Early land deed
Deed for Pawtuxet land to Jacob Clarke, signed by Dan'l. Abbott, surveyor, and Robert Knight & Andrew Harris, as "Committee."
[Pawtuxet?]: March 10, 1730/31. Two sides of a single sheet approx. 9" x 8", docketed at a later date on the verso by Christopher Lippitt as clerk, June 4, 1774; recorded in the first bound book of the proprietors in folio 3. Folds & edges worn. Browned. Early original deed to Joseph Clarke for 24 and 1/2 acres in Pawtuxet (Cranston/Warwick), Rhode Island. The meters and bounds description shows land from the Daniel Abbot survey located near Daniel Mathewson, Joseph Fenner, and Joseph Carpenter; "24 acres and 76 rods of the above land is on the Third Division and four rods is on the Fifth Division." A small sketch is made of the shape of the acreage and a note on the verso says: "Thomas Olney desirs me to take up 8 pounds in william olney Name to ye amount of twenty pound and one deed in william olney name that I am to gitt discharged." Pawtuxet was included in the purchase of Providence when Roger Williams received the land from the Indians in 1636. Pawtuxet, today a thriving historic village, is the Indian name for "Little Falls" and was settled in 1638. Andrew Harris was a descendent of William Harris (1610-1681), one of the original settlers of the town of Providence in 1636 and one of the proprietors of the Pawtuxet Grant, the tract of land located in present-day Cranston. Harris and the other original proprietors became involved in a protracted dispute over their legal claim and Harris traveled to England four times in an attempt to secure his claim. In 1680, he was captured by Algerian pirates but survived to be ransomed, only to die a few weeks later. William Harris' descendants continued the disputes over the Pawtuxet lands for many years after his death. Other names found on this document, Robert Knight and Christopher Lippitt, were to have descendents who would start Fruit of the Loom and the nationwide Lippitt cotton mill industry. (See Harris papers at RI Historical Society). Item #57644
Price: $325.00
