John Melzard of Marblehead Massachusetts

August 16, 1814. Massachusetts. A receipt signed “John Melzard” for taxes paid on his property in his hometown of Marblehead, MA: “Received this 16 day of Augst., 1814 from John Melzard the sum of eight two cents for direct tax upon the property of J.M. in the Town of M.head in the ninth Collection District, in the State of Massachusetts, under the act of Congress passed the 2d August, 1813, to lay and collect a direct tax within the United States.”

1812. No Place. A bill to John Melzard for the amount of $30.00 for shares of prize money owed to P. Smith.

August 15, 1822. Marblehead, MA. A state, town, and county tax assessment document for John Melzard in 1822.

No Date. No Place. An extract from the report of Capt. Brown which mentions the sea captain John Melzard: “I therefore beg leave to acquaint you that John Melzard appears by the List that accompanied him from the Sandwich … a volunteer entered at Gravesend on the 2nd of May 1796 and received an able seaman’s bounty, and farther beg leave to inform that he has run from the Kite two months pass.”

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Thomas Stagg 1806

Document dated 1806, where Thomas Stagg of the City of New York has sold to James C. Roosevelt; a piece of land in Palmer's Purchase, lot number 42, in the River Division......signed by Thomas Stagg, Catherine Stagg and William Rose.

Georgia, Macon County 1856

Georgia, Macon County
Before me Benjamin Harris, a justice of the Inferior Court and for said county, personally came Samuel M. McKenzie, who being duly sworn … saith that James H. Wadsworth and Henry Abraham, both of said county--

WITH FORCE AND ARMS … on the first day of July, in the year 1856, at or about the hour of 9 o’clock of the night, IN A VIOLENT AND TUMULTUOUS MANNER, WITH GUNS AND OTHER WEAPONS, DID APPROACH WITHIN 30 PACES OF THE DWELLING HOUSE OF MRS. MILLEY MCKENZIE … AND DID THEN AND THERE WITH TUMULT AND LOUD NOISE, the said James H. Wadsworth did CURSE, INSULT, AND USE HIGHLY ABUSIVE LANGUAGE toward the inmates of the said house, and did then and there FIRE OFF AND DISCHARGE A SHOTGUN LOADED WITH POWDER at the said dwelling house, which the said Milley McKenzie, one Maria C. McKenzie, Eusche Chatam a widow, two infants of the said Milley, and also George W. McKenzie and Samuel M. McKenzie, sons of the said Milley, and all members of her family, were quietly inhabiting said dwelling house as their regular place of abode.”

“And the said Wadsworth then and there FIRED OFF THE SAID GUN AS MANY AS SIX OR EIGHT TIMES, AND AT ONE OF THE FIRINGS, A NUMBER OS SHOTS STRUCK THE SAID DWELLING HOUSE. all the said time the said Wadsworth was in A GREAT RAGE, CURSING AT THE PERSONS IN SAID DWELLING AND DARING THEM TO COME OUT. And defendant states that the said Henry Abraham was present aiding and abetting the said James H. Wadsworth in the said outrages by loading the said gun for the said discharges and otherwise assisting the said Wadsworth to commit said violence.

And defendant also further states that A CERTAIN NEGRO MAN SLAVE BY THE NAME OF CAESAR the property of the estate of Ethel Wadsworth deceased, was also present, shouting and making a noise with the said James H. Wadsworth by his orders and directions, and by his command, THE SAID NEGRO CURSING THE SAID GEORGE W. MCKENZIE AND SAMUEL M. MCKENZIE, AND DARED THEM TO COME OUT OF THE HOUSE, AND HE WOULD GIVE THEM A WHIPPING, or language to that effect …”

Note written in lighter ink on the reverse: “The defendants Wadesworth NOT FOUND in the County after diligent searching. John(?) L. Parker, Sheriff.”


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1817 PULASKI COUNTY GEORGIA SLAVE DOCUMENTS

“On or before the first day of January Eighteen Hundred and Seventeen we or each of us do promise to pay Jas Bryan or bearer the sum of one hundred and seventy eight dollars for THE HIRE OF TWO NEGROS upon condition of the said Negroes continuing with us twelve months from the date this 11th of January 1816.
Sam Fowle

The second from Pulaski, County, GA recording the details of a lawsuit that arose over this slave hire debt in the first paper above. The first two pages of this second document read in part as follows:

“Pulaski County, Georgia. The petition of James Bryan showeth that Samuel Fowle and Joseph Reid . . . promised to pay J. Bryan (your petitioner) or bearer the sum of one hundred and seventy eight dollars for THE HIRE OF TWO NEGROS upon condition of the said Negroes continuing with us twelve months from the date of the aforesaid note, and your petitioner affirms(?) that said two negroes hired as aforesaid did continue with said Samuel and Joseph for the term of twelve months . . . said Samuel & Joseph being so indebted though often requested, have never paid your petitioner said sum of money or any part thereof, but so to do they have refused . . . Wherefore your petitioner prays process may (?) requiring said Samuel Fowle and Joseph Reid, personally or by attorney to be and appear at the next Superior Court to be held in and for the County of Pulaski, there suffer to answer your petitioner in an action upon the case.”
The document is signed by Richard Jones (an attorney?).

The third page of this second document is a note directing the SHERIFF OF PULASKI COUNTY to detain the two defendants, signed by Edward Smith Clerk in the name of Judge Christopher B. Strong.

The fourth page has several different notes & annotation written upon it, including another note from Richard Jones. There is also a statement “Personally served each of the Defendants with a copy of the writ. 22nd March 1817”signed by B. Barker, Sheriff. There is also the following note: “WE THE JURY FIND FOR THE PLAINTIFF THE SUM OF ONE HUNDRED & SEVENTY EIGHT DOLLARS WITH INTEREST & COST OF SUIT,” Signed Stephen Mitchell, Juror.

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ALEXANDER MCGINTY 1784

State of North Carolina Document, Number 389.

ALEXANDER MCGINTY purchased SEVENTY ACRES in the COUNTY OF MECKLENBURG.

The front of the document has Official State of North Carolina Printing, plus lots of information about the land purchase WRITTEN BY HAND.

The backside of the document has manuscript information by the Mecklenburg County Clerk, including: "This certifies that this grant is registered in my office in book..." there are also a few relevant signatures (that I can't decipher) on the backside.

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Colonial New York court document from 1750

A single sheet document from the "Supreme Court...Province of New York at the city Hall of the City of New York...the twenty fifth day of October, one thousand seven hundred and fifty." This concerns a case between John Owen and Samuel Burling in: "...the matters in controversy...to be referred to the arbitration and official determination...any three of them shall..make report thereof to this court with all convenient speed." with signatures (see). Noted as "a true copy"

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1862 Petersburg Virginia escaped slaves bounty document

$400.00 WILL BE PAID FOR THE APPREHENSION OF MY TWO NEGRO MEN JOSHUA AND WILLIAM. JOSHUA RAN AWAY ABOUT THE 1ST OF JUNE 1862, HE IS ABOUT 35 YEARS OLD, SIX FEET HIGH AND GINGER BREAD COLOR; IS VERY INTELLIGENT. WILLIAM LEFT MY HOUSE THE 12TH, HE IS 21 YEARS OLD 5 FEET 6 INCHES HIGH, GINGER BREAD COLOR;WELL BUILT. IT IS PROBABLE THAT BOTH OF THEM MAY BE WITH OUR ARMY NEAR RICHMOND OR PETERSBURG OR THEY MAY BE LURKING ABOUT CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PASSING THEMSELVES OFF AS FREE NEGROES. I WILL GIVE THE ABOVE REWARD FOR THEIR ARREST AND CONFINEMENT, SO THAT I GET THEM AGAIN OR $200.00 FOR EITHER.

JOHN W JAMES

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Providence, Rhode Island, to Norwich, Connecticut 1778

Receipt for payment from Dudley and Samuel Woodbridge for transporting rum from Providence, Rhode Island, to Norwich, Connecticut, dated July 26, 1778, and signed by Asa Phillips.

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1824 Letter of Attorney, County of Lancaster, Pennsylvania

1824 Letter of Attorney (Power of Attorney) from County of Lancaster, PA, Pennsylvania. Leah Jennings to Seth Bundle.

Leah Jennings of the Township of Lampton?, in the County of Lancaster, and State of Pennsylvania, single woman, constitute and appointed... Seth Bundle of the Township of Elizabeth, in the county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, Merchant, my lawful attorney...especially my wearing apparel, which is in the possession of Runyun Runin...signed Leah Jennings, Sealed and delivered in the presence of (signed) JAMES BLACK, Esqr (Esquire) and Charles Bender. Signed 2 times by James Black.

Also signed by Henry Hibshman and Sam Stambaugh?

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Portsmouth New Hampshire 1736

A really interesting old document is up for sale on Ebay. April the sixth in the year of our Lord 1736.John Itardison of Portsmouth in New Hampshire in New England, mariner..." and: "...John Jones of Kittery in the County of York in New England, bricklayer..." concerning the sale of land for the sum of six hundred pounds. Much more legal language follows.

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Pennsylvania Document - Berks County

“This Indenture Made the fifteenth Day of April in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred seventy seven Between Walter Newman, junior of Heidleberg, Township in the County of Berks in the Common Wealth of Pennsylvania Yeoman of the One part And Peter Newman of Heidleberg Township in the County of Lancaster in the said Common Wealth...”

“Whereas the Hon. John Penn, Thomas Penn and Richard Penn Esq...granted released and Confirmed unto Walter Newman the Elder (Grand Father of the said Walter Newman party hereto) Two certain Tracts of Land...Recorded at Philad. in patent Book A Vol 11 page 243...”

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1754 COLONIAL PENNSYLVANIA, ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT - BERKS, NORTHAMPTON CO.

1754 COLONIAL PENNSYLVANIA, ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT - BERKS, NORTHAMPTON CO. Articles of agreement for the sale of land "over the Blue Hills" in Northampton County, from Elias Reed to John Ray, both of Maiden Creek, Berks Co. Quaker dated. Although signatures are hard to read, text states that it is signed by both parties with their seals. Also signed: Jacob Shoemaker, witness.

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Postcard Registering Birth of Child 1914 Virginia

I thought this was a pretty interesting postcard. It is from the Bureau of Vital Statistics State Board of Health.

It's the Legal Record of Birth of a white male born at Flat Rock, Shenandoah Co. Virginia on 7 June 1914. He was the child of Joseph Wine and Ellen See

Weeks Family Papers

Some interesting old documents for the Weeks family are up for sale on Ebay.

Benjamin WEEKS was born June 13 1771
Ruth Smith was...............
Benjamin Weeks and Ruth Smith were married 1794
Hiram our first child was born June 24 1797. Hiram died July 8 1798 age 2yrs 8 mos 24 days
Betsey Mariah our second child was born June 24 1797 Betsey Mariah died Dec 26 1797 6 months
Sally our third child was born Oct 4 1798. Sally died Dec 17th 1805 age 7 years 21 months
Oliver our fourth child was born Nov 24th 1800. Oliver died Sept 10 1801 age 8 months 15 days
Sarah Smith died Oct 11 1801
John Riley our 5th child was born Nov 18 1802
Hannah Smith our 6th child was born 1804. Hannah died Sept 19 1813
George Washington Bradley our 7th child was born Sept 18th 1804
Benjamin Baley our 8th child was born July 23 1809 (my note he lived until 1849)
Ard our 9th child was born July 23 1809 (my note he lived until 1882)
Huldah our 10th child was born Dec 16 1813. Huldah Weeks removed to the west May 10 1838
Jane Weeks was born July 20.....
David our 12th child was born Aug 3 1818 and is well

Verso

Benjamin WEEKS died Aug 6 1840
Ruth Smith age 74 years died 1848 (so born 1774)
Benjamin B Weeks died April 17 1849

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Essex County, Massachusetts 1784

A land deed from Massachusetts dated the "Eighth day of April in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven hundred and Eighty four (1784). It is between Richard Hale of Essex County, Massachusetts and Enoch Hale of Newbury. The deed is for the sale of property in Newbury.

Cecil County, Maryland 1770

Document from Cecil County, Maryland, giving details on John Slycer's inheritance from his father, Thomas Slycer.

Included in the account are "1 Negro Boy Jam left him by his Father" and "1 Negro Girl Jamey" with their "values" of $45.00 and $25.00.

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Freehold, New Jersey 1751

Bond dated May 24 1751 for a loan for £100, which Mateÿs Piterson (Mathias Peterson), William Piterson (Peterson) and John Piterson (Peterson) of Freehold, New Jersey, yeomen (farmers) had borrowed from Charles Crooke, a baker, of New York City, with 50% of the loan, payable at 6% interest, in money of the Province of New York on May 7 1752. The document is signed by Mathias, William and John Peterson, with their wax seals adjacent, at the lower right, and is witnessed by Aevis V D Bilt (Avis Vanderbilt) and Peter Van Deventer at lower left. On the verso are five endorsements, given by Charles Crooke, and one executed by John Crooke, Charles' son, after his death, acknowledging receipt of interest dated 1764.

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Lycoming County, Pennsylvania 1818

Lycoming County, Pennsylvania dated May 1, 1818 reading in part: "...That Henry Hughes...with force & arms in & upon William Harper...an assault did make, and him the said William Harper then & there did beat, wound and ill treat & other wrongs to him the said Williams then & there did, to the great damage of the said William..."

Sag Harbor 1823

Receipt dated Sag Harbor [New York], October 29, 1823. P. Parker King acknowledges receipt of $30.00 from Henry P. Dering on behalf of Phineas King in payment for sheep.

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Jonas Davis of Brookhaven, Long Island, New York

Promissory bond for the "full Sum of 60 Pounds Currant Lawful Money of New York" from Jonas Davis of Brookhaven, Long Island, New York to Joseph Davis, also of Brookhaven. Witnessed by Israel Mills and George Punderson. Dated July 6, 1791. This bond was obviously paid, as the signature of Davis has been cut out, making the obligation unenforceable. The reverse is docketed for interest payments in 1793.

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