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Most immigrants leave their country of origin in search of a better life or safety. The United States has been transformed, built, and defined by a surge of migration from nearly every region of the world. Many immigrants migrate to a new country not knowing where to start and some migrate without shelter, work, or any other vital necessity.

Every immigrant’s story looks different, and each has their own set of obstacles when it comes to finding a job and shelter. It is critical that individuals who have come to the United States receive assistance to make their transition as comfortable as possible. A supported community of immigrants ensures good communication between neighbors and exposes all members of a community to new cultural experiences.

In this exhibit we will discuss how immigrant life and support services in Framingham have changed over time. This exhibit is meant to both serve as a reference for our immigrant communities and provide important information on the history of immigration in Framingham. Immigrating to a new place can be very challenging, but with the help of neighbors, local organizations and a fearless heart and courage, immigrants can find a home and flourish here.

This exhibit is co-curated by the Framingham History Center and three multilingual students at Framingham High School: Rose Boulay, Carlos Estrada, and Kaillane Gomes. Thank you to our partners at the Framingham Cultural Council and the Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation for their support of this exhibition

At Work

Food shop owned by Italian immigrants. (FHC Collections)

Immigrants are 12.5% of the US population and, according to the American Immigration Council, immigrant workers comprised 20% of the labor force in 2018. These workers contribute billions of dollars in taxes annually. In Framingham, immigrants make nearly 30% of the population, making them even more important to the local economy. Jobs allow immigrants to earn money for necessities like shelter, clothes, and food. Finding work is one of the most important steps an immigrant can take.

Immigrants to Framingham have acquired many different types of jobs to support their families since the 1840s. Irish and Jewish immigrants came to work in factories, Italians came to work in buildings and other architecture jobs, and Puerto Ricans came to do agricultural work. Once factories started closing in the 1980’s many immigrants began working for small businesses. They even started their own businesses like restaurants, shops, and house cleaning.

When first arriving in a completely new environment it can be difficult to find jobs unless you already have a local connection with a friend or family member. Immigrants who have existing networks in their new country can find a job shortly after arrival. Those who don’t have connections often need to make them before they can find work. These can be found in places where they can connect with other immigrants like churches and community centers.

Wyman’s Nursery and Garden Center employed many Puerto Rican agricultural workers in the 1940s and 1950s. (FHC Collections)

The Perini Corporation was founded in 1894 by Italian stonemason Bonfiglio Perini. (FHC Collections)

There are many organizations that help immigrant workers overcome obstacles to secure work, shelter, and other resources. The MIRA (Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee) Coalition is the largest organization in New England helping immigrants and refugees economically and socially. The Office for Refugees and Immigrants (ORI) offers help finding medical coverage, employment services, and obtaining citizenship. Both organizations secure millions of dollars each year to help immigrants and refugees.

On Display: The Tools of Immigrant Work, 1880s - 2004

Perini Corporation Hard Hat, ca. 1990s – 2004.531.2
Trowel, 1905 – 2274
Ticket Printing Counter – 2003.714
Wrench, ca. 1880 – 1999.2.13
Bobbin Spool, ca. 1880 – 1999.2.16

These tools were used for construction and manufacturing by immigrant workers in the 1880s – 2004. These tools are important artifacts because they are a visual representation of the jobs immigrant workers participated in. It shows some of the variety of jobs immigrants worked in. For example, the Perini hard hat and the trowel were construction tools that many Italian immigrants used for masonry work and infrastructure projects. The ticket printing counter was a metal counter that kept track of production of the tag press for the day. It was part used in The Dennison Manufacturing Company which was the largest employer in Framingham for almost a century (late 1800s to late 1900s). The last two artifacts, the wrench and bobbin spool, were Roxbury carpet tools for the Roxbury Carpet Company in Saxonville, which was a major employer in Saxonville until it closed in 1973. These tools were used for carpet making and in machine maintenance/repairs.

In Schools

Framingham High school International club, 1992. (FHC Collections)

Immigrant education has changed significantly in Framingham since 1974. As late as 1971, schools in Massachusetts rarely offered language support for immigrant students or students speaking a language other than English. Support did not become a right until the 1974 Supreme Court decision in Lau v. Nichols. Framingham is now home to a variety of multilingual programs. Nearly 30% of students in Framingham’s public school system are learning English, with Portuguese or Spanish as their primary language.

The Framingham Public Schools Two-Way Bilingual Program was established in 1990 at the elementary school level and at Walsh
Middle School in 1998. The Two-Way Bilingual Program helps students become bilingual, progress academically in the classroom, and develop positive cross-cultural relationships and attitudes toward their own culture.

Transitional bilingual education (TBE) programs provide support in a home language while the pupil becomes proficient in English. In Framingham, TBE programs, available for students whose native language is Spanish or Portuguese, allow students to continue to work academically at their grade level while they learn English. Once a student reaches an intermediate level of proficiency in English, they will transfer to a sheltered English classroom until they are ready to move into a standard curriculum classroom.

The Framingham TAB article about ESL teacher, 2006. Courtesy Genoveffa Grieci

FHS Bilingual class, 2001. Courtesy Genoveffa Grieci

Multilingual educational programs offered by Framingham Public Schools now support all students, not only families who speak foreign languages, but also for monolingual English speakers who will have the opportunity to be bilingual. Today, both immigrant and native-born parents can choose the types of programs they want their children to participate in. The needs and opportunities of multilingual students are now seen and heard, and with the right guidance and support, they can grow and reach their potential. Monolingual children also benefit from these programs, which enhance their communication skills.

On Display: Objects of Bilingual students from Genoveffa Grieci

I’m New Here written by Anne Sibley O’briden, 2015
Painting of a Streetscape, Italy
Wooden Box, Peru
Doll, Peru
Ceramic bowl, Spain

Loaned by Genoveffa Grieci

Here are all collections by Genoveffa Grieci, a teacher in the ESL program at Framingham High School. These gifts are very important to her because they were given by her students and each object has a history, an origin and a very important meaning. For example, the Italy frame was given to Genoveffa by a student who traveled to Italy to see her family (the family was originally from Brazil and had dual citizenship in Italy as well). The ceramic portrait was reminiscent of Genoveffa’s country, as she was born there. The Box and doll from Peru was gifted to Geonoveffa by Violeta Zamora, who works at the high school in the ESL/Bilingual Dept. She has supported students and programs for over 10 years.

Communication

Framingham Adult ESL+ classes pose with the Shoppers World sign. Credit: Edgar Villagran.

Differences in language and culture can make it difficult for immigrants to adjust to a new country. Communication is the key to accessing a job, health care, and many more resources. Most importantly, it allows a person to connect with neighbors, new friends, shopkeepers, doctors, and everyone around us. This “human connection” is what people miss the most when they cannot communicate with each other. To help new immigrants through this transition, Framingham offers a diversity of services to welcome all people who need help adapting.

New immigrants can find a diversity of languages in public spaces in Framingham. For instance, in the Framingham Public Schools, there are multilingual teachers and staff to assist new immigrants, as well as signs and information written in multiple languages. MetroWest Medical Center furnishes free translators for immigrants while providing necessary medical services. Framingham Public Library has large sections of foreign-language books and resources for recent immigrants. Including diversity in all public spaces makes immigrants’ lives easier and helps them adapt.

English as a Second Language (ESL) classes help immigrants thrive by giving them the skills to succeed. In 1914 Framingham began its first Adult Citizenship classes, which also taught ESL. By 1924 the department had 9 teachers and 240 students from Italy, Greece, Albania, and beyond, ranging in age from 16-60. Framingham Adult ESL (FAESL) Plus was started by a group of town meeting members in 1984. Their leveled program starts with basic identifying information and moves into more complex language.

“Look Here First” pamphlets by the Framingham Public Library’s Newcomers and Neighbors Center, 1990s. (FHC Collections)

Framingham Adult ESL+ classes visit the Framingham History Center.

Even as they are learning English, immigrants in Framingham can experience culture shock. ESL classes for adults and children offer both language lessons and counseling in their home language. Counselors help immigrants get more comfortable with new surroundings and experiences, give them support such as health care information, and assistance signing up for services such as MassHealth and food stamps if they are eligible.

On Display: Diversity of language resources in Framingham

Campaign Button. 2015.28
Finding Your Way Booklets, 2007. 2022.50.25
Harmony Grove School Magnet, 2022. 2022.1
Dennison Spanish-English Dictionary, 1951. 2000.28.2
Dennison French-English Dictionary, 1959. 2014.48.4

Since 1984, Framingham has been a community that values immigrants and consistently provides tools to assist them when they are living there. These resources have expanded and now significantly influence the lives of immigrants. Services like FAESL, the Framingham Public Library, and Harmony Grove Elementary School were established to assist immigrants. The aim of these programs was to assist immigrants across several fields. They reached out to them and offered assistance in multiple languages. These programs have a daily influence on immigrant lives.

La mayoría de los inmigrantes abandonan su país de origen en busca de una mejor vida o seguridad. Estados Unidos ha sido transformado, construido y definido por una oleada de migración de casi todas las regiones del mundo. Muchos inmigrantes emigran a un nuevo país sin saber por dónde empezar y algunos migran sin techo, trabajo o cualquier otra necesidad vital.

La historia de cada inmigrante se ve diferente, y cada uno tiene su propio conjunto de obstáculos cuando se trata de encontrar trabajo y vivienda. Es fundamental que las personas que han venido a los Estados Unidos reciban asistencia para que su transición sea lo más cómoda posible. Una comunidad de inmigrantes apoyada asegura una buena comunicación entre vecinos y expone a todos los miembros de una comunidad a nuevas experiencias culturales.

En esta exhibición discutiremos cómo la vida de los inmigrantes y los servicios de apoyo en Framingham han cambiado con el tiempo. Esta exhibición está destinada tanto a servir como referencia para nuestras comunidades de inmigrantes como a proporcionar información importante sobre la historia de la inmigración en Framingham. Emigrar a un nuevo lugar puede ser muy desafiante, pero con la ayuda de los vecinos, las organizaciones locales y un corazón valiente, los inmigrantes pueden encontrar un hogar y prosperar aquí.

Esta exhibicion esta co-comisariada por el Centro de Historia de Framingham y tres estudiantes multilingues de la Escuela Secundaria de Framingham: Rose Boulay, Carlos Estrada, y Kailane Gomes. Gracias a nuestros socios en Framingham Cultural Council y Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation por su apoyo a esta exhibicion.

En El Trabajo

Tienda de comida, propiedad de inmigrantes italianos. (Colecciones de FHC)

Los inmigrantes son el 12,5 % de la población de los EE. UU. y, según el American Immigration Council, los trabajadores inmigrantes constituían el 20 % de la fuerza laboral en 2018. Estos trabajadores aportan miles de millones de dólares anualmente. En Framingham, los inmigrantes representan casi el 30%% de la población, lo que los hace aún más importantes para la economía local. Los trabajos les permiten a los inmigrantes ganar dinero para necesidades como vivienda, ropa y comida. Encontrar trabajo es uno de los pasos más importantes que puede tomar un inmigrante.

Los inmigrantes de Framingham han adquirido muchos tipos diferentes de trabajos para mantener a sus familias desde la década de 1840. Los inmigrantes irlandeses y judíos vinieron a trabajar en fábricas, los italianos vinieron a trabajar en edificios y otros trabajos de arquitectura, y los puertorriqueños vinieron a trabajar en la agricultura. Una vez que las fábricas comenzaron a cerrar en la década de 1980, muchos inmigrantes comenzaron a trabajar para pequeñas empresas. Incluso comenzaron sus propios negocios como restaurantes, tiendas y limpieza de casas.

Cuando llega por primera vez a un entorno completamente nuevo, puede ser difícil encontrar trabajo a menos que ya tenga una conexión local con un amigo o familiar. Los inmigrantes que tienen redes existentes en su nuevo país pueden encontrar trabajo poco después de su llegada. Aquellos que no tienen conexiones a menudo necesitan hacerlas antes de poder encontrar trabajo. Estos se pueden encontrar en lugares donde pueden conectarse con otros inmigrantes como iglesias y centros comunitarios.

Wyman ‘s Nursery and Garden Center empleó a muchos trabajadores agrícolas puertorriqueños en los años 1940 y 1950. (Colecciones de FHC)

La Corporación Perini fue fundada en 1894 por el cantero italiano Bonfiglio Perini. (Colecciones de FHC)

Hay muchas organizaciones que ayudan a los trabajadores inmigrantes a superar los obstáculos para conseguir trabajo, vivienda y otros recursos. La Coalición MIRA (Inmigrante y Refugiado de Massachusetts) es la organización más grande de Nueva Inglaterra que ayuda económica y socialmente a inmigrantes y refugiados. La Oficina para Refugiados e Inmigrantes (ORI) ofrece ayuda para encontrar cobertura médica, servicios de empleo y obtener la ciudadanía. Ambas organizaciones obtienen millones de dólares cada año para ayudar a inmigrantes y refugiados.

En Exhibicion: Las Herramientas del Trabajo de los Inmigrantes 1880s - 2004

Casco Corporación Perini, ca. 1990s. 2004.531.2
Plancha, 1905. 2274
Mostrador de Impresión de Boletos. 2003.714
Alicate, ca. 1880. 1999.2.13
Carrete de Bobina, ca. 1880. 1999.2.16

Estas herramientas fueron utilizadas para la construcción y la fabricación por trabajadores inmigrantes entre 1880 y 2004. Estas herramientas son artefactos importantes porque son una representación visual de los trabajos en los que se desempeñaban los trabajadores inmigrantes. Muestra parte de la variedad de trabajos en los que trabajaban los inmigrantes. Por ejemplo, el casco Perini y la plancha eran herramientas de construcción que muchos inmigrantes italianos usaban para trabajos de albañilería y proyectos de infraestructura. El mostrador de impresión de boletos era un mostrador de metal que realizaba un seguimiento de la producción fuera de la prensa de etiquetas durante el día. Se utilizó en parte en La Empresa de Fabricacion Dennison, que fue el empleador más grande en Framingham durante casi un siglo (finales del siglo 19 hasta finales del siglo 20). Los dos últimos artefactos, el alicate y el carrete de la bobina, eran herramientas para alfombras de Roxbury para la Compañía de Carpetas de Roxbury en Saxonville, que era un empleador importante en Saxonville hasta que cerró en 1973. Estas herramientas se usaban para fabricar alfombras y en el mantenimiento/reparación de máquinas.

En Las Escuelas

Club Internacional de la Escuela Secundaria de Framingham, 1992. (Colecciones de FHC)

La educación de los inmigrantes ha cambiado significativamente en Framingham desde 1974. Todavía en 1971, las escuelas de Massachusetts rara vez ofrecían apoyo lingüístico a los estudiantes inmigrantes oa los estudiantes que hablaban un idioma distinto al inglés. La manutención no se convirtió en un derecho hasta la decisión de la Corte Suprema de 1974 en Lau v. Nichols. Framingham es ahora el hogar de una variedad de programas multilingües. Casi el 30% de los estudiantes en el sistema de escuelas públicas de Framingham están aprendiendo inglés, con portugués o español como idioma principal.

El programa bilingüe bidireccional de las escuelas públicas de Framingham se estableció en 1990 a nivel de escuela primaria y en la escuela secundaria Walsh en 1998. El programa bilingüe bidireccional ayuda a los estudiantes a ser bilingües, progresar académicamente en el salón de clases y desarrollar relaciones interculturales positivas. y actitudes hacia su propia cultura.

Los programas de educación bilingüe de transición (TBE) brindan apoyo en el idioma del hogar mientras el alumno domina el inglés. En Framingham, los programas TBE, disponibles para estudiantes cuya lengua materna es el español o el portugués, les permiten continuar trabajando académicamente a su nivel de grado mientras aprenden inglés. Una vez que un estudiante alcance un nivel intermedio de competencia en inglés, será transferido a un salón de clases de inglés protegido hasta que esté listo para pasar a un salón de clases con plan de estudios estándar.

El artículo de Framingham TAB sobre el profesor de ESL, 2006. Cortesía de Genoveffa Grieci

Clase bilingüe de FHS, 2001. Cortesía de Genoveffa Grieci

Los programas educativos multilingües ofrecidos por las Escuelas Públicas de Framingham ahora apoyan a todos los estudiantes, no solo para familias de otros idiomas extranjeros sino también para hablantes monolingües de inglés que tendrán la oportunidad de ser bilingües. Hoy en día, tanto los padres inmigrantes como los nativos pueden elegir los tipos de programas en los que quieren que participen sus hijos. Las necesidades y oportunidades de los estudiantes multilingües ahora se ven y se escuchan, y con la orientación y el apoyo adecuados, pueden crecer y alcanzar sus objetivos. potencial. Los niños que son monolingües aquí también se benefician de estos programas, que mejoran sus habilidades de comunicación.

En Exhibicion: Objetos de Estudiantes Bilingües de Genoveffa Grieci

I’m New Here escrito por Anne Sibley O’briden, 2015
Pintura de un paisaje urbano, Italia
Caja de madera, Perú
Muñeca, Perú
Taza de Cerámica, España

Prestado por Genoveffa Grieci

Aquí están todas las colecciones de Genoveffa Grieci, profesora del programa ESL en la escuela secundaria de Framingham. Estos regalos son muy importantes para ella porque fueron entregados por sus alumnos y cada objeto tiene una historia, un origen y un significado muy importante. Por ejemplo, el marco de Italia se lo dio a Genoveffa un estudiante que viajó a Italia para ver a su familia (la familia era originaria de Brasil y también tenía doble ciudadanía en Italia). El retrato de cerámica recordaba el país de Genoveffa, ya que ella nació allí. La caja y la muñeca de Perú fueron obsequiadas a Genoveffa por Violeta Zamora, quien trabaja en la escuela secundaria en el Departamento de ESL/Bilingüe. Ha apoyado a estudiantes y programas durante más de 10 años.

Comunicación

Las clases de ESL+ para adultos de Framingham posan con el letrero Shoppers World. Crédito: Edgar Villagrán.

Las diferencias en el idioma y la cultura pueden dificultar que los inmigrantes se adapten a un nuevo país. La comunicación es la clave para acceder a un trabajo, atención médica y muchos más recursos. Lo que es más importante, le permite a una persona conectarse con vecinos, nuevos amigos, comerciantes, médicos y todos los que nos rodean. Esta “conexión humana” es lo que más extrañan las personas cuando no pueden comunicarse entre sí. Para ayudar a los nuevos inmigrantes a través de esta transición, Framingham ofrece una diversidad de servicios para dar la bienvenida a todas las personas que necesitan ayuda para adaptarse.

Los nuevos inmigrantes pueden encontrar una diversidad de idiomas en los espacios públicos de Framingham. Por ejemplo, en las Escuelas Públicas de Framingham, hay maestros y personal multilingüe para ayudar a los nuevos inmigrantes, así como letreros e información escrita en varios idiomas. MetroWest Medical Center proporciona traductores gratuitos para inmigrantes mientras brinda los servicios médicos necesarios. La Biblioteca Pública de Framingham tiene grandes secciones de libros y recursos en idiomas extranjeros para inmigrantes recientes. Incluir la diversidad en todos los espacios públicos facilita la vida de los inmigrantes y les ayuda a adaptarse.

Las clases de inglés como segundo idioma (ESL) ayudan a los inmigrantes a prosperar al brindarles las habilidades para tener éxito. En 1914, Framingham comenzó sus primeras clases de Ciudadanía para Adultos, que también enseñaban ESL. Para 1924, el departamento tenía 9 maestros y 240 estudiantes de Italia, Grecia, Albania y más allá, con edades comprendidas entre los 16 y los 60 años. Framingham Adult ESL (FAESL) Plus fue iniciado por un grupo de miembros de la reunión de la ciudad en 1984. Su programa nivelado comienza con información de identificación básica y avanza hacia un lenguaje más complejo.

Folletos “Mire aquí primero” del Centro de vecinos y recién llegados de la Biblioteca pública de Framingham, años noventa. (Colecciones FHC)

Las clases de ESL+ para adultos de Framingham visitan el Centro de Historia de Framingham.

Incluso cuando están aprendiendo inglés, los inmigrantes en Framingham pueden experimentar un choque cultural. Las clases de ESL para adultos y niños ofrecen tanto lecciones de idioma como asesoramiento en el idioma de su hogar. Los consejeros ayudan a los inmigrantes a sentirse más cómodos con los nuevos entornos y experiencias, les brindan apoyo, como información sobre atención médica, y asistencia para inscribirse en servicios como MassHealth y cupones de alimentos si son elegibles.

En Exhibicion: Diversidad de recursos lingüísticos en Framingham

Botón de campaña. 2015.28
Folletos de Finding Your Way, 2007. 2022.50.25
Imán de la escuela Harmony Grove, 2022. 2022.1
Diccionario Dennison español-inglés, 1951. 2000.28.2
Diccionario Dennison francés-inglés, 1959. 2014.48.4

Desde 1984, Framingham ha sido una comunidad que valora a los inmigrantes y constantemente brinda herramientas para ayudarlos cuando viven allí. Estos recursos se han ampliado y ahora influyen significativamente en la vida de los inmigrantes. Se establecieron servicios como FAESL, la Biblioteca Pública de Framingham y la Escuela Primaria Harmony Grove para ayudar a los inmigrantes. El objetivo de estos programas era ayudar a los inmigrantes en varios campos. Se comunicaron con ellos y les ofrecieron asistencia en varios idiomas. Estos programas tienen una influencia diaria en la vida de los inmigrantes.

A maioria dos imigrantes deixa seu país de origem em busca de uma vida melhor ou segurança. Os Estados Unidos foram transformados, construídos e definidos por uma onda de migração de quase todas as regiões do mundo. Muitos imigrantes migram para um novo país sem saber por onde começar e alguns migram sem abrigo, trabalho ou qualquer outra necessidade vital.

A história de cada imigrante parece diferente e cada um enfrenta seus próprios obstáculos quando se trata de encontrar um emprego e abrigo. É fundamental que os indivíduos que vieram para os Estados Unidos recebam assistência para tornar sua transição o mais confortável possível. Uma comunidade de imigrantes apoiada garante uma boa comunicação entre vizinhos e expõe todos os membros de uma comunidade a novas experiências culturais.

Nesta exposição, discutiremos como a vida dos imigrantes e os serviços de apoio em Framingham mudaram ao longo do tempo. Esta exposição pretende servir como referência para nossas comunidades de imigrantes e fornecer informações importantes sobre a história da imigração em Framingham. Imigrar para um novo lugar pode ser muito desafiador, mas com a ajuda de vizinhos, organizações locais e um coração destemido e coragem, os imigrantes podem encontrar um lar e prosperar aqui.

Esta exposição é realizada pela Framingham History Center e três alunos multilíngues da Framingham High School: Rose Boulay, Carlos Estrada e Kaillane Gomes. Obrigado aos nossos parceiros do Framingham Cultural Council e da Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation pelo apoio a esta exposição.

No Trabalho

Loja de comida de propriedade de imigrantes italianos. (Coletas FHC)

Os imigrantes são 12,5% da população dos EUA e, de acordo com o Conselho de Imigração Americano, os trabalhadores imigrantes representavam 20% da força de trabalho em 2018. Esses trabalhadores contribuem com bilhões de dólares em impostos anualmente. Em Framingham, os imigrantes representam quase 30% da população, tornando-os ainda mais importantes para a economia local. Os empregos permitem que os imigrantes ganhem dinheiro para necessidades como abrigo, roupas e comida. Encontrar trabalho é um dos passos mais importantes que um imigrante pode dar.

Os imigrantes em Framingham adquiriram muitos tipos diferentes de empregos para sustentar suas famílias desde a década de 1840. Imigrantes irlandeses e judeus vieram para trabalhar em fábricas, italianos para trabalhar em prédios e outros trabalhos de arquitetura e porto-riquenhos para fazer trabalhos agrícolas. Uma vez que as fábricas começaram a fechar na década de 1980, muitos imigrantes começaram a trabalhar para pequenas empresas. Eles até começaram seus próprios negócios, como restaurantes, lojas e limpeza doméstica. O centro de Framingham é um bom exemplo de uma área que foi revitalizada por lojas de propriedade de imigrantes.

Ao chegar a um ambiente completamente novo, pode ser difícil encontrar empregos, a menos que você já tenha uma conexão local com um amigo ou familiar. Os imigrantes que possuem redes existentes em seu novo país podem encontrar um emprego logo após a chegada. Aqueles que não têm conexões geralmente precisam criá-las antes de encontrar trabalho. Estes podem ser encontrados em locais onde podem se conectar com outros imigrantes, como igrejas e centros comunitários.

Wyman’s Nursery Garden Center de Wyman empregou muitos trabalhadores agrícolas porto-riquenhos. (Coletas FHC)

A Corporação de Perini foi fundada em 1894 pelo pedreiro italiano Bonfiglio Perini. (Coletas FHC)

Existem muitas organizações que ajudam trabalhadores imigrantes a superar obstáculos para garantir trabalho, abrigo e outros recursos. A Coalizão MIRA (Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee) é a maior organização na Nova Inglaterra ajudando imigrantes e refugiados econômica e socialmente. O Escritório para Refugiados e Imigrantes (ORI) oferece ajuda para encontrar cobertura médica, serviços de emprego e obtenção de cidadania. Ambas as organizações arrecadam milhões de dólares todos os anos para ajudar imigrantes e refugiados.

Na Vitrine: As ferramentas do trabalho imigrante 1880 - 2004

Capacete da Perini Corporação, ca. 1990.  2004.531.2
Espátula, 1905. 2274
Contador de impressão de tickets. 2003.714
Chave inglesa, ca. 1880. 1999.2.13
Carretel de Bobina, ca. 1880. 1999.2.16

Essas ferramentas foram usadas para construção e manufatura por trabalhadores imigrantes na década de 1880 – 2004. Essas ferramentas são artefatos importantes porque são uma representação visual dos empregos que os trabalhadores imigrantes tiveram. Por exemplo, o capacete Perini e a espátula eram ferramentas de construção que muitos imigrantes italianos usavam para obras de alvenaria e projetos de infraestrutura.. O Contador de impressão de bilhetes era um balcão de metal que controlava a produção da impressora de etiquetas durante o dia. Foi parcialmente usado na A Empresa de Manufatura Dennison, que foi o maior empregador em Framingham por quase um século (final do século XIX até o final do século XX). Os dois últimos artefatos, a chave inglesa e o carretel da bobina, eram ferramentas de carpete Roxbury para a Roxbury Carpet Company em Saxonville, que era um grande empregador em Saxonville até fechar em 1973. Essas ferramentas eram usadas na fabricação de carpetes e na manutenção/reparos de máquinas.

Nas Escolas

Framingham High School clube Internacional de 1992. (Coletas FHS)

Mudanças na educação de imigrantes têm mudado significativamente em Framingham Desde 1974. Até 1971, as escolas em Massachusetts raramente ofereciam suporte linguístico para estudantes imigrantes ou estudantes que falavam um idioma diferente do inglês. O apoio não se tornou um direito até a decisão de 1974 da Suprema Corte em Lau v. Nichols. Framingham é agora o lar de uma variedade de programas multilíngues. Quase 30% dos alunos do sistema de escolas públicas de Framingham estão aprendendo inglês, com português ou espanhol como idioma principal.

O Programa Bilíngue Bidirecional das Escolas Públicas de Framingham foi estabelecido em 1990 no nível do ensino fundamental e na Walsh Middle School em 1998. O Programa Bilíngue Bidirecional ajuda os alunos a se tornarem bilíngues, progredirem academicamente na sala de aula e desenvolverem relacionamentos interculturais positivos e atitudes em relação à sua própria cultura.

Os programas de educação bilíngue de transição (TBE) fornecem suporte em uma língua materna enquanto o aluno se torna proficiente em inglês. Em Framingham, os programas TBE, disponíveis para alunos cujo idioma nativo é espanhol ou português, permitem que os alunos continuem a trabalhar academicamente no mesmo nível de sua série enquanto aprendem inglês. Assim que o aluno atingir um nível intermediário de proficiência em inglês, ele será transferido para uma sala de aula de inglês protegida até que esteja pronto para passar para uma sala de aula de currículo padrão.

The Framingham TAB sobre professor, 2006. Cortesia Genoveffa Grieci.

Classe Bilíngue FHS, 2001. Cortesia Genoveffa Grieci.

Os programas educacionais multilíngues oferecidos pelas Escolas Públicas de Framingham agora oferecem suporte a todos os alunos, não apenas para famílias de outras línguas estrangeiras, mas também para falantes monolíngues de inglês que terão a oportunidade de ser bilíngues. Hoje, tanto os pais imigrantes quanto os nativos podem escolher os tipos de programas que desejam que seus filhos participem. As crianças monolíngues aqui também se beneficiam desses programas, que aprimoram suas habilidades de comunicação.

Na Vitrine: Objetos de alunos bilíngues de Genoveffa Grieci

Eu sou Novo Aqui escrito por Anne Sibley O’brien, 2015.
Pintura de uma paisagem urbana, Itália
Caixa de madeira, Peru
Boneca, Peru
Tigela de cerâmica, Espanha

Emprestado por Genoveffa Grieci

Aqui estão todas as coleções de Genoveffa Grieci, professora do programa de ESL da Framingham High School. Esses presentes são muito importantes para ela porque foram dados de seus alunos e cada objeto tem uma história, uma origem e um significado muito importante. Por exemplo, a moldura da Itália foi dada a Genoveffa por uma estudante que viajou para a Itália para ver sua família (a família era originária do Brasil e tinha dupla cidadania na Itália também). O retrato de cerâmica lembrava o país de Genoveffa, pois ela nasceu lá. A caixa e a boneca do Peru foram presenteadas a Geonoveffa por Violeta Zamora, que trabalha no ensino médio no Departamento Bilíngue/ESL. Ela apoia os alunos e programas há mais de 10 anos.

Comunicação

As classes de ESL para adultos de Framingham posam com a placa Shoppers World. Crédito: Edgar Villagran.

As diferenças de idioma e cultura podem dificultar a adaptação dos imigrantes a um novo país. A comunicação é a chave para acessar um emprego, assistência médica e muitos outros recursos. Mais importante ainda, permite que uma pessoa se conecte com vizinhos, novos amigos, lojistas, médicos e todos ao nosso redor. Essa “conexão humana” é o que as pessoas mais sentem falta quando não conseguem se comunicar umas com as outras. Para ajudar os novos imigrantes nessa transição, Framingham oferece uma diversidade de serviços para receber todas as pessoas que precisam de ajuda para se adaptar.

Os novos imigrantes podem encontrar uma diversidade de idiomas nos espaços públicos de Framingham. Por exemplo, nas Escolas Públicas de Framingham, há professores e funcionários multilíngues para auxiliar os novos imigrantes, bem como placas e informações escritas em vários idiomas. O MetroWest Medical Center fornece tradutores gratuitos para imigrantes enquanto fornece os serviços médicos necessários. A Biblioteca Pública de Framingham tem grandes seções de livros em língua estrangeira e recursos para imigrantes recentes. Incluir a diversidade em todos os espaços públicos facilita a vida dos imigrantes e os ajuda a se adaptar.

As aulas de inglês como segunda língua (ESL) ajudam os imigrantes a prosperar, dando-lhes as habilidades necessárias para o sucesso. Em 1914, Framingham iniciou suas primeiras aulas de Cidadania para Adultos, que também ensinavam ESL. Em 1924, o departamento tinha 9 professores e 240 alunos da Itália, Grécia, Albânia e outros, com idades entre 16 e 60 anos. O Framingham Adult ESL (FAESL) Plus foi iniciado por um grupo de membros da reunião municipal em 1984. Seu programa nivelado começa com informações básicas de identificação e avança para uma linguagem mais complexa.

Panfletos “Look Here First” do Centro de Recém-chegados e Vizinhos da Biblioteca Pública de Framingham, década de 1990. (Coletas FHC)

As aulas de ESL para adultos em Framingham visitam o Framingham History Center.

Mesmo enquanto estão aprendendo inglês, os imigrantes em Framingham podem sofrer um choque cultural. As aulas de ESL para adultos e crianças oferecem aulas de idiomas e aconselhamento em sua língua materna. Os conselheiros ajudam os imigrantes a se sentirem mais à vontade com novos ambientes e experiências, dão-lhes apoio, como informações sobre cuidados de saúde e assistência na inscrição em serviços como MassHealth e vale-refeição, se forem elegíveis.

Na Vitrine: Diversidade de recursos linguísticos em Framingham

Botão de campanha. 2015.28
Folhetos Encontrando o Seu Caminho, 2007. 2022.50.25
Ímã da Escola Harmony Grove, 2022. 2022.1
Dicionário Dennison Espanhol-Inglês, 1951. 2000.28.2
Dicionario Dennison Frances- Ingles, 1959. 2014.48.4

Desde 1984, Framingham tem sido uma comunidade que valoriza os imigrantes e fornece consistentemente ferramentas para auxiliá-los quando estão morando lá. Esses recursos se expandiram e agora influenciam significativamente a vida dos imigrantes. Serviços como a FAESC, a Biblioteca Pública de Framingham e a Harmony Grove Elementary School foram estabelecidos para atender os imigrantes. O objetivo desses programas era atender imigrantes em diversas áreas. Eles entraram em contato com eles e ofereceram assistência em vários idiomas. Esses programas têm uma influência diária na vida dos imigrantes.

Pifò imigran kite peyi orijin yo pou chèche yon lavi miyò oswa sekirite. Etazini te transfòme, bati, ak defini pa yon vag nan migrasyon ki soti nan prèske chak rejyon nan mond lan. Anpil imigran imigre nan yon nouvo peyi pa konnen ki kote yo kòmanse e gen kèk imigre san abri, travay, oswa nenpòt lòt nesesite vital.

Istwa chak imigran sanble diferan, epi chak gen pwòp seri obstak yo lè li rive jwenn yon travay ak abri. Li enpòtan pou moun ki te vin Ozetazini resevwa asistans pou fè tranzisyon yo pi konfòtab ke posib. Yon kominote imigran ki sipòte yo aspire bon kominikasyon ant vwazen yo epi li ekspoze tout manm yon kominote a nouvo eksperyans kiltirèl.

Nan ekspozisyon sa a nou pral diskite sou fason lavi imigran ak sèvis sipò nan Framingham te chanje avèk tan. Ekspozisyon sa a fèt pou tou de sèvi kòm yon referans pou kominote imigran nou yo ak bay enfòmasyon enpòtan sou istwa imigrasyon an nan Framingham. Imigre nan yon nouvo kote ka trè difisil, men avèk èd vwazen yo, òganizasyon lokal yo ak yon kè san pè ak kouraj, imigran yo ka jwenn yon kay, travay, zanmi, ak la pè nan Framingham.

Se Sant Istwa Framingham Center ansanm ak twa elèv ki pale plizyè lang nan Lekòl Segondè Framingham ki òganize ekspozisyon sa a: Rose Boulay, Carlos Estrada, ak Kaillane Gomes. Mèsi a patnè nou yo nan Framingham Cultural Council ak nan Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation pou sipò yo nan egzibisyon sa a.

Nan Travay

Boutik manje ki posede pa imigran Italyen. (Koleksyon FHC)

Imigran yo se 12.5% ​​nan popilasyon ameriken an e, dapre Konsèy Imigrasyon Ameriken an, travayè imigran yo te genyen 20% nan fòs travay la an 2018. Travayè sa yo kontribye milya dola nan taks chak ane. Nan Framingham, imigran yo fè prèske 30% nan popilasyon an, sa ki fè yo menm plis enpòtan nan ekonomi lokal la. Travay pèmèt imigran yo touche lajan pou nesesite tankou abri, rad, ak manje. Jwenn travay se youn nan etap ki pi enpòtan yon imigran ki fèk vini nan yon peyi diferen.

Depi ane 1840 yo, imigran ki nan Framingham te jwenn plizyè kalite travay pou sipòte fanmi yo. Imigran Ilandè ak jwif ki te vin travay nan faktori, Italyen kite vin travay nan bilding ak travay nan achitekti, ak Pòtoriken kite vin fè travay agrikòl. Yon fwa ke faktori yo te kòmanse fèmen nan ane 1980 yo anpil imigran te kòmanse travay pou ti biznis. Yo menm te kòmanse pwòp biznis yo tankou restoran, boutik, ak netwayaj kay. Anba lavil Framingham se yon bon egzanp yon zòn ki te revitalize pa boutik imigran posede.

Lèw ou premye rive nan yon anviwònman konplètman nouvo li ka difisil pou jwenn travay sof si ou deja gen yon koneksyon lokal ak yon zanmi oswa yon manm fanmi. Imigran ki gen rezo ki deja egziste nan nouvo peyi yo ka jwenn yon travay yon ti tan apre yo rive. Moun ki pa gen koneksyon souvan bezwen fè yo anvan yo ka jwenn travay. Sa yo ka jwenn nan kote yo ka konekte ak lòt imigran tankou legliz ak sant kominotè.

Wyman’s Nursery and Garden Center te anplwaye anpil travayè agrikòl Pòtoriken nan ane 1940 yo ak ane 1950 yo. (Koleksyon FHC)

Kòporasyon Perini te fonde an 1894 pa bòs mason Italyen Bonfiglio Perini. (Koleksyon FHC)

Gen anpil òganizasyon ki ede travayè imigran yo simonte obstak pou jwenn travay, abri, ak lòt resous. Kowalisyon MIRA (Massachusetts Immigrant and Refijye) se pi gwo òganizasyon nan New England kap ede imigran ak refijye ekonomikman ak sosyalman. Biwo pou Refijye ak Imigran yo (ORI) ofri èd pou jwenn pwoteksyon medikal, sèvis travay, ak jwenn sitwayènte. Tou de òganizasyon yo jwenn plizyè milyon dola chak ane pou ede imigran ak refijye yo.

Nan Ekspozisyon: Zouti travay imigran ane 1880 yo - 2004

Perini Corporation Hard Hat, ca. ane 1990. 2004.531.2
Trowel, 1905. 2274
Counter Enpresyon tikè. 2003.714
Kle, ca. ane 1880. 1999.2.13
Bobbin, ca. ane 1880. 1999.2.16

Zouti sa yo te itilize pou konstriksyon ak manifakti pa travayè imigran yo nan ane 1880 rive jiska 2004. Zouti sa yo se zafè enpòtan paske yo se yon reprezantasyon vizyèl nan travay travayè imigran yo te fè yo. Li montre kèk nan varyete travay imigran yo te travay nan. egzanp, chapo di Perini ak gach la te zouti konstriksyon ke anpil imigran Italyen te itilize pou travay masonry ak pwojè enfrastrikti. Kontwa enprime tikè a se te yon kontwa metal ki te kenbe tras de pwodiksyon nan laprès tag pou jounen an. Li te itilize nan Dennison Manufacturing Company ki te pi gwo anplwayè nan Framingham pou prèske yon syèk (fen ane 1800 rive nan fen ane 1900). De dènye zafè yo, kle a ak bobin bobin, se te zouti tapi Roxbury pou Roxbury Carpet Company nan Saxonville, ki te yon gwo anplwayè nan Saxonville jiskaske li te fèmen an 1973. Zouti sa yo te itilize pou fè tapi ak nan antretyen/reparasyon machin.

Nan Lekòl Yo

Framingham High School Creole Club, 1992. (Koleksyon FHC)

Edikasyon imigran yo te chanje anpil nan Framingham depi 1974. Jiska 1971, lekòl nan Massachusetts raman te ofri sipò lang pou elèv imigran oswa elèv ki pale yon lang kipa Angle. Sipò pat vin tounen yon dwa jiskaske desizyon Tribinal Siprèm nan 1974 nan Lau v. Nichols. Framingham se kounye a lakay yo nan yon varyete pwogram plizyè lang. Prèske 30% elèv nan sistèm lekòl leta Framingham ap aprann Angle, ak Pòtigè oswa Panyòl kòm lang prensipal yo.

Pwogram bileng nan lekòl piblik Framingham yo te etabli an 1990 nan nivo lekòl primè ak nan Walsh Middle School an 1998. Pwogram bileng nan de-fason ede elèv yo vin bileng, pwogrese akademikman nan salklas la, epi devlope relasyon trans-kiltirèl pozitif. ak atitid anvè pwòp kilti yo.

Pwogram edikasyon bileng tranzisyon (TBE) bay sipò nan yon lang lakay pandan elèv la vin konpetan nan lang angle. Nan Framingham, pwogram TBE, ki disponib pou elèv ki gen lang natif natal se Panyòl oswa Pòtigè, pèmèt elèv yo kontinye travay akademikman nan nivo klas yo pandan y ap aprann angle. Yon fwa yon elèv rive nan yon nivo entèmedyè konpetans nan lang angle, yo pral transfere nan yon sal klas angle ki pwoteje jiskaske yo pare pou ale nan yon sal klas kourikoulòm estanda.

Atik Framingham TAB sou pwofesè ESL, 2006. Koutwazi Genoveffa Grieci.

Klas bileng FHS, 2001. Koutwazi Genoveffa Grieci.

Kounye a, pwogram edikasyonèl miltiling yo ofri nan Lekòl Piblik Framingham sipòte tout elèv yo, nonsèlman pou fanmi ki gen lòt lang etranje, men tou pou moun ki pale angle yon sèl ki pral gen opòtinite pou yo bileng. Jodi a, paran imigran ak paran natif natal yo ka chwazi ki kalite pwogram yo vle pitit yo patisipe nan yo. Bezwen ak opòtinite elèv ki pale plizyè lang yo kounye a se wè ak tande, epi avèk bon oryantasyon ak sipò yo, yo ka grandi epi rive jwenn yo. potansyèl. Timoun ki yon sèl lang isit la tour benefisye de pwogram sa yo, ki amelyore ladrès kominikasyon yo.

Nan Ekspozisyon: Objè elèv bileng ki soti nan Genoveffa Grieci

Mwen Nouvo Isit la ekri pa Anne Sibley O’briden, 2015.
Penti yon Streetscape, Itali
Bwat an bwa, Perou
Poupe, Perou
Bòl seramik, Espay

Prete pa Genoveffa Grieci

Men tout koleksyon Genoveffa Grieci, yon pwofesè nan pwogram ESL nan lekol Framingham. Kado sa yo trè enpòtan pou li paske li te bay elèv li yo e chak objè gen yon istwa, yon orijin ak yon siyifikasyon trè enpòtan. Pa egzanp, gen yon etidyan ki te vwayaje nan peyi Itali pou wè fanmi li te bay Genoveffa ankadreman Itali (fanmi an te orijinèlman soti Brazil e li te gen de sitwayènte ann Itali tou). Pòtre seramik la te raple peyi Genoveffa a, jan li te fèt la. Bwat la ak poupe ki soti Perou te bay Geonoveffa pa Violeta Zamora, ki travay nan lekòl segondè nan ESL/Bilingl Dept. Li te sipòte elèv ak pwogram pou plis pase 10 ane.

Kominikasyon

Framingham Granmoun ESL+klass yo pose devan “Shoppers’ World” sign. Kredit: Edgar Villagran.

Diferans nan lang ak kilti ka fè li difisil pou imigran yo ajiste nan yon nouvo peyi. Kominikasyon se kle pou jwenn yon travay, jwenn swen, sante, ak anpil lòt resous. Sa ki pi enpòtan, li pèmèt yon moun konekte ak vwazen, nouvo zanmi, machann, doktè, ak tout moun ki bò kote nou. “Koneksyon imen” sa a se sa moun rate plis lè yo pa ka kominike youn ak lòt. Pou ede nouvo imigran yo atravè faz sa a, Framingham ofri yon divèsite sèvis pou akeyi tout moun ki bezwen èd pou adapte yo.

Nouvo imigran yo ka jwenn yon divèsite lang nan espas piblik nan Framingham. Pa egzanp, nan Lekòl Piblik Framingham yo, gen pwofesè ki pale plizyè lang ak manb estaf yo pou ede nouvo imigran yo, ansanm ak sign ak enfòmasyon ki ekri nan plizyè lang. Nan endistri swen sante a, Mass sante bay imigran sèvis yo bezwen yo, yo gen yon tradiktè ki ka ede yo eksprime tèt yo. Sèvis lang yo prezan tou nan bibliyotèk ak magazen lokal yo. Bibliyotèk Piblik Framingham gen gwo seksyon liv nan lang etranje. Mete divèsite nan tout espas piblik yo fè lavi imigran yo pi fasil epi ede yo adapte yo.

Imigran Framingham yo benefisye anpil nan sesyon Angle kòm Dezyèm Lang (ESL). An 1914 Framingham te kòmanse klas Sitwayènte Adilt (ki te anseye ESL tou). Nan 1924 depatman an te gen 9 pwofesè ak 240 elèv ki soti nan peyi Itali, Lagrès, Albani, Polòy, Syèd, Almay, ak Espay ki gen laj ant 16-60. Framingham Adult ESL Plus te kòmanse pa yon gwoup manm reyinyon vil an 1984. Adult ESL Plus ofri yon pwogram nivo, kòmanse ak enfòmasyon idantifikasyon debaz ak deplase nan lang ki pi konplèks. ESL pèmèt imigran yo pwospere lè yo ba yo ladrès pou yo reyisi.

“Gade isit la en premye” Bwochi de Framingham Public Library Newcomers and Neighbors Center,1900s. (FHC Collections)

Granmoun ESl+ klas yo ki vin Visite Framingham History Center.

Menm lè yo ap aprann angle, imigran nan Framingham ka fè eksperyans chòk kilti. Framingham ESL bay imigran konseye ki pale lang yo pou ede yo ajiste. Klas Framingham ESL pou granmoun ak timoun ofri tou de leson lang ak konsèy nan pwòp lang yo. Konseye yo ede imigran yo vin pi alèz ak nouvo anviwònman ak eksperyans, ba yo sipò tankou enfòmasyon sou swen sante, ak asistans pou enskri pou sèvis tankou MassHealth ak koupon pou manje si yo kalifye.

Nan Ekspozisyon: Divèsite resous lang nan Framingham

Bouton Kanpay. 2015.28
Ti liv Finding Your Way, 2007. 2022.50.25
Harmony Grove lekol Magnet, 2022. 2022.1
Dennison Diksyonè Panyòl-Angle, 1951. 2000.28.2
Diksyonè Dennison franse-anglè, 1959. 2014.48.4

Depi 1984, Framingham se yon kominote ki bay imigran yo valé epi ki toujou bay zouti pou ede yo ak lavi a. Resous sa yo te elaji e kounye a yo gen anpil enfliyans nan lavi imigran yo. Sèvis tankou FAESL, Bibliyotèk Public Framingham, ak Harmony Grove Elementary lekol te etabli pou ede imigran yo. Objektif pwogram sa yo se te ede imigran nan plizyè domèn. Yo te kontakte yo epi yo te ofri asistans nan plizyè lang. Pwogram sa yo gen yon enfliyans chak jou sou lavi imigran yo.

Nipmuc Massachusetts Map
Salem Mashpee Boston Natick Blackstone Worcester Grafton Webster Dudley Athol Stoughton Framingham Brockton Weymouth Plymouth Milton Wareham Cambridge Waltham Falmouth New Bedford Bourne Medway North Attleboro Tauton Sandwich Hanson

Salem

Mashpee

Boston

Natick

Blackstone

Worcester

Grafton

Webster

Dudley

Athol

Stoughton

Framingham

Brockton

Weymouth

Plymouth

Milton

Wareham

Cambridge

Waltham

Falmouth

New Bedford

Bourne

Medway

North Attleboro

Tauton

Sandwich

Hanson

To all people to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Know yee that wee Great John, alias Wuttaushauk, John Mooqua, John Awoosamug, Senr & his sons Thomas Awoosamug, Samuel Awoosamug, Joshua Awoosamug and Amos Awoosamug, Thomas Waban son of old Mr Waban deceased, John Speen Senr and his sons, James Speen and Abram Speen ; also wee the Daughters of Robin Speen deceased, vizt Sarah the wife of Daniel the Minister, Betty the wife of Pahanumpanum, Mary the wife of Samuel Williams, Hannah the wife of Samuel Uptowanum, Also wife and the sons of Thomas Speen deceased, vizt Thomas Speen Senr & his brother Thomas Speen Junr, Indians all of Natick in the County of Middlesex & Massachusetts Colony in New England, ffor & in consideration of the sum of fforty shillings in currant money of Sd New England to them in hand payd at & before the ensealing &  delivery of these presents by Thomas Danforth Esqr of Cambridge in the above Colony & County, have granted bargained & sold, aliened Enfeoffed & confirmed & by these presents do grant bargaine & sell, alien enfeoffe & confirme unto him the Said Thomas Danforth, all that tract of land to him the sd Thomas Danforth belonging & appertayning, Scittuate, lying & being on the Southerly or South Westerly Side of Sudbury River, & conteyning by Estimation Eight hundred acres more or lesse, & was the grant of the General Court of five hundred Acres part thereof to Richard Russell Esqr deceased, & three hundred acres to Marshall Richard Wayte, late of Boston deceased, to him the sd Thomas Danforth, to have and to hold the above granted tract of land & every part and parcell thereof, together with all the priviledges & appertenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertayning to him the said Thomas Danforth, his heyrs and Assignes forever to his & theire only proper use and behoof. And the above named Great John Alias Wuttaushauk, Jon Mooqua, John Awoosamug senr,Thomas Awoosamug, John Awoosamug Junr, Samuel Awoosamug, Joshua Awoosamug, Amos Awoosamug, Thomas Waban, John Speen, James Speen, Abram Speen, Sara wife of Daniel, Betsy wife of Pahanumpanum, Mary wife of Sam Williams, Hannah wife of Samuel Uptowanum, Thomas Speend Senr & his brother Thomas Speen Junr do for our selves, & such of our heyres, executors, Administrators & Assigns covenant, promise & grant to & with the abovenamed Thomas Danforth his heyres & Assignes by these Presents that wee have good right & full power to grant bargaine & confirme the abovesd Tract of land & every part & parcel thereof the him the sd Thomas Danforth his heyres & Assigneds for ever, & that he the sThomas Danforth his heyres and Assignes shall & may from time to time & at all times for ever hereafter lawfully peaceably & quietly have hold occupy p— & enjoy the abovegranted premises & every part & parcel thereof without the loss, denyall, contradiction, molestation or disturbance of us the abovenamed Indians, our heyres Executors, Adminstrators or Assignes or of any other people or persons whether Indian or English claiming & having any manner or right, titleinterest therein, from by or under us or either of us or from by or under any other Indian by any means whtsoever. In witness wee the ovenamed Great John, John Mooqua, Hohn Awoosamug Senr, Thomas Awoosamug, John Awoosamug Junr, Samuel Awwosamug, Thomas Waba, John Speen Senr, James Speen, Abram Speen,, Sarah wife of Daniel, Betsy wife of Pahanumpanum, Mary wife of Samuel Williams, Hanna wife of Samuel Uptowanum, Thomas Speen Senr & his Brother Thomas Speend have hereunto sett our hands & seals this first day of October in the year of our Lord Sixteen hundred Eighty & Four Annoq Domini

+ Great John his mark & seale            Samuel Ossamug his mark & seale

+Jno Mooqua his mark & seale          +Thomas Waban his mark & seale

○Old wussamoog his mark & seale

○Thomas Tray his mark & seale          Abram Speen his mark & seale

Sarah hir mark & seale                        Betsey hir mark & seale

Mary hir mark & seale                         Hannah hir mark & seale

Nehemiah hir mark & seale                John Speen his mark & seale

James Speen his mark & seale         John Ossamug his mark & seale

Rachel hir mark & seale

Sealed & delivered in Front of us, The c—- Johsiah Rice his mark, Old Nausawamun his mark

All the persons that Subscribed & sealed this writing who have this marke + before their names appeared before me at the court held at Natick the 1st of October 1684 & freely acknowledged this writing to be their Act & Deed.

Before Daniel Gookin A—

Entered: October 1st 1684 by Tho: Danforth R—

To all people to whom these presents shall come greeting Know ye that I Thomas Danforth of Cambridge in the County of middlesex in New England Planter for an in Consideration of a valuable sum of money to me Secured to be Paid by John Stone of Sudbury in the County aforesaid husbandman have granted bargained and Sold and by these Presents to fully clearly and absolutely grant bargain and sell aliene Enfeoffe and Confirm unto the Said John Stone Two hundred acres of Land being the grant of the Generall Court to Mr Elijah Corlett of Cambridge aforesaid and by me Purchased of the Said Elijah the Said Land to be layd out According to the appointment of the Genreall Court, Also Twenty acres of meadow land lying in five Severall Parcell in the wastelands on the westward of the Said John Stones house, To Have and To Hold the said lands and grants of the Same with all the Privelidges and appurtenances to the Same appertaining or in any wise belonging unto him the Said John Stone his heirs and assigns forever to his and their only Proper use without the lawfull Lett Claim hindrance Deniall or Contradiction of me the Said Thomas Danforth my heirs Executors administrators or assigns or by any other Person of Persons Claiming and having any lawfull Right title or Interest therein or to any Part thereof by from or under me, In witness whereof I the Said Thomas Danforth and also Mary my wife (in acknowledgement of her free consent to this my act and Deed have hereunto put our hands and seals this thirteenth day of December anno Domini 1661.

Thomas Danforth and Seal

Mary Danforth and Seal,

Signed Sealed and Delivered.

To all people to whome these present shall come Greeting, Know ye that I Elijah Corlett of Cambridge in New England for vallewable consideration to me well & truly payd by Thomas Danforth of Cambridge aforsd to my full content & Sattisfaction before the ensealing & Delivery hereof, have granted, bargained, & Sold, and by these prsents do fully, —–, & absolutely, grant, bargaine, & Sell, alien, efeoffe & confirme unto the Said Thomas Danforth two hundred acres of land, being granted unto me by the Genrall Court & to be layd out as in the said grant if declared, To have and to hold the said land according to the grant thereof with all prviledges & appurtenance to the Same appurteyning or in any wise belonging to him the Said Thomas Danforth his Heyres & Assigns for ever, to his & their only proper use & behooffe, with out the Lawfull lett, claims, or Deniall of me the Said Eijah Corlett my Heyres, Ececutors, Administrators, or assignes, or by any other person or persons claiming by, from, or under me, In Witness whereof I the said Elijah Corlett, and also Barbora, my wife [in acknowledgement of her free consent to this my act & deed] have hereunto put our hands &

Sealed this thirteenth Day of December Anno Domini 1661.
Elijah Corlett

Signed, Sealed & dd In Presence off

Accknoledged by Mr Elijah Corlett the 6th —- month Before me, Daniel Gookin
At a Genrall Cort of Election held at Boston the 22 of may 1661 Layed out & Exactly measured By Thomas Noyes of Sudbury in Obediance to the Grant of the Hon. Genrall Court Octobr 18 1659 — Mr Elijah Corlet School Master of Cambridge his Farm of a Hundred Acres Situate Lying & being a bout a Mile Distant from the South West angle of the Land formerly granted to Sdbury Allso Haveing a Parcell of Meadow granted to Mr Edman Brown Teacher to the Church of Sedbury on the South, Allso being a bout half a mile Distant Northerly from Sudbury River Allso being about a mile and a Quarter Distant WEst North Westerly from the now Dwelling House of John Stone the sd Farm for the most part Bordering upon the Wild —- & Lying in a Long Square the Longest Lines Runing West by South 5 Degrees Southerly as is now Marked Round by marcking Trees with the Letter C & allso a small parcell of meadow Near adjoining to the South Line of Sd Farm & is part of the 2 Hundred Acres. This By me Under —- the 28th of may 1661 in presence of John Stone John Behr & Thomas Read of Sudbury.

Curator's Statement

It is likely that many people viewing this exhibit know the “Eames Massacre” (if they know it at all) as an unprovoked act of violence, but this perception is skewed, one-sided, and unfair. What has been cast as a random, brutal attack was in reality a wartime encounter between two groups of people who had known, lived with, and interacted with each other many times over the course of a decade. So how did this encounter between neighbors become deadly? And how many victims did this event really claim?

In retelling this story now, it is not my aim to condone violence or excuse murder. Rather, it is to closely examine the circumstances that surround it, and to cast light on the pieces of the story that have remained in the dark. This is an examination of the circumstances that provoke violence, the ways in which violence begets more violence, and the consequences that reverberate into modern Framingham and beyond.

The goal of this exhibit is not just to teach; it is to transport. Given how the landscape has been altered in the past 350 years, it is impossible to recreate the Framingham of the 17th century. Still, I hope the combination of objects, documents, and original artwork gives you a sense of the world Netus and Thomas Eames inhabited.

I’d like to extend my sincerest thanks to Mary McNeil, for her contributions to this exhibition, to Annie Murphy and Laura Rankin for their editing eyes, and  Alison Simmons, Maria Turner, and the Natick Nipmuc for their help at many points along the way, including offering their crucial perspective on this story and it’s echoes into the present. Thanks also to the Massachusetts State Archives and Middlesex Deeds for granting access to their collections for research and use in this exhibition.

Stacen Goldman, Curator

Land Encroachment Method 1:
Spoil the Land

The English set their livestock free to graze and root unchecked, destroying Native planting grounds and other cultivated ecosystems in the process. When Native people protested, settlers insisted that Native villages be fenced to keep the livestock out. This practice made desirable land unusable for Native people while forcing them to confine their surviving spaces within fencing, leaving adjacent lands “free” to be claimed. This demonstrates that even as the English claimed New England was wilderness, they understood how important cultivation of the land was to Native subsistence.

Land Encroachment Method 3:
Assimilate and Consolidate

The precursor to the modern Indian Reservation can be found in 17th century Praying Towns, English-style villages established by Reverend John Eliot for the conversion of local Algonquian groups, including the Nipmuc, to Christianity. Establishing these spaces allowed the English to supplant Native culture with their own and consolidate large groups of Indigenous populations within borders that the English defined themselves. The Native people who inhabited these towns were referred to as “Praying Indians.”

The land that is now Framingham had many of these Towns nearby: Natick, Magunkaquog (Ashland), Hassanamesit (Grafton), and Okommakamesit (Marlborough).

Land Encroachment Method 2: Force Debt

As soon as the English obtained any kind of written agreement from Native people, they interpreted it as Native subservience and acceptance of the English legal system. Native participants, for their part, agreed to alliances often with little understanding that this was the case.

After obtaining these agreements, English settlers forced allied Native individuals into debt, often through fraudulent means such as false imprisonment. These debts were imposed with full knowledge that the Indigenous population rarely kept English money, thus forcing them to pay in an equivalent value of land.

Hover over the map to see the Natick lands sold by Gookin and How.

Key

Modern Framingham Border

1660s Natick Border

Land sold by Gookin and How

Captain Tom Wuttasacomponum
(ca. 1625-1676)

Captain Tom, also known as “Tom Wutasakompanin,” “Wuttusacomponum” or “Wutasakompanin,” was a Nipmuc leader who probably resided at one (or both) of the “new” Praying Villages of Pakachoag or Webquassit before moving to Hassanamesit by 1674. While Annaweekin was considered the principle “ruler” of Hassanamesit, Captain Tom probably held some leadership role at Hassanamesit, and was held in high esteem by Daniel Gookin.  During King Philip’s War, Captain Tom traveled to Menimesit with his Nipmuc kin instead of being removed to Deer Island; it is unclear whether he went by choice or was forced.  Wuttusacomponum was captured by English scouts, tried for his alleged participation in attacks on settlers at Sudbury and Medfied, and hung in June of 1676.  To his death, Captain Tom swore his innocence.

Access the full list of places, secondary characters, and events in Resources.

Metacomet (1638-1676)

Metacomet, or King Philip, was the head sachem of the Wampanoag Confederacy and the namesake of King Philip’s War.  The son of Massasoit, the sachem who entered into an early alliance with Plymouth settlers, Metacomet succeeded his father and his brother, Wamsutta, after their respective deaths.  While Metacomet initially sought to maintain good relationships with settlers, deeding them land and even adopting the English name “Philip,” such “peace” was threatened by increasing settler dispossession and undermining of Wampanoag sovereignty. Shortly after settlers accused Metacomet of ordering the murder of John Sassamon, a Massachusett man who was often an interpreter for English land deals, King Philip’s War began. 

 

In 1676, Metacomet was killed in a swamp near his home village of Montaup (today often referred to as “Mount Hope” or Bristol, Rhode Island).  After his murder, Metacomet’s head was displayed on a pike in Plymouth’s town center for decades, and his wife and son were captured and sold into slavery.

Access the full list of places, secondary characters, and events in Resources.

Menimesit

Menimesit (modern Brookfield) was a stronghold and refuge place for Nipmuc people, and later their Wampanoag and Narragansett allies, during King Philip’s War.  Its name refers both to the river (today often called the Ware River), and the marshy lands and islands in and around the river.  There were three separate towns in Menimesit, and Mary Rowlandson was taken to one of them during the war.

Access the full list of places, secondary characters, and events in Resources.

Hassanamesit

Hassanamesit (Modern Grafton) was a Praying Village that was established in 1654; the name translates to “place of small stones.”  Comprised of 8000 acres of land, it was near the Old Connecticut Path and about 2 miles east of the “Nipmuck River” (today often called the Blackstone River). Hassanamesit was home to about 10 families, or 50 individuals. Among these were its “ruler,” Annaweekin (or “Annaweakin”); his brother Wawaus (or “James the Printer”), the Nipmuc man who was integral to the production of the first translated Algonquin Bible; their brother Joseph Tupukawillin (or “Tuckapa-willin”), who was a teacher; and their father, Naoas. Hassanamesit was home to the second independent congregation, which was established in 1671.  

Access the full list of places, secondary characters, and events in Resources.

Know all men by these presents that we John Awassomoag, Samuell Awassamoag, John Mooqua, Peter Ephraim & Eleazer Pegan Indians of Natick, in the County of Middlesex in New England, for reasons us thereunto mooving, Have Given & Granted, and do by these [presents do] grant, Aliene, enfeoffe, Assigne, makeover, and Confirme unto Thomas Awassamoag, Indian of the same Towne and County aforesaid all that our whole Native title, Right, & Interest in that tract of land lying sittuated and being betweene the bounds of Natick, Charles River, Marlborough and a point of Blackstone’s River beyond Mendon, al which said Right, title, & interest in the said land (that is not already legally disposed of) we the said John Awassomoag, Samuell Awassamoag, Josua Awassamoag, John Mooqua, Peter Ephraim & Eleazer Pegan, do hereby Avouch and Declare to be at the delivery of these presents our owne propper estate and Lawfully in our owne power to alienate & dispose of it being our natural right descending to us from the cheife Sachem Wuttawushan unckle to the said John Awassamoag — who was the cheife Sachem of said land and nearly related to us all as may be made to Appeare And we do further warrant and assure the said Right, title, and interest to the said Thomas  Awassamoag a good and sound estate of inheritance, to get herewith all Rights, —- appurtenances, liberties,  priviledges, uses, accomodations, profits & Comodities thereto belonging or any way appertaining to Have and to hold to him the said Thomas Awassamoag and to his heires executors administrators & Assignes —– possession for ourselves Acquitted and discharged of and from all manner of formal gifts, grants, titles, —–, mortgages, leases, entailes, and all legal molestation, interruption, and encumbrances whatsoever, from by or under us the said John Awassamoag, Samuell Awassamoage, Joshua Awassamoag, John Maqua, OEter Ephraim, & Eliazer Pigan our heires executors administrators or Assignes or any other person or persons whatsoever by from or under us or any of us. And we do further covenant and promise to do at the charge of the said Thomas Awassamoag any further Act or Acts, thing or things,  that may any way lend to the further selling and confirming of the above said Right, title, and interest to and upon the said Thomas Awassamoag his heires executors Administrators or Assignes whomsoever we are reasonably thereto requested. And we do hereby render and give secure and lawfull possession of al the said Right, title, and Interest and for the true and full performance of all singular ——- we the above named John Awassomaog, Samuell Awassamoag, Joshua Awassamoag, John Mooqua, Peter Ephraim, & Eleazer Pegan have to this Instrument set to our hand & Seales the 21 January 1684

John Mooqua (his mark) & Seale, John Awassamoag (his mark) & seale, Samu Awassamoag (his mark) & seale, Peter Ephraim & Seale

Signed Sealed & Delivered in the presence of us Edw. Wish, Benj? Learned

John Mooqua, Sam Awossomoag, Peter Ephraim appeared in Court at —- Acknowledged & testifyed to be their Act & deed they set to their hands & seales Frbr 18 1684 as Attached Daniel Gookin Seal Entered & Recorded at request of tHomas Awassomoag 26th April 1685.

 

To all People to whom these presens shall come, We Jonas and Mary Obscow of Natick in the County of Middlesex and Pricings of the Massachusetts Bay New England send Greeting.

KNOW YE that we the said Jonas and Mary Obscow in Consideration [of the] just Sum of Ten Pounds thirteen shillings and four pence to us in Hand paid before the Delivery hereof, by Peter Rice of Framignham of the County & Province aforesaid, Yeoman the Receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge, Have given, granted, bargained, and sold, and do by these Presents, give grant, bargain, sell and convey, unto him this said Peter Rice Heirs and Assigns forever, Ten Acres of Land Lying and being in Natick Bested and Bounded as followeth. Dirs. beginning at a stake & stones at the westerly Corner thence running Southeasterly to as take & stones thence running Northeasterly to a stake & stones being Joseph Jenning Corner thence running by sd Jennings Land to a stake & stones thence running Southwesterly by Cort David Rice’s Land to a stake & stones thence running more Southerly by Caleb Drury Land to the Stake & stones first mentioned.

To have and to hold the said granted and bargained Premises together with all their Appurtenances to him the said Peter Rice his Heirs and aSsigns forever and we the said Jonas & Mary Obscow for our selves and Heirs, Executors, and Administrators, do hereby Covenant to and with the said Peter Rice that at the sealing hereof we are the lawful Owner of said granted Premises, with their Appurtenances, and stand seized thereof in our own proper Right, as a good Estate in Fee Simple, that we have lawful Right to sell the same as aforesaid, that they are free of all Encumbrances whatever. And further that our Heirs, Executors and Administrators shall and will warrant and defend said granted Premises unto the said Peter Rice his Heirs and Assigns forever, against the Claims of any PErson or PErsons whatsoever.

In Witness whereofe we the said Jonas & Mary Obscow have hereunto set our Hands and Seals this ninth Day of September, Anno Somini, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Two and in the Twelfth Year of His Majesty’s Reign.

Jonas Obscow

Mary Xhermark Obscow

Signed, Sealed and Delivered in Presence of us,

Asa Drury, Caleb Drury

Middlesex Nov 27 1773, The above-named Jonas Obscow & Mary Obscow personally appeared and owned this Instrument to be free Act and Deed before Jos. Buckminster, Just. Pacis.

Consented to by Abraham Bigelow Eleazer Kingsbury, Guardians to the Natick Indians

To all people to whom these presents shall come greeting, know yee that wee Waban, Pyambow, Tom Tray, John Magos, Peter Ephraim, John Awassamug, John Masqua, all now Inhabitants of Natick for an in consideration of a valuable summ of mony served to be paid to us, By Samuell Gookin of Cambridge and Samuell How of Sudbury, doe with the Consul and appelation of the rest of the peoprioters[sic], By these presents,  acknowledge to be fully sattisfied and Contented and thereof and of Entry part and parcell – thereof doe fully, clearely, and absolutely acquitt, exonnorate, and discharge them the Said Samuell Gookin and Samuell How there heires executors and Assignes, for life by these presents, Have Granted, Bargained, and Sold Asigned, Efeoffed, & Confirmed and by these presents, doe fully clearely and absolutely, grant Bargain and sell adjoine and efeoffe and confirme unto the said Samuell Gookin and Samuell How a parcill of land lying and being in the bounds of Natick Conteyning by estimation two hundred acres more or lesse, bounded w the Sherborne line southerly, with John Bout and David Jones(?) land westerly, Henry Rices land and Cuchuit pond Easterly,  an

To start and to hold the above granted premises be the same more or lesse, with all the priviledges and appurtenances to the sae appor—-ing, or in any wise belonging to them the said Samuell Gookin and Samuell How there heires and Assignes, forever, to Have only propper — and bennifit And we the above said Waban, Pyambow, Tom Tray, John Magos, Peter, John Awassamug, for us our heires Administrators and Assignes, doe Covenant promise and grant to and with the said Samuell Gookin and Samuell How there heires and Assignes by these presents that they the said Samuell Gookin and Samuell How shall and may at all times and from time to time for ever hereafter privately(?) and quickly have, hold, occupy, and enjoy the above Granted and bargained premises with all the priviledges and Appurtenances thereunto belonging without the —- denyall or Contradiction of us Waban, Pyambow, Tom Tray, John Magos, Peter Ephraim, John Awassamug, John Marqua, our heires —- administrators or Assignes of them or either of them or by any of the person or persons whatsoever, lawfully clayming or having any right — or —— therein, or in any part or parcell thereof by from or under us. In witness hereof wee the above named Waban, Pyambow, Tom Tray, John Magos, Peter Ephraim, John Awassamug, John Marqua hereunto put our hands and seales this 19th day of May 1682.

John Magos (seal)        Waban (seal)
Tho. Waban (seal)       Pyambow (seal)
John Marqua (seal)       Tom Tray (seal)

Waban, Pyambow, John Magos, Thomas Waban, & John Marqua personally Appearing Acknowledged this deed May [19 1]682 before me William Stoughton.

Sealed & delivered in the presence of Edw. Wist, Thomas Sawin.
The Court 27th of may 82 pass there Allowance & Confirmation of this deed.
Committees Survey of the Lands in and about Natick, claimed by Samuel Gookin and How, returned Feb. 11, 1696.

The persons that purchased land of Gookin and How
Nathaniel Stone   5 a
David Rice   7 a
David Stone   12 a
Thomas Drury   9 a
Thomas Walker   12 a
John How   34 a
John Adams   12 a
Matthew Rice   60 a
John Bent   3 a
Widow Pratt   7 a

To the Honorable General Court now sitting – We whose names are under written, by order of this Court bearing date December 13, 1695, being ordered to survey the Land in Natick Township claimed by Mr. Samuel Gookin of Cambridge & Samuel How of Sudbury:  we have accordingly measured said land, & we find of the Land which said Gookin & How have sold and disposed of To several persons, 1700 acres full measure, which by information that we have had, the said Gookin & How have sold to the value of 156 pounds, which we account the full value of said land. We have also measured the land betwixt the aforesaid land and Sherborn line, which we have been informed has been claimed by said Gookin and How, and not disposed of, which we find to measure 1000 acres, which we value to be worth 60 pounds of which we have herein drawn a plot of the lines thereof.

We have also set out to the said Gookin and How 200 acres, according to the General Courts order, adjoining the Sudbury River at a place called Indian Head.

We have also propounded to the several persons that have purchased land of the said Gookin and How to pay something to the Indians for a confirmation of this title, but they refuse to do any thing because they have paid to the full value already as their deeds from Gookin and How will show.

Further we did notify Mr. Samuel Gookin and Mr. Samuel How of the Courts order and the time of our meeting at Natick to do the above said work.

Surveyed in January 1696,
By David Fisk
Joseph Morse
Joseph Sherman

Thomas Sawin attorney for the Indians at Natick is willing that the land next to Sherborn should pay for this survey – which charge is fifteen pounds money.

When the Indians came to our towne of Medfield, and were partly about my hosue in the fyring of it & partly betwixt my house & Thomas Ellico a bout 30 rod, I thought I ded heare the very reall voice of Captain Tom. Such a voice as I have heard when once he came with his Natick Souldiers to Medfeild & Comanded them. — I have heard him pronounce at Natick this is all I Can Say. Attached by me John Partridge J.

Joseph Indian, sonne of William of Mogoncoke being Examined do say & confess that Himself with those others named in the margent were the persons that destroyed Thomas Eames family at the begin of Feb. last. That the Same was occasioned by their missing of Corn that they Expected to have found at magunkcooke & by that means was provoaked to come & do that spoyle, Killing of some & carrying captive the rest, & burning house barn & cattel, & do confesse that he himself caryed away on his back one of Eames sons. Also he saith of about 2: mo since he inquired to —– Gm Eames 2 daughters & understood they were at a great Hill, abt midway between Watchusset & Penacooke. & were in good health, & not in a starving plight.

Apumatquin als. Jno being Examind do confirm the Same thing as above to be the truth. Only he saith he knows nothing how it is with Gm Eames daughters at present not having heard lately anything to regarding them.

Wm Jackstraw being examed do confesse the Same thing as above. Ownes That his sonnes Joseph & Jon above examined were present at the desolation of Gm Eames family & that himself was of the company, but kept at a distance a little off in the corn field.

Isaac Beech being prest and – exam do say that Joseph abovenamed confessed the same thing to himself and Jno Prentis.

For encouragement to Joseph who was 1st  examined to tell that truth (they at first Denying all) I told him I would speak to the Govr to spare his life in case he would tell me plainly how all the Said matter was acted. Taken the day & year above Befoer Thos Danforth.

Jno Speen Interpreter

Confessions were owned by the prison at the Barr: 18 — E. R. S.

Upper left corner (“Margent” referenced above):

Netus, dead.

& his wife, sold.

Anneweekin. Dead.

1 aponapawquin alias Jacob

1 Acompanatt alias James “ Philip

X Pakanawingginguit. Joshua Assatt

                              With Captain Hunting?

Apunatquin als. John

X William —

X Joseph

Pumapono. Of Quabaug

& his sonne abt 40 years old.

Awassaquah. V. at Ponds sick,

Of naskawag —-

The wife of Aquitakash & is sold already

Reverse: Wm Jackstraw saith that Mattahump hath one of Gm Eames daughters & Pumapen the other & they were alive at planting time and he thinks they may yet be toward the field of Auranea but —- ——-.

To the Honourable Court of Assistants sitting at Boston, September the 5th 1676 the humble Petition of William Wannuckhow, Joseph Wannuckhow, & John Appamatahquo, all Prisoners at the Barr —

Humbly imploreth your favor to hear & concider our supplication: wee Know that your honours are men of truth, fearing God, and will faithfully perform your promises, Especially when it concernes so great a matter as the lives of men, you were pleased (of your own benignity, not for any deserts of ours) to give forth your decalration dated the 19th of June where in your word pleased to promise Life and Liberty unto such of your enemies as did come in and submit themselves to your mercy and order and Disposal within a time limitted where afterward was Enlarged to a longer time, and tidings thereof sent by James Pretice until us, which offers of grace, as soone as we heard of it, we Redily Embraced it and came in accordingly our selfs, wifes, and children (as Capt Prentis and his son ^with others to whose house we were directed to come; areRedy to testifie, and those order of yours are upon Record Copies whereof we are Redy to Present If it should be said that we are Known to Be notorious in dooing mischif to the English, we answer, non can so say in truth, or prove any such thing against us, Indeed we doo acknowledge that we were in Company of those That Burn Goodman Eames his house, But we did not act in it, it was done by others, who are slain in the warrs, and so have answerd God’s justice for there demerits, as for our part, we Came along with that company upon a nessesary and Just occation, to get our corn that we had planted gathered and put up at magungoog, But finding our Corn taken away we Intended to Return, But Naotus and an other Man that were our leaders, Ernestly Moved to go to Goodman Eames farm for to get Corn and they Said they did Believe he had taken our Corn But we were untilling to goo; But they By their porswaision and threatening caried us wih them. Bust as we said Before we neither Kild nor Burnd nore take away and thing there, But were INstrumental to save Goodman Eames his Children alive, on of use Carried one boy ^up on our Backs Rathern than let them Be Killed, This is the truth of things so that we Cannot be Reckoned among suck as have Been notorious in dooing Mischeefe, INdeed we were among the enimies, Being tempted to goo among them By the example of our Chiefe men Capt. Tom and others But we had not armes nor did not hurt the English as many others have done, That upon there submission to your Mercy are pardoned, BEsides it was a tiem of Warr When this Mischife was done and though it was our unhappy Portion to Be with Enimis, yet we conceive that deppredations and Slaughters in warr are not Chargable upon Pirticular persons, Espicially such as have Submited them SElves to your honours upon promis of life as we have done, Therefore we desire again to Insist upon the plea, that we may Received the Benifit of your declarations BEfor mentioned for our lives will not be at all Benifialc to Goodman Eams, Thos that Slew his wife & Relations and Burn his House, have already Suffered death, and the Sattisfaction of Goodman Eams in our death will not Countervail the Honor & Justice or Authority of the Country that may be Blemished thereby ——

There fore, Let it Pleas your Hons to Concider the promises and graunt us our Lives as you have Promised which will Ever oblige us to Be your Most faithfull Subjects & Servants. The Marks of

William Wannukhow

Joseph Wannukhow

John Appamatahquo

Upon consideration of the great danger and Inconvenience both English and Friend-Indians are exposed unto, during the present War with the Eastern Indians: It being very difficult to discern between Friends & Foes

This Courth doth Order and Appoint that all the Indians inhabiting this Colony, in Amity with us, do forthwith repair to the Towns of Natick and Punckapaug, and dwell there; not transgressing the limits of their Town; and such as are not abroad, are forthwith to return within any of our Towns, excepting only those who are constant Dwellers in English Houses.[1] Provided the Indian Women and Children be not hereby refrained from frequenting the Flats where they have been accustomed to get Clams; nor the Indians from fishing at the Lower Falls of Charles Riverm and at Neponset mill. And for the better encouragement of the Inhabitants of Natick & Punckapaug to abide in their Habitations and to plant they are to be assisted in drawing Timber to build a Fort in each Town; the charge of which is to be defrayed by the Treasurer. And Capt Thomas Prentis, Lieut. Thomas Swift, and Capt Noah Wiswall are desired and impowered to take effctual care for the settlement and Regulation of the Indians according to the true Intent of this Order, and are to appoint two meet persons to reside at Natick & one at Punckapaug, who are to call over the Names of the Indians ^men&women morning & evening, and to do what else shall be found necessary & expedient to this affair.

Voted in the Affirmative by
the Magistrates
Jsa Addington Secry

[1] This is a reference primarily to Native people who were enslaved.

The the Indian Constable of whipsuffrage or his deputy you are required to attach the goods of Nettus Indian of nipnaps to the vallew of four pounds 17 shillings and he so forth(?) brings his body to appear at the next County Court holding at Cambridge then and there to answer the complaynts of Sargent John Parmenter of Sudbury for not paying a debt due to him the sayd John Parmenter of four pounds and etca of not to tayk and so to make to him valew of your land.

dated this 2nd of September 1659
By the Court
Thomas Noyes

This witnesseth that William Boman, Capt. Josiah, Roger, & James, and ^Keaquisan Indians, now living at Naticke the Indian Plantation neare Sudbury in the Massachusetts Bay in New England, ffor and in consideration of a valuable sume of Peage[1] and other goodes to us in hand paid by John Stone of Sudbury aforenamed to our full content & satisfaction, before the signing and delivery hereof have given, granted, bargained & sould, assigned, enfeoffed[2] & confirmed, and by theis presents do give, grant, bargain & sell, assigne, enfeoffe and confirme unto the said Jno. Stone, his Heyres & assignes, a parcell of Broaken up and ffenced in land, lying on the South side of Sudbury line, upon the Falls of Sudbury River, and bounded with the Common land surrounding. The said land conteyning by estimation about ten Acres more or lesse. To have & to hould the said land with the ffences and all other the privileges and Appurtenances thereof be the same more or lesse, to him the said Jno. Stone, his Heyres and Assignes forever, to his and their only proper use & behooffe[3]. In witness whereof wee the above named Indians have hereunto put our hands & seales this 15th day of May 1656.

                                                                     Mark is of

Signed & Sealed                                           William Boman

In presence of :                                            Capt. Josiah

William W_________                                       Roger

His              mark                                         James

John Braddock                                             Keaquisan

This deed of sale was acknowledge by the Indians above named, and with their full consent the said land is passed over the 15th of : 3. mo. 1656.

Daniel Gookin

[1] Less common word for Wampum

[2] Invest in land

[3] Benefit, advantage

A Note on Terminology

Whenever possible, Native people are referred to individually by name or by tribal affiliation, and not by the term “Indian.” There are two exceptions to this rule:

The first is when using direct quotes from historical figures. These quotes also sometimes use outdated and harmful words that are never acceptable to use when referring to Native people today.

The second is the use of the term “Praying Indians,” specifically meant to refer to the Native people who settled in the Praying Towns established by Reverend John Eliot. These were people from different tribal and kinship groups who convened to cohabitate in these spaces, and who were treated as a single group  by the English. “Praying Indians” is currently the widely accepted term when referring to Native Converts who lived in these English spaces as a group.

Hover over the map to see the Natick lands the Eames family took posession of in the 25 years following the end of King Philip’s War.

Key

Original Eames House

Modern Framingham Border

Wayte’s Grant

 Waushakamaug

1660s Natick Border

Land acquired by Eames Family

William Wannukhow
(ca. 1620-1676)

William Wannukhow, also known as William Jackstraw, was a Nipmuc man who converted to Christianity sometime before 1660. In the period leading up to King Philip’s War, Wannukhow lived with his family in the small Praying Town of Magunkaquog. Wannukhow and his family would have been very familiar with both Thomas Eames, who was responsible for laying out the land for the planting grounds and granaries at Magunkaquog, and Netus, who worshipped with them at Natick (Magunkaquog had no church of its own).

Wannukhow and his family were forced to evacuate Magunkaquog for the larger Praying Town of Hassanamesit by the Massachusetts General Court in the fall of 1675. Hassanamesit was taken by Metacom-allied Nipmucs later that fall, at which point all the Christian inhabitants, including the Wannukhows, traveled with Metacom’s allies (whether by choice or by force is unclear) to the Nipmuc stronghold of Menimesit. Wannukhow and his adult sons, Joseph and John, were present at the time of the fight at the Eames homestead, and their testimony is the only first-hand account of that event.

Access the full list of places, secondary characters, and events in Resources.

Annaweekin (ca. 1635-1676)

Annaweekin was  the son of the Nipmuc deacon Naoas and the Sachem of Hassanamesit at the time of King Philip’s War. Annaweekin’s younger brothers Job Kattenanit and James Printer (Wawaus), were sent to be educated by Elijah Corlett while Annaweekin, who was the eldest, was kept home to be educated by the local Nipmuc schoolteacher. James was an integral player in the creation of the first Algonquian Bible and was a sometimes-scout for the English during the war, though he also spent time supporting his Nipmuc kin who were allied with Metacom. Job was interned on Deer Island, and was offered passage back to the mainland by Daniel Gookin if he agreed to act as a scout for the English, which he did throughout the war. These three brothers illustrate the different and complicated personal choices that even the closest of Native kinsmen would make during King Phillip’s War. 

Annaweekin and his brothers were contemporaries of Netus’s son, who was also sent to be educated by Elijah Corlett. He would have known Netus well, as the older man lived and owned land at Hassanamesit during his childhood. The men were all a part of a relatively small network of Christian Nipmuc and it is little surprise that Annaweekin and Netus would join together in the party to retrieve corn from Magunkaquog. William Wannukhow and his sons later named Annaweekin as the second leader of the raid on the Eames house alongside Netus. This may have been an accusation of convenience, as Annaweekin died in battle sometime in the spring of 1676, months before the Wannukhows were examined about their role in the altercation on Mount Wayte.

Access the full list of places, secondary characters, and events in Resources.

Thomas Danforth (1623-1699)

Perhaps the person with the strongest stamp on the shape of modern Framingham was Thomas Danforth. Born in Framlingham, England, Danforth settled in Cambridge with his father at the age of 11. Danforth’s father, Nicholas, was a prominent civic leader who served on the Massachusetts General Court. The adult Danforth would follow in his father’s footsteps, serving for twenty years (1659-1678) on the Court of Assistants (the equivalent to the modern State Senate). Danforth also served as the Treasurer and then Steward and Inspector of Economical Affairs for Harvard College. In the period after King Philip’s War, Danforth would become Deputy Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the President of the Province of Maine, and eventually an Associate Judge of the Superior Court, in which capacity he would play a role in the Salem Witch Trials. 

Throughout the 1660s, Danforth was granted the first 250 acres of unceded Nipmuc land in the bounds of modern Framingham by the General Court as payment for his services to the colony. Over the next three decades, Danforth would amass nearly 15,000 acres of land. This land was initially called Danforth’s Farms, but would later be renamed Framingham, in honor of Danforth’s birthplace. Danforth never lived, or by any accounts set foot on his land, though he did, on multiple occasions, grant settlers permission to take up residence on it over the course of his lifetime.

Though there is evidence that Danforth did receive quitclaim deeds from the Nipmuc for some parcels of his land, it is not clear that he did so for the entirety of his holdings, and some of the land that comprises modern Framingham is likely still unceded today.

Access the full list of places, secondary characters, and events in Resources.

Elijah Corlett (1609-1686)

Elijah Corlett was a teacher and the founder of the Cambridge Latin School. Many of his pupils made up the earliest students of Harvard College, which the Latin School was adjacent to. Cambridge Latin, along with John Eliot’s Roxbury Latin, was also responsible for the education of many converted Algonquian men, usually with an eye towards their enrollment in Harvard Indian College. Corlett educated many young converts, and, as was evidenced by his interactions with Netus, used this as an opportunity to increase his land holdings throughout the colony, essentially becoming a land speculator in addition to a schoolmaster. In 1659, Corlett petitioned the Massachusetts General Court for land as recognition of his services, and was granted 200 acres of land in modern Framingham. This land directly abutted the parcel that John Stone purchased from 5 Nipmuc men 3 years earlier, as well as a piece of meadow belonging to Reverend Edmund Browne of Sudbury. Sometime around 1658, Netus signed over 3 acres of meadow to Reverend Browne, possibly in payment for a debt. The exact location of this meadow is unknown, but it is possible that this same piece of land was the piece abutting Corlett’s grant. Four years later, Corlett would sue Netus for his land holdings in Grafton as payment for educating Netus’s son. Corlett likely never saw either of these parcels in person, but he did sell the Framingham land for an unspecified sum and the Grafton land at  £30, nearly 4 times more than the £7.10 that he originally sued Netus for.

Access the full list of places, secondary characters, and events in Resources.

Daniel Gookin (1612-1687)

Daniel Gookin was the first superintendent to the Praying Indians in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In this capacity, he aided Reverend John Eliot with the establishment of the Praying Towns and was an official government liaison to the Praying Indians within the Colony. He wrote two histories of Native peoples in New England, Historical Collections of the Indians in New England (1674), and The Doings and Sufferings of the Christian Indians (1677). These two documents sandwich King Philip’s War and are an important window into the drastic ways the Massachusetts Bay’s relationship with Native New Englanders drastically changed within just a few short years.

Gookin and Eliot were two of the only advocates for the Praying Indians during King Philip’s War, though their advocacy did not result in better treatment by other colonial officials. Gookin was an incredibly complicated figure. His sympathy to the plight of the Praying Indians made him unpopular among the other English, and even cost him political appointments and elections, but his advocacy was stilted, and did not extend to those who had not converted to Christianity. In fact, his advocacy was sometimes non-existent, and – even at its strongest – was not usually enough to save lives. 

After the war, Gookin’s son, Samuel, was a land speculator who purchased 200 acres of land from the people of Natick around 1696. He and his partner then sold nearly nine times that much land to English settlers, prompting a legal battle from Natick.

Access the full list of places, secondary characters, and events in Resources.

Reverend John Eliot (1604-1690)

John Eliot was a missionary and the founder of Roxbury Latin School. Eliot’s ministry was focused on the conversion of various Algonquian peoples to Christianity. The cornerstone of this ministry was an Algonquian translation of the Bible, which was made possible by some of his earliest converts. Dreaming of established towns where converts could settle and form Christian villages in the English style, Eliot petitioned the Massachusetts General Court for lands to establish a “Praying Plantation,” where educated and trained Algonquian peoples would preach and teach the next generation of “Praying Indians.”

In 1650, the General Court granted Eliot 2,000 acres to establish the first of these towns at Natick. He would follow this with 13 more such villages around the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and would encourage the Christian education of the young men who grew up within these villages. 

During King Philip’s War, Eliot, along with Daniel Gookin, frequently advocated for the Praying Indians and other Native allies who came under the purview of the English, though his protestations against their unjust treatment did not always prove to be particularly strong. Ultimately, he did not hold (or did not wish to hold) very much sway over the official actions of the Colonial government and many of the people whom he had converted were killed in battle, hanged, interned, or sold into slavery.

Access the full list of places, secondary characters, and events in Resources.

Tantamous (ca. 1590-1676)

Tantamous, also called Old Jethro, was a Nipmuc spiritual leader who lived with his family on Nobscot Hill, which straddles the border between modern Framingham and Sudbury. Though Tantamous never converted to Christianity, he did regular business with the English, and at the outbreak of war in the Spring of 1675, made the decision to ally himself with the English and move to Natick for protection, perhaps because his son, Hantomush (Peter Jethro), was a Christian convert already living there. The protection that he expected in Natick did not materialize, and just months after his relocation there, the General Court confined all inhabitants of Praying Towns to within a mile of their village. This was soon followed by the forced relocation of the inhabitants of Natick to Deer Island. Tantamous and his family joined Netus and others, fleeing westward. While Netus would return to the area around Framingham and Natick, eventually taking up arms against the English, Tantamous settled with his family near Wachusett to wait out the war. He never seems to have participated in the conflict on either side, though his son, Hantomush, would side with the English, serving as a scout and spy for their forces. In late August or early September of 1676, Tantamous was convinced to deliver himself to the English, with the understanding that his son had secured amnesty for his family. This protection, once again, failed to materialize and he was hanged on Boston Common, September 26, 1676. His remaining family was sold into slavery.

Access the full list of places, secondary characters, and events in Resources.

Pequot War

The Pequot War of 1636-1638 was a colonial war between the Pequot Nation, English settlers, and settler-allies from the Narragansett and Mohegan Nations.  Characterized as one of the first American “Indian Wars,” it emerged in the wake of increasing acts of aggression from New England settlers, including attempts to extract indemnity payments from the Pequot Nation and to capture Pequot children and place them in indentured servitude. Settler aggression reached an apex after a company of soldiers that had been sent to Pequot country to search for the alleged killer of English settler John Stone went on the offensive. In public memory, the war ended with the 1637 massacre of hundreds of Pequot men, women, and children at a Pequot village near the Mystic River. However, the war officially ended in 1638, with the Treaty of Hartford. Although settler lore pronounced the Pequot Nation “extinct” due to the English victory, the Pequot Nation is still very much alive. Descendants comprise the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Eastern Pequot Nation, and are also part of the Brothertown Indian Nation in Wisconsin.

Access the full list of places, secondary characters, and events in Resources.

Deer Island

Deer Island is a Boston Harbor island that was used by the Massachusetts Bay Colony to intern “Praying Indians” from Nipmuc country during King Philip’s War. Internment came in the wake of growing restrictions on Indigenous mobility throughout the region and mounting settler anxieties. Hundreds of Indigenous persons were moved to Deer Island and other Boston Harbor islands during the winter of 1675; there, they were not provided with adequate food stores and supplies, and were exposed to the harsh winter elements. At least one historian estimates that half of the total population of people interned on Deer Island died during the winter of 1675/1676. Today, members of the Nipmuc Nation organize an annual sacred paddle to Deer Island to return to their ancestors and remember them. 

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Waushakamaug

According to historian Stephen Herring, Waushakamaug was “probably the largest Nipmuc settlement within the bounds of today’s Framingham.”  Waushakamaug was situated near the 90-acre Waushakum Pond, and its name is said to translate in Nipmuc to “eel-fishing place.”  While many historians suggest that Nipmuc people “abandoned” their villages by the time that settlers began to establish Framingham, Waushakamaug was almost certainly still considered to be a site of deep meaning and importance to members of the Nipmuc Nation, particularly due to the pond’s abundance of eels, a traditional staple in Nipmuc diets. Thomas Eames established his homestead on unceded land that comprised part of the village of Washakamaug, and Josiah H. Temple, in his History of Framingham Massachusetts, indicates that Eames in fact placed his home on an active seasonal village site, which Eames then destroyed. The last known Nipmuc Sachem at Waushakamaug was Wuttuwushan, whose descendants lived in Natick and sold their remaining land holdings off to descendants of Thomas Eames in the early 18th century.

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Okommakamesit

Okommakamesit (Modern Marlborough) was a Praying Village established in 1654 on land that, according to Daniel Gookin, comprised approximately 6000 acres.  It was located about 12 miles Northeast of Hassanamesit, and had about 10 families, or 50 individuals, in residence.  Historically, Okommakamesit has been falsely conflated with the nearby settler town of Marlborough, which was officially incorporated as a town in 1660.  This is because during King Philip’s War, residents of Okommakamesit moved into Marlborough, probably to alleviate settler suspicion. This did not prevent them from being removed and interned on Deer Island in 1675, at which point the settlers of Marlborough commandeered the land comprising Okommakamesit to incorporate into their own town.

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Natick

In 1651, Reverend John Eliot established Natick, the first and largest Praying Village, on 2000 acres of land “granted” to him by the Massachusetts Bay General Court. With an additional land grant in 1659, the village expanded to 6000 acres. Natick was largely comprised of people from the Massachusett and Nipmuc Nations, and an estimated 29 families, or 145 individuals, lived at Natick in 1674. Natick was one of two Praying Villages to have its own independent congregation.

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Magunkaquog

Magunkaquog (modern Ashland), also known as “Magunkoag” or “Magunkog,” was a Praying Village located halfway between Natick and Hassanamesit.  About 11 families, or 55 individuals, lived at Magunkaquog.  Inhabitants of Magunkaquog worshipped at Natick, and Magunkaquoag was considered to be the last of the “original” Praying Villages.

Access the full list of places, secondary characters, and events in Resources.

Praying Towns

Praying Villages, also known as “Praying Towns,” were a network of at least 14 communities within the bounds of what settlers called the Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, and Connecticut colonies. Started by John Eliot in the mid-17th century, they were living settlements for Indigenous people that had converted to Christianity.  While living within such villages, “Praying Indians,” as they were often referred to, were expected to practice Christianity, adopt English agricultural practices, and comport themselves according to English gender norms and modes of dress. 

While inhabitants of Praying Villages were considered wards of the colony, numerous scholars have challenged the notion that these individuals and families were fully assimilated or had fully accepted settler rule.  Such scholars situate Indigenous people’s habitation in Praying Villages as a survival strategy in the face of growing settler aggression and land encroachment, and underscore the fact that many “Praying Indians” kept language, culture, and kinship ties alive.  

The Praying Villages discussed in this exhibit were located in Nipmuc country, although inhabitants also came from neighboring Indigenous nations.

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