More on Why Natives Sold Lands Including Today's Pelham First to the Dutch and then to Thomas Pell

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Local historians long have wondered why Natives sold lands including today's Pelham first to the Dutch and then to Thomas Pell.  Indeed, I have written about this very issue before (and about evidence of a number of so-called "Indian Deeds" that may have covered Pelham lands).  See:

Mon., Sep. 07, 2015:  Why Did Native Americans Sell Lands Including Today's Pelham First to the Dutch and then to the English?  

Thu., Aug. 02, 2018:  What We Know of Early So-Called "Indian Deeds" Transferring Pelham Lands.

In such articles I have noted previously that as Kieft's War in the mid-1640s became increasingly brutal, Wiechquaeskeck Natives fled the area, leaving sachems or representatives of the group to participate in treaties or to execute deeds to sell land that the group once controlled.  For example, on August 30, 1645, Dutch authorities and local Natives appeared at Fort Amsterdam to sign a peace treaty.  No Wiechquaeskeck sachem appeared at the ceremony.  Instead, a Native referenced as "Aepjen" appeared "personally, speaking for the Wappinox, Wiquaeskeckx, Sintsings and Kichtawanghs."  Aepjen was described in the Council Minutes recording the agreement and signing ceremony as "Aepjen, sachem of the Mahikans."  See Scott, Kenneth & Stryker-Rodda, Kenn, eds., New York Historical Manuscripts:  Dutch -- Translated and Annotated By Arnold J. V. Van Laer, Volume IV Council Minutes, 1638-1649, pp. 278-81 (Baltimore, MD:  Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1974).

Similarly, no evidence yet has been uncovered that any Wiechquaeskeck participated in the July 14, 1649, sale by Natives of lands including today's Pelham to Dutch authorities. See Mon., Sep. 07, 2015:  Why Did Native Americans Sell Lands Including Today's Pelham First to the Dutch and then to the English?  In that transaction, the Wiechquaeskecks purportedly were represented by a non-Wiechquaeskeck Native referenced in the deed as "Seyseychkimus" who was described as "chief" and signed the deed as a "witness."

In addressing the question regarding why Natives sold lands including today's Pelham first to the Dutch 1n 1649 and then to New Englander Thomas Pell in 1654, I previously have posited:

"[O]ne hypothesis, yet to be proved or disproven, is that the 1649 sale of lands including today's Pelham to the Dutch was made by Native Americans who did not have a true claim to those lands and had no consent from its Wiechquaesgeck owners to sell those lands. Only six years later, true Wiechquaesgecks sold the same lands to Thomas Pell."

There is additional evidence that the Wiechquaeskecks who sold the land to Pell never consented to any earlier sale of the lands by Seyseychkimus and the other sachems who executed the 1649 deed.  It turns out that Seyseychkimus was also present at Fort Amsterdam and signed the peace treaty four years earlier on August 30, 1645.  He is referenced in the Council Minutes reflecting the agreement as "Sesekemu" and "Sesekenins."  Perhaps significantly, during that ceremony and in the peace treaty, Seyseychkimus did NOT represent the Wiechquaeskecks.  He is listed with "Willem" as "chiefs of Tappaens and Rechgawawanck."  Instead, Aepjen (listed in the same material as "Aepjen, sachem of the Mahikans").

In short, in 1645 when the Wiechquaeskecks required representation for action by proxy on the peace treaty, Seyseychkimus did NOT represent them despite the fact that he was in attendance at, and participated in, the peace treaty signing ceremony.  It is, therefore, at least possible that four years later when Wiechquaeskeck lands including those that later became the Manor of Pelham were sold to the Dutch, Seyseychkimus and the other non-Wiechquaeskeck sachems were not true "representatives" of the Wiechquaeskecks.

View of Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, 1651. Note The Native
Americans in a Variety of Canoes. Source: Hartger, Joost, Befchrijvinghe
Van Virginia, Nieuw Nederlandt, En d’Eylanden Bermudes, Berbados,
en S. Christossel (Amsterdam, 1651) (Original in The Lenox Library, The
New York Historical Society, The Andrews Collection).
NOTE: Click on Image To Enlarge.

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For more about Seyseychkimus, see:  Mon., Aug. 31, 2015:  Seyseychkimus, The Native American "Chief" and Signer of 1649 Indian Deed Encompassing Pelham.


August 30, 1645 Announcement of Terms of Peace Treaty with Natives Including Wiechquaeskecks

"[232] August 30, 1645

Whereas there is a fair promise of obtaining a firm and durable peace with the Indians, it is resolved and concluded in council in Fort Amsterdam to order Philip de Truy, the court messenger, to notify the burghers all around to come to the fort when the flag shall be hoisted and the bell rung and there to hear the terms which shall be agreed upon and, if any one should have any good advice to offer, freely to express his opinion.

Philip de Truy, court messenger, having been ordered to notify the burghers pursuant to the foregoing resolution, appears and reports that he served on all the burghers round about on the Manhatens, from the highest to the lowest, no one excepted, the order which he received from the director and council their good advice in the matter.  He, the court messenger, says that all the burghers gave them their kind attention and a favorable answer, except one Hendrick Kip, tailor.

Articles of peace concluded in the presence of the Mohawks between the Dutch and the River Indians.

This day, being the 30th of August 1645, appeared before the director and council in Fort Amsterdam, in the presence of the entire community, the following sachems or chiefs of the Indians, as well for themselves as in the capacity of attorneys of the neighboring chiefs, to wit:  Oratany, chief of Achkinckeshacky; Sesekemu and Willem, chiefs of Tappaens and Rechgawawanck, Pacham [and] Pennekeck having been here yesterday and emp;owered them to act for them, and answering further for those of Onany and their neighbors; Mayauwetinnemin, for those of Marechkawieck, Nayeck and their neighbors; as also Aepjen personally, speaking for the Wappinox, Wiquaeskeckx, Sintsings and Kichtawanghs.  

1.  They agree to and conclude a firm and inviolable peace with us, which they promise, as we likewise do, to maintain and nevermore to break.

2.  If it happen, which God forbid, that any dispute should arise between us and them, no war shall be commenced on that account, but they shall come to our governor and we to their sachems to make complaint and if any one be killed or murdered the slayer shall be promptly brought to justice [233] and both sides shall henceforth live together in amity.

3.  They shall not be allowed to come with arms to the houses of the Christians on this island of Manhatans; neither shall we come to them with guns, without being accompanied by an Indian who can warn them.

4.  Whereas there is still an English girl among them [i.e., Susanna Hutchinson, a daughter of murdered settler Anne Hutchinson who was abducted and held captive after the attack], whom they promised to take to the English at Stamfort, they agree to do so and, if she is not taken there, they promise to bring her here and we shall pay them the ransom promised therefor by the English.

We promise that all that is above written shall be strictly observed throughout New Netherland.  Thus done in the fort, under the blue canopy of heaven, in the presence of the council of New Netherland and the entire community called together for the purpose, in the presence of the Maquas ambassadors, who were requested to assist as mediators in this peace negotiation, and of Cornelis Antonisen, their interpreter and co-mediator in this matter.  Dated as above.  The original was signed with the mark of Sisiadego, the mark of Claes Noorman, the mark of Oratamin, the mark of Auronge, the mark of Sesekenins, the mark of Willem of Tappaen, Willem Kieft, La Montangne, the mark of Jacob Stoffelsen, Jan Onderhil, Francis Douthey, Go:  Bacxter, Ritchert Smith, Gysbert Opdyc; the mark of Aepjen, sachem of the Mahikans, Jan Eversz Bout, Oloff Stevensz, Cornelio vander Hoykens; the mark of Cornelis Tonisz.  Below was written:  Acknowledged before me, and was signed, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary.

Proclamation ordering a day of themskgiving to be observed 

On August 31

It is resolved in council to issue a proclamation for a day of general thanksgiving, which thanksgiving shall take place on the sixth of September next in all the Dutch and English churches within the limits of New Netherland.  the proclamation reads as follows:

Whereas it has pleased Almighty God in his infinite grace and mercy, in addition to many previous blessings, to let us come to a long desired peace with the Indians, it is deemed necessary to send notice thereof to all the people of New Netherland, in order that [234] in all the places in the aforesaid country where Dutch and English churches are open to the public God Almighty may be especially thanked, lauded and praised on Wednesday next, being the 6th of September, in the forenoon, the text to be chosen accordingly and the sermon to be applicable thereto.  You will please announce the same to the congregations next Sunday, in order that they may be informed thereof; upon which we shall rely. . . ."

Source:  Scott, Kenneth & Stryker-Rodda, Kenn, eds., New York Historical Manuscripts:  Dutch -- Translated and Annotated By Arnold J. V. Van Laer, Volume IV Council Minutes, 1638-1649, pp. 278-81 (Baltimore, MD:  Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1974).

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Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.
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