Document: Indian deed for land on the east bank of the North river

On this day, date underwritten, appeared before us, the Honorable Lords, the Director-General and Council, Megtegichkama, Oteyochque and Wegtakochken, the rightful owners of the lands located on the east bank of the North River of New Netherland called Wiequaes Keck; extending in breadth through the woods until a stream called Seweyruc [ Byram River ] , with a boundary line running north and south from Greenwich on the East River to a stream called Kechkawes [ Mianus River ]. This same land is located between the two streams, dissecting the woods between the North and East River, so that the western half remains with the aforesaid owners; while the other eastern half, which is divided by a north-south line through the woods, the aforesaid owners acknowledge in the presence of the chief Seyseykimus and all the remaining friends and blood relatives to have sold the aforesaid parcel of land to the honorable Petrus Stuyvesant, Director-General of New Netherland, for a certain amount of merchandise, which they acknowledge to have received and accepted before approval of this document, namely: 6 fathoms of duffels, 6 fathoms of sewant, 6 kettles, 6 axes, 6 adzes, 10 knives, 10 awls, 10 corals, 10 bells, 1 gun 2 staves of lead, 2 lbs. of powder, 2 cloth coats.

Therefore, the aforenamed owners transfer, cede and convey the aforesaid land to the Lord-General or his successors in true and lawful ownership, renouncing for themselves and their descendants now and forever all claims thereon, and resigning herewith all rights and jurisdiction, transferring it to the aforesaid Lord-General and his successors to do with as they please, without being molested by them, the conveyors or anyone of them, whether it be person or property. It is further agreed that the western most half may be purchased for the same amount as above whenever the Director-General desires to pay for it; and they, the grantors, promise to sell the part still in their possession on the North River for that price and not to sell it to anyone without informing the Director-General. They further promise to maintain and uphold this conveyance firmly and inviolably under the penalty prescribed by law. Thus was this signed in the presence of the witnesses below on 14 July 1649 at New Amsterdam in New Netherland.

Pomipahan
Meytehickhama
Wegtakachkey
Seyseychkimus