Deed from Pethus, Hatchet Towsey, and others to Joseph Root
This writing made this first of May 1727 between Pethus and Hatchet Towsey, Indians of Farmington, and an Indian called James, and a squaw called Eunice, children of an Indian called Wawowos, deceased, all of one part, and Joseph Root of Farmington on the other part, all parties of said Farmington, in the County of Hartford and Colony of Connecticut in New England, witnesseth that for and in consideration of a valuable sum to us, the said Pethus, Hatchet Towsey, James, and Eunice, Indians, well and truly paid by Joseph Root of Farmington aforesaid, whereby we acquit and discharge the [said] Joseph Root, and, also, whereas Mr. John Wadsworth and Lieutenant Steel[1] did make a purchase of a certain parcel of land in the Indian Neck of sundry Indians, of all their right in Farmington, both meadow and upland, as by a deed well executed, bearing date May 31, 1675,[2] and allowed by the General Assembly, May 14, 1689, as may appear on record, [3] and part of said land both hitherto been kept out of the hands of said Wadsworth and Steel and their heirs. Now know the that we, the said Indians, Pethus, Hatchet Towsey, James, and Eunice, all of Farmington, release and relinquish unto the heirs of said Mr. John Wadsworth, or unto Joseph Root, or unto Deacon John Hart, the present possessor, of about five acres of land being in Indian Neck, be it, more or less, being part of said lands purchased as aforesaid, all our right, title, claim, interest unto to the said lands above mentioned, yielding and surrendering all our right title which we ever had, or at any time to come we might have had by right of any Indian unto the said Wadsworth, or unto Joseph Root, or unto Deacon John Hart by or under them, assuring the said persons that they, or any, or either of them, or any other persons by or under them, assuring them that they may lawfully use, occupy, possess, and enjoy the said demised land as they see cause without any let, molestation, or ejectment, or disturbance whatsoever from us, the said Pethus, Hatchet Towsey, James, or Eunice, or from any other person or persons by, from, or under us, or any of us, allowing to the said Wadsworth or to the present possessor of those lands to record them to themselves as they see cause.
Pethus, his mark and seal
Hatchet Towsey, his mark and seal
James W, his mark of letter and seal
Eunice, her mark and seal
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Notation:
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Six words interlined before signing
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Witness:
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In witness whereof, we, the said Pethus, Hatchet Towsey, James, and Eunice have set to our hands and seals the day and year abovesaid in the presence of us, William Wadsworth, Joseph Root, Jr., William Wadsworth, Jr.
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Certification:
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Then Pethus and Hatchet Towsey, two of the signers and sealers of this instrument, came personally in Farmington and acknowledged the same to be their free act and deed before me, William Wadsworth, Justice of the Peace, May 6, 1727
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Certification:
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Then James and Eunice, the other of the signers and sealers of this foregoing instrument came personally before me, William Wadsworth, Justice of the Peace, May 10, 1727
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Recording:
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A true entry of a deed recorded, September 16, 1767, per Solomon Whitman, Registrar
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Cataloguing:
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385
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[1] Lt. Samuel Steele
[3] The Court of Election session in which Wadsworth and Steel's rights were confirmed was held at Hartford on May 14, 1685 not 1689. 3 PRCC 174.
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Editorial Note: The Use of the Word Squaw