Manuscript: Rectangular paper, red wax seals along far right hand side, imprinted with thumb prints. Accompanied by typewritten transcript of deed, corrected by hand. In the Burton Historical Collections.

Nation named in manuscript (DLM).

Know All Men by These Presents that we the Chiefs and principal leaders of The Potterwatemy nation of Indians at Detroit, for ourselves and by & with the advice and consent of the whole of our said Nation, in consideration of the Goodwill, Love& Affection, which We, and the whole of said nation have and bear unto Alexander Macomb and William Macomb of Detroit, Merchants, and also for divers other good causes and considerations us the said Chiefs & rest of our nation hereunto moving. Have given, granted, aliened, enfeoffed and confirmed, and by these presents do give, grant, alien, enfeoff, and confirm unto the said Alex.r Macomb & William Macomb, all that messauge or Tract of land known by the name of Grosse-Isle, and called in our language Kitché Minishen or Grand Island, situate lying, and being in the mouth of Detroit River where is empties itself into Lake Erie approaching the north shore of said River & bounded by the waters of the said River, containing ……….. Acres more or less, with all and Singular the appurtenances & ca unto the said Island appertaining or in any wise belonging, and the reversion & reversions, remainder & remainders, rents & services of the said Premises; and also all the estate, rights, title, interest, property claims or demand whatever of us the said Chiefs or anyone whatever of our said Nation, of, in, and to, the said Island and premises and of, in, to, every part and parcel thereof with the appurtenances. To have and to hold, the said island, messuage, Tenements, Lands, hereditaments and premises hereby given and granted, mentioned or intended to be given and granted unto the same Alex.r Macomb and William Macomb, their heirs and assigns, to the only proper use and behoof of them the said Alex.r Macomb & William Macomb their Heirs and assignees for ever. And the said Chiefs aforesaid for themselves, and in behalf of the whole of their Nation, the heirs, executors and administrators do covenant, promise and grant to and with the said Alex & William Macomb their Heirs and Assigns by these presents that the said Alex. & William Macomb their Heirs and assigns shall & lawfully may from henceforth for ever after peaceably and quietly, have, hold, occupy, possess, and enjoy the said Island, Messuage or tenements, Lands, Hereditaments and premises, hereby given and granted, or mention’d, or intended to be given and granted, with their & every of their Appurtenances, free, clear and discharged so well and Sufficiently said, kept harmless and indemnified, of, from and against all former and other Gifts, Grants, Bargains, Sale Jointures, Feoffments, Dowers, Estates, Entails, Rents, Rent changes, Arreages of rents, Statutes, Judgements, Recognizances, Statutes merchant, and of the Staple, Extents, and of, from and against all former and other Titles, Troubles, Charges, and Incumbrances whatsoever, had, done or suffer’d, or to be had, done or suffer’d, by them, the said Chiefs or by anyone whatever of the said Nation, their Heirs, Executors or Administrators any other person or persons lawfully claiming or to claim by, from, or under them or any or either of them. And by these presents do make this our Act and Deed irrevocable under any pretence whatever; and have put the said Alexander Macomb and William Macomb in full possession and Seizin by delivering them a piece of said Island on the premises.
In Witness whereof We the said Chiefs for ourselves and in behalf of the whole of our Nation of Potterwatermies have unto these presents set our hands and Seals at Detroit this sixth day of July in the Sixteenth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland King &c &c &ca And of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & seventy six 1776. In presence of I. Sidorechene [signed] L. St. Cosme [signed]
Kewitanaume (totemic signature of a Channel Catfish: rudimentary tail fins, darker head, top view)
Micaso (totemic signature of a Channel Catfish: longer tail fins, four body fins, two opposite each other on the back of the body, and two opposite each other nearer the head of the body. Ink line a little shaded on left side line of fish body, top view)
Wiaawanaqua (totemic signature of a bear: upside down, ink fine and lines thin)
Magena (totemic signature of an unknown four-legged mammal: upside down, ink darker along head and neck, very long neck, small ears, feet facing forward, short tailbody coloured in, very distinct)
Sagonebé (totemic signature of a bear with a long hind leg: ink dark and lines thick, head and length of back and back leg coloured in)
Anhaa (totemic signature of a bear: upside down, round back and head down, feet facing forwards – small)
Nanteuak (totemic signature of a bear on a forked stick: upside down, ink dark and lines thick, bear coloured in)
Nadashe (totemic signature of a wolf: upside down, ink darker, long tail, distinct toes/claws)
Wabateatinagau (totemic signature of a tipi: very large, opening along front, fine lines)
Waweatin & son (totemic signature of a pike?: smaller than others and slim, opposite fins made of double lines each near rear of body, one fin on underside of body near head, head darkened)
Onaya & Sheakchie (totemic signature of a fish: head noticeably darkened, one dark line running halfway through centre of fish towards head, opposite fins made of double lines each near rear of body, one fin on topside of body near head, thicker line tracing body shape opposite/below)
Natuatalo & son (totemic signature of a fish/sturgeon: largest of all fish on manuscript, dark thick lines, body crosshatched and head darkened. Four opposing fins, two anal and two pectoral)
Wabagigua (totemic signature of a bear: upside down, largest and darkest of bears on manuscript, coloured in)
Penashe (totemic signature of a fish: very faint, ink lines thin and there appears to be double lined thin fins and some crosshatching in body)
Windigo (totemic signature of a fish: very faint, most fait of all totemic signatures on manuscript)
Banacathaik (totemic signature of a fish: like the totemic signature of Windigo, above – extremely faint)
Aboan (totemic signature of a lake and hill)
Manaquang (totemic signature of a Thunderbird: opposing triangles, claws out and wings outstretched, lines for feathers from wings)
Registered in the Register of Detroit, No. 2 Folio, 18-19 by me, T. Williams, Notary Public, [in Vol. 6, page 19.]
This Deed was acknowledged as the voluntary Act of the Chiefs of the Potterwatermie Nation before me in Council – 1780. At. S. De Peyster Commanding at Detroit Station.
Typewritten Transcription (MacLaughlin) with hand written corrections
Old Deed
“Grosse Isle”
in Indian Language
Kitche Minishen or Grand Island, in Wow-jot-i-nony or Detroit River.
To William and Alexander Macomb, from the Potterwatemy Nation of Indians.
Know All Men -- by these present, that we the Chiefs and principal leaders of the Potterwatemy Nation of Indians at Detroit, for ourselves and by and with the advice and consent of the whole of our said Nation, in consideration of the Goodwill, Love& Affection, which We, and the whole of said nation have and bear unto Alexander Macomb and William Macomb of Detroit, Merchants, and also for divers other good causes and considerations us the said Chiefs & rest of our nation hereunto moving. Have given, granted, aliened, enfeoffed and confirmed, and by these presents do give, grant, alien, enfeoff, and confirm unto the said Alex.r Macomb & William Macomb, all that messauge or Tract of land known by the name of Grosse-Isle, and called in our language Kitché Minishen or Grand Island, situate, lying, and being in the mouth of Detroit River where is empties itself into Lake Erie approaching the north shore of said River & bounded by the waters of the said River, containing ……….. Acres more or less, with all and Singular the appurtenances & ca unto the said Island appertaining or in any wise belonging, and the reversion & reversions, remainder & remainders, rents & services of the said Premises; and also all the estate, rights, title, interest, property claims or demand whatever of us the said Chiefs or anyone whatever of our said Nation, of, in, and to, the said Island and premises and of, in, to, every part and parcel thereof with the appurtenances. To have and to hold, the said island, messuage, Tenements, Lands, hereditaments and premises hereby given and granted, mentioned or intended to be given and granted unto the same Alex.r Macomb and William Macomb, their heirs and assigns, to the only proper use and behoof of them the said Alex.r Macomb & William Macomb their Heirs and assignees for ever. And the said Chiefs aforesaid for themselves, and in behalf of the whole of their Nation, the heirs, executors and administrators do covenant, promise and grant to and with the said Alex & William Macomb their Heirs and Assigns by these presents that the said Alex. & William Macomb their Heirs and assigns shall & lawfully may from henceforth for ever after peaceably and quietly, have, hold, occupy, possess, and enjoy the said Island, Messuage or tenements, Lands, Hereditaments and premises, hereby given and granted, or mention’d, or intended to be given and granted, with their & every of their Appurtenances, free, clear and discharged so well and Sufficiently said, kept harmless and indemnified, of, from and against all former and other Gifts, Grants, Bargains, Sale Jointures, Feoffments, Dowers, Estates, Entails, Rents, Rent changes, Arreages of rents, Statutes, Judgements, Recognizances, Statutes merchant, and of the Staple, Extents, and of, from and against all former and other Titles, Troubles, Charges, and Incumbrances whatsoever, had, done or suffer’d, or to be had, done or suffer’d, by them, the said Chiefs or by anyone whatever of the said Nation, their Heirs, Executors or Administrators any other person or persons lawfully claiming or to claim by, from, or under them or any or either of them. And by these presents do make this our Act and Deed irrevocable under any pretence whatever; and have put the said Alexander Macomb and William Macomb in full possession and Seizin by delivering them a piece of said Island on the premises.
In Witness whereof We the said Chiefs for ourselves and in behalf of the whole of our Nation of Potterwatermies have unto these presents set our hands and Seals at Detroit this sixth day of July in the Sixteenth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland King &c &c &ca And of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & seventy six 1776.
In presence of The “seals” are old time red wafers, with a piece of writing paper over them.
I. Sidorechene
L. St. Cosme
(Names and Totems of the Indian Chiefs and Principal men of the Potterwatermie Nation signed to the Deed)
Names Totems –“Seals” O Thumbs of eldest sons of chiefs
1 Ke-wi-ta-nau-me Fish
2 Micaso Fish
3 Wi-sa-wa-na-qua Bear (upside down)
4 Ma-ge-na Doe deer (upside down)
5 Sagonebé Faun with one leg (upside down)
6 Anhaa Little animal (upside down)
7 Nanteuak Opossum on a limb (upside down)
8 Nadashe Wildcat (upside down)
9 Wabateatinagau Tepee or tent
10 Waweatin & son Fish
11 Onaya & Sheakchie Fish
12 Na-tu-at-a-lo & son Large Fish
13 Wabagigua Bear (upside down)
14 Pena-she Fish
15 Win-di-go Fish
16 Bana-ca-thaik Fish
17 Aboan Lake and hill
18 Manaquang Rude cut of the American Eagle
Registered in the Register of Detroit, No. 2 Folio, 18-19 by me, T. Williams, Notary Public, [in Vol. 6, page 19.] [square brackets theirs]
This Deed was acknowledged as the voluntary Act of the Chiefs of the Potterwatermie Nation before me in Council – 1780. At. S. De Peyster Major 15th King’s Regt. Commanding at Detroit Station.
[note in typewritten transcription crossed out by hand says, “His full name I give, Arent Schuyler De Peyster”]