Talk on Indian Treaties at Shirley-Eustis House, 12 Aug.

Tomorrow, 12 August, the Shirley-Eustis House in Roxbury presents a lecture titled “Diplomacy in Early New England: Treaty Conferences as a Window on Native and Non-Native Cultures.”

The speaker is Jay Adams, Director Emeritus of Old Fort Western in Augusta, Maine. Here is the Shirley-Eustis House’s description of his talk:

During his administration, Governor William Shirley served as Captain-General (Commander-in-Chief) of Massachusetts forces during two wars: King George’s War, 1744 to 1748, and the French and Indian War, 1754 to 1763.

The majority of the fighting in both wars took place in Europe, but each also resulted in Massachusetts declaring war on the Indian tribes on its Eastern frontier in Maine. European treaties ended the fighting on the continent, but Massachusetts signed separate treaties with the Indians, either to end the hostilities or to gain Indian permission for an expansion of Massachusetts military presence in the Kennebec River valley.

Using the transcripts of three conferences conducted by Shirley, Jay Adams…will compare and contrast key English and Indian cultural concepts, examine selected exchanges in the transcripts for cultural clues, and discuss why cultural differences made it so hard for Natives and non-Natives to achieve lasting peace.

This lecture begins at 2:00 P.M. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for students and seniors; and nothing for those paying for regular tours. Refreshments will be served afterward.