A Copy of the Indenture or Deed from the Council of Plymouth,
to James, Marquis of Hamilton, for sixty miles square in New England.

This Indenture, made the two and twentieth day of April, in the eleventh year of the Reigne of our Sovreigne Lord Charles by the grace of God. King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c., between the Councill established at Plymouth, in the County of Devon, for the planting, ordering, ruleing and governing of New England in America, of the one part, and the Right Houn'oble James, Marquess Hamilton of the other part witnesseth, that whereas our late Sovreigne Lord King James of blessed memory, by his Highness Letters Patients, under the great seal of England, bearing date at Westminster the third day of November, in the eighteenth year of His Highness Reigne over the Realm of England, for the considerations in the same Letters Pattents expressed, hath absolutely given, graunted and confirmed, unto the said Councill and their successors forever, all the lands of New England in America, lying and being in breadth from forty degrees of northern Lattitude from the Equinoctial Line, to forty-eight degrees of the said northerly Lattitude, inclusively, and in length of and within all the breadth aforesaid throughout the main land from sea to sea, together also with all the firm lands, soyles, grounds, havens, ports, rivers, waters, fishings, mines and mineralls, as well royall mines of gold and silver, as other mines and mineralls, precious stones, quarries and all and singular other comodoties, jurisdictions, royalties, priviledges, franchises and preheminences, both within the said tract of land upon the main, and also upon the islands and seas adjoyning, as by the said Letters Pattents amongst divers other things therein contained, more at large it doth and may appear. Now this Indenture further witnesseth, that the said Councill in performance of an agreement made by and between themselves, and enacted the third day of February last past before the date of this present, for a competent sum of money, and also for other good causes and considerations them the said Councill hereunto especially moveing, have given, graunted, bargained, sold, Enfeofed and confirmed; and by these presents do give, graunt, bared, bargained, sold, Enfeoffed and confirmed, and by these presents do give, grant, bargain, sell, Enfeoff and confirm unto the said James, Marquess Hamilton, his heirs and assignes, together with the said bargained premises, all the firm lands, soyles, grounds, havens, ports, rivers, waters, fishings, mines and mineralls, as well royall mines of gold and silver as other mines and mineralls, precious stones, quarries, and all and singular other commodities, jurisdictions, royalties, priviledges, franchises and preheminencies, both within the said tracts of lands upon the main, and also within the islands and seas adjoining, saveing, excepting and reserving out of this present graunt, only the fifth part of the oare of gold and silver due to His Majestic, his heirs and successors, and in and by the said Letters Pattents reserved— to have and to hold all those the said severall parcells of land, and all other the said bargained premises, with their and every of their appurtenances (except before excepted,) unto the said James, Marquess Hamilton, his heirs and assignes, to the only propper use and behoofe of him the said James, Marquess Hamilton, his heirs and assignes forever; and to be enjoyed as fully, freely and in as large, ample and beneficiall manner and forme, to all intents and purposes whatsoever, as they the said Councill and their successors by vertue of the said recited Letters Pattents may, might or ought to have, hold and enjoy the same, or any part or parcell thereof. In witness whereof to the one part of this present indenture, remaining in the hands of the said James, Marquess Hamilton, they the said Councill have fixed their common seal, and to the other part of this present indenture, remaining in the hands of the said Councill, the said Marquess hath sett his hand and seale. Dated the day and year first above written, Annoque Domini 1635.

This is a true and authentick copee of the principall indenture above written, under the seal above specified, duely compared and collationed by uss Notaries Publick underscribing, in the presence of the witnesses afternamed, as doth witness our signe and subscription mannal at Hamilton, the 12th May, 1664.

R. HAMILTON, Notarius Publicus,

JA.CARNES, Notarius Publicus,

J. HAMILTON, Witness,

Jo. CARBARUS, Witness,

WILL HAMILTON, Witness,

J. MOTHERSPOON, Witness.

Note.—From the first settlement of Connecticut by the English in 1635, it does not appear from the records and files in the Secretary's office, that any official correspondence or communications passed between the settlers and the English Government till 1661, but the infant Colony was left to its own slender resources to struggle with innumerable difficulties and hardships, incident to the commencement of all new settlements :—This want of attention on the part of the British Government to the new Colony, may be ascribed to the civil dissensions and popular tumults which soon after commenced in England, which resulted in a long and bloody civil war, and eventually in the dethronement and execution of King Charles the First in 1649, which was soon followed by the dissolution of the monarchy, and the elevation of Cromwell to the Protectorship of England, Scotland, Ireland &c. in 1653. On the death of Cromwell in 1657, he was succeeded by his son Richard, who proved a weak and inefficient man, and resigned the Protectorship in 1659 ; upon which the monarchy was soon restored, and Charles the Second ascended the throne in 1660 ; the Government of England soon became settled and permanent; and a correspondence between them and the Colony commenced, which will be given in Chronological order.