HISTORY OF NANTUCKET.

PART I.

CHAPTER I.

THE Island of Nantucket was first discovered, in 1602, by Captain Bartholomew Gosnold, an Englishman. He sailed from England in a small bark, with thirty-two persons bound to Virginia, in search of a proper seat for a plantation. Having fallen in with the Cape shore, he pursued his course south till he came up with Sandy Point, the southern extremity of the county of Barnstable, in the state of Massachusetts. It being late in the day, to avoid danger, he stood off to sea, and in the night came in sight of the white cliffs, at the east end of Nantucket, now called Sankota Head, the highest land on that part of the island.

Whence arose the name of the island, we are not certain, but it is generally supposed that Nauticon, known by ancient voyagers, and Nantucket, are the same.

We find no other record concerning Nantucket until the year 1641, at which time the whole island was deeded to Thomas Mayhew and his son Thomas by James Forrett, agent to William, Earl of Sterling, or Lord Sterling.

This being the first deed, of which we have any knowledge, respecting the purchase of the island, we think it is reasonable to gratify our readers with a copy of it. Though not remarkable in itself, it may be interesting to some, since, among other circumstances, it shows the origin of the ownership of the island, and the consideration for which it was bought. It is as follows:

THESE PRESENTS DO WITNESS, That I, James Forrett, Gent who was Sent over into These parts of America by the Honourable the Lord Sterling, with a Commission for the ordering and Disposal of all ye lands that Ly between Cape Codd and Hudson's River, (and have hitherto Continued my Agency without any contradiction) Do hereby Grant unto Thomas Mayhew of Water Town Merchant & to Thomas Mayhew his Son, free Liberty, and full power to Them and Their Associates, to plant and inhabit upon Nantucket and Two other Small Islands adjacent and To Enjoy the Said Islands, To Them, their heirs and assigns for ever, provided that They the Said Thomas Mayhew and Thomas Mayhew his son, or Either of Them, or their associates, Do Render and give yearly unto the Honble the Lord Sterling, his heirs or assigns, Such an acknowledgment as shall be Thought fit by John Wintrop the Eld' Esq or any Two Magistrates in the Massachusetts Bay, being chosen for that End and purpose, by the Hon ble the Lord Sterling, or his deputy, and by the said Thomas Mayhew & Thomas Mayhew his son, or Their Associates. It is agreed That the Government that the Said Thomas Mayhew, and Thomas Mayhew his Son, and Their Associates, Shall Set up There, shall be such as is now Establisht, in the Massachusetts

aforesaid; and That the Said Thomas Mayhew and Thomas Mayhew his Son, and Their Associates, shall have as much Privilig, Touching Their Planting, Inhabitants and Enjoying of all and every part of the premises, as by Patent is granted to the Patentees of the Massachusetts aforesaid, and Their Associates.

In witness hereof, I, the said James Forrett, have hereunto set my hand and Seal, this 13th day of October, 1641.

Signed, sealed, and delivered, in the presence of us,

ROBERT CORNER,

NICOLAS DAVISON, and

RICHARD STILEMAN.

This is a true copy of the record, as is attested this 14th day of April, 1674, per me,

MATTHIAS NICOLLS, Sec'y.

Although we find, in the body of the deed, that it was made to the Mayhews and their associates, yet it was not conveyed to the associates until the 2d of the fifth month, 1659; the reason of which was, that the Mayhews could not purchase of the natives the Sachem right, until the beforementioned date, and those who intended to join the association were not disposed to engage until that was effected. It may be observed, that the place of record of the foregoing instrument is not mentioned; but, on reference to other documents, it is placed beyond doubt that it was done in New York. At that early period the island was under the jurisdiction of New York; which will be shown more particularly in its proper place.

The following instrument being the principal convey

ance by which the owners of the island became legall, possessed of it, it is thought expedient to insert it at large.

MR. MAYHEW'S BILL OF SALE.

Be it known, unto all men, by these presents, that I, Thomas Mayhew, of Marther's Vineyard, merchant, do hereby acknowledge, that I have sold unto Tristram Coffi Thomas Macy, Christopher Hussey, Richard Swa Thomas Barnard, Peter Coffin, Stephen Greenleaf, John Swain, and William Pile, all that right and interest that I have in the island of Nantucket by Patent, the right I bought of James Forrett, steward to the Lord Sterling, and Richard Vines, sometimes of Saco, gentleman, steward general to Sir Fardinando George, knight, as by conveyance, under their hands and seals, appeareth, for them, the aforesaid, to enjoy, and their heirs and assigns for ever, with all the privileges thereunto belonging, for and in consideration of the sum of Thirty pounds of current pay, unto whomsoever I, the said Thomas Mayhew, my heirs or assigns, shall appoint, and also, two Beaver hats, one for myself and one for my Wife; and further, this is to declare, that I, the said Thomas Mayhew, have reserved to myself that neck upon Nantucket, called Masquetuck, or that neck of Land called Nashayte, the neck but one northerly of Masquetuck, the aforesaid sale in any wise notwithstanding; and further I, the said Thomas Mayhew, am to bear my part of the charges of the said purchases above named, and to hold one twentieth part of all lands purchased already, or shall be hereafter purchased, upon the Island, by the Purchasers aforesaid, to their heirs and assigns forever; because it is that I really