Total Number Of Pages: 1
Source: Scanned from the original photograph which is 10 inches in height and 8 inches in width.
Language: English
Coverage: Sag Harbor, N.Y.
Creators:
Red Thunder Cloud [Cromwell Ashbie Hawkins West]
Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions
Description: The reverse reads:
"The Narragansetts of Rhode Island were one of the six tribes of Southern New England who were in close contact with the Montauks in the 18th century. Narragansett whalers also shipped into port at Sagg Harbor along with members of the other New England Tribes and some occasional inter-marriage between tribes resulted.
Louisa Cotton Cuffee was a member of the Narragansett Tribe of Rhode Island. This tribe like the Montauks lost their reservation through trickery. The Montauks lost their valuable lands in 1879 and the Narragansetts in 1881. Both instances were similar in that deceit was the ruling factor. Arthur Benson swindled the Indians out of Montauk and the courts upheld the sale as legal. The five Narragansett Councillors were invited to have a few friendly drinks with the state officials in Providence in 1881 and these men by plying the Indians with liquor, they succeeded in getting them intoxicated and in signing away their rich 3,000 acre reservation at Charlestown. The Narragansetts payment per person was $15.41.
This photo of Mrs. Cuffee in front of the old homestead in Sag Harbor is an interesting one. She is shown holding the family Bible. See Photo 22 for another interesting glimpse of Louisa Cotton Cuffee with her daughter."
