed of the proposal. To the second proposition for land certain as their own to plant on is referred to the consideration of the Court.
Robin Cassasinamon complains that he cannot get his wampum peage of Mr. Thomas Stanton, Sr. , although demanded (before his death)2 upon the General Court order in October last.
Corman approved in behalf of the Sunksqua, Ninigret’s daughter, and Captain John, named Mamanown, presenting her desires that she may be assigned land in her own country for improvement or at least quiet improvement with the limits of Cattapeset land, it was answered that they might improve quietly in Cattapeset's land paying fox skin and white deer skin acknowledgment to him, and now demands half Cattapeset’s land by agreement between them without date, witnessed by Mr. Stanton and by a plea in a letter dated May 9th, 1678, signed by John Stanton. Cattapeset sayeth that he gave order to make the writing that she should have half his land provided she carried herself lovingly to him but she hath lifted up herself and behaves herself very highly towards him, and he sayeth that he was drawn to it by many allurements before his father’s death, and was deceived about the contents of it. At the end of their discourse Cattapeset and Corman and the other messenger said they would endeavor to agree about the persons difference at home and send us word what they shall do.
Cataloguing: 36, 43