Petition of Walter Spooner to the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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Created: Thursday, May 1, 2014 - 09:15Tags: manual crop |
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Created: Saturday, December 23, 2017 - 21:30 |
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Summary:
A memorial of the Board of Overseers at the District of Mashpee expressing concern about encroachments by non MashpeesTranscription:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives in General Court Assembled May 25, 1796
The memorial of Walter Spooner, by order of the Board of Overseers of the District of Mashpee, respectfully sheweth,
That the district is almost altogether inhabited by black people and is become a place of resort for strangers, black and white, which are poor indigent persons by which means the inhabitants are greatly burdened. In addition to this, the poor from adjacent towns are sent into said district to be supported for a small consideration by the Indians. And in others instances small houses are set up on Indian land and poor families move into them where they get their firewood and other necessaries of life which the Indians stand in need of. The wood is now become one of the best articles of revenue the overseers have to make use of for the support of the old and invalid, and for schooling the children, from the evils before mentioned which is an increasing one.
A considerable part of the Indians' wood and fencing stuff is destroyed and it is not in the power of the guardians to prevent it, notwithstanding the General Court in the last session passed a good law for the preservation of the wood, but law can give no remedy where persons are poor and nothing but a removal will prevent the evil. Your memorialist further sheweth that the District of Mashpee have neither selectmen, nor overseers of the poor, nor suitable inhabitants to choose them out of, if there was a law to empower them to do it. Therefore, pray that a law may be made empowering the guardians, which are and may from time to time be appointed, to remove all persons which are resident in said district and proper inhabitants of some town within this Commonwealth or otherwise relieve your memorialist in such way and manner as you in your wisdom may think fit.
As in duty bound shall ever pray.
Walter Spooner, in behalf of said Board of Overseers
Legislative Action:
Memorial of the Board of Overseers of ye District of Mashpee / Mr. Sprague,1 Mr. Mason B., Mr. Thatcher
1. Crossed out text: Mr. Crocker
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives in General Court Assembled May 25, 1796
The memorial of Walter Spooner, by order of the Board of Overseers of the District of Mashpee, respectfully sheweth,
That the district is almost altogether inhabited by black people and is become a place of resort for strangers, black and white, which are poor indigent persons by which means the inhabitants are greatly burdened. In addition to this, the poor from adjacent towns are sent into said district to be supported for a small consideration by the Indians. And in others instances small houses are set up on Indian land and poor families move into them where they get their firewood and other necessaries of life which the Indians stand in need of. The wood is now become one of the best articles of revenue the overseers have to make use of for the support of the old and invalid, and for schooling the children, from the evils before mentioned which is an increasing one.
A considerable part of the Indians' wood and fencing stuff is destroyed and it is not in the power of the guardians to prevent it, notwithstanding the General Court in the last session passed a good law for the preservation of the wood, but law can give no remedy where persons are poor and nothing but a removal will prevent the evil. Your memorialist further sheweth that the District of Mashpee have neither selectmen, nor overseers of the poor, nor suitable inhabitants to choose them out of, if there was a law to empower them to do it. Therefore, pray that a law may be made empowering the guardians, which are and may from time to time be appointed, to remove all persons which are resident in said district and proper inhabitants of some town within this Commonwealth or otherwise relieve your memorialist in such way and manner as you in your wisdom may think fit.
As in duty bound shall ever pray.
Walter Spooner, in behalf of said Board of Overseers
Legislative Action:
Memorial of the Board of Overseers of ye District of Mashpee / Mr. Sprague,1 Mr. Mason B., Mr. Thatcher
1. Crossed out text: Mr. Crocker
Location:
Place written:
Mashpee, Massachusetts
Document Links
Protocol:
Keywords:
Massachusetts Collection, Massachusetts General Court, Massachusetts Phase 1, Petitions, Law, Race Relations, African-American/Black, Poverty, Buildings/Structures, Houses, Land, Timber/Wood, Poor Relief, Overseers of the Poor, Fences/Enclosures, Overseers/Guardians, Town OfficersOriginal Date:
1796 May 10thRights:
Images may be used for purposes of research, private study, or education. To publish, exhibit, or broadcast this image, please contact the Massachusetts Archives to receive a Permission to Publish form: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/, 220 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 02125; Reference Desk: 617-727-2816 ext. 222; Email: archives@sec.state.ma.usSource:
Massachusetts Archives, St. 1796, c.23, passed June 17, 1796Identifier:
1796.05.25.00Subject:
Mashpee