Below is a duplicate of the deed made between Robert Fordham, John Carman and the Indians on November 13, 1643.  This duplicate was made some years after around 1740 when it was discovered that a mouse had eaten the original, along with several other volumes of the early Town of Hempstead records. This duplicate was made from what was left of  the original by Micah Smith, the Town of Hempstead Clerk at that time. This second original deed 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.  Even as a second re-write this document is over 260 years old. (and it looks it)

The deed had been folded for some time as is evident by the lines and tears that have started at the creases.  What appears as a lighter boarder at the left and bottom is actually from a piece of tissue type paper which is kept over the written part of the document to protect it, the left and bottom having bleached out over time. The remaining marks are mostly water stains.  The translation of it is below:

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

 

This deed basically outlines about 120,000 acres and almost matches the area of the present day Nassau County, which will come into existence  some 258 years later.  An interesting point to me, is that the deed is made out to Robert Fordham and John Carman personally,  and does not mentioning any group of people they might have been there to represent.