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Deed - Thomas & Mactel SPICER - 1652


From the book :-
Keskachauge, or the first white settlement on Long Island
by, Van Wyck, Frederick, 1924.
Pages 693-5.


The following is a copy of the author's copy of the Indian deed of Bergen Island, the original of which has never been recorded, so far as is known.

Know all men by these presents maye any wayes concerne that wee whose names are underwirtten viz: Orancke and Sprecke Jon alias Aremacus the right and true proprietors of a certain Island or parcell of land called and knowne by the name of Metlers Island doe hereby acknowledge and declare that for and in consideration of full and plenarie satisfaction already paied and delivered unto us by Thomas Spicer doe by virtue hereof absolutely sell assign and make over all the said parcel of land as woodland march and meadowe thereunto standing and groweing thereuppon from us our heyeres executours, administrators & assigns actuellie perpetuallie and reallie to injoy and possesse as his owne free land of inheritence and to dispose of itt as to himself shall be expedient.
Witness or hands this 20th July 1652, st: no:
The mark of Oranke, the mark of Sprecke Jon alias Aremacus
Sene and allowed in the presence of
The mark of Ambrose
Louddon interpretor 
The mark of Kohne Lake

[From a copy made in 1893 from a copy of a copy in the office of John Z. Lott, Esquire, of Brooklyn, purporting to have been made and certified by Teunis G. Bergen.]

The following was written on the back of this Indian deed, according to Mr. Bergen's copy, and like the deed itself has never been recorded, as far as is known :

I underwritten declare to have transported to Elbert Elbertsen the above written conveyance and acknowledge therefor full payment and declare that I have no further claims on the same, I, nor my heirs from now to the end of time.
Executed 25th November A.D. 1665 in Amersfoort on Long Island.
The mark of Mactel Spieser
Adij dieto.
On this paid in Zewant one hundred and twenty [sic] guilders f125-

The copy that the late Samuel H. McElroy of Brooklyn gave to the author, mentioned in the preceding chapter XVI, is endorsed : "Copy of the original Indian deed to Thomas Spicer, of Spicer to Elbert Elbertse Stroothoff, and John Underhill to Thomas Spicer, of the Island at present known as Bergens Flatlands Bergen Island."
The gifts from Mr. Mc Elroy included a paper endorsed in the same hand writing : "Copy of Original Deed to Capt. John Onderhill of Island in Flatlands known as Meutelaers or Bergen Island Flatlands, Kings County New York. Copy of Copy in possession of John C. Bergen. Samuel McElroy. Compared June 17/91."
The paper so endorsed purports to be a copy of the translated record of the patent at Bergen Island by Kieft to Underhill, dated May 14, 1646. At the end of this copy stands : "The above a translation from the Dutch copied from :Translations of Book of Dutch patents G.G. 1642 to 1649 pages 343 & 344."
According to the McElroy copy, the sign-manuals of four Indians were affixed to the Bergen Island deed, namely :
The mark of Oramke
The mark of Specke John Aremacus
The mark of Qahasse
The mark of Ohachanna
"Red Indians"

I certify the above to be a correct copy of the original deed in the possession of the heirs of Elbert Elbert Stroothoff.
Teunis G. Bergen.
Copied and Compared with T.G. Bergen's copy June 17 1891, Samuel H. McElroy.
(From McElroy copy in the author's possession.)

Judging from the McElroy copy, the conveyance by Mactel Spicer to Elbert Elbertson may have been in Dutch, for at the end of that conveyance the following appears : 
"The above written on the back of the preceding deed in Dutch translated by Teunis G. Bergen."
The work payment according to the McElroy copy was written over the word acknowledgment, crosses out. In the author's copy the word payment follows the word satisfaction, crossed out.



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