USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Indian deeds of Hampden County : being copies of all land transfers from the Indians recorded in the county of Hampden, Massachusetts, and some deeds from other sources, together with notes and translations of Indian place names > Part 6
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92
INDIAN DEEDS
sold for & to ye onely use & behoofe of the Inhabitants of Springfield & to be wholy at their disposure,
Febry 4th 1678 Being desired at a Town meeting in Springfield to declare what I know concerning the Purchase of the Lands above said: I doe declare and attest as follow- eth viz: That.
The Indians above named, viz Wequaugan & Wawapaw & Wecombo the true & proper owners of al the Lands above mentioned Did sel & by sale for ever passe away al the Land above mentioned to Mr Elizur Holyoke, Geo Colton Benja : Cooly Saml. Marshfield & Anthony Dorchester for the use & behoofe of the Town of Springfield: The bargain being made in my presence, and as I remember, It was in the yeer 1674 or thereabouts I was often with ym in Treaty about it, which at last came to a conclusion, to be as above men- tioned, the payment also for the Land as above expressed, passing through my hands to the Indians, which they gladly accepted and did willingly own the sale to me after this Deed was Drawne, They coming particularly one at a tyme to me to subscribe it, when I told them they must come altogether, the want of which was the only obstruction, for they often severaly acknowledged the sale & this writ- ing to be according to their minds & meaning. Also testifying their Readiness to come al together & subscribe which as they promised, so doubtles they would have done but that the Indian Warre happening in the yeer 1675. They with other Indians were drove away, before which time they made the above existing Sale .- And I do declare they did come personally & owne & acknowledg the con- veighance & sale of the Land above mentioned as above expressed.
This then done by ye Indians Wequagan & Wawapaw & Wecombo owned & acknowledged
Before me John Pynchon Assistant
This entred these Records for the County of Hamp- shire July 12th 1679.
as attests John Holyoke Recorder.
93
INDIAN DEEDS
Notes to the Preceding Deed
Att ye Genrll Towne Meetinge ffeb: ye 4th 1672:
Whereas ye Indian Wecombo vizt the old blind Indian doth challenge the tymber of ye Cedar Swamps at Manchconis as also ye meddowes on ye Mill River together wth the upland there about as farr as Chickuppe River : And Wequagan & laying clayme to all the lands uplands and meddowes (from Wecombo his clayme,) downewards as farr as ffresh water River. The Towne doth now Order that ye Worshippll Major Pynchon together with Elizur Holyoke Quartrmr Colton Ensign Cooly Samll Marshfield and Anthony Dorchester shall have full power to treate wth ye Said Indians both to examine what lands they challenge as theirs and what they own or can be proved to be ours, and to make purchase of what they judge needfull for the Town :- Springfield Town Records, Vol. 3, Pg. 78.
IScantuck .- Trumbull says "for peskatuk, a branch of the river."
2 Pequit-Pequot.
. 3Moheage-Mohegan.
94
INDIAN DEEDS
Parts of East Windsor, Ellington, Enfield and Somers, Connecticut
HAMPDEN COUNTY RECORDS Liber A-B; Folio 39
ENDFEILDS DEED
The Plantation of Endfield, alias Freshwater River ye deed fro the Indian Tawtaps or Notattuck:
To al People to whom these presents shal come, I Taw- taps, alias Notattuck 1 the right Indian owner of al the Land on the East side of Connecticut River from Asnuntuck alias Freshwater River downe to Umsquattanuck2 at the foot of the fals, being willing to accomodate the English, vizt: Leiut: Thomas Stebbings Jonathan Burt Benjamin Parsons John Pease William Downten Thomas Gold & others who are Setling of a Plantation, about Fresh-water River, Doe agree & fully Consent to a sale & Surrender of the greatest part of my Land, there to the sd English & such others as that there Plant & Settle, And therefore Know Yee That I the sª Tawtaps alias Notattuck for & in Consideration of the sum of five & Twentie pounds sterling to me in hand paid By Major Jnº Pynchon of Springfield at & before the ensealing of these presents, where with I acknowledge my Selfe fully satisfyed & contented, Have bargained & Sold, And by these presents Doe give grant bargaine sel alien assigne Enfeoffe & Confirme unto the said Major Jnº Pyn- chon in be halfe of Leiut: Thomas Stebbings Jonath Burt Benjamin Parsons John Pease William Downten & Thomas Gold, their heires Assignes & Successors; Al that Tract of Land on the East side of Conecticot River which is against the Fals from Asnuntuck alias Freshwater-River on the North, down Southward along by Conecticot River about Three or four miles. viz to the Brooke below the heap of stones, which Brooke is called by ye Indians Poggotossuc, 3 & by the English Saltonstal Brooke, & so from the mouth of said Saltonstals Brooke alias Poggotossuc to Run from
95
INDIAN DEEDS
the great River Connecticot; directly, East, Eight ful & Compleat Miles to the Mountaines, & the whole Tract of Land to be Compleat Eight Miles from the gr' River, both at the Southerly end, & at the North end also, & Run ful to the mountaines on the East, wth al the Profits & advan- tages to the said Tract of Land belonging, whether woods underwoods Brookes waters Stones Minerals Pastures Med- ows or Marshes & al the Appurtenances to the same be- longing To have & to hold the above granted Tract of Land wth al Liberties & priviledges apptaining there unto, unto Them the sd Tho: Stebbings Jonath Burt Benjamin Par- sons Jnº Pease William Downten & Tho: Gold their heires assignes & successors & to their onely use benefite & be- hoofe for ever.
And I the said Tawtaps alias Notattucke for my selfe & my heires Doe hereby covenante promise & grant to & wth „th the sª Tho: Stebbin Jonath: Burt Benja: Parsons Jnº Pease William Downten & Tho: Gold their heires & assignes That I the sd Tawtaps alias Notattucke at the time of en- sealing hereof was the true & sole Lawful owner of ye afore- bargained premises & every pt thereof, & had in my selfe ful power good right & Lawful Authority to grant convey & assure the same as abovesd as a good & sure estate of Inheritance for ever, whout any Condition revesion or Limitatio of use or uses whatsoever, except that I. Resserve a Liberty to my selfe of hunting on the Comon Land, in the woods & catching of fish in the River, yet not so as to exclude the English right thereto alsoe, And wth this onely Excepto- shal & wil Warrant & Defend the same unto the sª Tho: Stebbin Jonath Burt, Benja Parsons, Jnº Pease William Downten, Tho. Gold their heires & assignes & successors ag me me my heires or any Indians Lawfully Claiming the same or any part thereof, & that I wil at any time hereafter do any further act or actes for the more ful compleate & sure making of the above bar- gained premises unto them the sd the sd Tho. Stebbins Jonathan Burt Benja : Parsons Jnº Pease William Downten & Tho. Gold, theire heires & assignes for ever: according to the true Intent hereof & the Laws of the Massachusetts Jurisdiction: In Witness whereof I. the sª Tawtaps alias Notattuck have hereunto put my hand & seale this 16th Day
96
INDIAN DEEDS
of March in the Two & thirtieth yeer of the Reigne of our Soverigne Lord Charles th 2ª by ye grace of God King of England &c: Annog, Dom 1689:
Tawtaps (alias Notattucke) his * marke wth his Seale affixed
Read Signed Sealed & Delivered in the presence of us.
John Holyoke
Samuel Marshfield
the marke * of Momando an Indian Witness
Cogoranasset 4 * his marke an Indian witness
Nessataquakis * an Indian his marke
Benjamin * inton
Tawtaps alias Notattuck acknowledged this Instrument his Act & Deed Relinquishing and Resigning up al his Interest in the premises this 16th: of March: 1680:
Before Me John Pynchon Assistt
April Ist I681. Entered this Deed in" Hampshire Records.
by me Jnº Holyoke Recorder
Notes to the Preceding Deed
IA deed to the island at Windsor, known as Kings Island, given June 26, 1678, is signed by "Toutops alias Notabock."
2 Umsquattanuck .- Amisk-watam-uck, "beaver dam place."
3Poggotossuc .- William Wallace Tooker says that this means "where stones are cast up." Father Lemoine insists that it is pagwat-assuk, "a hollow."
4See note on page 10I referring to Coggerynossets.
97
INDIAN DEEDS
Part of Westfield
HAMPDEN COUNTY RECORDS Liber A-B; Folio 53
WESTFIELD TOWNES DEED
These presents testifie That I John Pynchon of Spring- field Several yeeres since made a purchase of the Lands at Westfield of the Indians for the Inhabitants of Westfield, & particularly bought the Lands on the South Side of the River there of Paupsunnick the wife of Panesan to whom the right of the Land on the South side of Westfield River did belong, by the acknowledgmt & grant of al the ancient & cheife Indians To whom that is to say, to Paupsunnick I did truly pay for the same about fifty pounds wch sum of Fifty pounds I have received of the Inhabitants of West- field, according to Each mans Proportion, on whose behalfe I acted. And doe hereby acknowledge the Same & to be fully contented therewth for purchase of said Lands. The Deed whereof from the Indians (whether dlrd up to Westfield Inhabitants or mislaid) not being to be found at present, I doe ingage it shal come to hand to dlr it up to the present Inhabitants of Westfield To Whom of Right the Land be- longs, according as Each Mans proportion in said Land is or hath been Laid out to Him. And in the meantime I do here declare & Testify That I acted in the premises fer the Town- ship of Westfield, & Inhabitants or proprietors thereof in General And doe for me my heires & Assignes resigne up al my Genll Right Title & Interest in Said Lands, on the South side of the River at Westfield, then called Woronoake, Re- serveing only what particular Grant, or Right I have therein, this only excepted to me my heires & Assignes for Ever. All the Rest of the sd Lands there Now & Henceforth to belong & be to the several Inhabitants & Proprietors there- of, according as Each mans Proportion is at present Laid out to Him, or shal hereafter be granted & distributed to Him Them or their heires & assignes: by the Town of West-
98
INDIAN DEEDS
field aforesd: And by these presents Doe for my selfe my heires executors Administrators & Assignes Relinquish al Right & Title to said Lands, except as befoe Excepted, Ratifying & confirming the aforementioned Lands unto the Town of Westfield, That is to Say, to the present Inhabit- ants or Proprietors thereof, according to Each mans Pro- portion therein, either aheadie divided, or as may hereafter be further distributed to them for the use & benefite of sd Inhabitants or proprietors, themselves their Heires & As- signes for ever. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seale this IIth Day of Feb. 1684.
Signed Sealed & delided
in ye presence of Samuel Marshfield Jonathan Burt Sen
John Pynchon wth his Seale affixt
John Holyoke
Apl. 3. 1685. John Pynchon Esq Owned & acknowl- edged this Instrument to be his act & deed this day of the date aforesd.
before me Peter Tilton Assist.
April 22d, 1685. Entered this Deed to the Inhabitants of Westfield.
by me Jno. Holyoke Recorder
Note to the Preceding Deed
While this is not a deed direct from the Indians, yet it is included that the records may be as near complete as possible. The date of Pynchon's purchase can be approximated by the following facts. On May 19, 1669, the General Court ordered that "Woronoake be called Westfeild," and as the deed says that it was "then called Woronoake," the purchase must have been previous to that date. The first grant of land on the south side of the river was made May II, 1663, to Mr. Whiting on condi- tion that "he cleare ye land by purchase of the Indians of the Indians right." It was probably at this time that Pynchon made this purchase for Whiting and others.
99
INDIAN DEEDS
Part of Suffield and East Granby, Connecticut
HAMPDEN COUNTY RECORDS Liber A-B; Folio 57 SUFFIELD DEED
These presents Testify that J. Pynchon of Springfield Several years since mad a purchase of Lands at Suffield of the Indians for the Inhabitants of Suffield, & particularly bought the Lands on the Northerly Side of the Town of Suffield next to Springfield, & adjoining to Springfield bounds, of Pampunckshats, & the Lands from thence South- ward against the Fals & downward a great way Southward below Stony Brooke, taking in Pipe stave Swamp so called, & al the Lands Westward from the River towards Massaco I of Mishnoasqus, alias Margery, 2 to whom the Right of all those Lands did then belong, by the acknowledgmt & grant of al the cheife Indians; wh Lands, that next to Springfield bounds on the North where the line Runs between Spring- field and Suffield was bought of Pampunckshat & runs fro Springfield Line Southward along by the great River down to Lacous, or Lacowsick about the Falls, & from thence al that breadth or Length out Westward from ye great River Several Miles, til it meets wth Westfield bounds; This Pam- punckshat Sold: And fro Lacowsk or Lacowsick; & So Southerly toward Windsor a great way below Stony Brooke, The land being called Squotuck Mayyoawag 3 Wecups &c: by the great River on the East; from whence it runs West- erly many miles, takeing in the Ledge of Hils or Mountains, & taking in Ashawalas & Wenekocamaug, 4 & al the Swamps thereabouts, down towards Massaco, & Particularly the Swamp by the English called Pipestave Swamp, together wth al ye wood Lands Swamps Marsh & Uplands, al wch were bought & purchased of Mishnoasqus, alias Margery whom I well & truly paid for the land to their Satisfaction, as by their Several Deeds for Sd Lands appears : For al wch Lands I have received of the Inhabitants of Suffield forty
100
INDIAN DEEDS
pounds, & do hereby acknowledge the Same, & to be fully Satisfyed & Contented therewith for purchase of sd Lands: And doe here declare & testifie, that I acted in the prem- ises for the Towne of Suffield & Inhabitants thereof in Gen- eral: And do for me my heires & Assignes Resigne up al my general Right Title & Interest in sd Lands aforementioned. That is to said Tract of Lands wth in Suffield bounds, ac- cording as Granted to them for a township by the Genll Corte of Massachusets: Reserving only what particular Grant or right I have therein, viz that to Land or streams granted & set apart to myself, this only excepted to me my heires & Assignes forever. Al the Rest of the Land there within the aforesd Tracts, Now & Henceforth to belong & be to the Several Inhabitants of Suffield Proprietors thereof according as each mans Portion is at present Laid to him, or hereafter shalbe granted & distributed to him, them or their heires & Assigns by the Town of Suffield aforesd. And by these Presents for myself my heires Ex- ecutors & Administrators & Assignes Relinquish al Right & Title to the Lands aforesd Except as before Excepted Rat- ifying & Confirming the aforementioned Land (according to ye grant of the General Corte to them) unto the Town of Suffield, That is to say to the present Inhabitants or Proprietors thereof according to each mans proportion therein for the use & benefite of sd Inhabitants or Propri- etors, according to their Several Grants & Priviledges al- readie allowed them, or that shall hereafter be allowed or granted them. To them & to the absolute benefite of themselves & to their or any of their Heires & Assignes for ever: In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & Seale, this 30th day of April, 1685
Signed Sealed & delivered John Pynchon, wth his
in ye presence of
Seale affixt
John Holyoke
John Lamb
Samuel Marshfield
At the Countie Corte at Springfield Sept. 29. 1685 Major Jno. Pynchon Esq. personally appeared in sd Corte and acknowledged his signing & Sealing this Instrument
as attests Jno Holyoke, Clerke
IOI
INDIAN DEEDS
October 19th, 1685. This Deed of Conveyance from Major Jno Pynchon Esq to Suffield Inhabitants is entered in these Records for Hampshire
per Jno Holyoke, Recorder
Notes to the Preceding Deed
This deed is also in Suffield Records, page 260. While this is not a deed direct from the Indians yet is included, that the records may be as complete as possible. It was perhaps given in lieu of a lost deed as was the Westfield deed on page 97. The date of Pynchon's purchase can be approximated by the following facts. The territory was granted by the General Court October 12, 1670, and the bounds of the plantation were laid out March 21, 1671. In Pynchon's account book is the following entry: "Stony River alias Suffeild Plantation, Dr; To ye purchase of ye Lands from ye Indians stated by ye Committee at their Meeting ye 19th March 1672-3; £40."
The bounds as laid out were as follows. North, at a little gutter about half a mile below Three Mile brook below Lieutenant Cooper's house, at two trees on the brow of the hill on the north side of the gutter, by the river. The north bound ran from here, due west, four and one-half miles. The east bound was along the Connecticut for six miles, to a point half a mile below King's Island, near the foot of the falls. From here the south line was due west, seven and one-half miles.
IMassaco .- Elsewhere called Mossocowe, Mussawco and Massaqua. From massa, "great," and sauk, outlet; the "great outlet," where Hop Brook flows into Farmington river, near Simsbury Centre. Modern name is Simsbury.
2Margery .- Various Windsor deeds show that Margery was the daugh- ter of Coggerynossets, sachem of Poquonock, and his wife Qushabuck. Cog- gerynossets, who died in 1680, was a son of Sheat, the Poquonock chief known by the first Windsor settlers.
3Mayyoawag .- Trumbull said that the name seems to designate a "place of meeting"; where paths, or streams, or boundaries "come together."
4Wenekocamaug .- Modern name is Congamuck pond. In Holland's History of Queensbury, New York, Congamuc is given, on the authority of Sabbatis, an old Algonquin guide, as the name for lower Saranac Lake. For the three lakes he gives Paskongammuck, "pleasant or beautiful lake." The adjective may be a corruption of pabke, "it is clear," which would be a "pleasant" feature. The name as here given would seem to be wana- kokamak, from wanake, root for "end; limit," and kama in the locative case. The meaning would be "at the boundary lake."
-
I02
INDIAN DEEDS
Part of Southwick
-
HAMPDEN COUNTY RECORDS Liber B; Folio 83
This writing made the 16th day of August one Thousand Six hundred eighty and five between Totoe Indian of the one part and John William of Windsor on Connecticut of the other part. Witneseth that the sd Totoe for the great respect and many kindnesses that he hath received from the sd Williams and for the love he beareth to the sd John Williams aforesd, He hath given granted confirmed unto the sd John Williams and by these presents doth fully freely and absolutely give grant and confirme unto him the sd John Williams one parcel of land being one full mile square and lyeth in a place comonly knowne by the name of two mile brook' on east side of the brook and abutteth on sd brook marsh and on the comons on the East and to run the breadth half a mile of each side the brook; and from the Northeast corner to run a full mile, towards the West on a due West line and from the Southeast Corner to run due West a full English mile, Which makes the aforesd tract of land a mile Square; I Doe also give grant and confirme unto the sª John Williams full and lawfull right and power to make use of whatsoever timber he shal stand In need of for any his occasions, for fencing building, Sawing or any other use, and the like for Stones that shall be found within any part of my lands adjoyning to these lands, by this Deed of gift granted to him. Together with all the ponds, brooks, waters, woods, underwoods, stones, mines, minerals there- in being within the sd mile square; To Have and to hold the aforesd premises with all and every theire appurtenances unto the sª John Williams his heires exeqrs, administra- tors, and assignes from the day of the date hereof forever: To his and their owne proper use, and behoofe freely and quietly without any challenge, demand or claime of me the sd Totoe Indian or any other by from or under me, or by any power derived from me, and without any sum or sums
103
INDIAN DEEDS
of money or other Satisfaction therefore to be yeilded or payed unto me the sd Totoe my heires, exeqts., adminis- trators, or assignes, And I the sd Totoe all and singular the abovementioned premises with their appurtenances unto the sd John Williams his heirs, exeqts., administrators and assignes and to their use aforesd agt all people Doe warrant and forever defend by these presents and Doe hereby put him in possession of the same and Doe give him good right and lawfull authority to record the aforesd Grant of a mile Square to him, his heires and assignes. In the publick rec- ords of any of his Majesties Colony. In New England, and also the grant of the timber, and Stone above written: And for the full confirmation of the premises and every part thereof. I have hereunto set my hand, and seal the day, and year first abovewritten.
To which the sd. Totoe Captaine his Indian mark, and his seal were affixed
Signed, Sealed and Delivered In the
presence of us he having had
this deed read to him, and
made fully to understand
every part of it, as he himself affirmed
Abigail * Newbery her mark the mark * of Margaret Newbery
Signed In presence of Tomosesk his Indian Mark
Jacobs his Indian mark Munhan his Indian mark Totoe his squa her Indian mark
Totoe Indian personally appeared before me and told me he fully understood the above written deed of gift, and that he had signed, sealed and delivered the same and that it was his free and voluntary act and Deed this 16th of September 1685
Before me Benjamin Newbery Assistant
104
INDIAN DEEDS
On the 22d day of June 1702: This Deed was received into the Registers office, and was then here Registred from the original
By me, John Pynchon, Register.
Note to the Preceding Deed
* Modern name is Great Brook.
105
INDIAN DEEDS
Part of Bernardston, Northfield and Warwick
FROM THE TOWN RECORDS OF NORTHFIELD
THE INDIAN DEED
That whereas Massemet Panoot Pammook Nenepow- nam his squaw wompely & nesacoscom, that wareas these six Indians on the owne have made sale of a parcel of Land at Northfield and Joseph Parsons Senr on the other partey for a valuable consideration have sold to Joseph Parsons Agent for Northfield a tract of land lying on both sides the Great River which is thus bounded the Northerly end at CoasockI the Southerly end on the est side of the great River downe to Quanatock2 at Southerly end on the west side of the Great River butting against Masapetots Land and soe Running Six miles in to the Woods on both sides of the River this tract of Land above expresed thay have sold as doth Apear both by Deed and a morgage bareing Date in the yeare 1671. and in Consideration that Some of the Indians have said thay have not had full Satisfaction for this tract of Land and therefore know all men by these that Micah Mudg Cornelos Merry and John Lymon for the Rest of the Inhabitants of Northfield have agreed With the indions for a further Confirmation of this tract of Land above expresed by givving a New deed unto the afore Men- tioned buyors. upon Consideration of twelve pounds allready Received wee the Indians under wrote Doe aquitt and Discharg the aforesaid Micah Mudg Cornelos Merry and John Limon and there heirs for ever of the above said sum of twelve Pound the Names of those Indians that have Re- seved this pay are as followeth mequenichon mannusquis masemet quankquelup Couah Pompmohock Colecoph it is further agreed by Parteys above said that the Indians doe further Ratefy Sell and Confierm Alinat and fiermly Pase over unto Micah Mudg Cornelos Merry and John Limon in behalf of the Companey to them and there heirs, admin- estrators and exectors for ever all these Parcells of Land
106
INDIAN DEEDS
as is heare after bounded viz the Southerly end buting upon a brook called Squenatock 2 and soe Running Six miles in to the Woods on each side of the River and soe Running to the New fort on the North side of a river which comes in to the Great River called Couas all which as it is here bounded, with all the Priveleges benifitts advantages com- modateys and appurtenances thereon and thereunto be- longing and at the time of the sale heareof that the a fore Mentioned Indion ware the Proper owners of the Premises and that this Land is free from all former Barggins Sales Rights tittle in heritants or incomborans What soo ever; and that the afore said Micah Mudg Cornelos merry and John Limon as they ware actors in behalph of them selves and the Company and that thay there heirs executors ad- ministrators asighns shall Have And to Hold Posess and enjoy Peacably and quiatly with out any Molestation from by throu or under us or our heirs executors Adminestrea- ters or asighns or any other clame by aney parson or Parsons what so ever and further wee ingeage to Acknoleg this to bee our act and Deed beefore Athoritey when called there unto and what further may be needfull to confirm this our act and deed of sale that we would Readely and Chear- fulley doe it and for the Confirmation heare of the said mequenichon mannusquis masemet quankquelup Couwah Pompmohock Colecoph have heare unto sett our hands and seals the twentey forth day of may in the yeare of our Lord one thousand six hundred and eighty Six
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