TB03IAS] Massachusetts' policy toward the Indians 605 



of the natives," be correct, then Mr (Oliver is mistaken so far as bis 

 charge against this town is concerned. 



In regard to Salem, however, Mr Oliver's charge is not so clearly 

 refnted. AYilliam Bentley, in his "Description of Salem,"' makes a 

 weak apology for the town, as follows: 



Au inquiry into tlie settlement of Salem will not necessarily lead to examine the 

 authority of the royal patent, granted to the Plymouth company, or to the dispute 

 respecting its extent. The right of possession, in regard to particular natives of 

 America, may be as unnecessary an inquiry, in regard to the matter of fact. The 

 Indian deed, or. as it might be called, quitclaim, granted, at so late a year as 1686, 

 to ,Iohn Higgiuson, from the Indians of Chelmsford and Natick, aud for a small 

 consideration, could be nothing but an attempt to prevent luture trouble, and must 

 satisfy us that no proper settlement had been made '.^y the consent of the Indians. 

 For Salem there is an apology which is sufficient: The natives had forsaken this 

 spot, before the English had readied it. On the soil, they found no natives, of whom 

 we have any record. No natives ever claimed it, aud the possession was uninter- 

 rupted. Reverend John Higginson reports from tradition, that there had been an 

 Indian town in North-fields, but no particular settlement, about the time of the 

 infancy of the colony, appears. On several points of laud, convenient for fishing, 

 several graves have been foimd, which indicate the visits of the fishing Indians. 

 But these are too few to agree with any settlements. Mr. Williams, who came to 

 Salem, and settled within two years after AViuthrop arrived, and who has given us 

 the most early and best history of the Indians, does not mention them near Salem, 

 aud GooUin does not find them njion this spot. Williams speaks, as if the Indians, 

 known to him, buried their dead, laying in their graves; but all the graves, which 

 have been opened, shew that the dead were buried sitting at Neunikeage. No where 

 have Indian names obtained, but English names were inunediately adopted. These 

 facts are sufticient to satisfy that no Indian claims were regarded, in the first settle- 

 ment of Salem. 



This apology, based on the idea that there were no Indian claimants, 

 does not accord exactly with the fact that John Higginson obtained a 

 deed "to prevent trouble," nevertheless it is possible that both state- 

 ments may be correct. 



Barnstable. — No account of the first settlement of this town, called 

 by the Indians Maitachveset, appears to be on record. The Reverend 

 Mr Mellen, in his "Topographical Description," says "there is reason 

 to think that no part of the town was settled without purchase or con- 

 sent of the natives; for though no record remains of any considerable 

 tract on the north side being purchased of the Indians, yet it appears 

 by several votes and agreements of the town, extracted from the first 

 town book and preserved in the second, that all the south side of the 

 town was amicably imrchased of Wianne and several other sachems 

 about the year 1650." 



Xantiiclcf. — The whole of the island was purchased ])iecemea!, begin- 

 ning at the western end. 



The land about Sandwich and Marshpee was purchased about 1660 

 from Quachatisset and others, but, strange to say, for the use and 

 benefit of other Indians. 



iCollectious ilassacLusetts Historical Societ}' (1800), vol. vi, pp. 230-'J31. 



