Description:

Native Americans
Bristol County, Massachusetts Bay, January 5, 1718/1719
Colonial Massachusetts Justice of the Peace Issues Summons for Woman Accused of Selling Liquor to Native Americans
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[COLONIAL AMERICA.] Job Almy, Autograph Document Signed, Summons and Subpoena, January 5, 1718/1719, Bristol County, [Massachusetts Bay Colony]. 2 pp., 6.125" x 8.75". Expected folds; original wax seal present; some discoloration and loss at folds on right side, affecting 13 lines of text.

With this summons, Justice of the Peace Job Almy summoned Elizabeth Head to answer a complaint filed by Native American Zacheus Pohgonnapit, a Native American from Little Compton, which was then part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In 1747, a Royal Commission made Little Compton, Tiverton, and Bristol parts of Rhode Island. The area was originally inhabited by the Sakonnet nation of Native Americans, who were related to the Wampanoag and spoke a dialect of the Massachusetts language.

As early as 1633, the colony began restricting the sale of alcohol to Native Americans and prohibited it completely beginning in 1657. Authorities enforced the laws by fining or whipping those who sold alcohol to Native Americans and those Native Americans who were found to be intoxicated.

Pohgonnapit accused the widow Elizabeth Head of selling him some type of alcoholic cider and appealed to fellow Native American John Hopper as a witness. Pohgonnapit may have been found drunk, and if he had refused to disclose where he obtained the liquor, he would have been imprisoned until he identified the source or sent to prison at hard labor.

Elizabeth Ketchum (1654-1748) was probably born in England. She first married Christopher Zimmerman, with whom she had one child, before he died. In 1676, she married Henry Head (1647-1716), with whom she had six children.

Complete Transcript
Bristol Ss To ye Sheriff or Marshal of ye Sd County of Bristol or either of their Deputies or Constables of ye town of Little Comton within ye sd County, or to any or either of them Greeting—
Whear as Complaint & information is made by Zacheus Pohgonnapit Indian of Little Comton aforesd Laborer To me ye Subscriber: That Elizabeth Head of ye Aforesd Little Comton Widdo Did somtime in ye Month of [?]ber last past or there about Sell more than two [?] Cyder And took money for it of him ye sd Zacheus Po[?]pit And ye John Hopper Indian of sd Little Comton was with him at the same time. All which is Contrary [to] the Laws of this Province mad[e] & provided in this Case &c These are therefore stricktly in His Maj[es]ties Name to Command you or Either of you upon sight heareof To make diligent search in your several precincts for Her ye sd Elizabeth Head & her finding you are to Sease & [secuer?] her so that she may be had before me ye Subscriber to be proceeded with as ye Law directs in such cases hear of fail Not & make true return of this writt unto myself: As you will Answer your default under ye pains & penalty, in ye law in yt behalf made & provided Dated at Tiverton ye fifth day of January in ye fifth year of His Maj[es]ties reign Anno quo Domini 1718/19 Job Almy Justice ps
You are further required to Summon Zacheus P[?]napit yt he appear to present against Elizabeth Head his Complaint [?] John Hopper to appear & to say what he h[?] the premises Above written: hear of fail Not. Job Almy / Justice ps

[Constable's Return:] bristol ss Little Compton the 6: day of January 1718/19 I attached the body of Elizabeth head acording to the writt and I have also notified Zacheus [?]packnup and summoned John hoper / John Simes Constable

Job Almy Jr. (1680-1767) was born in Rhode Island and married Bridget Sanford there in 1705. They had at least ten children. He served as a justice of the peace for Bristol County, Massachusetts, and as a justice of the Indian Councils of Tiverton, Little Compton, and Dartmouth, Massachusetts. He died in Rhode Island but was buried in Bristol, Massachusetts.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 6.125" x 8.75"
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