Pynchon Papers Volume II

Extracts from
The Pynchon Papers Volume II. Selections from the Account Books of John Pynchon, 1651-1697

p 16
[John Sackett trading with the Indians]

In that same year [1662] the Commissioners faced what they thought was a most serious violation of the law against trading for furs with the tribesmen.⁸ John Sackett had been presented to the court at Springfield in September 1661 upon suspicion of dealing in strong liquor. In the proceedings at Northampton in March 1661/62, he was fined 40s. for the offense, but additional questions had been raised. How, the magistrate asked, could a man of such small estate have in his house so large a quantity of Indian trading goods, among them trays, kettles, bear pelts, and deerskins? Sackett replied that he had bought them from the natives for corn and wampum, implying that he sold no liquor to obtain them. The court adjudged, however, that he had broken the law and stipulated full payment of the penalty of £100.⁹ When Sackett pleaded that the skins were acquired more than a year before, the fine was remitted, but he was sternly admonished to behave himself in the future or the present proceedings would be used against him.

8. Hampshire County Probate Court Record, 1, 8, 11, cited by Smith, Colonial Justice, 122. Where Sackett obtained his trading goods is a mystery, for his account with Pynchon shows no significant quantity. Account Book, II, 44, 45.
9. Whitmore, Colonial Laws of Massachusetts, 75.”

[The Accounts of John Pynchon, p 185 of 1985 book]

Volume V, Part I, 1672–1693, page 229 [of original book.]
JOHN SACKCUTT⁵   CR
[after 1683]
He talks of 10s I am to allow him his
[?]pt for the Ketch voyage to Boston whereas
[I?] benefit of that voyage

5. John Sackett was a deputy constable of Springfield in 1696.

[See also note following extract from vol I, p 347.]

[The Accounts of John Pynchon, p 263 of 1985 book]

Volume I, 1651–1655; page 216 [of original book.]
JOHN SACKUTT⁶   DR
Novembr 26, 1658
[?] & so the rest due to me this
14 feb 58 is       03 16 06
This he pmises will be pd by Edw Foster
at the lead mines
But for my Security John Sackut doth
firmly ingage to me his Two Sows & 3
pigs of 2 or 3 months old & 4 Pigs of
a fortnight old: all which Swine are lead mines or otherwise set out by next
michelstide at furthest bef John Stewart
Hester & my wife this 14 Feb [illegible]

6. John Sackutt (Sackett) was presented at court at Springfield for allegedly selling strong waters to the Indians, See above, 16.

[The Accounts of John Pynchon, p 363 of 1985 book]

Volume III, 1664-1667; page 48 [of original book.]
MR GLOVER   DR ...

To 2 black hafted knives	00  01  06
To paymt for you to Sam Terry for Jo Sackcut	00  15  07

[Date of above entry 1669?]

[The Accounts of John Pynchon, pp 425-6 of 1985 book]

Volume III, 1664-1667; page 32 [of original book.]
MR WHITING   DR ...
To the Purchase of the 16 acres in
the 100 acres
      the rest I give you viz 3 li
To 4 bsh wt per Jo Sackcuts
To 1 bsh ½ from Jo Osborne

[Translate to mean Mr Whiting owed John Sackett 4 bushels (or value thereof) of wheat.]

[The Accounts of John Pynchon, p 448 of 1985 book]

Volume II, 1657–1666; page 376 of original book.
An acot of what I haue Recd in
of fines & c which were a County
setled here would be due to the
County
...
[torn] 60 [1660] Recd John Sackcuts fine for striking
Henry Curtis⁷ in wampam [value not legible]

7. Henry Curtis died in Northampton in 1661.

[Note by T E King: There is no indication in the administration of the estate of Henry Curtis covered in the Pynchon Court Records that his death was related to this incident.]