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Notes - John Carman
  Below is a duplicate of the deed made between Robert Fordham, John Carman and the Indians on November 13, 1643. This copy was made some years after when it was found that the original, along with several volumes of the early Town of Hempstead records, had been destroyed by some hungry mice in the Town Clerk's office.  This duplicate was made from what was left of  the original by Micah Smith, the Town of Hempstead Clerk, somewhere around 1740. The document has been in the Carman family since then until it was donated to the Long Island Studies Institute at Hofstra University a few years ago, where it can be seen today. 

November 13th, 1643.

wereas Unto men by these Presents that wee of Masepeage Meriack or Rockaway wee hoes names are here under written have Sett over and Sold unto Robert Fordham and John Carman on Long Island Inglishmen ye halfe Moiety or Equal pt of ye Greate plains lying towards ye South Side of Long Island to be Divided or measured by a Straight line and from our present town to be northward and from ye North End of ye line to Run with a due East and West Line, to ye Uttmosts extent Limits of itt and from both Ends, to run down with a Strait Square Line to ye South Side with all ye woods Lands meadows  marsheas pastures apperttenances here unto belonging Containing within ye Compass of ye Said Lines, to have and to hold to them and theire, heirs and Assigns for Ever in Witness where of wee have here unto Sett our hands ye Day and year above written.

Signed and Delivered                                        the mark of ye Sagamore

In ye presence of                                              of Masepeage

Steven Son                                                       Iarane his mark

John Rockwall                                                   Pamaman his mark

Francis Conor                                                    Remoj his mark

                                                                                                            Wainis his mark

                                                                                                            Whanage his mark

                                                                                                            Yarafus his mark

this is Recorded in New York taken out of a Good that is kept in the records of Hempstead and is not entered, this Copy taken by Micah Smith (Clerk of Hempstead as well as I could by Reason of itt being very much shattered

                                                                                                            as witness my hand

                                                                                                            (signed) Micah Smith

The deed at some point in it's history had been folded into eighths - stains and holes in the ancient paper have formed at the crease marks.  The shadow rectangle pattern over most of the deed is from a piece of paper kept on top of the document for protection. It is presented here at about the actual size of the paper.

http://www.carman.net/deed.htm