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Deed of Pacomtuck land granted by Chauk to Dedham residents
Deed of Pacomtuck land granted by Ahimunquat to Dedham residents
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Summary and Objective
Using examples of land deeds students will understand that historians examine primary resources to learn about the past. Students will examine several examples of land deeds and pretend to be historians looking for specific information ie. names, dates, items, markings. Students will then write their own pretend deeds.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Pre-Activity;KWL;Download KWL chart, link below, With teacher direction, students complete a KWL chart(what I know, what I want to know, what I will learn about) primary resources and deeds.
Step 2.
Day 1:With teacher guidance examine the Deed of Potomuck Land grant from PVMA American Centuries web site. Each student is given an enlarged copy.You may want to give students a double sided copy one with the orginal writing and the other with the transcription. Teacher uses enlarged copy on smartboard/overhead. Students will work with teacher guidance to look for and highlight specific information on the primary resource look for dates, names, trade agreement. Together find the name Ahimunquat alias Mequinnichall of Pacomtuck, the word sold, the phrase "his lands", 22th of July 1667, the name John Pynchon, the native mark of Grin (brother to Mequinnitchall) Teacher explains that this (primary resource) document tells historians that the land was sold to Pynchon, when it was sold, and by whom. This is called a Deed.
Step 3.
Day 2: Review the definition of Primary Resource and Deed. Students continue to be historians and look for information in the Deed written "Deed of Pacomtuck land granted by Ahimunquat to Dedham residents" PMV website click the "Show text" button after looking at the original view. Teacher guides students set up in small groups to look for and highlight the words:
The Name Ahimunquat (alias Mequinnichall of Pacomtuck),the word "sold", the word "land", the date "22th of July 1667", the name "John Pynchon", the mark of Grin. Discuss findings together as whole class. Ask students if they recognize any other words.
Step 4.
Post Activity 1: Create a Deed. Students can write their own Deed agreement to their classroom,or their desk and grant it to another student. See the form below called pretend Deed. Copy onto light brown paper, crinkle to look "old."
Step 5.
Post Activity 2: * Optional (Think, Pair, Share) Given the land grant of their hometown area if available, students look for specific information related to their town. ie. specific names etc... as selected by the teacher.
Step 6.
Post Activity 3: Use water color to design a mark for yourself like those on the Deeds examined. Why do you think some Deeds were signed with marks not written names of Native Americans?
Step 7.
Post Activity 4: Open-Response Question; How do historians use primary resources to learn about the past? How do you believe historians use other resources such as letters, maps, art, etc...to learn about the past?
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