Amanuensis Monday: 13 Feb 1797 deed from the Heirs of Absalom Fox to Jonathan Fox

Last week I alluded to the number of deeds regarding the Fox family in 1797-1798. Three have been found, all dated 13 Feb 1797, in which one of the heirs of Absalom Fox is granted land by the remaining heirs. However, there were more than three heirs of Absalom Fox, so I will need to look into whether the land was divided only three ways and the other heirs perhaps had other inheritances, or whether there are more of these deeds that I have yet to find.

Absalom Fox was my 6great-grandfather, and his son David was my 5great-grandfather. This first deed is to David's brother Jonathan. I love how these deeds name all the heirs.

[p. 680]

The Heirs of the )

Estate of Abolam )

Fox )

to )

Jonathan Fox )

This Indenture Made this thirteenth Day of February

in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Ninety seven

[p. 681]

Between Christion Fox widow of Absalom Fox decd. David Fox and

Sarah his Wife, Charles Fox and Mary his Wife, Bonham Fox and

Temporance his wife, Sampson Sargant and Ivy his wife, David

Sutton and Anchor his wife, Mary Fox, and Rebekah Fox, all of the

County of Washington and State of Pennsylvania of the one part and

Jonathan Fox of the same place of the other part Witnesseth that the said

Christion Fox Widow, David Fox and Sarah his wife, Charles Fox and Mary

his wife, Bonham Fox and Temporance his wife, Sampson Sargant and

Ivy his wife, David Sutton and Anchor his wife, Mary Fox and Rebekah

Fox Hath bargained Released and Confirmed and for ever Quit Claim of

and to a Certain Tract of land hereinafter described unto Jonathan Fox his

Heirs and Assigns forever a Certain Tract of Land Situate on a Branch of

Ten Mile Creek Beginning at an Elm Tree Thence by land of David

Sutton North Seventy Degrees West Eight perches to a Stone North forty

Degrees West Seventy six perches to a Stone North fifteen degrees West

Tenty eight perches to a white Oak Thence by land of David Frazee North

thirty degrees East Seventy eight Perches to an ash, Thence by land of Philip

Luallen South forty seven degrees East Two hundred and two Perches to

a Stone Thence by land of Charles Fox South Twenty six Degrees West

fifty two Perches to a Stone thence by land of sd. David Sutton North

forty six and a half degrees East Ninety six perches to the beginning

containing Ninety eight acres and three Quarters of an acre Strict Measure

being part of a Tract of Land Called "Fox Hill" which was Surveyed in

Pursuance of a warrant granted to Absalom Fox Dated the 26th of January

and by Pattant 14th Day of October in the year 1788 which is Inrolled in the

Rolls Office for the State of Pennsylvania in Patent Book No.  Page

To have and to hold the said Tract and Piece of Land with the Appurten=

=ances thereunto belonging or in anywise appurtaining thereto unto the said

Jonathan Fox his Heirs To the only proper use benefit and behoof of him

the said Jonathan Fox his Heirs and Assigns for ever from us and

[ower?] heirs and from any Person or Persons Claiming or to Claim in under

through or by us or any of our heirs shall and will warrant and Defend

for ever. In Witness whereof the said Christion Fox as above David

Fox and Sarah his wife, Charles Fox and Mary his wife, Sampson Sargant

 

[p. 682]

and Ivy his wife, David Sutton and Anchor his wife, Mary Fox and

Rekah Fox Heirs of the Estate of Absalom Fox decd. have hereunto set their

hands and Seals this Day and year above written Christion her X mark Fox (seal)

David Fox (seal) Sarah Fox (seal) Charles Fox (seal) Mary

Fox (seal) Bonham Fox (seal) Temperance Fox (seal)

Sampson Serjant (seal) Ivy her X mark Sergant (seal) David Sutton (seal)

Anchor Sutton (seal) Mary Fox (seal) Rebekah Fox (seal)

Signed Sealed and Delivered in Preasants of us  Isaac Leet [poz?]

Mary Sutton   Isaac Leet

Washington County [sall?]

This Day Personally appeared before me the Subscriber a Justice of the

Peace in and for said County Christian Fox widow of Absalom Fox decd David

Fox and Sarah his Wife, Charles Fox and Marah his wife Sampson Sargant

and Ivy his wife, David Sutton and Anchor his wife, Mary Fox and

Rebekah Fox and acknowledged the within Instrument of writing it being

a Deed of Conveyance to be their Act and Deeds the several Women being

examined Seperate and apart from their Husbands, each one for themselves

acknowledged that they became a party thereto of their own free will and

accord without the controul of their Husbands or any other Person allowing

the same to be Recorded as such In Witness whereof I have hereunto set

my hand and seal this thirteenth Day of February 1797

Isaac Leet

Recorded and compared with the Original the 21st February 1797

Samuel Clarke Recorder

 

One of the witnesses, Mary Sutton, was probably related to both David Sutton (the husband of Absalom's daughter Anchor) and Sarah Fox (the wife of Absalom's son David Fox). They were siblings, and also had a sister named Mary. I have no marriage recorded for Mary, so her surname may still have been Sutton at this point. Their mother was also sometimes called Mary, and I have no death date recorded for her, so she may still have been alive at this point. She would have been about 53 years old, so it seems likely. Those two seem to be the most probable candidates.

 

The very next deed in the book is to my 5great-grandfather David Fox, but we will look at that one later.

Source:

Washington, Pennsylvania, Deed books, 1781-1886; deed index, 1781-1924, 1M-12: 680-682 (images #378-379 of 420), The Heirs of the Estate of Absalom Fox to Jonathan Fox, deed, 13 Feb 1797; digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, "Deeds v. 12, 1M 1796-1797," FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 29 Sept 2024).