Petition of Zachariah Howwaswee to the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

To the Honourable Senate and House of Representatives in General Court Assembled

The subscriber, being a Native of Gayhead on the Island of Martha's Vineyard, begs leave to acquaint Your Honours with some difficulties attending his situation and to apply to you as to the Fathers of the Commonwealth for that relief which his case requires, trusting that you are ever disposed to hear the petitions of the injured and  to afford that assistance which their case requires.

Your petitioner would suggest that heretofore he was allowed about one-third part of the rent of a tract of land formerly called the Commissioners’ Land at the time when the Reverend Zachariah Mayhew1 improved the other two thirds as a compensation for preaching to the Natives of said Gayhead, that he, your petitioner, since the period above mentioned has continued to improve said land for more than twenty years last past. Your petitioner would further suggest that from necessity, he has lately been obliged to rebuild his house standing on said land that in order to accomplish which he was compiled to hire out said land.  Your petitioner would further state that, at the commencement of the present season, the person who hired said land was not allowed to improve the same by reason of the Mulattoes and Negros principally drawing off his cattle by force though repeatedly forbid and taking away much of their fence, by reason of which your petitioner is unable to improve said land himself.  Thus, your petitioner is deprived of the means by which he expected to pay his just debts particularly the building of his house and also from comfortably providing for himself and family, your petitioner prays that you would take his case into your wise consideration and grant him such relief as you in your wisdom shall see fit.

And in duty bound shall ever pray,                                 

Zachariah Howwaswee

• 1. Mayhew served the Gay Head community until 1789, when his congregation rebelled against him. The discontent stemmed from Mayhew's obtaining control of several hundred acres of their land as repayment for his stewardship of the churches on Martha's Vineyard. Mandell, Tribe, Race, History, 87.
• 2. The surname Howsuck was written instead of Howwaswee.