Simcoe Deed
George the Third, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the faith and so forth.
Know ye that Whereas the Attachment and Fidelity of the Chief Warriors and People of the Six Nations to us and Our Government, have been made manifest on divers occasions by their spirited and zealous exertions and by the bravery of their conduct; And we being desirous of shewing Our aprobation of the same, and in recompense of the losses they may have sustained of providing a convenient Tract of Land under Our protection for a safe and comfortable retreat for them and their posterity Have, of Our special Grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, Given and by these presents Do give and grant unto the Chiefs, Warriors, Women and People of the said Six nations and their heirs for ever all that District or Territory of Land being parcel of a certain District lately purchased by Us of the Mississauga Nation lying and being limited and bounded as follows (that is to say) the Tract will then be bounded in front by the Bay of Quinte between the mouths of the River Shannon and Bowen's Creek about Twelve Miles Westerly by a Line running, North Sixteen Degrees West from the West side of the Mouth of the River Shannon, and Easterly by a Line running North Sixteen Degrees West from the mouth of Bowen's Creek and Northerly by a Line running East Sixteen Degrees North and West Sixteen Degrees, South at the distance of about Thirteen Miles back from the Bay of Quinte, measured on the Western Boundary aforesaid, to the North East Angle of the Township of Thurlow. To Have and Hold the said District or Territory of Land of us Our Heirs and Successors to them the Chiefs, Warriors, Women and People of the said Six Nations and to and for the sole use and behoof of them and their Heirs for ever freely and clearly of and from all manner of Rents, Fines or Services whatsoever to be rendered be them the said Chiefs, Warriors and people of the said Six Nations to us or our successors for them same and of and from all conditions, stipulations and agreements whatever except as herinafter by us expressed and declared. Giving and granting and by these presents confirming to the said Chiefs, Warriors, Women and People of the said Six Nations, and their Heirs, the full and entire possession, Use benefit and advantage of the said District or Territory of Land to be held and enjoyed by them in the most free and ample manner and according to the several Customs and usages by them the said Chiefs, Warriors and People of the Six Nations. Provided always, and be it understood to be the true intent and meaning of these Presents; that for the purpose of assuring the said Lands as aforesaid to the said Chiefs, Warriors, Women and People of the Six Nations and their Heirs and of securing to them the free and undisturbed possesion and enjoyment of the same.
It is Our Royal Will and Pleasure that no Transfer, Alienation, Conveyance, Sale, Gift, Exchange, Lease, Property, or Possession shall at any time be had, made, or given of the said District or Territory of any part or parcel thereof by and of the said Chiefs, Warriors, Women and people of the said Six Nation or Body of People, Person or persons whatsoever other than among themselves the said Chiefs, Warriors, Women and People of the said Six Nations but that any such Transfer, Alienation, Conveyance, Sale, Gift, Exchange, Lease or Possession shall be null and void and of no effect whatever. And that no Person or Persons shall possess or occupy the said District or Territory, or any part or parcel thereof by or under any pretence whatever under pain of our severe displeasure. And that in case any Person other than the Chiefs, Warriors, Women and People of the said Six Nations shall under pretence of any such Title as aforesaid presume to possess or occupy the said District or Territory or any part or parcel thereof that it shall and may be lawful for Us, our Heirs and Successors at any time hereafter to enter upon the Lands so occupied and possessed by any other Person or Persons other than the said Chiefs, Warriors, Women and People of the Six Nations and them the said Intruders thereof and therefrom wholly to dispossess and evict and to resume the same to Ourselves, Our Heirs and Successors.
Provided always nevertheless that if at any time the said Chiefs, Warriors, Women and People of the said Six Nations should be inclined to dispose of and Surrender their Use and Interest in the said District or Territory, the same shall be perchased only for Us in our name at some Public Meeting or Assembly of the Chiefs, Warriors and People of the said Six Nations to be held for that purpose by the Governor or Person Administering Our Government in Our Province of Upper Canada.
In testimony whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent and the Great Seal of Our said Province to be hereunto affixed; Witness His Excellency John Graves Simcoe, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor and Colonel Commanding Our Forces in Our said Province, Given at Our Government House at Navy Hall this First Day of April in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety Three in the Thirty Year of Our Reign.
WM. JARVIS, Secy J.G.S.
John Small, C. Reg.