The Sign of Uncas

Uncas and other Native American leaders signed colonial documents. In these two examples, they did not write their names using English letters. They signed with a drawing. Their marks expressed more than just their names. 

Mohegan Tribal authority Melissa Tantaquidgeon explained Uncas's mark. 

“His mark was a representation of not only himself but some of his very most important beliefs.

… You’ll notice that there’s a heart at the center with something piercing the heart. Very frequently, when Uncas signed documents where he gave away tribal land, you actually see a bloodletting from his heart as he gives away each parcel of tribal land.

You’ll also notice though that beneath that is a pipe and the pipe represents the fact that he has made a gesture of friendship and goodwill toward the non-Indian people.”

Source: “The Mark of Uncas,” by Kenneth A. Simon, Simonpure Productions, 2002. https://vimeo.com/286572887

Owoneco was Uncas's oldest son.

Robin Cassasinamon was a Pequot. He survived the Pequot War an became a Pequot tribal leader. 

Nesahegen was a sachem of the Poquonnock.