Massachusetts Archives
Report of the commissioner appointed under the act concerning the Indians, 1763-1861 (bulk 1859-1861)
Detail from:
1861 Act Concerning the Indians of the Commonwealth
An act passed by the Massachusetts General Court in 1859 (St. 1859, Ch. 266) granted citizenship to all Native Americans and their descendants living in the state of Massachusetts, with certain conditions. The citizenship would be granted at a later date, which was to be determined by the recommendations of a commissioner appointed by the governor. This commissioner, according to the act, was to conduct a census of all of the Native Americans living in Massachusetts and submit a report to the governor that would include information such as the number, distribution, and marital status of the Native Americans in Massachusetts, as well as their social, political, and economic conditions.
The commissioner appointed was John Milton Earle, who conducted the census and created this report from his findings. The governor, having received the completed report from Earle, submitted it to the General Court in 1861, which oversaw its publication and distribution (see Resolves 1861, Ch. 104). The report is divided into subseries by tribe, offering recommendations for each in turn. The report also includes an appendix (organized by tribe as well) that includes a census listing for each person surveyed, as well as demographic information about each tribe as a whole. There is also a survey map from 1763 of land near Watuppa Pond in Fall River, which shows the division of this land and each section's occupant or owner. The implementation of this report's findings can be found in acts passed by the General Court in 1862 and 1869 (St. 1862, Ch. 184 and St. 1869, Ch. 463, respectively).
The commissioner appointed was John Milton Earle, who conducted the census and created this report from his findings. The governor, having received the completed report from Earle, submitted it to the General Court in 1861, which oversaw its publication and distribution (see Resolves 1861, Ch. 104). The report is divided into subseries by tribe, offering recommendations for each in turn. The report also includes an appendix (organized by tribe as well) that includes a census listing for each person surveyed, as well as demographic information about each tribe as a whole. There is also a survey map from 1763 of land near Watuppa Pond in Fall River, which shows the division of this land and each section's occupant or owner. The implementation of this report's findings can be found in acts passed by the General Court in 1862 and 1869 (St. 1862, Ch. 184 and St. 1869, Ch. 463, respectively).
