Deed from John Adams to Timothy Root
To All People to Whom These Presents Shall Come: Greeting
Know you that I, John Adams, late of Farmington, and one the descendants of the original Tunxis Tribe of Indians, do by and with the advice and direction of Colonel John Strong and Elnathan Gridley, two of the committee appointed by the General Assembly of this Colony to advise and direct in the sale of the Indian lands, for the consideration of seven pounds, twelve shillings, and six pence lawful money received to full satisfaction of Timothy Root of Farmington, aforesaid, do give, grant, bargain, sell, and confirm unto the said Timothy Root, and to his heirs, and assigns forever all the rights of land hereafter mentioned, situated in said Farmington on the west side of Pequabuck Meadow, namely, all the land accruing to me by last will and testament of my father, Thomas Adams,[1] late deceased, and also all the land which accrues to me by a deed of gift from my said father,[2] as the same lyeth undivided, let the same be, more or less or however the same may be, butted or bounded, also all my right, title, interest, and claim that I have, ought of might have unto the Indian grant lying on the west side of Pequabuck Meadow, which contains, in the whole, two hundred acres, however the same may descend or accrue to me, and the same lyeth undivided with the rest of the descendants of the original Tunxis Tribe.
To have and to hold the above granted and bargained premises with the appurtenances thereof unto him, the said Timothy Root, and to his heirs, and assigns forever, to his and their own proper use and behoof. And, also, I, the said John Adams, do for myself and my heirs, executors, and administrators, covenant with the said Timothy Root and to his heirs and assigns that, at and until the ensealing of these presents, I am well seized of the premises as a good indefeasible estate in fee simple, and have good right to bargain and sell the same in manner and form, as is above written, and that the same is free of all encumbrances whatsoever. And, furthermore, I, the said John Adams, do by these presents bind myself and my heirs forever to warrant and defend the above granted and bargained premises to him, the said Timothy Root, his heirs and assigns, against all claims and demands whatsoever.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal,
John Adams, seal
October 10, 1776 [3]
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Witness:
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Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us. Solomon Whitman, Asa Johnson
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Authorization:
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Allowed and approved by us, John Strong, Elnathan Gridley
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Certification:
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Personally appeared John Adams, signer and sealer of the foregoing and acknowledged the same to be his free act and deed before me, Solomon Whitman, Justice of the Peace, Hartford County in the jurisdiction of Farmington, October 10, 1776
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Recording:
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A true entry of a deed received October 16, 1776 per Solomon Whitman, Registrar
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Cataloguing:
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279
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[1] Thomas Adams, also known as Adam, Henry Adams, and Jacob Adams, died between 1770 and 1773. His will provided his children, Samuel, John, and Sarah Adams, with give acres of land in the common field worth one pound, around a half an acre of orchard land on Indian Hill worth two pounds, and Thomas' rights in land agreed to by Colonel John Strong for the East Haven Indians, all of which to be divided equally among the siblings. In addition, John Adams received one half of about three acres of land in the lot where Thomas dwelt in 1770 (the other half shared with sister Sarah Adams) and the frame of a small house. Will of Thomas Adams, 1 Farmington Probate Records: 229-230.
[2] See Adam Indian to John Adam, 1756.11.03.00, 13 Farmington Land Records:385
[3] Deleted Text: In the year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord of Great Britain, etc., KING.
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Loss of Tunxis Land: Getting to the Root of the Matter