HISTORY BY HAND

original historic handwritten manuscripts, documents and letters

a division of Jonathan Sheppard Books

Item Number: DM4063

The Deed: 1839 Property deed for land in Baltimore, Windsor County, VT. Now fragile, with spotting, wear and edge nicks. Some separation at folds. Top right corner lacking, although not affecting text.  A paper seal is attached next to Thurston's signature. Size: 12 1/2" high x 7 1/2" high.

Manuscript deed, dated  20 February 1839, from Obed Thurston to Joshua Leland, both of Baltimore, Windsor County VT.

The property contains “one undivided third part of a lot of land on Hawks Mountain” containing about 50 acres in the Town of Cavendish deeded to Thurston, Rufus Burham and Joseph Burnham by Salmon Dutton. 

The deed is signed and sealed by Obed Thurston and witnessed by Orin G. Averill and J. M. Boynton.  J. M. Boynton also signs as justice of the peace.  Docketing on the reverse, signed by Otis Robbins, Town Clerk of Cavendish, indicates that the deed was received for recording on December 9, 1852 at 11 AM. 

 Background Information: The purchaser, Joshua Leland, was born in Grafton, MA on 22 May 1794. In Baltimore, he served as town clerk and selectman. He married Elizabeth Boynton, daughter of Jonathan Boynton and sister of the J[onathan].M. Boynton who signed this deed both as witness and justice of the peace. J.M. Boynton, who was born in 1807, was also a selectman and a long-serving town treasurer.

 Note that Baltimore, Vermont had the distinction of being the smallest town (by population) in the United States for many years.  At the time this deed was executed, the town’s population was about 150 people.

Books    Coming Soon     Order Form    Ordering Instructions    Terms and Conditions
Home     Personal Name Index    Place Index    Topic Index    Date Index

Visit Jonathan Sheppard Books for our complete selection of out-of-print books and historic map reprints.

Website last updated: 11/24/07