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- Petition signed by John Cuffe and Paul Cuffe regarding taxation
Petition signed by John Cuffe and Paul Cuffe regarding taxation
Object Details
- Caption
- Paul Cuffe was born a free man in Massachusetts. His mother was Native American and his father was of West African Ashanti lineage. An entrepreneur and philanthropist, Cuffe gained wealth as owner of an international shipping company. Despite his success, as an African American he was viewed as a second-class citizen and denied equal rights. As a taxpayer, Paul Cuffe petitioned the Massachusetts legislature in 1780 and demanded his right to vote. Free and enslaved African Americans petitioned for freedom, equality, and justice through the courts and state legislatures. They sought to assert their rights, promote their identity as citizens of the new nation, and challenge their status as enslaved people.
- Source: Nancy Bercaw, Curator, Slavery and Freedom
- Description
- A petition to the court of Bristol County, Massachusetts, in Taunton written by an unidentified hand and signed by John Cuffe and Paul Cuffe. The text is handwritten in black ink on the front and back sides of a single sheet of off-white paper. The petition is in regards to taxation by the state upon the signatories, who being of Native American descent, are arguing they are therefore not subject to such taxation. The document begins [Humbly sheweth that your Petitioners John Cuff Indian man & Paul Cuff a minor Indian man, Sons of Ruth Cuff Indian woman Inhabitants & Residents within the Town of Dartmouth] and the document ends [the said John & Paul further suggest to your Honour that they are Indian men and by Law not the subjects of
- Taxation for any Estate Real or personal and Humbly Pray Your Honor that as they are assessed jointly a Double Poll Tax & the said Paul is a minor for whom the said John is not by Law responsible or chargeable that the said Poll Taxes aforesaid and also all and Singular Taxes aforesaid on their and Each of their Real or Personal Estate aforesaid may be Abated to them & they allowed their Reasonable Costs and as in Duty Bound shall pray.]. The signatures of John Cuffe and Paul Cuffe are on the top right section of the verso. Also on the verso are several notations in a different hand, including [The Petition of John and Paul Cuffe] at center.
- Transcription Center Status
- Transcribed by digital volunteers
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Data Source
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Date
- December 19, 1780
- Object number
- 2009.26.1
- Written by
- Unidentified
- Signed by
- John Cuffe, American, 1752 - 1836
- Paul Cuffe, American, 1759 - 1817
- Restrictions & Rights
- Public Domain
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
- Type
- petitions
- Medium
- ink on paper
- Dimensions
- H x W: 8 1/2 × 8 in. (21.6 × 20.3 cm)
- Place made
- Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America
- See more items in
- National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
- Classification
- Slavery and Freedom Objects
- Documents and Manuscripts
- Exhibition
- Slavery and Freedom
- On View
- NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 3, C3 053
- Topic
- African American
- Free communities of color
- Government
- Justice
- Law
- Resistance
- Slavery
- Suffrage
- U.S. History, Revolution, 1775-1783
- Record ID
- nmaahc_2009.26.1
- Usage
- CC0
Related Object Groups
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