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Massachusetts Documents 17

(Colonial Massachusetts) Manuscript document, 1 1/2 pages, dated July 11th 1664, signed by, among others, Elizur Holyoke (Holyoke, Mass?)and John Pynchon [(1626-1703) Colonial industrialist and public servant. Conducted the family trading business post 1652 and exercised a controlling influence in and about Springfield, Massachusetts.] Two red seals still intact at bottom right. Beautifully styled dark writing. Reads in part "Thes presents testify that John Leonard of Springfield in the Collony of the Massachusetts for ...granted, bargain & sold...parcel of land...laying side of the great River...

Massachusetts: (Colonial era) Manuscript Legal document signed by a Abigail Smith, 1 pages, 1779, approximately 8"x 5 12/", legal notice of intent. Reads "Know all men by these presents that I Abigail Smith of Rowley in the county of Essex in the State of Massachusetts Bay in New England, Spinster, Do by the presents constitute and appoint Joseph Poor of Rowley...my lawfull attorney in all causes real and personal...either for me or against me as the cause shall require...with power of substitution in Witness, where I have here unto set my hand and seal this second day of august and domini one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine in the forth year of american independence..." Also Signed by Stephen Longfellow as a witness.

1769 Land Deed Falmouth, Massachusetts Bay ME:  Land Deed dated 25th day of July 1769 is between Peter Woodury of Cape Elizebath in the County of Cumberland and Provence of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, Cordwainer and Robert Huston of Falmouth in the County and Provence aforesaid, yeoman for a parcel of land on the line etween Windham and Falmouth. On the reverse side of the document it states that it was receorded with the Records for Deeds for said County Lib.) 5th Vol. 259 att. Enoch Freeman, Registrar.

The center is the 'codfish', over 'II-PENCE' and encircled by the motto,'STAPLE OF MASSACHUSETTS'. The document is dated June 3, 1756,'In the 29th year of ye Reign of our Sovorign Lord George ye Second...' This deed conveys a tract of land in Worcester, Mass owned by a James Nichols of Worcester to Gersham Rice of same(one of the earliest settlers of that Town). nichols has signed his name at the bottom of the document, and sealed the signature using a horse and rider seal embossing on paper. Comfort Rice, Gersham's brother and a Robert Goddard have witnessed this transaction

[NO PHOTO} 1812 deed, written on a preprinted form. "Know all Men by these Presents". The deed (or indenture) goes on that Daniel Putnam of Littleon in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts yeoman sold 'a certain farm' containing 'eighty six acres' to Thomas Read. The description of the land is given in the body of the document. The land adjoined Saml Reed and Jon. Fletcher, Capt Beard, Joel Marshall. At the bottom, Daniel Putnam and Hannah Putnam (his wife) wrote their signatures and their is a seal beside their names. Witnesses were Lovey (?) Lawrence and David Lawrence. David Lawrence also signed as a Justice of the Peace.

The reverse of the deed has the signature of Saml. Barlett, the Register who stated that this deed was entered in the registry of deeds Book 201, page 179

A 1680 Autograph Letter from Matthew Mayhew, future Governor of Martha's Vineyard, to Thomas Ward, Treasurer of Rhode Island and Deputy of the Rhode Island General Assembly. 8" x 7". Approximately 150 words in a cramped but readable hand. With an accompanying 19th century transcription. Mayhew writes to Ward, a member of the early and important Ward family of Rhode Island, about land assessments and payments. At one point Mayhew declares, "I can assure you that the assessments are no ways disproportioned to our island (Martha's Vineyard), less improved than yours (Rhode Island)." Matthew Mayhew, who died in 1710, was the favorite grandson of the first governor of Martha's Vineyard, Thomas Mayhew, Sr., who had purchased Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and the Elizabeth Islands in 1641 for somewhat but not much more than was paid for the island of Manhattan. Thomas Sr. died in 1682 while still acting as governor. His only son, also Thomas, was the first English missionary to the Indians of New England and was lost at sea in 1657. Matthew, Thomas Jr.'s son, was the last de facto Mayhew "ruler" of Martha's Vineyard that his grandfather patterned. An interesting sidebar is that under Matthew Mayhew's leadership, Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket were incorporated in 1683 as Dukes county of New York, joining Kings (now Brooklyn) and Queens (Long Island). A number of new laws were passed as a result. "The effect of these laws was to combine the separate jurisdictions of the Vineyard and Nantucket and to add another office or two to the civil list, which was promptly filled by Matthew Mayhew, who seemed to feel that nothing was too small for his attention from chief magistrate down to register of deeds. Nantucket heretofore had been conducting its own affairs under a local autonomy subject to a certain suzerainty of the Mayhew proprietary government." More details are available in Dr. Charles Banks' "The History of Martha's Vineyard," from which the above quote was taken.

Manuscript document signed by a "Widow Amy Cavy [?]", 1 page, 1802, approximately 8"x 2 1/2", reads in full "Newbury (Massachusetts) April 1, 1802 Received of Joseph Poor twenty five dollars in full of all debts dues and demands Received by me Widow Amy Cavy."

Massachusetts: Manuscript document signed by a "Martha Thorla[?]", 1 page, 1782, approximately 6"x 4." Reads in full "Rowley, February 20, 1782 When I Martha Thorla Daughter of Jonathon Thorla late of Rowley deceast Received of Capt Joseph Poor of the aforesaid Rowley my guardian all the estate both real and personal with all the income of the same since it came into his hands which fell to my share out of my Honored father the said Jonathon Thorla deceased estate so that the said Joseph is hereby to be discharged here from in the probate office." Witnessed by a "John Thorla"and "Patience Thorla"

This early Bridgwater Massachusettes deed was for 22 acres from Edmond Pettingill to James Edson. The going price for 22 acres with buildings was 76 pounds, 13 shillings and 4 pence lawful money. The property was bounded by the road that leads to Benjamin Southworths and the old road that goes from the sawmill to Joshua Packards for 57 rods to a stake and a stone on the line of the Wilsons lot ect. This deed was written June 17, 1771 and signed by Daniel Howard, justice of the peace. Other Names:  Daniel Noyes.

This early Bridgwater Massachusettes deed has John Dryer and Josiah Allen selling a sixth part of a purchase right in that tract of land laid out toward ye northerly side of town. The purchase price was 40 shillings current money of New England. This deed was signed by Dryer, Allen and Joseph Edson. It was witnessed by Issac Allden and John Cary (Gay)? The deed is rough at the bottom but thayt part was a later addendum to the deed in 1754. This deed is dated March 12, 1715.

Mass 1722: This Document is a PLEA Of John Perren of Rehoboth in the Massachusetts Bay Colony to the Justice's Now Sitting In Bristol. That your Petitioner has a Servant Named Nathaniel Robinson that made his Escape from my service in the beginning of April Last Past and Traveled 140 Miles Westward and was gone out of my service for more than a month: and your Petitioner was at the Charge First of getting HU--AN (Human) CRY Written & Affirmed went to Boston got a Hundred Printed Ones & Promised in them a Reward of Reasonable Satisfaction & Necessary charges to be defrayed; Besides: for the taking of my Servant who was taken by the Posa & brought Home, Who Demanded of me Eight Pounds, Eight Shillings and Ten Pence for his Service & Expence Which I paid him: And my said Servant Cost and put away of Clothing one Coat one pair of Britches one pair of Stockings valued at Twenty Shillings at the Current Rate. Besides my own Expense to Boston and hiring other Men to Ride and for the Advancements Two pounds, One Shilling, and Two Pence so that it may Please your Honor your Petitioner hath Bin out in all Eleven Pounds, Ten Shillings besides the Loss of the Servants Time as Above: And your Petitioner Humbly Prays for an Addition of said Servants Time after he is Twenty One Years of Age for Satisfaction for the Loss Damages he hath sustained & Your Petitoner as in Duly bound shall ever Pray. 8 1/4 x 10 1/2"