CHAPTER IX
ALONG THE WAY

INHABITANTS BECOME ACQUAINTED.--GRANT OF YE HILL AT TANTOUSQUE.--ORIGINAL DEED TO JOHN WINTHROP, JR.--CONFIRMED BY OLD NADAWAHUNT.--THIRD AND LARGER DEED.--PROMINENT INDIANS INTRODUCED

ALONG THE WAY, AT TANTASWE IN NIPNET

The inhabitants of Tantiusque had become accustomed to the appearance and activities of the appearance and activities of the palefaces during the eleven years since the approach of Oldham along the great path was announced by the shouts of the native runners.

Hundreds of these foreign people had since passed along this way with flocks and herds of animals, strange and wonderful to behold.

Their men and women had danced before the strangers; and the chiefs had welcomed the arrivals with dignity, courtesy and unlimited hospitality.

The great and war-like nation of the Pequots, their tyrannical neighbors, who had exacted tribute as far north as the great path, and westward almost to the Connecticut River, had been destroyed by the palefaces, almost as it were in a day.

Tammugut (rabbit in the Indian dialect) was the runner in the personal service of the great chief. He was one of the trained runners of those times, able to make a hundred miles a day along their paths,--a messenger, also a guard to announce the approach of an enemy.

In the autumn of 1644 there appeared at Tantaskwe Stephen Day (the first printer in America), Thomas King and Richard Smith. They represented the interests of John Winthrop, Jr. who had been granted by the General Court, "ye hill at Tantousque about sixty miles westward, in which the blacklead is, and liberty to purchase some land of the Indians."

It was also in their way to look for other minerals and to make sure of all the aid possible. Tamuggut was sent with a letter to Mr. William Pynchon at Springfield

The following reply was received:

"Springfield, 8th month, 1644

To My Loving Friend, Stephen Day,
      Tantaskwe in Nipnet.
I received a letter from you by an Indian, who saith his name is Tamuggut. I spake to this Indian in your behalf. I told him that the governor sent you to search for something in the ground, not for black-lead, as they supposed, but for some other mineral.
   I told him that the hill of black-lead by Quassuck was not so good as that which lay southward of it, near the corn-field where one Namaswhat lives. I suppose it is five or six miles south of that place by Quassuck.

(Signed) William Pynchon.

Indorsed by John Winthrop, Junior."

The above letter from Mr. William Pynchon was dated 8th month 1644, and the agents of Mr. Winthrop obtained the first deed the 8th day of the same month.

DEED

   Wetoleshen and Nommorshet grantors jointly to John Winthrop, Jr.
   "This is to testifi to hom it may concaren that I Wetolewchen and Nommorshet haf soulled for and in concedourachonn of suche goods as I haf resyefed of Mr. John Winthrop ten miles round about the hill where the matres ledge called black lead and for Mr. Wenthrop's pesable injoymat of it & we bynd ourselves and heyers for evor to the treu pourforemans of the premasis and to this I sat my hand this prasunt day and date selled and dalefourd & in the prasuns of ous 8 day of 8 month 1644.

The mark of wetole [his mark] shen Seal.

The mark of nom [his mark] morshet. Seal.

Wetnas the mark of Cucheat.
wetnas Thomas King
             Stephen Day.
             Richard Smith."
   Copied from the original, orthography preserved, by Levi B. Chase, March 1899.
   Done at Boston by permission of the owner, Mr. Robert C. Winthrop.

One hundred and eight years after this deed was signed, it was received at the registry of old Hampshire county at Springfield.

The following is a copy of the record made in 1752, of the original deed.

   "This is to testify to whom it may concern that I Webomscom and Nowdowahunt for and in consideration of sundry goods I have received to give John Winthrop ten miles round about the Hills where the mine is thats called Black lead and for Mr. Winthrop's enjoyment of it we bind ourselves & heirs forever to the free performance of the premises to which I set my hand this present day & date, sealed and delivered in the presence of us 8 day of 8th month 1644.
Witness the mark of     Sundock.

Thomas King	The mark of Webomscom	Seal.
Steven Day Richard Smith	The mark of Nodowahunt	Seal.

   Rec'd at the Hampshire county Registry, June 24, 1752 & recorded form the original.

Edw. Pynchon, Reg."

Few persons to-day, without preparedness or instruction, can decipher the chirography of the writers of 300 years ago.

It was equally difficult for the recorder of 1752.

But with the illustrations, found in the report of the Commissioner of Records in 1899, the name of Wetoleshen shows as clearly as any plain writing of to-day.

The baffled recorder of this original deed substituted, with a tinge of facetiousness, Webomscom as a makeshift, and called Nommorshot, Nodowahunt.

Thomas King and Stephen Day proceeded to the residence of the "ancient sachem" Nodowahunt, and obtained the following No. 2. Deed, in which Richard Smith does not appear. He may have departed immediately to convey the first deed to Mr. Winthrop.

INDIAN DEED¹

November 11, 1644

   "These are to testifye that I Nodowahunt owner of the land of Tantiusques where the Black lead hill is, Doe sell and give up and surrender all my right in that place for ten miles to John Winthrop the younger of Mystick, and do confirm the former sale of the Blacklead hill and the land about it at Tantiusques by Webuckshem until the said John Winthrop, and am fully satsfied for the same witness my hand this 11th Novr. 1644.

The mark of       Nodawahant.

Stephen Day
Tho. King
Gorgis       mark.
    Recd. June 24, 1752, & recorded form the original.
        By Edward Pynchon, Reg."

   The Indian witness, Cucheat, may have been ancestor of some Christian converts of the Pequot tribe who had that surname.

This deed was witnessed at Tantaskwee; the Englishmen who witnessed were all men of education and experience in enterprises, and doubtless had some knowledge of the Indian vocabulary.

The first of the English witnesses was Thomas King, who it appears was a prospective contractor, aiming to perform the first mining in this country.

"Stephen Day was a noted personage in Colonial history, and a locksmith by profession. He, in 1639, set up at Harvard College the first English printing-press in America, and on it had printed the Book of Psalms, in 1640. He was a man of worthy aims and rare energy, but so lavish or improvident, that his earnings and the sales of land granted him by the General court, in reward for his art, could not keep him out of debt."

Richard Smith, the third witness and probably the most important member of the party, had been a resident in the Narragansett country, some years, and had the knowledge and qualification required in negotiating with the Indians.

INDIAN DEED²

January 20, 1644

   "Know all men hereby both English and Indian that I We Bucksham Chief Sachem and right owner of Tantiusques and all the Inland parts of the country thereabouts have granted and sold all that my said Sachemship and Country to John Winthrop Jr. Governor of the English on Quinticut River for many valuable considerations particularly for ten Belts of Wampampeag with many Blankets and Coats of Trucking cloth and sundry other goods which I do hereby acknowledge to have Received in full satisfaction for All the Black Lead Mines and all other Places of Mines and Minerals with all the Lands in the Wilderness lying North and West East and South Round the said Blacklead Hills for ten miles each way only reserving for myself and people liberty of fishing and hunting and convenient planting in the said grounds and ponds and Rivers. And according to English custom I have given Possession of all my lands aforesaid until Amos Richardson Servant to said Winthrop Governor of the English for said Winthrop's use. To have and to Hold to him the said John Winthrop his heirs and assigns forever. In everlasting Remembrance and witness hereof I lay this Whiskeeg or writing on Washcomos my Son and Heir's Breast and set my mark and Seal and Washcomos my said Son according to Indian customs freely makes his mark and Seal hereunto on my breast. This done with Consent of all the Indians at Tantiusques the 20th of 11th month 1644.
   The mark       of We Bucksham (Wetoleshen) Sachem of Tantiusques.
   The mark       & seal       of Washcomos son of We Bucksham.
Witness: Nodowahunt uncle to We Bucksham his mark       . Haguntus his mark       . Sachems of Alhumps his mark       . Quinebaug Sagamore Noas his mark       . Casacinamon his mark       . Governor and Chief Councilor among the Pequots.
Amos Richrson
John Burkin       John Wood
Tho. Spencer Sr.       Tho. Champion.

   Washcomos Sachem of Tantiusques acknowledged this Instrument this 19th of 10ber 1654.

Before me Ri Bellingham Govr.

Recd., June 24th. 1752 & Recorded form the Original.

Edwd. Pynchon, Regr."

Alhumphes and Haguntus are mentioned in Hyde's Hist. of Brimfield.

Sagamore Noas:--a Christian Indian,held the office of deacon.

Cassacinnamon, a noted Pequot chief, was respected for his honesty and intelligence. In King Philip's War he commanded a company of Indian volunteers, and fought on the side of the English.

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