Petition of Cassasinamon

The humble petition of Cassasinamon, sachem over the Pequot Indians [at] Mashantucket

The honored Court having formerly understood the Narragansett sachem, now deceased in his lifetime, promised to pay to me, and the rest of the sachems in confederation with me, one hundred and twenty fathom of peage, to say wampum peage,1 the which as we understood was left in the custody of Mr. Thomas Stanton, Sr.   We have made inquiry after it, but cannot understand when we are like to have it or by what means we may come to be possessed of it which is the humble and earnest request of your poor petitioner that the honored General Court would please to consider of it and set us in some effectual way how we may be possessed of the said money and that the honored Court would be pleased to hear our much esteemed friend, Captain James Avery who understands the matter fully and we hope will be ready to inform the honored Court in any particular concerning this our humble request.  Further requesting that these may be taken in good part as from him that is most unworthy and you shall really see my faithfulness upon all occasions when opportunity is to serve you.

The mark of      Cassasinamon , for himself and the rest of the Pequot sachems

October            11, 1677

            Address:  To the General Court Assembled at Hartford

            Notation:  Cassasinamon’s petition, October 11, 1677

            Cataloguing:  31, 37

• 1. The General Assembly met on May 11th and 18th of the previous year (1676) to hear Robin’s demands for the return of “about 100 fathom of peag, given to Robin, the Pequots and Moheags by Ninicroft, and a parcell of peag that they tooke of the sd Ninicrof.” Trumbull, PRCC, Vol. 2 (1852), 441