A tribe in the 1830s and 1840s but not in 1790, 1869, 1870 or 1976 (Boston federal court, Jan. 6, 1978)
Record: the document says itPattern: documents line upLens: our readingOpen: not yet proven
Year: 1790 · Places: Northeast
SUMMARYA tribe in the 1830s and 1840s but not in 1790, 1869, 1870 or 1976 (Boston federal court, Jan. 6, 1978) [Connections: Northeast & Mid-Atlantic, Nov 5, 2026]
RECORDIn Mashpee Tribe v. New Seabury Corp., the Mashpee claimed over 11,000 acres. An all-white jury of eight men and four women, under Judge Walter F. Skinner, found the Mashpee were a tribe in the 1830s and 1840s but not in 1790, 1869, 1870, or 1976 when they sued. Supreme Sachem Ellsworth Oakley said: "How can a white majority decide on whether we are a tribe? We know who we are." Tribal attorney Lawrence Shubow called the answers "logically absurd." The First Circuit affirmed. Interior recognized the tribe in 2007 (72 Fed. Reg. 8007)
PATTERNA court ruled that a nation existed in some years and not in others
LENS (WW9)A jury voted a nation out of existence, and Washington voted it back in 29 years later
OPENThe years differ by source: the Crimson says 1832 and 1842, Wikipedia says March 3, 1834 and March 3, 1843. Check the trial record
SOURCEHarvard Crimson, "Jury Makes Indian Suit Decision," Jan. 9, 1978; Wikipedia, Mashpee Tribe v. New Seabury Corp.. Primary: Mashpee Tribe v. New Seabury Corp., 592 F.2d 575 (1st Cir. 1979) (citation to confirm).