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

SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886. If)!
River in the higher medows, that is to sa}', tlie Lands bot:veen tlie middle medo\v,
& so round the hills, fro that pond by the niulle medow to Ensigne Coopers
Honse, & so to Agawam River, & yet aekiiowledging that the midle medow &
hoiise medov- called Qiiana & Agawani, ^vere Long since bought by the English;
etc.
The first laud transaction with the Indians was carried on hv a
committee or agent for the town, as lias been noticed liut eventually
private parties secured the Indian titles directly from tlie natives.
This was a long step forward, and clearly contrary to public polic}'.
The occasion of these private transfers was the habit of running in
debt among the Indians. They were not satisfied with their arrows
after they had seen tlie blunderbuss, and while the lending of flint-
locks or snaphances, like the selling of fire-water, to the Indians was
prohibited, it did not break up the practice. They also secured
blankets, food, and agricultural tools on credit often, and thus the
mortgage system grew up as naturally as garden weeds after a rain.
The Indians also hired the English to plow tlieir planting-grounds,
and sometimes planted English land on shares.
To meet these obligations security was demanded. A ver}- in-
teresting specimen of this is found in our probate records, under date
of April 2, 1661. A mortgage was made by Coa, Menis, Cuttonus,
and other Indians, who figure in oiu' first Indian deed to William
Pynchon and his associates, and is made out to that active land spec-
ulator, Samuel INIarshfield. The mortgage which is here given was
duly. approved by the selectmen, however :
—
Several! debts w'^h-^^-gg Q„,g Samull Marshfield for goods already received wc'^
wee did ingage to pay in bever, & we doe still ingage to doe the same if we can
gett it, any tyme this summer, or else we .soe ingage to pay him in Corne at 2s
per bush by heape or if in wampum, then to allow the said Samuell six fathom
for every five fathom due imto him, or if we can gett mooseskins or otter or good
deare skins, then to pay them unto him at a reasonable rate, or giins w^^'^ tlie fore
said Samuell hath in his hands, w^'' if he doe Lend to any of us, wee ingage to
return them to Him when he shall call for them :
and
if we doe not pay the
aforesaid Samuell in any of these prises, to liis content by ^Nlichelmas next en-