To all to Whom these presents shall come…

We have lots and lots of deeds in the collections at CHS that do not regularly inspire great interest. Last week, however, we acquired two very important deeds that were signed by Native Americans in Branford.

Native American deed for land in Branford, 1686. CHS Ms 101753

In 1686, Wampum, Nawatockis, Sibbon Jonson, Geoffry and Manapollet all made their mark on this deed that provided clarification on land previously deeded to the English proprietors. Whether that first transfer was verbal or written is not specified or known, but the parties determined it was “not so formall as should be respecting the boundaryes of said land although the above-said English have had quiet possession for many years.” The previous agreement also did not state anything about Native Americans’ rights for hunting and fishing. The question is, who wanted more formality in that transfer? I assume it was the English, with their penchant for law and propriety.

The second document (below), dated 1716/17 and signed by only two of the previously named Natives, known as Richard Sr. and Richard Jr., seems to be another fine-tuning of the agreement and involves land on Indian Neck in the south central section of Branford.

Deed for land in Branford, 1716/17. CHS Ms 101753

We are delighted with this new acquisition because deeds signed by Native Americans are rare, and we do not have really strong holdings related to Branford. This was a double “win” for CHS.

African-American Land Owners in 18th c. Simsbury

The Connecticut Historical Society’s website is http://chs.org Please visit the site to learn more about us! (Due to issues beyond our control the site is not currently listed with Google. )

And now back to our regularly scheduled blogging…

One of the collections I cataloged this week is the Joshua Holcomb papers. Holcomb was a landowner in Simsbury, Connecticut. His papers include farming accounts, some records about the local militia, estate inventories, and a number of property deeds. It was among the deeds that I found one for land sold to Holcomb by “London Negro.” Yes, a free, African-American man owned land in Simsbury, Connecticut in 1759.

Property deed (front), Joshua Holcomb papers, 1759-1816, Ms 41605. Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, CT

London Negro sold five acres of land in the Turkey Hills Society to Joshua Holcomb for £ 66.  The deed is a standard printed form, with language still in use today. The location of the land is handwritten, detailing the adjacent parcels and landowners.

An interesting addition to this deed is a handwritten mortgage. I will admit I have not had enough time yet to study this and completely understand what is happening. It appears, though, that London Negro is paying Joshua Holcomb for something over the course of the next three years.

Property deed (back), Joshua Holcomb papers, 1759-1816, Ms 41605. Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, CT

According to Mary L. Nason, who published African-Americans in Simsbury, 1725-1925, there were two Londons in the region who owned property. They were “London [Wallis], ‘negro lately slave to Isaac Owen of Windsor, deceased, now a free negro’ and a London Freebody, ‘negro of Capt. Nathaniel Holcomb and wife.'” Nason states that London Wallis served Mrs. Mary Griffin, but was able to build a home for his family in Tariffville and eventually buy the land. By the late 1750s he was free, and able to purchase more land. London Freebody lived near Simsbury’s Barn Door Hills but was not very successful in his business dealings. Freebody ended up in debtors prison. There were too many obstacles for Wallis and Freeman in the business world and, according to Nason, neither succeeded. Eventually both men lost their property (Nason, 5).

The deed, and the rest of the collection, are open for research. Please visit!