In 1791 there were but four male Indians and sixteen females left on the island, and in 1809 there were only three or four persons of pure blood and a few of mixed race.
From 1664 to 1774 the records consist mainly of land-sales from the Indians to the English; of complaints of one Indian against another, or others in relation to landsales, and of controversies about their respective claims to whales. Within this period also one repeatedly notices the names of the successors of the old sachems, for several generations; but, concurrently with these, up to 1754, are the records of many attempts on the part of some of the Indians to regain their lands.
The perusal of these is very interesting, but I can only refer those who may desire to obtain a full knowledge of such matters to the ample and careful reports given by Mr. Henry B. Worth in the Bulletins of the Nantucket Historical Association.[18]
[18] Vide Vol II. Bulletin 3.
In 1693 the island of Nantucket, ceded from the Provincial Government of New York, was incorporated in the State of Massachusetts.
Names of Some of the Nantucket Indians Occurring in the Registry of Deeds, Petitions, Etc.
- Wanackmamack, Head Sachem of Nantucket in 1659.
- Wauwinet, aged Head Sachem of Northeastern section.
- Nicornoose, successor to Wauwinet.
- Autopscot (Attapechat or Attaychat), Sachem of Southwestern section.
- Potconet (or Pottacohannet), Sachem of Tuckernuck, etc.
- Nanahuma, probably a petty Sachem.
- Harry, a witness, son of Wapakowet.
- Wauwinnesit, or Amos, second son of Nicornoose.
- Saucoauso, alias Jeptha, son of Wanackmamack.
- Joshua Jethro, eldest son of Nicornoose.
- Wat Noose, bastard son of Nicornoose.
- Paul Noose, bastard son of Nicornoose.
- Masauquet, son of Autopscot.
- Harry Poritain, alias Beretan, son of Masauquet.
- Isaac Masauquet, son of Harry Poritain.
- Askommopoo, daughter of Nicornoose and wife of Spotso or Spoospotswa.
- Felix Kuttashamaquah, an interpreter.
- Cain, son of Saucoauso or Jeptha.
- Abel, son of Saucoauso or Jeptha.
- Ben Abel, son of Abel.
- Eben Abel, son of Abel.
- Jemima, daughter of Cain, and wife of James Shea.
- Pakapanessa, Indian associated with Nanahuma.
- Jonas Kimmo, Indian associated with Nanahuma.
- Tequamomany, sold lands to English in 1604.
- Mekowakim, sold lands to English in 1604.
- Peteson, a complainer, 1667.
- Larry Akkeramo, a complainer, 1667.
- Obadiah, a complainer, 1667.
- Wequakesuk, a sachem, 1673.
- Isaac Wauwinet, son of Nicornoose, successor of father.
- Heattohanen, another name for one of Nicornoose’s sons.
- Wohwaninwot, another name for one of Nicornoose’s sons.
- Cowpohanet, another name of Nanahuma.
- Spotso, son-in-law of Nicornoose, signed also as Spoospotswa.
- Sasapana Will, sold land to the English, 1687.
- Henry Britten, Sachem, 1701.
- Eastor, wife of Saucoauso, 1709.
- Joshiah or Josiah, son of Spotso.
- James Shay, Shea, or Shaa, husband of Jemima.
- Esau Cook, an Indian who sold land, 1742.
- Isaac Woosco, an Indian who sold land, 1745.
- Samuel Chegin, an Indian who sold land, 1747.
- Titus Zekey, an Indian who sold land, 1762.
- John Jethro, a descendant of Nicornoose.
- Abigail Jethro, a descendant of Joshua Jethro, son of Nicornoose.
- Jacob, son of Potconet, 1672.
- Ahkeiman, son of Potconet, 1676.
- Desire, or Desiah, a partner of Washaman, in whales, 1676.
- Waquaheso, related to Nicornoose.
- Wakeikman, Sessanuquis, Wienakisoo, three associated Indians, 1678.
- Nautakagin, a companion of Nanahuma, 1678.
- Quench, an Indian who divorced his wife, 1677.
- Mequash, an Indian with whaling rights, 1678.
- Machoogen, an Indian burglar, 1677.
- Debdekcoat, a fraudulent creditor, 1677.
- Shaakerune, an anti-prohibitionist, 1677.
- Seikinow, a complainer, 1699–1700.
- Titus Mamack, Joshua Mamack, John Mamack, descendants of Wanackmamack.
- Jouab, descendant of Wanackmamack.
- John Jouab, a disgruntled complainer.
- Jonathan, a disgruntled complainer.
- James Asab, a disgruntled complainer.
- John Tashime (Tashama), a descendant of Autopscot.
- John Jethro, a petitioner.
- Paul Jouab, a petitioner.
- Richard Napanah, a petitioner.
- Solomon Zachariah, a petitioner.
- Naubgrachas, a petitioner.
- Abel Nanahoo, a petitioner.
- John Asab, a petitioner.
- Barnabas Spotso, Sachem.
- James Papamoo, son of Barnabas Spotso.
- John Quass, the choice of Lakedon Indians for Sachem, when they repudiated Ben Abel, the legitimate chief.
- Sanchimaish, a witness to Isaac Wauwinett’s will.
- Abram Tashama, son of John Tashama, 1741.
- Old Hannah, a witness.
- Ben Jouab, grandson of Pampason, 1752.
- Memfopooh, a messenger, 1752.
- Oowamassen, a witness to Isaac Wauwinnett’s will, 1670.
- Joshua of Chappoquiddick, same as Joshua Jethro, eldest son of Nicornoose, 1706.
- Talagamomos, Keostahhan, Wumoanohquin, Quaquahchoonit, witnesses to Nicornoose’s will, 1668.
- Ben Joab Pampushom, a claimant to Sachemdom of Occawa, 1745.
- Peter Tuphouse, witness to Pampushom’s petition.
- Peleg Tuphouse, witness to Pampushom’s petition.
- David Pompasson, said to have been a grandson of Nicornoose.
- Samuel Humbrey, a witness to John Jouab’s petition, 1752.
Petty crimes and misdemeanors on the part of the Indians—too often caused by “fire-water”—frequently resulted in producing considerable trouble and annoyance to the proprietors, and when they found that the imposition of fines and the infliction of whipping in graver cases were inadequate to permanently restrain them, they at length appointed a superior Indian to undertake the office of superintendent and local magistrate, and with considerable success. The officer appointed was James Shouel, better known as Korduda and he soon became a terror to evil-doers, his usual procedure being, when one Indian complained of another, to order both the complainant and the defendant to be well whipped. This subsequently became known as “Korduda’s law,” and in many, if not in most cases, it was found very effective. He was also in the habit of having delinquents whipped for neglecting the cultivation of their corn, for drunkenness, etc.