Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Description
Thomas Goldthwaite wrote to Governor Hutchinson commenting on Wabanaki people who had petitioned "to his majesty; by petition to the general Court, & by personal application to the Governor and Council, that the english settlers encroach’d too’ much upon their country" were asking only for twelve miles of their homelands, located above the falls.
Goldthwaite only mentioned the incident because he noticed the timber in the region above the falls of the "Indian Settlement" on the Penobscot River was exceptional, and the trees would make a 36-inch wide mast for the British Navy.
The use of Petitions to communicate displeasure or critique of colonial authorities by Wabanaki Nations is a long standing tradition, stretching back to the 17th century. Petitions reflected Wabanaki diplomatic traditions, that understands documents like treaties as relational agreements, dependent on consistent communication and understanding to hold meaning.
They also served to inform Colonial authorities of conditions on the ground, where individual settlers would often break the agreements made by the Colonial authorities with Wabanaki Tribal Nations, and would sometimes forcefully correct or punish these individual settlers violating the treaties or agreements.
Transcription
About This Item
- Title: Penobscot Tribal petitions about encroachment and timber industry, Stockton Springs, 1772
- Creator: Thomas Goldthwaite
- Creation Date: 1772-10-12
- Subject Date: 1772-10-12
- Location: Stockton Springs, Waldo County, ME
- Media: Ink on paper
- Local Code: Coll. S-5822
- Object Type: Text
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Forests and forestry--New England
- Fort Pownall (Me.)
- Forts--Maine--Stockton Springs
- Great Britain--Colonies--America--History--18th century
- Great Britain. Royal Navy
- Manuscripts
- Masts and rigging
- Naval stores industry
- New England--Commerce
- Penobscot Indians
- Timber--Maine
- United States--History--Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775--Commerce
- White pine--Maine
People
Other Keywords
For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
Website
Use of this Item is not restricted by copyright and/or related rights, but the holding organization is contractually obligated to limit use. For more information, please contact the contributing organization. However, watermarked Maine Memory Network images may be used for educational purposes.
Please post your comment below to share with others. If you'd like to privately share a comment or correction with MMN staff, please send us a message with this link.
