My Favorite Resource for New England Native American Research

My favorite record group for tracking Native people in New England is housed in the National Archives down in Washington, DC. It’s part of Record Group 75 also known as the records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The pages known as 75.12.2 are the Records relating to Kansas claims of New York Indians. Below is the front page of one of the many records found … Continue reading My Favorite Resource for New England Native American Research

Cheryll Toney HolleyMarch 13, 2014January 2, 2022Leave a comment

Craft

My Headpiece

I beadstitched a headpiece to match my new regalia. While I have used lazy stitch in the past to bead (barrettes mainly), I’ve never used that stitch for something this big. I had a bit of trouble along the way – not enough beads in the colors I started with for one. Two – I didn’t have the technique down pat, And, three, it took … Continue reading My Headpiece

Cheryll Toney HolleyAugust 14, 2013August 5, 202212 Comments

Black Indigenous History & Genealogy

John Milton Earle’s Miscellaneous Indians

What is John Milton Earle’s Miscellaneous Indians list? What tribe or tribes did these families and individuals belong to? And why are we still debating this???? Background Information In 1859, John Milton Earle, of Worcester, MA, was selected to research the number and condition of Indians in Massachusetts. This was in preparation for the enfranchisement of Native peoples in the state. Earle’s report is formally … Continue reading John Milton Earle’s Miscellaneous Indians

Cheryll Toney HolleyJuly 19, 2013January 2, 2022Leave a comment

Community

The Powers that Be

Folks are wondering what’s going on with this Nipmuk Unity thing. Well, some think that’s it’s a sinister plot to overthrow the current band governments and form something new. Certain Nipmuc Nation tribal council members even stated that the new “tribe” or band would be based within the Hassanamisco Indian Museum (’cause that’s how all indigenous tribes are formed – within museums). Others are fearful … Continue reading The Powers that Be

Cheryll Toney HolleyJanuary 17, 2013January 2, 2022Leave a comment

Black Indigenous History & Genealogy

Nedson Family Line

John Nedson (1760-1845) is an ancestor of mine. He was a Pequot Indian, born in Stonington, CT. He lived most of his life in Nipmuc country – taking Nipmuc Mary Pegan as his wife and settling down in Wabaquasset (now Woodstock, CT). Here are the first three generations of Mary and John Nedson. Is you have corrections or additional information, please let me … Continue reading Nedson Family Line

Cheryll Toney HolleyJanuary 11, 2013January 2, 2022Leave a comment

Black Indigenous History & Genealogy

Hassanamisco Indians

I love this document. It’s a survey of property allotted to Hassanamisco Nipmuc Sarah Robins who married Peter Muckamaug. Though Native, Peter was not from Hassanamesit so the land could not be allotted to (or owned by) him. When Sarah Robins died, the land passed to her children. Image from the American Antiquarian Society The Muckamaug allotment was originally 106 acres. The land came from … Continue reading Hassanamisco Indians

Cheryll Toney HolleyAugust 23, 2012January 2, 20221 Comment

Black Indigenous History & Genealogy

Who is Molly Pegan? (Part 2)

Molly Pegan is my sixth great grandmother and a source of much controversy in my small Nipmuc community. Some of us believe her to be Nipmuc, especially since her maiden name is Pegan – a known Nipmuc name. Others (including nameless BIA researchers) don’t think she is Nipmuc and that the name is simply coincidence. Now her last name is not the only reason folks … Continue reading Who is Molly Pegan? (Part 2)

Cheryll Toney HolleyAugust 16, 2012January 2, 20222 Comments