301

Complaint of an "Indian woman" whose child was stolen from her during indentured servitude.

Tiverton, RI, 1713-1719
3 manuscript documents, each about 6 x 8 inches; each with fire damage and substantial loss, each professionally conserved and stabilized.

These documents tell a sad story. In 1713 in the town of Tiverton (then in Massachusetts, now in Rhode Island), an American Indian woman named Ruth Corkaway or Caukaway agreed to serve as an indentured servant for William Briggs (likely the man who lived from 1688-1761). She was likely a member of the Pocasset Wampanoags who remain in Tiverton today. After five years of service, Briggs took her five-year-old son Tobe and sent him out of the colony, presumably as a slave--although both Ruth and Tobe were free by law. These documents show how Ruth attempted to use the legal system to rescue her son. We do not know if she was successful. Included in this extremely early documentation of the internal slave trade:

Fragment of an indenture agreement signed by Ruth Corkaway (by mark) and William Briggs, and two witnesses, 6¼ x 8¼ inches. Briggs agrees to provide "sufficiant drink, lodging & cloathing  . . . fitting for such a servant," while Corkaway agrees "that if I runaway att any time from my sd master within the time of my servitudes that what time I have then to serve shall be dubble or pay the charge thereof." No place, 1 May 1713.

Writ issued by justice of the peace Job Almy to William Briggs upon the complaint of Ruth Caukaway, 8½ x 5½ inches. "Ruth Caukaway of Tiverton, Indian woman" complains that Briggs "hath sould her an unreasonable time & she hath had very hard usage & yt doth further complain yt ye above William Bridge hath sent out of ye province a boy called Tobe of about five years ould who was born of her body & was a free born child notwithstanding ye sd Bridge did presume to to send sd child out . . . . It is reported yt sd child is sould for a slave which is very unjust(?) & prayes for herself & child, she being a free born native of this province." The sheriff is ordered to bring Bridge to court to respond to these charges. Tiverton, 5 [January] 1718/19; docketed on verso 12 January, noting that the writ had been served.

Bond issued by justice of the peace Job Almy to William Briggs for £100, 5½ x 8½ inches. Requires that he "answer the complaint of Ruth Caukaway, Indian, for [?]ting of her for an unreasonable time, and for sending of her son Tobe, born of her body, out of the province." Bristol County, MA, 12 [January] 1718/19.

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