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1. William Penn True and Absolute Proprietary and Governour in Chief of the Province of Pensilvania and Territories hereunto belonging To all
2. To whom these Presents Shall come Sendeth Greeting Whereas by my Indentures of Lease and Release bearing date the fourteenth and fifteenth days of September in the Year one thousand Six hundred and eighty
3. one for the Considerations in them mentioned I Granted five thousand Acres of Land in this Province To Richard Davis To hold to him his heirs and assigns forever and Whereas the Said Richard Davis
4. By his Indentures of Lease and a Release bearing date the nineteenth and twentieth days of June in the Year one thousand six hundred and eighty two for the considerations in them mentioned Did Grant unto David Meredith one hundred acres
5. Of Land part of the Said five thousand acres To Hold to the Said David his heirs and Assigns forever and whereas the Said David Meredith for a valuable Sum of money to my Use and also purchased in this Province
6. Five hundred and fifty acres of Land in Right of which Said purchases by virtue of five Certain Warrants the one from my Self bearing date the nineteenth day of the first Month in the Year one thousand six hundred and eighty three
7. and the other from my former Commissioners dated the seventeenth day of the third Month in the Year one thousand Six hundred and Eighty seven there was Said cut to the Said David Meredith the twenty fourth day of the month and
8. Year last above unto a Certain Tract of Land then reputed to Contain three hundred and fifty acres in Radnor within the bounds of the Great Welsh Tract in the County of Chester which Said Tract of Land was Granted
9. and confirmed by my former Commissioners to the Said David Meredith To hold to him his heirs and Assigns forever as by a Certain instrument of Patent under their hands and Province Seal bearing date the twenty Sixth
10. day of the third Month in the Year one thousand Six hundred eighty nine doth appear out of which Said reputed three hundred fifty acres of Land the Said David hath sold one hundred and fifty Acres by means
11. whereof the Said David should have in his Possession of the Said three hundred and fifty Acres Only two hundred Acres being Resurveyed were found to be Situate as aforesaid bounded and Containing as follows viz Beginning
12. at a post at the Corner of Stephen ap Evans Land Thence Extending to the same South South West two hundred and thirty perches to a Post Then by Richard Moore’s Land North North west one hundred and
13. Seventy Six Perches to a Post Then by the line of David ap Rees Land East North east two hundred and thirty Perches to a Post Then South South East by the Line of Rees Thomas’s Land one hundred and Seventy Six
14. Perches to the Gate at the beginning Containing two hundred and fifty three Acres To two hundred Acres thereof the Said David Meredith having a right as aforesaid and twenty acres being allowed in measure And
15. The Said David Requesting to Purchase of Me the Remaining thirty three Acres and a Confirmation of Me which two hundred and fifty three acres patent know yee that as well for the Consideration in my Said
16. Indentures mentioned as is of the Sum of Eleven Pounds ~~~~~ Silver money of this Province to my Use paid by the Said David Meredith the Receipt whereof I doe hereby Acknowledge I have given Granted
17. Released and Confirmed and by these Presents for Yee my Heirs and Successors Do give Grant Release and Confirm unto the Said David Meredith his heirs and assigns for ever all that the Said two hundred and fifty three acres (be it
18. more or less) as the Same is now Set forth bounded and limited as aforesaid With all Mines Minerals Quarries Meadows Marshes Springs Gulies Woods Underwoods Timber and Trees Ways Waters Watercourses Farms Profits
19. Commodities Advantages Hereditaments and Appurtenances whatsoever to the Said two hundred and fifty three acres (be it more or less) or to any part or parts thereof belonging or in any wise appertaining and being within
20. the bounds and limits aforesd (three full and their fifth parts of all Royal Lines free from all deductions and reprisals for digging and refining of the Same only protected and herever reserved) And also free
21. Leave Right and Liberty to and for the Said David Meredith his heirs and Assigns to Hawk Hunt Fish and fowl upon ye sd Granted Land To have and to hold the Said two hundred and fifty three acres of Land and
22. Premises hereby Granted by me before excepted) with their appurtenances to ye sd David Meredith his heirs and Assigns to the only proper use and behoof of ye sd David Meredith his heirs and assigns for ever to be holden of
23. Me my Heirs and Successors and Proprietaries of Pensilvania as of His Mannor (or reputted Mannor of Spring Town in ye County of Chester in free and Common Succage by feoffs only in lieu of all other Services
24. yielding and paying from the date of the first Surveys to Me my Heirs and successors at or upon the first day of the first month called March in every Year at the Borrough of Chester one English
25. Silver shilling for every hundred acres and so proportionally or value thereof in Coin money to a Such person or persons as from time to time shall be appointed to receive the same In witness whereof
26. I have by virtue of my Commission to my Proprietary Deputies bearing date the eight and twentieth day of October in the Year one thousand and seven hundred and one Have set my Great Seal of the Said Province
27. to be herunto Affixed Witness Edward Shippen, Griffith Own Thomas Story and James Logan my Said Deputies or any three of them in Philadelphia the first day __day of the third Month in the third year
28. Of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Queen Anne over England And the thousand of my Government Anno Domni 1704
Edward Shippon Griffith Owen Thomas Story James Logan
Recorded in the Rolls Offices at Philadelphia
In Patent book A: vol 3 page 130 the 12th of 7 mo 1705
By Tho Story
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Historical Events Recorded in Patent
September 14-
June 19-
March 19, 1683 – One Warrant (promise) for land of a portion of five hundred and fifty acres from William Penn to David Meredith of land in Pennsylvania referred to as the Welsh Tract.
May 17, 1687 – Four Warrants (promises) for land of a portion of five hundred and fifty acres from William Penn by his Land Commissioners to David Meredith of land in Pennsylvania referred to as the Welsh Tract.
May 24, 1687 – Three hundred and fifty acres “cut” from Radnor Township in Chester County and granted and confirmed to David Meredith by the Land Commissioners of William Penn in partial compensation for the Warrants granted David Meredith by William Penn and his Land Commissioners on March 19, 1683 and May 17, 1687.
May 26, 1689 – Patent for three hundred and fifty acres from William Penn by his Land Commissioners to David Meredith of the land in Radnor Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania “cut” from Radnor Township on May 24, 1687.
Unknown Date – Sale of one hundred fifty acres of three hundred and fifty acres patented to David Meredith of land in Radnor Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania by David Meredith to an unknown party.
Unknown Date – Remaining two hundred acres of land previously patented to David Meredith on May 26, 1689 is resurveyed and found to contain two hundred and fifty three acres of which David Meredith is entitled to only two hundred and twenty acres.
May 1, 1704 – Patent for thirty three acres and “confirmation” of the two hundred and fifty three acres from William Penn by his Land Commissioners to David Meredith of the lands previously resurveyed and originally patented to David Meredith on May 26, 1689 in Radnor Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
July 12, 1705 – Patent of May 1, 1704 recorded in the Rolls Offices at Philadelphia In Patent book A: Volume 3, Page 130 by Thomas Story, Land Commissioner for William Penn.
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1704 Patent for 33 Acres of Landin Radnor Township, Pennsylvania with Confirmation of 253 Acres to David Meredith from William Penn through
His Land Commissioners in Philadelphia
Document’s Actual Dimensions:
26” wide, 9 3/8” high, ¼” folded up at bottom & tied with two blue ribbons.
Transcription by Barbara James of Wilmington, North Carolina