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 tlongst@colby.edu.

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.

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