This is one of five surviving deeds made with Indigenous peoples for what would become the Deerfield, Massachusetts, area. At the time, the land being sold was the homeland of the Pocumtuck people. They and other Eastern Woodlands people believed in stewarding land, but not owning it. Most likely they could not understand the purpose of the deed and thought they were agreeing to share their homeland with the English settlers.
Meqinnitchall of Pacomtuck, Ahimunquat alias. Deed of Pacomtuck land granted by Ahimunquat to Dedham residents. July 22, 1667. Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, American Centuries. https://americancenturies.org/collection/l98-013/. Accessed on October 16, 2024.
Please note: Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.