Database: Bounty Records Archive
Bounty Records Archive
Upstander Project created the bounty rewards archive as a public learning and teaching resource to accompany the Bounty film project. The database includes 2,438 entries and represents several years of extensive archival and documentary research into scalp bounty acts and claims made by colonial governments and settlers in the northeastern Dawnland (later called New England), between 1675-1765.
In this online archive we present evidence about land and cash bounties granted to thousands of soldiers, militias and settler colonists (and/or their heirs), who participated in, and/or profited from, wars and bounty expeditions, resulting in scalping, killing, capturing and/or enslaving thousands of Indigenous children, women, and men.
Teachers
When using these learning materials or viewing Bounty, we strongly encourage teachers to mention that if anyone in the viewing audience has family ties to those who were scalped and those who participated in scalping, the film may be especially hard to watch and we hope you are well-supported.
The issues addressed by the film, teacher’s guide, and e-timeline may have deep resonance for some whose personal and family memories are activated, including historical and intergenerational trauma, and pry open long-held secrets wrapped in shame, blame, fear, and disgrace. With Bounty, we seek understanding not blame, healing not hurt. Make use of the “pause” button when watching as often as needed and pay attention to the Trigger Warnings in the teacher’s guide and other learning materials.