The Saint Paul globe., 1900-05-13
Old Capver lGraef. -

The story of the Carver claim, while
known to many in the Twin Cities, has
been revived by the Chicago Times-Her-
aid, which has just secured a copy Of
the deed. The newspaper says:
This deed is more than 100 years cid,
cording was not required), and has but
recently came into the possession of
heirs who propose to ascertain it's value.
The quaint language of this deed, now
in the possession of William Allen Ayles-
worth, of 2S44 Prairie avenue, is:
'Lemuel Armes to William Aylesworth
and Nathan Noyes, deed, Northwestern
Territory-To all people to whom these
presents shall come. Greeting Know We
that l, Lemuel Armes, of Deerfield, in the
County of Hamshire and Coomon Weith
of Massa chusetts, for and in considera-
tlon OF the sum of Sl5i to me in hand paid
by William Aylesworth and Nathan
NoyeS of the town of Canaan, county of
Columbia, and State OF New York farm
ers, the receipt whereof 1 hereby ac-
knowledge and myself Herewith fully sat
lShed and paid before the ensealing of
these presents, have given granted bar
gained, sold, remised. released and forever
Quilted ciaim and by these presents do
H., II, release.
ana forever quit claim unto said William
AyIeSWorth and Nathan Moves and their
heirs and assigns forever to one tract or
pacel OF land containing 600 acres being
the one undivided moiety or share of land
granted to Capt. Jonathan Carver late
of London, deceased, in the year one
thousand seven hundred and siXty-seven
by the NaudeWdS Ssies or other Indians
which land granted as aforesaid to the
SAID jonathan Carver is bounded as fol-
lows, VIZ; Beginning at the falls called
%. Anthony on the River Mississippi
thence down the River MississfpDi to the
lower end of the Lake Pepin where the
CmppewaY river enters the River Mis-
sisslppi on the east side of the same.
Iaehce easterly lOO miles, thence nOrtherly
~ miles. thence by a straight line to the
aforementioned bounds, the said 16 OlO
acres TO be equal in quality and situation
WI!h the rest of said land granted to the
sald jonathan Carver.
70 have and to hold the said bargained
premises. with the privileges and appur-
teehahceS tnereunto belonging unto them
the said William and Nathan their
helfs, executors and admins ratOrs ard
assigns forever to their own proper use
DeneIit and behoof, and bind myself ant;
my helrs, executors and administrators
Hrmly by these presents to warrant the
above premises to them, the said William
and Nathan, and their heirs and assigns
forever against me, my heirs and assigns
ana the the heirs and assigns of the said
Jonathan Carver. In witness whereof I
nave here set my hand and seal this I'd
day Of January, In the year of our Lord
one thousand seven hundred and ninety
cred in the presence of (an erasure on
the fifteenth line made before sealing)
Zezulon Douglass. of Canaan, and Hiram
Horton, of Brandon Be it remembered
that on the 4th day of January one thou
sand seven hundred and ninety-SiX be-
fore me, William B. Whiting, esquire
for the county of Columbia, personally
appeared Lemuel Armes, signor and
sealed to the within instrument and ac-
knowledge the same to be his vOun-
tary act and deed and that he executed
the same to and for the uses and pur-
w. b BWhiting."
Jonathan Carver was an English trav-
eer who visited the Northwest the de-
cade prior to the Revolutionary war He
was in about what is now known as st.
Paul and Minneapolis, and he had head
quarters for a time at a large cave in an
east bluff overlooking the Mississippi
river, Just south of the present St. Paul
This cave was a cOngregating place for
the Indians, and had a tangible existence
Until a few years ago The bluff 1t en-
tered was called DaytOn's, and over
shadows the present right of way of the
Burlington road Carver became very
friendly with the Indians, and they in
turn granted him the land mentioned
above on May 1. 1867. They called the
cave, which afterward bore the name of
"Carver's," the Great Cave" Carver
does not appear to have made much use
of his grant of over 100000 acres of
land after receiving 1t. But after his
death one of his heirs, Leavens Carver,
purchased the right and title of all the
other heirs. Later he sold one half of
this title for 900 to James Baxter, of
Stansted, Can, and Wright Chamberlain,
of the same place. The deed of this sale
is on record in Crowford county, Wiscon-
sin.
Congress in 1928 acknowledged and con-
firmed the Carver claim but the North
western people have never wholly recog-
niZe6 It, The land cost Carver nothing
but minor services rendered the Indians.
In Wisconsin the counties of Pierce, Pc
pin, Clark, Eau Claire, Lincoln, Chip
pewa, Barren, Dunn and st. CroiX are
within the bounds of the grant The
grant in one sense has been cloud upon
land titles in the past. In some in
stances court rulings unfavorable to the
Carver heir claims. Often their claims
have been recognized. So far as the
city of St Paul is concerned it has al
ways resisted them.
William Allen Aylesworth says of the
old deed which he possesses:
'It has just come into my hands from
a cousin who has held 1t a long time. |
did not know that it was In existence, nor
do l yet know what its value is
shall investigate, though, with a view
to locating the land if I can legally do
so. The deed is a rare curiosity even If
1t is worth nothing. l shall make an