BRADFORD-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: [BRADFORD-L] Bradford, William-Earliest Record
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1998 15:38:43 EDT

Again, copied and pasted for your information and enjoyment (especially for
those who cannot get online!)....all credit goes to the below mentioned
party(ies).

Have fun!
Karen Foster Montgomery
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Archaeology at Colby Presents: The Earliest Record

This document, copied from the public record, represents the earliest known
assignment of title to the property on which Colby College is now located.
Copies of the other deeds, dating from 1629 until the time when the properties
were purchased by the College, are a part of the historical record that will
be developed for access from this page. Questions and comments should be
directed to .
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To All To Whom These Presents Shall Come, Greeting;

WHEREAS his late Majesty King James the first, for the Advancement of a Colony
and Plantation in New England, in America, by his Highness's Letters Patents
under the Great Seal of England, bearing date at Westminster, the Third Day of
November, in the Eighteenth Year of his Highness's Reigh of England, etc. did
grant unto the Right Honourable Lodowick late Lord Duke of Lenox, George late
Lord Marquis of Buckingham, James Marquis of Hamilton, Thomas Earl of Arundle,
Robert Earl of Warwick, Sir Ferdinando Georges, Knt. and diverse others whose
Names are expressed in the said Letters Patents, and their Successors, that
they should be one Body Politick and Corporate, perpetually consisting of
forty Persons, that they should have perpetual Succession, and one Common Seal
to serve for the said Body, and that they and their successors should be
incorporated, called and known by the Name of the Council established at
Plymouth in the County of Devon, for the planting, ruling, ordering and
governing of New England, in America: And further also did grant unto the said
President and Council, and their Successors forever, under the Reservations in
the said Letters Patents expressed; All that Part and Portion of the said
Country called New England, in America, situate, lying and being in Breadth
from forty Degrees of Northerly Latitude from the Equinoctial Line, to forty
eight Degrees of the said Northerly Latitude inclusively, and in Length of and
in all the Breadth aforesaid, throughout the Main Lands from Sea to Sea,
together also, with all the firm Lands, Soils, Grounds, Creeks, Inlets,
Havens, Ports, Seas, Rivers, Islands, Waters, Fishings, Mines, Minerals,
precious Stones, Quarries, and all and singular the Commodities and
Jurisdictions, both within the said Tract of Land lying upon the Main, as also
within the said Islands and Seas adjoining: To have, hold, possess and enjoy
the same unto the said Council and their Successors and Assigns forever, to be
holden of his Majesty, his Heirs and Successors, as of his Manor of East
Greenwich in the County of Kent, in free and common Soccage yeilding and
paying therefor to the said late King's Majesty, his Heirs and Successors, the
fifth Part of the Ore of Gold and Silver, as in and by the said Letters
Patents, amongst other Privileges and Matters therein contained, more fully
and at large it doth and may appear.

And whereas the said Council established at Plymouth in the County of Devon,
by their Charter and Deed of Asseosment bearing Date the Sixteenth Day of
January, A.D. one Thousand Six Hundred and Twenty nine, by Virtue and
Authority of his said late Majesty's Letters Patents, and for and in
Consideration, that William Bradford, and his Associates had for these Nine
Years lived in New England aforesaid, and there inhabited and planted a Town
called by the Name of New Plymouth, at their own proper Cost and Charges; and
seeing that by the special Providence of God, and their extraordinary Care and
Industry, they had increased their Plantation to near Three Hundred People,
and were able to relieve any new Planters, or other His Majesty's Subjects
upon that Coast; granted and assigned unto the said William Bradford, his
Heirs Associates and Assigns, all that part of New England in America
aforesaid, and Tract and Tracts of Land that lie within or between a certain
Rivulet or Rundlet there, commonly called Coahasset alias Conahassett, towards
the North, and the River commonly called Narragansett River, towards the
South, and the great Western Ocean towards the East, and between and within a
strait Line directly extending up into the Main Land towards the West, from
the Mouth of the said River, called Narragansett River, to the utmost Limits
and Bounds of a Country of Place in New England commonly called Pocanacutt,
alias Sawamfet Westward, and another like strait Line extending itself
directly from the Mouth of the said River called Coahassett, alias
Conahassett, to the West, so far up into the Main Land Westward, as the utmost
limits of the said Place or Country commonly called Pocanacutt, alias
Sawamset, do extend, together with one half of the said River called
Narragansett, and the said Rivulet or Rundlet called Coahassett, alias
Conahassett and all Lands, Rivers, Waters, Havens, Creeks, Ports, Fishings,
Fowlings, whatsoever, situate, lying and being, or arising within or between
the said Limits and Bounds, or any of them.

And FOR AS MUCH as they had no convenient Place either of Trading or FISHING
within their own Precincts, whereby after so long Travel and great Pains so
hopeful a Plantation might subsist, as also that they might be encouraged the
better to proceed in so pious a Work, which might especially tend to the
Propagation of Religion, and the great Increase of Trade to his Majesty's
Realms, and Advancement of the publick Plantation;

The said Council further granted and assigned unto the said William Bradford,
his Heirs Associates and Assigns, ALL that Tract of Land, or part of New
England in America aforesaid, which lieth within or between, and extendeth
itself from the utmost Limits of Cobbiseconte, alias Comaseconte, which
adjoineth to the River Kenebeck, alias Kenebekike, towards the Western Ocean,
and a place called the Falls, at Neguamkike, in America aforesaid, and the
space of fifteen English Miles on each side of the said River commonly called
Kennebeck River, and all the said River called Kenebeck, that lies within the
said Limits, and Bounds Eastward, Westward, Northward or Southward last
abovementioned, and all Lands, Grounds, Soils, Rivers, Waters, Fishings,
situate, lying and being, arising, happening or accruing in or within the said
Limits and Bounds, or either of them, together with all Rights and
Jurisdictions thereof, the Admiralty Jurisdiction excepted, in as free, large,
ample and beneficial Manner, to all Intents, Constructions and Purposes
whatsoever, as the said Council by virtue of his Majesty's Letters Patents
might or could grant.

TO HAVE AN TO HOLD the said Tract and Tracts of Lands, and all singular the
Premises above mentioned to be granted, with their and every of their
Appurtenances to the said William Bradford, his Heirs, Associates and Assigns
forever, to the only proper and absolute Use and Behoof of the said William
Bradford, his Heirs, Associates and Assigns forever, yielding and paying unto
our said Sovereign Lord the King, his Heirs and Successors forever, one fifth
Part of the Ore of the Mines of Gold and Silver, and one other fifth Part
thereof to the President and Council which shall be had, possessed and
obtained within the Precincts aforesaid, for all Services whatsoever as in
said Charter may more fully appear.

And whereas the said William Bradford and his Associates, afterwards assigned
over and surrendered up to the late Colony of New Plymouth, the aforesaid
Tract on Kenebeck River, together with other Lands; and the same Colony
afterwards, viz. on the twenty seventh Day of October, A.D. 1661, being seized
of the whole Tract aforesaid on Kenebeck River, and also had the lands on both
sides of the said River, upwards to Wesserunscut alias Wesserunskick, by their
Deed of Bargain and Sale of that Date, for and in Consideration of the Sum of
FOUR HUNDRED POUNDS Sterling, sold all the said Lands on said River to Antipas
Boyes, Edward Tyng, Thomas Brattle and John Winslow, their and every of their
Heirs and Assigns forever, as by the said Deed Registered in the Records of
said Colony may more fully appear. And the Lands last mentioned in said Deed,
by a Release and Confirmation were afterwards confirmed to the said John
Winslow and his Partners aforesaid their Heirs and Assigns forever, on both
sides of said Kenebeck River as far up as the upper most Northern Part of
Wesserunskick aforesaid.

<Picture: [DIR]>Return to the Archaeolgy Web Page

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