Page:American Anthropologist NS vol. 22.djvu/229

 DELABARRE AND WILDER] INDIAN CORN-HILLS 21 J

little loop of Mill river, and it was evident from the outset that so close a proximity to the place where the English designed to build would be in many ways unpleasant. It was therefore definitely stipulated, and so stated in the original deed of purchase, that the Indians were to remove their settlement here, in the loop of Mill river, and locate upon the east side of the Connecticut the following year (1654), the English to plow up for them sixteen acres of meadow land there for the planting of their corn. The Indians were allowed to keep their present corn-fields for the year following, 1654, but after that time they were to remove wholly to the east of the Connecticut, and leave the English finally free from them. The original text, which seems to have been rather unusual in its definite- ness, runs in part as follows :

. . . The Aforesaid Indians and in pticular Wawhollowa, Nenessahalant, and Nassachohe beeing the Sachems of Nanotuck doe for themselues and with the Consent of the other Indians and owners of the sd Groundes, sell, giue, and Grant vnto John Pynchon of Springfeild and to his Assignes for and in the Con- sideration of one hundred fathum of Wampam by Tale and for Tenn Coates (besides some small gifts) in hand to the said Sachems and owners, All the land Aforesaid as [by] these presents haue bargained, granted and sould to the [said] Pynchon all and singuler the said landes free from all Cumbrances of Indians pro- vided the said Pynchon shall plow vpp or cawse to bee plowed vpp for the said Indians Sixteene Acres of land on the Easterly side of Quoneticutt River which is to bee donn sometime next summer 1654 And in the meane time viz the next spring 1654, the Indians haue liberty to plant ther present Corne feildes, but after that time they are wholly to leaue that West side of the river. And not to plant or molest y e English ther.

All the said Premises the said Pynchon and his assignes shall haue and enjoy Absolutely and Clearly forever [from] all in Cumbrances from any Indians or their corne feilds.

Thus it is clear that the Indian corn-fields included within this loop of the smaller river were harvested by them for the last time in the fall of 1654, while during the next few years the Indian people themselves were much in evidence, living for the most part in friendly relations with the whites, paying an occasional fine for drunkenness, or breaking into a mill and stealing "divers tool and meal." In ten years, however, probably fearing the Mohawks, who had then become occasional visitors to this valley, the local

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