Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

SPRINGFIELD, 1G36-1SS6. 149
tlie records of the town-meetings, that while the natives retained
snndry hunting and fishing privileges they were continually brought
under restrictions in their personal movements.
Tlie following important deed, secured in 1652, furnishes an
instance in point : —
This Indenture made the fourteenth Day of April: 1652: between Coe (or)
Coa. one of the Indians of Agawam, who is the cheife & y*^ proper owner of al
tlie Land below the Long inedow brooke, in the East side of Quinnecticot River,
down to the Falls, on the one party. And John Pynchon of Springfeild on the
other party Witnesseth that the s'' Coe the Indian, for & in consideration of one
broad Essex shag Coote of 1. yard & 3 quarters & more to him in hand paid,
hath bagained, sold & granted, & by these pi^sents doth sel give & grant to the
said John Pynchon a certaine parcel of wet medow upon the head of a River,
Running into the great River, above the fals, comonly called by the English
Freshwater River which River is by the Indians called Asnuntick at y*^ mouth of
it & a little higher Is called Allows, & at the head of said River is called Sick-
compsqu, where the said wet medow lyes, the which medow is called by the
Name of Quellicksqu.
Also the said Coe doth sel give & grant free & ful Liberty for the English to
gather & make use of Candlewood, called by y'" weakshackquock, in all the
grotinds adjoining thereto, & from the Long medow brooke downward, & also
free Liberty for Cattle to feed fro the spring til winter, in al the s'' grounds, for
& in consideration of one yard 3 quarters of Red Essex shag cloth to him by
the s'l John Pynchon in hand paid : Al the s'' p^'mises y« s^^ Coe doth Condition as
the True owner that the said John Pynchen shall absolutely clearly & for ever
enjoy al the said p'mises, to him his heires and assignees for ever. Submitted,
this 14th of April, 1652.
The notable point in this deed is the privileges granted the P^nglish
in regions still held by the Indians, who were thus establishing prece-
dents dangerous to their interests.
Among the many innovations which English rule brought about
was the gradual observance of the Sabbath, in form at least, by the
Indians. In 1669 the County Court had occasion to admonish a con-
stable for roughly handling some Indians found abroad upon the
Lord's dav :
—