11/26/2021

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Thanksgiving is quite a lesson in what happens when you (the Indians) are 
nice to undocumented, land grabbing immigrants (the Pilgrims).

Anyway, as a descendant of undocumented, land grabbing immigrants I can't 
complain.

According to old records, my ancestor John Swezey, along with some others, 
bought 207,070 acres of land in Long Island (around modern Brookhaven) from 
the Indians in 1655.

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Indian Deed To The Town of Brookhaven

Articles of agreement, and a frime bargaine agreed and confirmed betweene 
the Sachem or Setaucet, Warawacmy, by name, with the joint consent or 
himself and the next or his kindred, have bargained and sold unto John 
Scudder, John Swesey, Jonathan Porter, Thomas Mabbs, Roger Cheston, and 
Thomas Charles, a piece of land, with all medowes, upland, timber trees or 
whatever benefite or privilege thereunto belonging next adjoining to the 
bounds of Nesequagg, and from thence, being bounded by a river, or great 
napock, nearly nemankak, eastward, and bounded next unto Nesequakee bounds, 
as by trees being marked doth appear also the Sachem, with the consent of 
his next kindred, hath given free liberty and granted unto the said 
purchasers free liberty for ther catell to run beeyond the bounds, if 
occasion be. or to cut timber as far east as they see fitt.  And to come 
once in two years to renew the marks of the bounds and to give the said 
purchasers, for them, or who they shall put to live there, full free and 
quiet possession of the siad purchase, without molestation and, if, in case 
any of the Indians shall wrong the said English, either by their dogs 
hurting of their catell, or any other wayes that then the Sachem shall se 
that satisfaction be made, according to the wrong don.  So allsoe, of the 
English doe any wrong to the Indians, that the English shall make them 
satisfaction.  Also the Sachem shall not entertain any strange Indians, or 
others, near unto us, whereby to do us any wrong, but sha1l timely discover 
to us any plotting, or hurt, that shall be intended against us, and the like 
shall we do unto him to the end that Peace may be maintained among us.  And 
for, and in consideration of the said tract, or purchchase or land, we, the 
said purchasers doe hereby engage ourselves to pay unto the said Sachem the 
goods as in particular, are written following, within one month from the 
date hereof, and for the confirmation of the same, have set my hand with the 
rest or my kindred. Dated the 14 April 1655.

The mark X of Sachem Warawacmy-Charels, Mahew, Foreket, Westwak,
Profet, Kelhellacwe, Yayanfysu, Calawancess, Uaskake, Callaven,
Cataus, Ewbeca, Masachus, Wetanek. Given for this purchase were
10 coats, 12 Hoes, 12 Hatchets, 50 muxes, 100 needles, 6 Kettles,
10 Fadom of wampum, 7 chests of powder, one pare childs stockins,
10 pounds of lead, one dozen Knives
Witness, George Tongue-John Cosby

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What is a "Fadom ("fathom"?) of wampum" anyway?

According to Google "A fathom is a standard length of wampum about six feet 
in length containing approximately 360 beads."

Money Substitutes in New Netherland and Early New York: Charts Illustrating 
Wampum Value Depreciation
https://coins.nd.edu/colcoin/colcoinintros/NNWampumCharts.html


Happy Thanksgiving!
And Stay Jazzed!
--Tom Swezey