1675 Order by Court of Assizes and Consequent Proclamation Ordering Native Americans to Remove from the Manor of Pelham

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In 1675, barely five years after John Pell inherited the Manor of Pelham from his uncle, Thomas Pell, King Philip's War broke out. "King Philip," also known as Metacom, was the leader of the Wampanoag Native Americans. War between Native Americans extended from New Hampshire to Connecticut. That year the Court of Assizes directed that Native Americans living on John Pell's land in the Manor of Pelham should remove themselves. New York Governor Edmund Andros subsequently issued a proclamation ordering the removal of Native Americans from the Manor of Pelham, apparently fearing that isolated groups might be able to band together undetected for an attack on New York City or settlements near the City.

On December 29, 2006, I posted to the Historic Pelham Blog a transcription of a secondary source describing these events. See "Native Americans Ordered to Remove from the Manor of Pelham in 1675". Today's posting, however, transcribes the actual order by the Court of Assizes, followed by the text of the proclamation issued by Governor Andros. As always, a citation to the source follows the transcription.

"At a Court of Assizes Octobr 11th, 1675.

Upon a Proposall whether it will not bee convenient at this Juncture of Time, of the Indyan Disturbance to the Eastward, to bring all Canoes on the north Side of Long Island to this Place, or to have them all destroyed, to prevent any Intercourse wth the Indians on the Maine.

Or that the Canooes bee brought to the next Towne and secured by the Officers.

Resolved, That all Canooes whatsoever belonging to Christians or Indyans on the north Side of Long Island, to the East of Hell-Gate, shall within three Dayes after Publicacon hereof, bee brought to the next Townes and delivered into the Constatbles Custody, to bee laid up and secured by them, neare the Block House.

And that whatsoever Canooe shall be found upon the Sound after thta Time bee destroyed.

And that the Indyans at Mr. Pells bee ordered [Page 92 / Page 93] to remove within a ffortnight to their usuall Winter Quarters within Hell Gate upon this Island, during wch Time loaden Canooes which shall have Certificates from the Magistrates of the Place from whence they come, expressing whether they are going, shall bee permitted quietly to passe along the Shoare, except out of the Government, which in no Case is to be allowed. [Page 93 / Page 94]

A Proclamation about Canooes Being Laid Up and Secured by the Constables, 1 [FN 1: "Issued in Accordance with the preceding Order of the Court of Assizes."] &c.

[Warrants, Orders, Passes, iii, 141.]

Whereas it hath been thought convenient, and it is ordered by the Genall Court of Assizes, at this present Juncture, That all Canooes whatsoever, belonging to Christians or Indyans, on the north Side of Long Island, to the East of Hell Gate, shall within three Days after the Publication hereof, bee brought to the next Tounes and delivered into the Constable's Custody, to bee laid up and secured by them, near their Block Houses. And that what Canooes soever shall bee found upon the Sound after that Time, shall be destroyed: As also that the Indyans at Mr. Pell's 2 [FN 2: "2 Anne Hookes Neck, Pelham, Westchester County."] bee ordered to remove within a ffortnight, to their usuall Winter Quarters, wth in Hell-Gate, upon this Island; During which Time all loaden Canoes which shall have Certificates from the Magistrates of the Place from whence they [Page 94 / Page 95] came, expressing whether they are going, shall bee permitted quietly to passe along the Shoare, except into or out of the Government, which in no Case is to be alloued; These are in his Ma ties Name to require a strict and due Observance of this Order from all Persons, as they and every of them will answer the Contrary at their utmost Perills.

Given under my Hand in N. Yorke, this 12th Day of October, 1675.

E. Andross,

To all Magistrates, Constables, and Overseers, or other his Ma ties Officers, and others whom it may concerne."

Source: Hough, Franklin B., ed., A Narrative of the Causes Which Led to Phlip's Indian War, 0f 1675 and 1676, By John Easton, of Rhode Island. With Other Documents Concerning This Even in the Office of the Secretary of State of New York. Prepared from the Originals, with an Introduction and Notes, pp. 92-95 (Albany, NY: J. Munsell 1858).

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