Text of the Indian Deed
Here is the text of the 1704 “Indian Deed” by which three Quaker settlers acquired the land that includes the current Bishop Farmstead from local Native Americans:
West Jersey Deeds, Liber AAA, p. 40
Indian Deed to
Thomas Haines,
Thomas Bishop & als
J. [Jeremiah] Basse
To all people to whome [whom] these presents shall come Wee [we] Homerson Indian Sackum, Quitowayway, Mouisunt, all Ronarque Indians and owners of the lands herein and hereto granted send Greeting. Know ye that wee the said Homerson, Quitowayway, Mouisunt all Ronarque Indians for and in consideration of the sume of ten pounds one half thereof in current silver mony [money] of West Jersey and the other moity [moiety] in goods and wares to us paid and delivered by the said Thomas Haines, Thomas Bishop and John Jennings all of the Township of Northampton in the county of Burlington within the province of West New Jersey Yeomen at and before the ensealing and delivery hereof the receipt whereof the said Homerson Quitowayway, Mouisunt all Ronarque Indians do hereby acknowledge and are sealed therewith fully satisfied contented and paid have given, granted, bargained and sold unto the said Thomas Haines, Thomas Bishop, and John Jennings the quantity of four hundred akers [acres] of land be the same more or less lying and being within the county of Burlington aforesaid that is to say one hundred akers thereof more or less bounding on John Dumbarton’s lines up said Thomas Haines line of his other lands unto the said Thomas Haines his heirs and assigns forever also two hundred akers more thereof be it more or less bounding upon the Run called Ronarquet Runn unto the said Thomas Bishoppe his heirs and assigns forever and the other remaining one hundred akers be it more or less bounding by Jacob Lamb’s line unto the said John Jennings his heirs and assigns for ever making in the whole the aforesaid quantity four hundred akers of land. And we the said Homerson, Quitowayway, Mouisunt all Ronarque Indians for ourselves jointly and severally and for our respective survivor and survivors do herby covenant promise and grant that we are the sole and proper owners of the said granted four hundred akers of land and premises with the appurtenances and have good right and authority to sell the same to Thomas Haines, Thomas Bishopp, and John Jennings their heirs and assigns for ever according to the true and full meaning hereof. And also that wee the said Homerson, Quitowayway, Mouisunt all Ronarque Indians and our respective successors at the Request, cost and charges of the said Thomas Haines, Thomas Bishop and John Jennings their heirs and assigns of all and every sum and sums hereafter shall and will do and perform all such Reasonable thing and things for the better securing the said granted four hundred akers of land with the appurtenances as aforesaid unto the said Thomas Haines, Thomas Bishop and John Jennings their heirs and assigns forever as by whom their heirs and assigns shall be required. In witness whereof we the said Homerson Quitowayway, Mouisunt all Ronarque Indians have thereto set our hands and seales [seals] In the year of Christ according to English act of 1703.
Homerson XX his mark Quitoway XX his mark Mouisunt XX his mark all Renarque
Signed sealed and deliver in the presence of John Woolston, Nathaniel Iups, William Petty Jr. Henry Barr, Yawouck XX shaman Hamiserot XX
Hecato XX Wolongo XX Susaweeton XX Queetaloohalum XX
Burlington May the 10th 1704 Personally appeared before me Thomas Revell Esqr [Esquire] Judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas. John Woolston who being duly sworn did declare that he saw the persons within named syne [sign] seal and deliver this as their act and deed and the rest of the evidences named at the same time signed as evidence there unto
Jurat Coram [sworn before] me Tho Revell Judge of Common Pleas