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Whereas the United States of America, in General Congress assembled, have, in the name and by the authority of the good people of these Colonies, solemnly published and declared that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown; and that all political connexion between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, dissolved; and that, as free and independent States, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent States may of right do: We, the governours of the State of Massachusetts, do, by virtue thereof, and by the powers vested in us, enter into and conclude the following Treaty of Friendship and Alliance, viz:
1st. We, the governours of the said State of Massachusetts Bay, in behalf of said State and the other United States of America on the one part, and Ambrius Var, Newell Wallis, and Francis, Delegates of the St˙ John' s Tribe, Joseph Denaquara, Charles, Mattahu Ontrane, Nicholas, John Battis, Peter André, and Sebattis Netobcobwit, Delegates of the Mickmac Tribe of Indians, inhabiting within the Province of Nova Scotia, for themselves and in behalf of the said Tribes on the other part, do solemnly agree, that the people of the said State of Massachusetts Bay and of the other United States of America, and of the said Tribes of Indians, shall henceforth be at peace with each other, and be considered as friends and brothers, united and allied together for their mutual defence, safety, and happiness.
2d. That each party to this Treaty shall and will consider the enemies of the other as enemies to themselves; and do hereby solemnly promise and engage to and with each other, that when called upon for that purpose, they shall and will, to the utmost of their abilities, aid and assist each other against their publick enemies; and particularly that the people of the said Tribes of Indians shall and will afford and give to the people of said State of Massachusetts Bay and the people of the other United States of America, during their present war with the King of Great Britain, all the aid and assistance in their power; and that they, the people of the said Tribes of Indians, shall not and will not, directly or indirectly, give any aid or assistance to the troops or subjects of the said King of Great Britain, or others adhering to him, or hold any correspondence, or carry on any commerce with them during the present war.
3d. That if any robbery or outrage happens to be committed by any of the subjects of said State of Massachusetts Bay, or of any other of the United States of America, upon any of the people of said Tribes, the said State shall, upon proper application being made, cause satisfaction and restitution speedily to be made to the party injured.
4th. That if any robbery or outrage happens to be committed by any of the said Tribes of Indians upon any of the subjects of said State, or of any other of the United States of America, the Tribe to which the offender or offenders shall belong shall, upon proper application being made, cause satisfaction and restitution speedily to be made to the party injured.
5th. That in case any misunderstanding, quarrel, or injury, shall happen between the said State of Massachusetts Bay, or any other of the United States of America, and the said Tribes of Indians, or either of them, no private revenge shall be taken, but a peaceable application shall be made for redress.
6th. That the said Tribes of Indians shall and will furnish and supply six hundred strong men out of the said Tribes, or as many as may be, who shall, without delay, proceed from their several homes up to the town of Boston, within this State, and from thence shall march to join the Army of the United States of America, now at New York, under the immediate command of his Excellency General Washington, there to take his orders.
7th. That each of the Indians who shall, by their respective Tribes, be appointed to join the Army of the United States of America, shall bring with him a good gun, and shall be allowed one dollar for the use of it; and in case the gun should be lost in the service, shall be paid the value of it; and the pay of each man shall begin from the time they sail from Machias for Boston, and they shall be supplied with provisions and a vessel or vessels for their passage up to Boston. Each private man shall receive the like pay as is given to our own private men. The Indians shall be formed into companies when they arrive at Boston, and shall engage or inlist for so long a time as General Washington shall want them, not exceeding the term of three years, unless General Washington and they shall agree for a longer time. And as Joseph Denaquara, Peter André , and Sebattis Netobcobwit, have manfully and generously offered to enter immediately into the war, they shall be sent, as soon as may be, to General Washington, to join the Army, and shall be considered as entering into our pay at the time of their arrival at New York.
8th. The delegates above named who may return to their homes, do promise and engage to use their utmost influence with the Passamaquoddy and other neighbouring Tribes of Indians to persuade them to furnish and supply, for the said service, as many strong men of their respective Tribes as possible; and that they come along with those of the Tribes of St˙ John' s and Mickmac. And the said governours of
9th. That the said State of Massachusetts Bay shall any will furnish their Truckmaster at Machias, as soon as mad be, with proper articles for the purpose of supplying the Indians of said Tribes with the necessaries and conveniences of life.
10th. And the said delegates do hereby annul and make void all former Treaties by them, or by others in behalf of their respective Tribes, made with any other Power, State, or person, so far forth as the same shall be repugnant to any of the Articles contained in this Treaty.
In faith and testimony whereof, we, the said governours of the said State of Massachusetts Bay, have signed these presents, and caused the seal of the said State to be hereunto affixed; and the said Ombrius Var, Newell Wallis, and Francis, delegates of the St˙ John' s Tribe, Joseph Denaquara, Charles, Mattahu Ontrane, Nicholas, John Battis, eter André, and Sebattis Netobcobwit, delegates of the Mickmac Tribe of Indians, have hereunto put their marks and seals in the Council Chamber at Watertown, in the State aforesaid, the nineteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six.
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JAMES BOWDOIN,
OMBRIUS VAR & Seal. his mark.
[Colony Seal appended.]
A Conference Held at Watertown, in the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay
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the said State of Massachusetts Bay do hereby engage to give such of the said Passamaquoddy or other neighbouring Indians who shall enter into the service of the United States of America the same pay and encouragement, in every particular, as is above agreed to be given to the St˙ John' s or Mickmac Indians, and to consider them as our friends and brothers.
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B˙ GREENLEAF,
CALEB CUSHING,
RICHD˙ DERBY, Jun˙,
JOHN WINTHROP,
THOMAS CUSHING,
JOHN WHETCOMB,
ELDAD TAYLOR,
SAML˙ HOLTEN,
MOSES GILL,
JOHN TAYLOR,
BENJM˙ WHITE,
EBEN˙ THAYER, Jun˙,
HENRY GARDNER,
DANIEL HOPKINS,
DANIEL DAVIS,
JABEZ FISHER.
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NEWELL WALLIS & Seal. his mark.
FRANCIS & Seal. his mark.
MATTAHU ONTRANE & Seal. his mark.
NICHOLAS & Seal. his mark.
JOHN BATTIS & Seal. his mark.
CHARLES & Seal. his mark.
PETER ANDRÉ & Seal. his mark.
JOSEPH DENAQUARA & Seal. his mark.
SEBATTIS NETOBCOBWIT. his mark.