Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness: Northern Liberties Lot Indenture

I received an email from Russ Bennett, a complete stranger, a few months ago. He had stopped in an antique store in Cleveland, Ohio, and found a large 22-1/2 inches by 13-1/2 inches framed document which looked to be a deed. Russ took photographs of the document, noted the names, dates and city mentioned. Then came home and Googled those names. Russ found my blog and email address and wanted to know if I was interested in the deed.

Of course I was! It transpired the antique store owner would not ship so Russ offered to buy the deed in my stead and ship it to me. Not only did he make that kind offer, he negotiated 25 percent off the price!

Thank you Russ!

Russ Bennett at the grave of his great great grandfather;
provided and used with the permission of Russ Bennett

Now that I have digitized, transcribed and added the deed to my family tree, I hope to be able to donate it to an appropriate historical society. As a result I am communication with the Historical Society of Philadelphia as the lot described in the document was located in the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philadelphia which is just north of the city center bounded on the east by the Delaware River.

Digitized copy of the 22-1/2 inch by 13-1/2 inch Indenture; personal collection

"This Indenture. Made the Nineteenth day in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and six Between Samuel Blair of Germantown in the County of Philadelphia Doctor of Divinity and Susanna his wife of the one part and William Shippen of the City of Philadelphia Doctor of Physick of the other part,

WHEREAS Doctor William Shippen of Germantown by his Indenture bearing date of the fifth day of September in the year of our Lord 1799 did grant and Convey unto Jane Dring in fee -- A Certain Lot or piece of Ground situate on the North side of Nobel Street between Delaware front and Second Street in the Northern Liberties of the city of Philadelphia Containing in breadth East and West Thirty eight feet and in length or depth extending North and South fifty feet more or less, Bounded Westwards by ground of William Shippen, Northwardly by ground estate of Isaac Leech deceased Eastward by ground granted to Jacob Fryberger and Southward by Noble Street aforesaid -- Subject to an annual Ground rent of fifty Spanish milled silver Dollars and two thirds of such a Dollar payable to the said William Shippen and his Heirs

City Center and Northern Liberties neighborhoods on 1808 Philadelphia map
by John Hills; courtesy of Philadelphia GeoHistory Network[1]

Northern Liberties neighborhood map showing the area where the Shippen-
Blair lot was located; 1895 Philadelphia Atlas Plate 7 courtesy of  Greater
Philadelphia GeoHistory Network[1]

AND WHEREAS the said Jane Dring on the first day of December 1803 by Deed of Assignment on the aforesaid Indenture for the Consideration of Four hundred Dollars did sell and Convey to the above named Samuel Blair and Susanna his wife their Heirs and Assigns the before described Lot of piece of ground with the buildings there Erected Subject to the Ground rent aforesaid

AND WHEREAS the said William Shippen, Samuel Blair and Susanna his wife parties hereunto the [**?**] Legatees of the said William Shippen by their Deed of Partition bearing date the Thirty first day of July 1802 parted and divided his Estate, undisposed of by his last will and the aforesaid ground rent issuing out of the Lot or piece of ground

INTER ALIA marked in the said Deed of Partition S.

B. No. 15 was allotted to the said Samuel Blair and Susanna his wife their Heirs and Assigns

NOW THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH that the said Samuel Blaire and Susanna his wife for and in Consideration of Nine hundred Dollars to them paid by the said William Shippen at the Execution hereof the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged

HAVE and by these presents DO grant bargain sell alien[?] onfeoff[?] release and confirm unto the said William Shippen his Heirs and Assigns All the above described Lot or piece of Ground free and clear of the said Yearly Ground Rent situate on the North side of Noble Street between Delaware front and second Street in the Northern Liberties aforesaid containing in breadth East and West Thirty eight feet and in length or depth North and South fifty feet more or less butted and bounded as aforesaid Together with the buildings there on erected

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Lot or piece of Ground with the buildings and appurtenances forever free and clear of the said Rent charge and all arrearages thereof to the only proper use and behoof of the said William Shippen his Heirs and Assigns forever AND Samuel Blair doth Covenant promise and agree to and with the said William Shippen and his Heirs that the said Samuel Blair and his Heirs shall and will forever Warrant and Defend the Premises hereby granted clear of all Incumbrances unto the said William Shippen his Heirs and Assigns forever

In Witness whereof the said parties have hereto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written

Witnesses at signing
Thos. Gordon
Samuel Betton

Received on the day of the date of the above written Indenture of the above named William Shippen Nine hundred Dollars being the full consideration money above mentioned.

[Signed by] Samuel Blair"

The back of the deed also included old, faint handwriting:

Digital copy of the reverse side of the Indenture; personal collection

"The twenty third day of May Anno Domini 1806 Before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Philadelphia came the within named Samuel Blair and Susanna his wife and acknowledged the written Indenture to be their Act and Deed and desired the same to be recorded as such -- the said Susanna being of full age separate and apart from her husband by me privately examined, and the full contents thereof made known unto her, she thereunto voluntarily consenting witnesses my and hand and seal the day and year foresaid

***

Samuel Betton

DEED

Samuel Blair and Wife
Dr. William Shippen

Lot on North side of Noble St. between Del. front & Second Sts.

***

Recorded in the office for Recording Deeds
for the City and County of Philadelphia in Deed Book J.A.M. No. 8 page 546

Witness by hand and seal of office this 11th day of February 1870 A.D.

Thos. Horesman [?]
Recorder

_______________
[1] Thanks to the Greater PhiladelphiaGeo Network for the interactive overlay of historic maps with a current Internet-based map application.

Samuel Blair was by 6 times great uncle, son of Rev. Samuel Blair and Frances Van Hook.

"Crossing the Pond" with Edward Shippen (1639-1712)
Pray Together, Stay Together
Revolutionary War Chaplain, Rev. Samuel Blair (Jr.)