Connecticut western news., 1875-05-28
An Indian Deed.

In an historical address delivered by the Hon. W. G. Bates on the occasion of the bi-centennial celebration of the settlement of the town of Westfield, he alluded to the original deed signed by twenty-one Indian chiefs and given to Captain John Ashley of Westield, and three other members of 8 committee of the General Court, of land on the Housatonic river, and which embraces the present towns of Sheffield, Ct. Barring ton, Egremont, Afford, Mount Washing ton and Boston Corner, the consideration being 'e460, three barrels of slider and thir- ty quarts of rum.' The deed is dated April 18th, 1874. AS this original deed cannot fail of being of interest to the general reader, we give it entire, with the peculiar marks and seals of the several chiefs: It is accurately copied from the ancient Book of Records of the Loaoer Housotonic Pro- prietGry.
 Know all Men by these presents that we, Conkepot PoneYote-Partarwake - Naur- n-Waenenocow-Na Nawnausquan- Cauconaughfeet-Non namcaunet-Naunha- miss-Sunkhunk-Po Taunkhonk- -Tartakim-Saunco cokehe-C Sunkiewe = Nauheag = Mauchewaufeet- John Van r-Pinaskenet-all of Hous- atonack-alias Westonook, in New Eng land, in ye province of the Massachusetts Bay: for 6 in consideration of valuable sum well secured by bond viz-Four Hun dred and Sixty Pounds-Three Barrels of Slder 6 thirty quarts of Rum: bearing date with these Presents, under ye hand $ seal of Capt John Ashley of Westfield in ye County of Hampshire we have given, granted, bargained, sold, aliened, conveyed 6 confirmed, and doe by these presents, fully, clearly and absolutely give, grant, bargain, sell, allinate, convey & confirm unto Col John Stoddard, Capt John Ash ley, Capt Henry Dwight & Capt Luke Hitchcock, Esqrs, all in the County ot Hampshire, Committee appointed by ye General Court to purchase certain tract of land lying upon Housatonack River, alias Westonook, in order for the settling two towns there, and unto such as ye Commit tee have or shall admit Ill order for ye set ting of said Towns, to them, their Heirs 6 assigns certain Tract or parcel of land Meadow, swamp 6 Upland, lying on ye River afol esaid butted 6 bounded as fol loweth, viz:-Southardly upon ye division al line between the Province of Massachu- setts Bay: and the colony of Connection in New England-West on ye pat ten or colony of New York, northardly up on ye Great mountain known by ye name of MGnskuseet0Gnk*-and Eastardly to rur Four miles from ye aforesaid River-and il general way 30 to extend-Furthermo mor' it IS to be understood that ye abovesaid h. dians reserve to themselves within thu aforesaid Tract of land, described by bounds and butments, Southardly on Brook on ye west side Housatonack River known by the name of Mannanpenokcal and Northardly to small brook lying be tween ye aforesaid Brook and ye Rive called mpanikseeport-alias WhSte Ri0 erf viz All ye land between ye aforesaid Brooks from said Westonook River extend ing unto ye patten of the Colleny of New York-Together with clear Meadow, be- tween the aforesaid small Brook extending Northardly unto ye aforesaid White River viz. the aforesaid Indians reserve to them selves all ye land between ye Brooks run ming due West line from ye mouth of SC Brooks unto ye patten of ye Colleny oi New York aforesaid-And we ye aforesaid Indians doe for ourselfs. our heirs Execu tors 6 Administrators, Covenant promise and grant to 6 with the aforesaid Commit tee 6 such as they have or shall admit of fol Planters of said Township-That before the epsealing hereof, we ye sd Indians arc ye true, sole & lawful owners of ye afore- granted premises and are lawfully seized and possessed of the same in our owr proper right, as good perfect and abso lute estate of inheritance in fee simple, and have in ourselfs good right, full power & lawful authority to grant, bargain, sell convey & confirm sd bargaiued premises 1T manner atoresaid-And ye sd Committee & such as they shall or may admit for In habitants of sd Townships to them thei heirs and assigns shall S may from time tC time and at all times hereafter by virtue oi these Presents, lawfully & peacibly occu pie, Possess and enjoy the said bargainec Premises with all ye appurtenances, free clear. and clearly & freely acquitted & dis charged of, from all & all manner, forme & other Gifts, Grants, Bargains, Sales Jointures, Mortgages. Wills, Devises 6 In cumbrances whatsoever-Andf furthermor' We the sd Indians, for ourselfs an1 fo sd Heirs, Executors & Administrators do covenant 6 engage to secure 6 defend Y, sd bargained Premises unto them the afore said Committee, and to such persons as tn sd Committee have or shall admit in orde to ye settling sd Towns to them or thei Heirs 6 Assigns forever-against Ye tn lawful claims & demands of any Person 0 ferSOnS WnatSOeVeS-1n witness WhefeOt we the aforesaid Indians have hereuto se our hands and seals this 25th day of April in ye tenth year of his Majisty's rign an in ye year of or one thousand seven hun dred & twenty four:
 Signed, sealed & deld in
 presence of us-Comact Borghghart
 Benjamin Smith
 John Gun Jun.
 Samuel Bartlett
 Conkepot, his mark x seal
 Poneyote, his mark ): seal
 Pota wakeont, his mark T seal
 Naunausquan, hIs mark ( ) Seal
 Wanenocow, bis mark H seal
 NaunauQuin, his mark q seal
 Conconaugbpeet, his mark c seal
 Nonaucauneet, his mark k seal
 Paunopescennot, his m TX seal
 CoVconofeet, his mark B: seal
 Naunhamiss, his mark E. seal
 Sunkhonk, his mark (: seal
 Popaqua, his mark R seal
 Taunkhonkpus, his mark T. seal
 Tatakim, his mark O: seal
 Saunkokehe, his mark seal
 .Cancanwap, his mark seal
 Saunkewenaughcag, his mark s seal
 Manchewanfeet, his mark K seal
 John Vangildcr, his mark V: Seal
 Ponaskenet, his mark seal
 The aforesaid is Copy of ye Deed giv' by the Indians for ye Housatonack' Land Examined by me
 Ebener Pomroy by order
 Acknowledged before
 John Ashley, J. P.