Amanuensis Monday

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.


John Newmark on his blog TransylvanianDutch has a weekly series each Monday called Amanuensis Monday. We are asked to post transcriptions of documents with the purpose of preserving their contents.


The following is the deed that was issued when my 2nd great grandfather, William Porter, bought 30 acres in Knox County:



Nelson M. Pond  
DEED ----- to
William Porter
Recd Oct 28, 1851.


This indenture made this 18th day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty between Nelson M. Pond & Hannah B. Pond his wife of the county of Knox and state of Ohio of the first part, & William Porter of the county of Knox and state of Ohio of the second part, witnesseth, that the said first party for and in consideration of the sum of four hundred dollars to them in hand well and truly paid by the said second party the receipt wherof is hereby acknowledged do by these presents give grant bargain sell alien convey and confirm to the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever all that lot or parcel of land lying and being in the county of Knox and state of Ohio, and more particularly described as follows, to wit; part of the second quarter of the sixth township and twelfth range, beginning at the corner of the Robb and Evans tracts are the east line of said quarter running thence north are the said east line of said quarter forty eight rods, to the corner of the 20 acre tract heretofore sold & conveyed to Robert Crawford thence westward parallel with the south boundary of said Robb tract, which is the north boundary of the said Evans tract one hundred rods thence south parallel with the said east line of said second quarter forty eight rods to the said south boundary of said Robb tract: thence eastward on said Robb & Evans boundary one hundred rods to the place of beginning, containing thirty acres, to have and to hold the premises hereby conveyed with all the privileges and appurtenances therewito belonging unto the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns forever, and the said Nelson M. Pond & Hannah B. Pond his wife heirs executors and administrators do covenant to and with the party of the second part, his heirs and assigns that they are well seized of the premises hereby granted and have good right and lawful authority to sell and convey the same in manner[?] and form aforesaid, and that the same are free and clear of all incumbrances, except a mortgage to B. C. Hurd, Trustee of A. B. Norton to secure the payment of two hundred dollars, and that they will forever warrant and defend the said premises with the appurtenances unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns against the lawful claims or demands of all persons whomsoever except the mortgage aforesaid, In witness whereof the said party of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year above written.
signed sealed acknowledged              [signed] Nelson M. Pond [initials] J.S.
and delivered in the presence of       [signed] Hannah B. Pond [initials] J.S.
Wm Sanderson; J. S. Davis,
State of Ohio Knox county ? on the 18th day of March A. D. 1850 before the undersigned a Justice of the peace within and for said county personally appeared the above named grantors who signed & sealed the foregoing deed, and acknowledged the signing and sealing thereof to be his voluntary act and deed, and the said Hannah B. Pond wife of the said Nelson M. Pond being by me examined separate and apart from her said husband and the contents of said deed being fully made known to her according to law, did declare that she did voluntarily sign seal and acknowledge the same, and that she is still satisfied therewith, Given under my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid  [signed] J. S. Davis, J.P.