| Although this document does not use the word indenture, it is that type of deed in view of the fact that it was between two or more parties. This deed is dated 1768, and is written on parchment ~ tanned and stretched calfskin. The text in the top half of this indenture reads: "WHEREAS in Pursuance of a Warrant dated the twenty-fifth day of March 1750 there was Surveyed unto Lodowick Mouse a Certain tract of land called 'The Mouse Hole' Situate over the blue Mountains formerly Lancaster now Berks County Beginning at a post in a line of Stephen Wolleys land thence by the same North eighty three perches and a half to a Stone thence by Vacantland East one hundred & fifty two perches to a marked black oak North fifty six perches and a half to a marked Pine East Two hundred and sixty perches to a stone, South One hundred and fifty perches to a marked white oak, West Four hundred and twelve perches to the place of Beginning Containing Five hundred and four Acres and One hundred and twenty six perches and allowance of Six perCent for Roads. As by the said Warrant & Survey remaining in the Surveyor Generals Office from thence Certified into our Secretaries Office more fully appears AND WHEREAS the said Lodovick Mouse by his Deed dated the thirteenth of December 1762 for the Consideration therein mentioned did grant bargain sell & confirm the said Tract of land within the Appurtenances unto Philip Erp in Fee AND WHEREAS the said Philip Erp by his by his Deed dated the Ninth of September last did grant bargain and sell the said Tract of land with the Appurtenances unto Jacob Fisher in Fee As by the said Deed now produced appears". The text in the bottom half of this indenture reads, in part: "NOW at the instigate and request of the said Jacob Fisher ~ that we would be pleased to grant him a Confirmation of the same KNOW YE that in consideration of the Sum of forty seven pounds five Shillings lawful Money of Pennsylvania, to our use paid by the said Jacob Fisher. . .WITNESS John Penn Esq Lieutenant Governor of the said province who by virtue of certain Powers and Authorities to him for this Purpose, inter alia granted by the said Proprietaries hath hereunto set his Hand. . . this twenty eighth Day of June in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixtyeight, the Eighth year of the Reign of King George the third. . ." According to the text, the tract of land was originally warranted by Lodowick Mouse, who then had the tract surveyed and patented. Mouse sold the tract of land to Philip Erp in what amounted to the first deed regarding the property. Erp then conveyed the tract of land to Jacob Fisher by deed. Jacob Fisher apparently did not have a document to prove his recent purchase of the land, so he submitted a request to the proprietors of the colony of Pennsylvania for just such a document to confirm his ownership of the tract. At the time this deed was issued, William Penn's sons, Thomas and Richard Penn were jointly governing as the proprietaries of the colony. Their other brother, John, and co-proprietary from 1718, had died in 1746. Richard's son, John, began serving as Lieutenant Governor in 1763. It is his signature that sealed this deed. In regard to the sealing of the deed, in place of a wax or clay seal, a length of red silk ribbon was sewn over John Penn's signature. |
