606 INDIAN LAND CESSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES 



111 1097 iiurchases of laud from the ludiaiis were made by the town 

 of Truro, as appears from an old book of records kept by tlie towu.' 



The principal part of the town of Ilojikiuton was purchased from 

 the natives l)y Mr Leverett, then president of Harvard College, for 

 the purpose, it is said, of perpetuating the legacy of Edwaixl Hopkins 

 to the college. 



In IGW the following lands were purchased: "A tract of land called 

 Pochet, with two islands, lying- before Potaiiumaquut, with a beach 

 and small island upon it; also all the land called Namskeket, extend- 

 ing northward to the bounds of the territory belonging to George, the 

 sachem excepting a small island (Pochet). They bought at the same 

 time all the lands belonging to Aspinet." The inhabitants of Eastham 

 also, in 1640, purchased "the neck of laud lying at the mouth of the 

 harbor, the island Pochet, and the tract" extending from the northern 

 limits of Nauset to a little brook named by the Indians Sapokonisk 

 and by the English Bound brook. 



The Indian deed for the lands purchased of them for the town of 

 Haverhill is as follows : 



Know all Men by these Presents ; that wee Passaqiio and Saggahew, -svith the 

 consent of Passaconnaway have sold uuto the inhabitants of Pentuckett all the laud 

 we have in Pentuckett; that is eight miles in length from the little river in Pen- 

 tuckett westward, six miles in length from the aforesaid river northward, and sis 

 miles in length from the aforesaid river eastward, with the islands and the river 

 that the islands stand in as far in leugth as the land lyes, as formerly expressed, 

 that is fourteene myles in length ; and we the said Pnssaquo and Saggahew with the 

 consent of Passacouuaway have sold unto the said inliabbittants all the right that 

 wee or any of us have in the said ground, and islands and river; and do warrant it 

 against all or any other Indians whatsoever uuto the said inhabbittants of Pen- 

 tuckett and to their heirs and assigns forever. Dated the fifteenth day of Novem- 

 ber: Anno Dom : 1642: 



Witness our hands and seals to this bargayne of sale the day and yeare above 

 written (in the presents of us). Wee the said Passaquo and Saggahew have received 

 in hand, for and in consideration of the same, three pounds and ten shilliugs.- 



Zaccheus Macy, in his account of Nantucket," throws a little light 

 on the subject of Indian deeds, where he says: "I have observed also, 

 that some of our old deeds from the Indian sachems were examined 

 by Peter Folger, and he would write something at the bottom of the 

 deed and sign it, in addition to the signature of the justice; for he 

 understood and could speak the Indian tongue." In what capacity 

 Folger signed these deeds does not appear. He was one of the commis- 

 sioners appointed to lay out lots in Kantucket, but this had no relation 

 to purchases from the Indians. However, it appears that the magis- 

 trate's signature was necessary. This would indicate, as stated above, 

 that the authority governing these purchases remained practically in 

 the towns, and that reference to the general court was made only in 



1 Collections Massachusetts Ilistorical Society, vol. in. 



^Oii. cit., vol. IV (1816), pp. 1G9-170. 



8 Collections Massachusetts Historical Societv. vol iii. first series, p. 159. 



