The Cuffe brothers tell a court "we are Indian men" (Taunton, Bristol County, about 1780)
Record: the document says itPattern: documents line upLens: our readingOpen: not yet proven
Year: 1780 · Places: Africa
SUMMARYThe Cuffe brothers tell a court "we are Indian men" (Taunton, Bristol County, about 1780) [Connections: Northeast & Mid-Atlantic, Nov 5, 2026]
RECORDA petition signed by John and Paul Cuffe to a court at Taunton states that the petitioners "are Indian men" and argues that their Native descent exempts them from state taxation. The original is held by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. In the same period (1780) the brothers refused to pay taxes because free Black men could not vote, and petitioned the Bristol County council
PATTERNThe same two men argued as Black men denied the vote and as Indian men exempt from tax. The Black and Native identities were held together, not chosen between
LENS (WW9)The men called themselves "Indian men" in their own hand, and the national museum of African American history holds the document
OPENExact date and full text (the catalog transcription cuts off). Get the NMAAHC object number
SOURCEUMBRA Search, "Petition signed by John Cuffe and Paul Cuffe regarding taxation" (NMAAHC); Wikipedia, Paul Cuffe.