INDIAN DEED OF LYNN AND READING

To all Christian People,

To whom this present Deed of Confirmation and Alienation shall come, David Kunkshamooshaw, who, by credible intelligence, is grandson to old Sagamore George-No-Nose, so called, alias Wenepowweekin, sometime of Rumney Marsh, and sometimes at or about Chelmsford of ye colony of ye Massachyets, so called, sometimes here and sometimes there, but deceased, ye said David, grandson to ye said old Sagamore George-No-Nose, deceased, and Abigail Kunkshamooshaw, ye wife of David, and Cicely, alias Su-George, ye reputed daughter of said old Sagamore George, and James Quonopohit of Natick, alias Rumney Marsh, and Mary his wife, send greeting, &c.:–
Know ye, that the said David Kunkshamooshaw, and Abigail his wife, and Cicely, alias Su-George aforesaid, and James Quonopohit aforesaid, with his wife Mary, who are the nearest of kin and legal successors of ye aforesaid George-No-Nose, alias Wenepowweekin, whom wee affirme was the true and sole owner of ye land, that the towns of Lynn and Reading (aforesaid) stand upon, and notwithstanding ye possession of ye English dwelling in those townships of Lynn and Reading, aforesaid, wee ye said David Kunkshamooshaw, Cicely, alias Su-George, James Quonopohit, the rest aforesaid Indians, doe lay claim to the lands that these two towns aforesaid, Lynn and Reading, stand upon, and the dwellers thereof possess, that ye right and title thereto is ours, and belong to us and ours; but, howsoever, the townships of Lyn and Reading, having been long possessed by the English, and although wee make our clayme, and ye Selectmen and Trustees of both towns foresaid, pleading title by graunts of Courts and purchase of old of our predecessor, George Sagamore, and such like matters, &c., wee the Claymers aforesaid, viz.:  David Kunkshamooshaw and Abigail, his squaw, Cicely, alias Su-George, the reputed daughter of old Sagamore George, alias Wenepowweekin, and James Quonopohit and Mary his wife, all and every of us, as aforesaid, and jointly together, for and in consideration of ye summe of sixteen pounds of current sterling money of silver, in hand paid to ye Indians clayming, viz.:  David Kunkshamooshaw Yc. at or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents, by Mr. Ralph King, William Bassett, Senr., Robert Potter, Senr., Samuel Johnson, and Oliver Purchas, Selectmen in Lynn, in ye County of Essex in New England, trustees and Prudentials for and in behalf of ye purchasers and now proprietors of ye townships of Lynn and Reading, well and truly payd, the receipt whereof, wee, viz.:  David Kunkshamooshaw, Abigail his wife, Cicely, alias Su-George, ye reputed daughter of old Sagamore George, and James, alias Rumney Marsh, and Mary his wife, doe hereby acknowledge themselves to be fully satisfied and contented, and thereof and every part thereof, doe hereby acquit, exhonerate and discharge ye said Mr. Ralph King, Wm. Bassett, Senr., with all and every of ye Selectmen aforesaid, trustees and prudentials, together with the purchasers and now proprietors of ye said townships of Lyn and of Reading, their heirs executors, adminisrators and assigns, forever, by these presents have granted, bargained a full and a firme confirmation and ratification of all grants of Courts, and any former alienation made by our predecessor or predecessors, and our own right, title and interest, clayme and demand whatsoever, and by these presents doe fully, freely, clearly and absolutely give and grant a full and firme confirmation of all grants of Coutrs, and any sort of alienation made by our predecessor or predecessors, as also all our owne clayme of right, title interest and demand, unto them ye said Mr. Ralph King, Wm. Bassett and the rest, Selectmen aforenamed, trustees and prudentials for ye town of Lyn, — ye worshipful Mr. John Browne, Capt. Jeremiah Sweyn and Lt. Wm. Harsey, trustees and prudentials for ye towne of Reading, to their heirs and assigns forever, to and for ye sole use, benefit and behoof of ye pruchasers and now proprietors of ye townships of Lynn and Reading aforesaid, and all ye said townships of Lynn and Reading, joyning one to another, even from the sea, where the line beginneth, between Lynn and Marblehead and so between Lynn and Salem, as it is stated by those towns and marked, and so to Ipswich river, and so from thence, as it is stated betwixt Salem and Reading, and as the line is stated and runne betwixt Will’s Hill, and as is stated and runne betwixt Reading and Andover, and as it is stated betwixt Oburne and Reading, and as it is stated and runne betwixt Charlestowne, Malden, Lynn and Reading and upon the sea, from ye line that beginneth at Lynn and Marblehead and Salem, to divide the townes aforesaid, so as well from thence to ye two Nahants, viz.:  ye little Nahant and ye great Nahant, as ye sea compasseth it almost round, and so to the river called Lynn river, or Rumney Marsh river or Creek, unto the line from Bride’s Brook to the said Creek, answering ye line, that is stated between Lynn and Boston, from said bride’s brook up to Reading.  — This said Tract of land, described as aforesaid, together with all houses, edifices, buildings, lands, yards, orchards, gardens, meadows, marshes, feedings, grounds, rocks, stones, beach Flats, pastures, commons and commons of pasture, woods, underwoods, swamps, waters, watercourses, damns, ponds, fishings, flowings, ways, easements, profits, privilleges, rights, commodities, royalling, hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever, nothing excepted or reserved; and also all deeds, writings and evidences whatsoever, touching ye premises, or any part or parcel thereof.
To have and to hold all ye said townships of lynn and Reading, as well as ye two Nahants aforesaid, ye little and ye great Nahant, as they are encompassed by ye sea, with their beaches, from ye great Nahant to ye little, and from ye little Nahant homeward where Richard Hood now dwelleth, and so to Mr. King’s, with all ye above granted premises, with their and every of their rights, members and appurtenances, and every part and parcel thereof, hereby given, granted, confirmed, ratified unto ye said Mr. Ralph King, Wm. Bassett and the rest, Selectmen in behalf of Lynn, and ye worshipful Mr. John Browne, and ye rest aforenamed for Reading, all trustees and prudentials for the townships of Lynn and Reading, to them and their heirs and assigns forever, to and for ye sole use, benefit and behoof of ye purchasers and now proprietors of ye said townships of Lynn and Reading; and they, ye said David Kunkshamooshaw and Abigail his wife, and Cicely, alias Su-George, ye reputed daughter of George-No-Nose deceased, and James Quonopohit, and Mary his wife, Indians aforesaid, for themselves, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, jointly, severally and respectively, doe hereby covenant, promise and grant to and with ye said Mr. King, Wm. Bassett, Senr, and ye rest of Lynn and ye worshipful Mr. John Browne, and ye rest of Reading, trustees and prudentials for ye towns of Lynn and Reading, as aforesaid, their heirs and assigns, and to ye purchasers and now proprietors of ye said townships of Lynn and Reading, etc., in manner and forme following (that is to say), that at the time of this graunt, confirmation and alienation, and until the ensealing and delivery of these presents, their ancestor and ancestors and they, the above-named David and Abigail his now wife, and Cicely, alias Su-George, and the rest aforenamed Indians, were ye true, sole and lawful owners of all ye aforebargained, confirmed and aliened premises, and were lawfully seized off, and in ye same and every part thereof in their own proper right, and have in themselves full power, good right and lawful authority to grant, alien, confirm, and assure ye same as is afore described in this deed unto Mr. Ralph King, Wm. Bassett, Senr, and ye rest, Selectmen of Lynn and ye worshipful Mr. John browne and ye rest aforenamed agents fro Reading, all trustees and prudentials for ye two townships of Lynn and Reading, to them, their heirs and assigns forever, for ye use aforesaid, viz:  ye benefit and behoof of ye pruchasers and now proprietors of ye said townships of Lynn and Reaidng, their heirs and assigns, shall and may, by virtue and force of these presents, from time to time, and at all times forever hereafter, lawfully, peaceably, and quietly, havae, hold, use, occupy, possess and enjoy, ye above-granted, aliened and confirmed premises, with ye appurtenances and benefits thereof, and every part and parcel thereof, free and clear, and clearly acquitted and off and from all and all manner of other gifts, grants, bargains, sales, leases, mortgages, jointures, dowers, judgments, executions, forfeitures, and off and from all other titles, troubles, charges, incumbrances whatsoever, had, made, committed, done, or sufered to be done by ye said David and Abigail his wife, Cicely, alias Su-George, and the rest, Indians, aforenamed, them or any of them, or any of their heirs of assigns, or any of their ancestors at any time or times.
And further, that ye said David Kunkshamooshaw and Abigail his wife, Su-George, James Quonopohit and Mary his wife, &c., their heirs, executors and administrators, &c., jointly and severally will and shall by these presents, from time to time, and at all times hereafter, warrant and defend ye aforegranted and confirmed premises, with their appurtenances, and every part and parcel thereof unto ye said trustees, or prudentials aforenamed, for ye townships of Lyn and Reading, against all and every person or persons whatsoever, anywaies lawfully clayming or demanding the same or any part of parcell thereof.
And, lastly, that they, ye said David and Su-George and James Quonopohit, their wives, or any of their heirs, executors, or administrators, shall and will, from time to time, and at all times hereafter, when thereto required, at ye cost and charges of said trustees and prudentials, their heirs or assigns, or ye purchasers and proprietors ofye townships of Lynn and Reading., etc., doe make, acknowledge, suffer all and every such further act an acts, thing and things, assurances and conveyances in ye law whatsoever, for ye  furthermore better surety and sure making of the abovesaid townships of lynn and Reading, with ye rights, hereditaments, benefits, and appurtenances, above, by these presents, mentioned to be bargained, aliened, confirmed, vnto ye aforesaid trustees and prudentials, their heirs and assigns, for ye use aforesaid, as by ye said trustees aforesaid, their heirs or assigns or ye said proprietors, or by their Council, learned in the law, shall be reasonably devised, advised, or required.
In witness whereof, ye said David Kunkshamooshaw, and Abigail his wife, and Cicely, alias Su-George, and James Quonopohit and Mary his wife, have hereunto set their hands and seals, ye day of ye date being ye fourth day of September, one thousand six hundred eighty and six, annoque regni regis Jacobus Secundi Anglice.
                DAVID KUNKSHAMOOSHAW
                        “his mark”
                ABIGAIL KUNKSHAMOOSHAW.
                        “her mark”
                CICELY alias SU-GEORGE
                        “her mark’
                JAMES QUONOPOHIT
                MARY QUONOPOHIT
                        “her mark”
All the persons hereunto subscribed, acknowledged the within written to be their act and deed, May 31, 1687.
    (as certifies)        BARTHO. GEDNEY, one of ye Council

The above deed was found among the records at Salem.

Note:  the land comprising the settlement of Reading was bought of the Indians in 1640. 

This purchase pre-dated the Massachusetts Colony’s mandate providing for “titles to land to be purchased at satisfactory prices.”  The formal purchase, and payment, however, was not made until the passage of this document, agreed upon in 1686, signed in 1687.  Reading’s share of the £16 was £10.  It was not paid until 1689 — Nancy Bertrand