VanderfordFamily.com

Vanderford

Family

Web

Site

Christoph von Graffenried's Account of the Founding of New Bern

edited by Vincent H. Todd, Ph. D.

When we came to Canavest, a remarkably beautiful spot, about four miles above, before the falls, we found there a band of Indians and in particular a Frenchman named Martin Chartier (iml15), who had married an Indian woman, and thereby was in great credit with the wild Indians of the nations which live beyond Pennsylvania and Maryland. He also, leaving Pennsylvania on the representations of Mr. Michel, had settled himself there. Before this he had also gone with Mr. Michel to look for the mines and had been to much labor and expense. He warned us that the Indians of this same region where the silver mines were supposed to be, were very much alarmed at the war which we had had with the Tuscarora Nation, and therefore we ought not to expose ourselves to such danger without especial necessity. We believed him and postponed the matter to a convenient time. Meantime we made a league with the Canavest Indians, a very necessary thing, as well in respect to the hoped-for mines as for our little Bern Colony which we wanted to settle there. We also examined the admirable situation of the same region of country and in particular the charming island of the Potomac River above the falls, to this hour regretting that I can not live in this beautiful land.

From there we went further back upon a mountain of the highest in those parts, called Sugar Loaf, for it has the form of a loaf of sugar. We took with us Martin Chartier (iml15), a surveyor we also had with us, and there came with us several Indians. From the mountain we viewed an exceedingly broad extent of country, a part of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylania, and Carolina, used the compass, made us a map, and observed especially the mountain where the silver mines were said to be, found that they were beyond Virginia, and incidentally from the two Indians that they had looked up and down the mountain but had found not the slightest sign of minerals, and that the map that had been given us did not correspond to the report at all. This disturbed us greatly. What else happened on this account is not necessary to relate here. We discovered still finer land and three broad mountains each higher than the other. When we came down from the mountain we stayed overnight with Martin Chartier (iml15), and returned the next day to Mr. Rosier's quarters below the falls, where I stayed a considerable time in hopes of receiving my people there, as had been agreed...

WILL OF RANDELL DEARTH (dearth4001)

In the Name of God Amen - the third day of November in the Year of our Lord God one thousand Seven hundred and Fifty one I Randell Death of Cecil County and province of Maryland being very Sick and weak in Body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given to God therefore Calling unto mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and Recommend it to the Earth to be buried in a Christian Manner at the discretion of my Executor nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the Same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life I give and devise and dispose of the Same in the following Manner and form:

Imprimis It is my Will and I Do Order that in the first place all my Just debts and funeral charges to be paid and Satisfied out of my personal Estate as my Executor shall think proper.

Item - I give to my son James Death that fifty acres of Land where Edward Death lived to him and his heirs for Ever and he the said James Death is always obliged to let John Death have what timber he may have Occasion of for the use of the plantation where I live on.

Item - I give unto my Son John Death all his plantation I now dwell on being the Remainder of my tract of land to him and his heirs for Ever except my Son John Death should dye without Male issue then it is to Fall and Come to my Son Asel Death and George Death to be equally divided between them and if they should die without issue to be divided among my Surviving children also I appoint my Son John Death to pay Son Asel Death the Just and full Sum of thirty pounds Current money of Maryland at the age of twenty one if Asel Death should die before he Comes to age that thirty pounds shall be divided between George Death and Jacob Death.

Item - I give and bequeath unto Honour Death my true and Well beloved Wife the thirds of my Estate both Real and Personal.

Item - I give unto my Daughter CHARITY COMMEGIES one Shilling Sterling and no more of my Estate, likewise James Death is not to have any part of my Real Estate, and the Remainder part of my personal Estate I give and bequeath unto my children to be equally divided amongst them.

Item - I do Constitute and appoint my true and well beloved wife and my Son John Death Executors of this my last Will and Testament also it is my desire that my Executors shall bring up my Children and that they shall all live together on this place where I now live till they have Come of age.

Randell Death (seal)

Sealed and delivered in the presence of
John Smith
Edward Ricketts
John Bowen

Naturalization of Cornelius Comegys (comeg2001)

Title: Naturalization
Abbrev: Naturalization
Note: To the Right Honble the Lord & Proprietary of the Prouince of Maryland & Avalon Lord Baron of Baltemore &ca.;

The humble peticon of Hans Hanson Cornelius Comegys the Elder Millementy Comegys his wife Cornelius Comegys the younger Elizabeth Comegys William Comegys & Hannah Comegys their Children?

Humbly sheweth?

Vnto your Lordship That your peticoner Hans Hansun was borne in Delaware Bay of Swedish parents Your peticoner Cornelius Comegys the Elder borne in Lexmont belonging to the States of Holland your Peticoner Millementy Comegys in Barnevelt vnder the Dominion of the said states your Peticoner Cornelius Comegys the younger borne in Virginea & your Peticoners Elizabeth William & Hannah borne within this Pro- uince And your Peticoners Hans Hanson Cornelius Comegys the Elder and his wife and the said Cornelius their Sonne being now Removed into this Prouince haue for long time therein In- habitted being.Invited to come & dwell within this Prouince by and vppon Confidence of your Lordships Declaracon of the second of July one thousand six hundred forty Nyne Whereby Your Lordship did Impower your Lordships Gouernour of this Prouince from time to time to grant lands to any persons of Dutch french or other forreigne discent in the same in as ample manner and uppon the same Tearmes and Provisoes as he was thereby Impowered to grant Lands to any person or persons of Brittish or Irish discent and dureing their abode within this Prouince Your peticoners haue been alwayes faith- full and Obedient vnto your Lordships Lawes and Customes of this Province as other the good people of this Prouince of Brittish or Irish discent may to their great Losse pre- judice and hinderance as alsoe to the deterring of divers others of the forreigne Nacons aforesaid from comeing into this Prouince and by Consequence foreslowing the peo- pling of this Province with vsefull artificers & Handy crafts men may itt therefore please your Lordship of your Abundant goodnesse and wonted care of and over this Prouince That ittmay be Enacted & Ordeined and Bee itt Enacted & ordeined by the Right Honble the Lord and Proprietary of this Prouince By and with the aduice & Consent of the upper & Lower house of this present Generall Assembly & the Authority of the same That your Lordships Humble Peticoners Hans Han- son Cornelius Comegys the Elder Millementy his wife Cornelius Comegys the Younger Elizabeth Comegys William Comegys & Hannah Comegys Children of the said Cornelius Comegys the Elder & Willementy his wife shall and may from hence forth be adjudged Reputed & taken as natureall borne people within this Prouince of Maryland and alsoe that they shall and may from hence forth by the same Authority be Enabled and adjudged to all intents and Purposes able to de- mand Challenge aske have hold & Enjoy any lands Tenements Hereditaments and Rents within this Prouince as heire or heires to any of their Ancestors by Reason of any discent in fee simple fee tayle Generall or speciall or Remainder vpon any Estate tayle or come to them by any discent in fee simple or fee tayle Generall or Speciall or Remainder vpon any Estate tayle as aforesaid or by any other Lawfull Conveyance or Con- veyances or meanes whatsoever as if they had all been borne within this Prouince or were of Brittish or Irish discent as afore- said And alsoe that they and every of them from henceforth may and shall be Enabled to prosecute maintain & avow Justifie & defend all manner of accons suites plaintes and other demands whatsoever as Liberally franckly freely fully Lawfully & securely as if they and every of them had been Natureally borne within this Prouince of Maryland or were of Brittish or Irish discent or as any other person or persons Natureally borne within this Prouince or of Brittish or Irish discent may any waies Lawfully doe any Law Provisoe Act or Custome of this Province or other thing whatsoever had made ordeined or done within this Prouince to the Contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding

This document maintained by sherry@vanderfordfamily.com.
Material Copyright © 1998 {CDAccess.com, Inc.}