Monday, February 27, 2012

Amanuensis Monday - Deed of Elizabeth H. Smith to Lucy Butterfield in Medfield in 1841.

Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started his own Monday blog theme many months ago called Amanuensis Monday. What does "amanuensis" mean? John offers this definition:

"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."

The subject today is the deed for land in Medfield, Massachusetts sold by Elizabeth H. Smith, widow of Alpheus B. Smith  (1802-1840) to Lucy Butterfield.  This deed is in:

Norfolk County (Massachusetts) Register of Deeds, "Land Records - Deeds, 1793-1890," Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah, on 373 microfilm reels.  Volume 139, Page 109 (accessed on FHL US/CAN Microfilm 841833), Deed, Elizabeth H. Smith to Lucy Butterfield, dated 18 August 1841.





The transcription of the deed is (handwritten portions in italics):

Smith to Butterfield [in margin]

Know all men by these Presents that I Elizabeth H. Smith of Medfield in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, widow, in consideration of one hundred Dollars, to be paid by Lucy Butterfield of Dedham in said County of Norfolk the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge have remised, released and forever quitclaimed and do for myself and my heirs by these presents, remise, release and forever quit claim unto the said Lucy Butterfield her heirs and assigns all my right title and interest to Dower in my late husbands estate as set off by Order of the Court of Probate, consisting of a house and barn with about three quarters of an acre of land and bounded northerly and easterly on land of the heirs of Elisha Clark Southwardly on the sold to said Lucy and Westwardly on the road leading from Medfield to Walpole.  

To Have and to Hold the afore mentioned premises, with all the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging to her the said Lucy Butterfield her heirs and assigns forever: so that neither I the said Elizabeth H. Smith nor my heirs or any other person or persons claiming from or under me or them or in the name right or stead of me or them, shall or will by any way or means have claim or demand any right or title to the aforesaid premises, or their appurtenances, or to any part or parcel thereof forever.

In witness whereof, I the said Elizabeth H. Smith have hereunto set my hand and seal this Eighteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty one. 
                 her
Elizabeth H. Smith {seal}
                mark

Signed sealed and delivered in presence of us Hinsdale Fisher 

Norfolk SS, Sept. 23 1842.  Then the above named Elizabeth H. Smith and acknowledged the above instrument to be her free act and deed before me.  Jona. P. Bishop Just of Peace, 

Jany 2 1843. Recd: Entered & Examined, By Enos Foord, Reg.

In this deed, Elizabeth H. Smith, widow of Alpheus B. Smith sells her portion (her widow's third of the property) to Lucy Butterfield.  The next deed in the record book, at the bottom of this page, sells the remainder of the estate.  I will transcribe that deed next week.

Last week I posted Amanuensis Monday - Deed of Alpheus B. Smith to Simeon Richardson in Medfield in 1834.  I believe that the land sold in 1834 was adjacent to the land sold in 1841 to Lucy Butterfield.  

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/02/amanuensis-monday-deed-of-elizabeth-h.html

Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2012.




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