abhor set over them. Their Sachem is deposed because he would not join with Cap Mason to let him sell the little land they have left, as he and his relations have done all the rest of their country; and this stranger is set over them because he will fall in with that design. Will they not be ready to say, our minister and our school master has brought all this upon us: had we not harkened to the English in the matter of Religion, we had never had these men amongst us, and if they had not come amongst us, we might have been secure in our possessions under our Prince.

By the copy you enclosed to me, and for which I thank you, I see the Com". have resolved not to write to the Corporation in favor of Capt Mason, at present: which I understand in this sense, that the Com. are resolved faithfully and religiously to pursue their trust towards the Indians, they are not yet satisfyed that his design is for the benefit of it: but when they shall be satisfyed that his design is for the advantage of their design of Gospelizing the Indians, they will

"Jan 26, 1735 (1735-6). A Petition of Cap' John Mason read, setting forth the incroachments by the English on the Lands of the Mohegan Indians, That he as Guardian to the s4 Indians has been long looking to the Government of Connecticut for Redress but in Vain; Wherefore he proposes to take a Voyage to England & to make Application to the Crown, desiring, the Commisss to recommend him to the Honble Corporation for their Countenance & Assistance. The Commiss's having taken into their mature consideration the Papers and Records offered both by the Government of Connecticut & Cap' Mason do at present decline to Comply with the proposals in Capt Mason's Petition, depending on the said Government that agreeably to professions & Declarations they have made, they will take effectual Measures to do justice to the Indians with respect to their Lands, that so they may be in a capacity to live in a compact manner & in a better condition to receive Instruction and the Christian Religion. Voted, that a Letter be written to Gov' Talcot inclosing a Coppy of this Vote & pressing him to use his Endeavours that the Indians may have their Right, & desiring that he would please to give Direction that an account be taken of the several parcels of Land within that Colony which the Indians now possess free of all Encroachments, and that the Acc" be transmitted to the Commiss."- MS. Minutes,

etc.

assist him, and write home to the Corporation in his favor. Thus far I think is plain, and while I have the book in my hand, I think I may fairly read a little further; that when it shall appear to them that his design is directly contrary to the end of their trust, and threatens to overthrow it, they will improve their interest and write to the Corporation against him. If in this I am wrong, Sir, I hope you will correct me. But if such a consequence may be drawn from that determination, I have this to say, that I have laid the case fairly before you. You are wise to know the way you should go. My opinion is that these Honourable and Revd Gentlemen, the Com", can in nothing better pursue their trust to the Indians, than in writing home to the Corporation against him. And to recur to where I first began, in a word, herein also you will serve your friend and Most humble S',

HARTFORD, February 17th, 1735/6.

J. TALCOTT.

P. S. S': You mention'd no particulars to me, wherein you would specially be informed, which if you shall hereafter do, or desire evidence to any matter of fact referred to in this letter, please to let me know it, and I shall be glad to serve you in it.

P. S. I have sent inclosed one Act impowering Com. of the Indian affairs,* &c., one lease by them made to Cap Mason, to inform you that Capt Mason hath acknowledged Ben Uncass to be the Sachem of those lands; and other leases might be produced, under Cap Mason's hand, of the same nature, if need be. The leases are generally made payable to the Com's, for the use and behoof of the Indians, and the money truly paid to them to their good satisfaction.

*Colonial Records, VI., 77-78; VII., 75.

I have also inclosed copies of the Indians' lands at Middletown, and as I may have opportunity shall be always ready to inform you of everything in my power relating to the Indians' concerns in this Colony: for I am, Sir,

Yours and Theirs to Serve as I may,

J. TALCOTT.

Mason:

[Indorsed] Copy Let' sent to Col° Adam Winthrop, Esq', Feb 17, 1735/6; Indian affairs, &c. Mohegan Indians.

GOVERNOR TALCOTT TO LIEUT. JAMES HARRIS.*

LIEUT HARRISS.

Sir:

HARTFORD, feb 28th, 1735/6.

I writ the incloased this morn expecting to have benn early enow to have given it you before you went out of town, and had more discors with you on the particulars Complain'd of by Capt Mason against this Gov'ment. But that failed. I desire therefore that you would Recolect and wright down the particulars as farr as your memory will serve you, and when the Judges of our Superior Court comes to N: London, even at their first entrance give that accot to major Wolcott. I direct you to him because he only of those Gen" men have consulted with me, and knows what is allredy done, and I hope while the Court sits

*Lieut. James Harris was born in Boston, April 4, 1673; came to New London with his father in 1690; he removed from New London to Mohegan in 1698, and settled upon a tract of land granted by Oweneco, the Mohegan Sachem, to his wife Sarah, who was an especial favorite with Oweneco, as was also her father, Samuel Rogers. James Harris also held very friendly relations with the Mohegans, and Oweneco and his successors were lavish in their grants of land to him. In 1714 he was commissioned Lieutenant of the north company in New London. He removed to Colchester in 1718, where he died Feb. 10, 1757. — Morgan's Harris Genealogy,

will give you any directions that may be thought proper to git such papers and Records as may be needed in our defence against Cap Mason's Complaints. And if you appryhend that Capt B: is attacht to Capt Mason's interest give the Maj' Wolcott hint of it, for by his advice I wrot to Capt Bushnell as I did to M' John Richards. Lett the Major know I have imploy[ed] M' Attorney Fowler to take out Copys yt are on Lebinon and Windham Records of the land sold in those towns p' Oweneco and the Masons, and allso a Copy of old Uncasses deed to old Major Mason of 1659, (if I mistake not the date) that is Recorded in Windham. Pray take the best advice you can in all matters Relating to the premises, and afford your best help. If I had known you had been so much acquaint[ed] with those affairs I should have spoken with you sooner after you came to Hartford. But the few minits I had, &c, filld with other company thought not proper to enter upon it. I hope this will not be too late. With these lines you upon Major Wolcott, with my Hum

I

may [wait? torn] Service, I am

S yours to

[Rest of signature torn off.]

[Indorsed] Gov' Talcott's Letter, 1735.

DEPOSITION OF JAMES HARRIS.

James Harris of New London Declares and Sais that about the Time that Capt John Mason was preparing to Go to England Against this Goverment I being Apprised thereof went Imediatly to Hartford and Informed Gov Talcott thereof for which I Charge the Goverment in. my Accot £2. And when I had

informed the Gov" of the said Affair he sd Gov' ordered me to go home and Search our Records Respecting

*See page 348.

*

that affair, and Take Copys of all Such Things as might be of advantage to the Gov'ment. Accordingly when I Came home I did go to New London, and did Search the Records and Severall Copys. And I at the Same Time Informed the Gov that I Supposed Capt Mason would go to Rhoad Island and try to git that Colony's Seal affixed to his papers, and the Gov' ordered me to try [to] keep sd Mason from having that Colony Seal affixed to his papers, all which Cost me what I have charged in my Acco' for the same and much more. The sd Gov' also Insisted that I should try whether I could not by any means perswade Yeomanumps from going to England with s Mason. Accordingly I went to New London and saw sd Yeomanumps and used my utmost Indeavour to perswade him but could not, and then I procured Caleb, a man which I thought could prevail with him if any such thing could possibly be Effected, and Accordingly I Agreed with s Caleb (being Yeomanumps good friend) to go to boston, and try his Skill, which Accordingly sd Caleb did go, and Use his best Indeavours, and could not effect it; the charge of which is as in my Rendered. And as touching the Expences at M' Shapley's+ the Indians were, by orders of the Gov' afores to me, to be Convened in order to make a Revocation, which Charge I paid as p' s Shapley's Acc'. And as to my Charge for Times and Expenses at the first Com's Courts, I am sure it is much Less than I spent at sd Court. And as to the Charges paid to Sundry Indians at the Last Commiss's Court, I went to Hartford with a Number of sd Indians, and met the Colony's Agents, and Informed them that the Indians were grown uneasy, and Threatened to go off without some

* Mamohet, or Mahomet.

+ Mr. Shapley was a tavern-keeper in New London. - Hempsted's Diary.