Minutes of Court of Commissioners appointed to examine the controversy between Connecticut and the Mohegan Indians A1889

Minutes of Court of Commissioners appointed to examine the controversy between Connecticut and the Mohegan Indians

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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:

The king appointed members of the councils of New York and New Jersey to investigate and settle a land dispute between Connecticut and the Mohegan Indians. The commission's minutes include: summaries of each party's arguments and the history of the dispute; copies of land sales by Indians to settlers, acts of the Connecticut General Assembly, testimony from previous inquiries; summary lists of documents produced as evidence; depositions and testimony by witnesses; and opinions of commissioners regarding outcome of the dispute.

Creator:

New York (Colony). Secretary

Title:

Minutes of Court of Commissioners appointed to examine the controversy between Connecticut and the Mohegan Indians

Quantity:

0.5 cubic feet

Inclusive Dates:

1743

Series Number:

A1889

Arrangement

Chronological.

Scope and Content Note

The king appointed members of the councils of New York and New Jersey to investigate and settle a land dispute between Connecticut and the Mohegan Indians.

Records of this Court of Commissioners, which sat from May 4 to October 26, 1743 at Greenwhich, Connecticut, include: summaries of each party's arguments and the history of the dispute; copies of relevant records such as land sales by Indians to settlers, acts of the Connecticut General Assembly, and testimony from previous inquires into the same matter; summary lists of documents produced as evidence and read by the Court (e.g. patents, deeds, acts of General Assembly); depositions and testimony by witnesses for both parties; and opinions of the individual commissioners regarding outcome of the dispute. The court concluded by ruling in favor of Connecticut and ordering that the book of proceedings be placed with the Secretary of New York. These records sustained minor burn damage in the 1911 State Capitol fire.

Most, if not all, documents in the series are printed in "Governor and Company of Connecticut, and Moheagan [sic] Indians, by Their Guardians. Certified Copy of Book of Proceedings before Commisisioners of Review MDCCXLII [1743]." London: Printed by W. and J. Richardson, 1769. This work is not available at the New York State Library, but is cited and the title page reproduced in Henry F. DePuy, "A Bibliography of the english Colonial Treaties with the American Indians Including A Synopsis of Each Treaty" (New York: Printed for the Lenox Club, 1917).