Treaty of Casco (1678)
Encyclopedia
Treaty of Casco brought to a close the war between the eastern Indians
and the English
settlers of Massachusetts Bay Colony
. Moreover, it sought to re-establish the friendly relations between the Indians and settlers that had characterized the northern settlements previous to the outbreak of King Philip's War
in 1675. Based on the terms of the accord, all captives were to be surrendered without ransom. The treaty also stipulated that the English should give the Indians one peck
of corn
annually for each family settled on Indian lands, with the exception of Maj. Phillips of Saco, a great proprietor, who was required to give a bushel
each Native American family.
The MA Bay Colony (official name of government changed several times) at the time of the death of King Philip and his appointed leaders of the Pokanoket Tribe/Pokanoket Federation, did issue a government decree that any person 14 years of age or over who stated they were Pokanoket were subject to being executed. The Pokanokets were scattered to the four winds, many executed, endentured and the survivors had to secretly exist and could only use the name of Wampanoag which included dozens of tribes is general terms. Some original Pokanokets fled North to continue their fight against the colonists. Their surviving Royal Line exists today in a fully functioning tribe (see www.pokanoket.us). The point of this information is that the Treaty of Casco was an action to end the hostilities of the King Philip War which continued after his death by other tribes of the Pokanoket Federation and non-affiliated tribes.
Because the Royal House/line of the Pokanokets who remained and secretly assumed the leadership position of the Pokanoket Tribe should have been a signatory on the Treaty of Casco in 1678 but their presence to be a signatory wasn't possible due to the decree of the British Colonists that if they idenitfied themselves as being Pokanoket they would be executed. Many attended Church services for a place to meet secretly in plain sight as Wampanoags as this was one of the few legal opportunities they could meet under the guise of Christian conversion in the furtherance of their culture and Royal Line which prove successful. Go to www.pokanoket.us to visit the modern day tribe and headship of the Royal House of the Seven Cresents of the Pokanoket/Wampanoag Nation and tribe.
Under the above circumstances, due to suppression, intimidation and the Colonial Bay governments intent to annihilate the Pokanoket's, the Treaty of Casco was in fact a document which included the Pokanoket Tribe in absentia due to suppression and threat of execution. Their rightful signatory was thus illegally prohibited from physical presence but yet by law and inherent right does include the Pokanoket Tribe/Pokanoket Federation in absentia as if present and a signatory. This is recognized in present times under "operation of law" as established by landmark court rulings in similar like cases.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
and the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
settlers of Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
. Moreover, it sought to re-establish the friendly relations between the Indians and settlers that had characterized the northern settlements previous to the outbreak of King Philip's War
King Philip's War
King Philip's War, sometimes called Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, or Metacom's Rebellion, was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of present-day southern New England and English colonists and their Native American allies in 1675–76. The war is named after the main leader of the...
in 1675. Based on the terms of the accord, all captives were to be surrendered without ransom. The treaty also stipulated that the English should give the Indians one peck
Peck
A peck is an imperial and U.S. customary unit of dry volume, equivalent to 2 gallons or 8 dry quarts or 16 dry pints. Two pecks make a kenning , and four pecks make a bushel....
of corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
annually for each family settled on Indian lands, with the exception of Maj. Phillips of Saco, a great proprietor, who was required to give a bushel
Bushel
A bushel is an imperial and U.S. customary unit of dry volume, equivalent in each of these systems to 4 pecks or 8 gallons. It is used for volumes of dry commodities , most often in agriculture...
each Native American family.
The MA Bay Colony (official name of government changed several times) at the time of the death of King Philip and his appointed leaders of the Pokanoket Tribe/Pokanoket Federation, did issue a government decree that any person 14 years of age or over who stated they were Pokanoket were subject to being executed. The Pokanokets were scattered to the four winds, many executed, endentured and the survivors had to secretly exist and could only use the name of Wampanoag which included dozens of tribes is general terms. Some original Pokanokets fled North to continue their fight against the colonists. Their surviving Royal Line exists today in a fully functioning tribe (see www.pokanoket.us). The point of this information is that the Treaty of Casco was an action to end the hostilities of the King Philip War which continued after his death by other tribes of the Pokanoket Federation and non-affiliated tribes.
Because the Royal House/line of the Pokanokets who remained and secretly assumed the leadership position of the Pokanoket Tribe should have been a signatory on the Treaty of Casco in 1678 but their presence to be a signatory wasn't possible due to the decree of the British Colonists that if they idenitfied themselves as being Pokanoket they would be executed. Many attended Church services for a place to meet secretly in plain sight as Wampanoags as this was one of the few legal opportunities they could meet under the guise of Christian conversion in the furtherance of their culture and Royal Line which prove successful. Go to www.pokanoket.us to visit the modern day tribe and headship of the Royal House of the Seven Cresents of the Pokanoket/Wampanoag Nation and tribe.
Under the above circumstances, due to suppression, intimidation and the Colonial Bay governments intent to annihilate the Pokanoket's, the Treaty of Casco was in fact a document which included the Pokanoket Tribe in absentia due to suppression and threat of execution. Their rightful signatory was thus illegally prohibited from physical presence but yet by law and inherent right does include the Pokanoket Tribe/Pokanoket Federation in absentia as if present and a signatory. This is recognized in present times under "operation of law" as established by landmark court rulings in similar like cases.
Source
- James Truslow AdamsJames Truslow AdamsJames Truslow Adams was an American writer and historian. He was not related to the famous Adams family...
. Dictionary of American History. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1940.