This week's document for transcription is the 1795 land record for Zachariah Rand, gentleman of Westminster, Massachusetts, selling 12.5 acres of land in Westminster, Massachusetts for £50 to Benjamin Seaver, yeoman of Westminster:
[Worcester County, Mass. Deed - Volume 203, Page 364]:
The transcription of the deed is (from near the bottom of the left-hand page of image):To all people to whom these presents shall come Greeting
Know ye that I Zachariah Rand of Westminster in the County
of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Gent'm for
and in consideration the sum of fifty pounds to me in hand
before the ensealing hereof well and truly paid by Benjamin
Seaver of said Westminster in the County and Commonwealth
abovesaid Yeoman. The receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge
and myself therewith fully satisfied and contented and thereof and
of every part and parcel thereof do exonerate acquit and discharge
him the said Benjamin Sever and his heirs Executors and
Administrators forever by these presents have given granted bargained sold
aliened conveyed and confirmed and by these presents do freely fully and
absolutely give grant bargain sell alien convey and confirm unto him the
said Benjamin Seaver and his heirs and assigns forever a certain Mes-
suage or tract of upland situate lying and being in the northerly part
of said Westminster and is a peice of land a part of the farm I purchased
of Michael Gill Esq'r containing twelve and one half beginning at
a heap of stones at said Seavers line running on said line eighty rods
to a heap of stones then running twenty five rods on Benj'a ?????s land
then turning Northeasterly to Asa Taylors land from thence twenty five
rods on said Taylors land to where it first began containing twelve acres
and one half. To have and to holdthe said granted and bar-
gained premises with all the appurtenances privileges and commodities to the
same belonging or in any wise appertaining to him the said Benjamin
Seaver and his heirs and assigns forever to his and their only proper use
benefit and behoof forever and I the said Zachariah Rand for my myself heirs
Executors and Administrators do covenant promise and grant to and with
the said Benjamin and his heirs and assigns that before the ensealing
hereof I am the true sole and lawful owner of the above bargained prem-
ises and lawfully seized and possessed of the same in my own proper
right as a good perfect and absolute estate of inheritance in fee simple
and have in me good right full power and lawful authority to grant bar-
gain sell convey and confirm said bargained premises in manner as aforesaid
and that the said Benjamin Seaver & his heirs and assigns shall and may
from time to time and at all times forever hereafter by force and virtue
of these presents lawfully peaceably and quietly have hold use occupy
possess and enjoy the said demises and bargained premises with the appur-
tenances free and clear and truly and clearly acquitted exonerated and
discharged of from all and all manner of former or other gifts grants
bargains sales leases Mortgages with entails jointures dowries judgments Exec-
utions or incumbrances of what name or nature forever that might in any
measure or degree obstruct or make void this present Deed. Furthermore
I the said Zachariah and for myself heirs Executors and Adminis-
trators do covenant and engage the above demised premises to him the said
Benjamin Sever & his heirs and assigns the lawful claims or demands
of any person or persons whatsoever forever hereafter to warrant secure and
defend by these presents. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and seal this sixteenth day of January in the year of our Lord seventeen
hundred & ninety five. Zachariah Rand {seal}
Signed sealed and delivered } Worcester ss Westminster Jan'y y'e 15'th 1795
in presence of us } personally appeared Zachariah Rand the Grantor
Abner Holden } and acknowledged this instrument to be his free
Abner Whitney } act and Deed before Abner Holden J. Peace.
Rec'd May 10, 1817 Ent'd & Exam'd pr O. Fiske Reg'r.
The source citations for this land record is:
"Massachusetts, Land Records, 1620-1986," digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 23 May 2021), Worcester County, "Deeds 1816-1817, vol. 202-203," Volume 203, Page 364 (image 544 of 705), Zachariah Rand to Benjamin Seaver, executed 16 January 1795, recorded 10 May 1817; citing original records in County Courthouses, and on FHL Microfilms.
This deed is for a 12.5 acre parcel of land in Westminster, measuring about 80 rods (1280 feet) by 25 rods (400 feet). For 50 pounds for 12.5 acres (£4 an acre), it probably does not have any buildings or improvements on it. Without a lot map it is difficult to determine the location of this property, although it is adjacent to existing property of Benjamin Seaver.
Benjamin Seaver (1757-1816) of Westminster, Massachusetts married Martha (Whitney) Seaver (1764-1832) in 1783, and they had ten children between 1784 and 1812. Benjamin bought this land eleven years after his marriage, and seven years after his father died and he received land from his father's estate.
Benjamin Seaver (1757-1816) and Martha Whitney (1764-1832) are my 4th great-grandparents, and Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825) and Abigail Gates (1797-1867) are my 3rd great-grandparents through their son Isaac Seaver (1823-1901).
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NOTE: Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started a Monday blog theme years ago called "Amanuensis Monday." John offers this definition for "amanuensis:"
"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."
The URL for this post is: https://www.geneamusings.com/2021/06/amanuensis-monday-1795-deed-of.html
Copyright (c) 2021, Randall J. Seaver
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