Monday, November 1, 2021

Amanuensis Monday -- 1776 Deed of Norman Sever Buying Land in Westminster, Massachusetts from Joseph Spaulding

 This week's document for transcription is the 1776 land deed record for Norman Sever, yeoman of Shrewsbury, buying 5 acres of land in Westminster, Worcester County, Massachusetts from Joseph Spaulding for 10 pounds lawful money.

[Worcester County, Mass. Deeds - Volume 77, Page 148]:


[Worcester County, Mass. Deeds - Volume 77, Page 149]:

The transcription of this deed is (starting at the middle of the right-hand page of the top image):

To all People To Whom these presents shall come Greeting
Know ye that I Joseph Spaulding of Westminster in the County
of Worcester an Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England
housewright For and in Consideration of the Sum of Ten pounds
to me in hand before the Ensealing hereof well and truly paid by
Norman Sever of s'd Westminster in the County and Province aforesaid
Yeoman the Receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge and my
Selfe therewith fully satisfied & Contented and thereof and of Every
Part and Parcel thereof, do Exonerate Acquit and discharge him the
said Norman Sever his heirs Executors and administrators forever
By these Presents have Given, Granted Bargained Sold aliened Convey-
ed and Confirmed and by these Presents do freely fully and absolutely
Give Grant Bargain Sell aliene Convey and Confirm unto him
the said Norman Sever his Heirs and assigns forever a Certain Tract
of upland situate Lying and being in the Northerly Part of the
abovesaid Westminster and contains five acres and one hundred Rods
Begining at a stake and stones ad Runs South forty one Rods and
an halfe to a Stake and Stones then turns West and Runs forty one
Rods and a halfe to a stake and stones, then turns and Runs North
east Sixty Rod to where it first began, this Land being taken of of
Second Division Lot Number Twenty Five at the Southeast Corner.
To have and to hold the said Granted Bargained Premises With
all the Appurtenances Privilidges and Comodities to the Same
Belonging or in any wise appertaining to him the said Norman
Sever hi heirs and assigns for Ever to his and their only proper use
Benefit and Behoof for Ever and I the said Joseph Spaulding
For my heirs Executors and administrators do Covenant Promise
and Grant to and with the said Norman Sever his heirs and assigns
that before the Ensealing hereof, I am the True sole and Lawfull owner
of the above bargained Premises and am Lawfully Seized and
Possessed of the Same in my own Proper right as a Good Perfect
and absolute Estate of Inheritance and have in my selfe Good Right
full Power and Lawfull Authority to Grant Bargain Sell Convey and Confirm
said Bargained Premises in manner as aforesaid and that
the said Norman Sever his heirs and assigns shall and may
from time to time and at all times forever hereafter Peacably
and Quietly have hold use Possess and Enjoy the said Demised
and Bargained Premises with the Appurtenances free and clear
of all Incumbrances and I the said Joseph Spaulding for
my selfe my heirs Executors and administrators do Covenant
and Engage the above demised Premises to him the said
Norman Sever his heirs and assigns against the lawfull
Claims or demands of any Person or Persons whatsoever for
Ever hereafter to warrant and defend by these Presents.  In
Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this
fifth day of July AD 1776.                   Joseph Spaulding  {seal}
Signed Sealed & Delivered in
Presents of us John Miles, Edward Jackson.  Worcester ss
July 5'th 1776 then the Within Named Joseph Spaulding Personaly
appeared and acknowledged the within Instrument to be
his free Act and Deed    before me Nicholas Dike Justice of Peace.
Received Aug't 5 1777 Entered & Examined pr Nath'n Baldwin Regr.

The source citation 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 3 October 2021), Worcester County, "Deeds 1776-1778, vol. 75-77," Volume 77, Pages 148-149 (images 538-539 of 650), deed of  Joseph Spaulding to Norman Sever, executed 5 July 1776, recorded 5 August 1777; citing original records in County Courthouses, and on FHL Microfilms.

This deed is for a five acre piece of land in Westminster, Worcester County, that Norman Sever, yeoman of Westminster, bought from Joseph Spaulding, housewright of Westminster, for 10 pounds lawful money on 5 July 1776 (and recorded on 5 August 1777).  

Norman Sever (1734-1787) was the son of Robert and Eunice (Rayment) Sever of Sudbury and Westminster, Massachusetts.  He married Sarah Read (1736-1809) on 14 March 1755 in Sudbury, and they had thirteen children.  Norman and Sarah (Read) Sever are my 5th great-grandparents through their son Benjamin Seaver (1757-1816).

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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."

Read other transcriptions for records of my ancestors at Amanuensis Monday Posts.

Copyright (c) 2021, Randall J. Seaver

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