Monday, September 16, 2013

Amanuensis Monday - Post 189: Deed of Luke Bigelow to Isaac Seaver 3d in Westminster, Mass.

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 a deed in Worcester County, Massachusetts dated 16 June 1858, from Luke Bigelow to Isaac Seaver 3rd (my great-great-grandfather):


Know all men by these presents, that I, Luke Bigelow, of Westminster, in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, yeoman, in consideration of Twenty-five dollars, paid by Isaac Seaver 3d of Westminster, County and Commonwealth aforesaid, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give, grant, sell and convey, unto the said Isaac Seaver 3d his heirs and assigns, a certain piece of land, situated on the road leading to Ashburnham, and adjoining said Seaver land, bounded as follows.  Beginning on the line of said Seavers line, by said road, and running south by said road, six rods; thence west by land of said Luke Bigelow five rods; thence north by said Bigelows land, six rods to said Seavers land; thence east by said Seavers land, five rods to the first mentioned bound, by the road.  One condition in the conveyance of the above-named land, is that said Seaver shall build and forever keep in repair, a good and sufficient fence on said described line between our lands.  To have and to hold the afore-granted premises to the said Isaac Seaver 3d, his heirs and assigns, to his and their use and behoof forever.  And I do for myself, my heirs, executors and administrators, covenant with the said Isaac Seaver 3d his heirs and assigns, that I am lawfully seized in fee of the afore-granted premises, that they are free of all incumbrances; that I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said Isaac Seaver 3d and that I will and my heirs shall warrant and defend the same premises, to the said Isaac Seaver 3d his heirs and assigns forever against the lawful claims and demands of all persons.

In witness whereof, I the said Luke Bigelow have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty eight.

Signed, sealed and delivered                                  Luke Bigelow        {seal}
in presence of
Samuel L. Bridge
S.G. Kendall

Worcester ss June 16th 1858  Then the abovenamed Luke Bigelow acknowledged the above instrument to be his free act and deed.
G.M. Whitnman, Jus. Of Peace


Rec^d June 26th 1858 at 8^h40^m A.M. Ent'd & Ex'd By Alex. H. Wilder, Reg^r.

The source citation for this deed is:

"Massachusetts, Land Records, 1620-1986," digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 28 May 2013) , Worcester County, "Deeds 1858, Vol. 595-596," image 538 of 681, in Volume 596, Page 382, Luke Bigelow to Isaac Seaver 3d deed, land in Westminster, Mass., dated 16 June 1858, recorded 26 June 1858.

This parcel, which apparently adjoined Isaac Seaver's land in Westminster, was only 6 rods (99 feet) by 5 rods (82.5 feet); The plot is only 0.19 acres.  Isaac bought it for $25.  


Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver


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