MS 54.  Literal transcription – misspellings are left intact, xxx denotes illegible word, italicized items are my own comments for clarification.  Please note that in some instances, the letter “s” may have been replaced with the letter “f,” and the letter “e” may have been replaced with the letter “o,” as was the custom at that time – TG.

Title Page:

DEED

B & I Yard}                 for

To}                              Lot

Samuel Tucker}            No 15

            5 1/3 a’s Land (acres)

            Trenton

In pencil: 29^th March              1768

Body:

This Indenture made the Twenty ninth Day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Sixty Eight Between Benjamin Yard of Trenton in the County of Hunterdon in new Jersey Blacksmith and Isaac Yard of the Same place Hatter of the one part and Samuel Tucker Esquire of the Same Place of the other Part Witnefseth that Whereas William Yard Late of Trenton aforesaid Deceased in his Life Time by virtue of Some good afsurance in Law duly had and Lawfully Executed became Seifsed as of ffee in and to Sundry Tracts and lotts of Land in and about Trenton aforesaid And Whereas the Said William Yard Decesed by his last will and Testament Bareing Date the Twelth day of ffebruary Anno Dom: 1742 amongst divers Legacies and Bequests therein mentioned Did give and Devise all his Real Estate Lands and Tenements in Hunterdon County aforesaid to his five Sons Joseph William John Benjamin and Jethro, Excepting one house Lott therein mentioned to them their heirs and afsigns forever, and his Real Estate as above to be Eaqually Devided for quantity and quality between his Said five Sons and also he did order and will that if Either of his five sons before mentioned Should Die without Lawfull Ifsue that then and in Such Café their part or Share should (if not Divided), be Eaqually Divided amongst his Surviveing sons or their heirs of their Bodies begotten all which by Recourfe being had to the Refited Last Will and Testament may more fully and at Large appear and Whereas the above mentioned Legatees Joseph Yard William Yard John Yard and Jethro Yard in Perfuance of the Last Will and Teftament of William Yard abovesaid Deceased Have unanimously agreed to fullfill the above Recited Last Will & Teftament And in Perfuance thereof Have made an Equal Divifion of the Real Estate Lands and Tenements and by the same to be Equally amongst them And Whereas Jethro Yard above named became feifed in ffee of Sundrie Lotts & parcels of the abovesaid Real Estate and he being so thereof siefed made his Last will and Teftament Dated the fourth Day of December Anno Dom: 1760 and amongst other things did Devise to his three Brothers Joseph Yard John Yard & Benjamin Yard and their Heirs and afsigns for ever his three Lotts of Land lying on maidenhead road Containing twenty two acres to be Equally Devided as to quantity and quallity as may more at Large appear by the Said Last will Recourfe being thereunto had-Now this Indenture Witnefseth that the said Benjamin Yard and Isaac Yard for and in Consideration of the Sum of Thirty five pounds, Ten Shillings Proclemation money of New Jersey to them in hand paid by the abovesaid Samuel Tucker the Receipt of which they do hereby own and acknowledge and thereof do acquit and forever Discharge him the said Samuel Tucker his Executors administrators forever by these presents have Granted Bargained Sold alliened Enfeoffed And by these Presents do fully, freely and absolutely Grant Bargain Sell allien Enfeoff and Confirm unto him the said Samuel Tucker his Heirs and afsigns one Certain Lott or pease of Land Called Number fifteen in the Plan of Devefion adjoineing to Land of Charles Axford Junior Beginning at his Corner Tree thence north forty nine Degrees west Ten Chain and Twenty five Links to maidenhead Road thence north fifty Seven Degrees East Seven Chain and Twenty five Links to William Yards Estates Land thence along his Line South Twenty nine Degrees East Ten Chain to his Corner then along the meadow Lotts Road South fifty Seven Degrees west four Chains to the place of Beginning Containing five acres and one half acre together with the woods under woods meadows marfhes ways waters watercourfses mines mineralls quarries fishings, fowlings, Rights Royalties Liberties previlidges Improvements hereditaments and appurtenances to the Same belonging or in any wise appertaining and the Reverfions and Remainders Rents Ifsues and Profits thereof To have and to hold the abovesaid Granted Bargained and Difcribed Lott of Land with the – the appurtenances unto him the Said Samuel Tucker his Heirs and afsigns to the only proper ufe and behoof of him the Said Samuel Tucker his Heirs and afsigns forever And the said Benjamin Yard and the Said Isaac Yard do Covenant for themselves and for their and xxx Respective Heirs to and with him the said Samuel Tucker his heirs and afsigns that by force and virtue of the above Refited wills they have full Power to Grant Bargain and the above Defcribed Lott or peace of Land to Sell and Convey in manner and form abovesaid And that the Said Samuel Tucker his heirs and afsigns Shall or Lawfully may at all times forever hereafter peaceably and quiatly have hold ufe occupy and Enjoy all and Singular the Said granted bargained and Defcribed Lott of Land with Every of the appurtenances without the Lawfull lett suit Trouble or molleftation of them the said Benjamin Yard or Isaac Yard or Either of their Heirs or any other perfon or perfons whatsoever by from or under them or Either of them And that the said Benjamin Yard and Isaac Yard nor Either of them have not wittingly or willingly done any matter or thing whatsoever whereby to change or alter the Same and Laftly that the Said Benjamin Yard and Isaac Yard the said Granted and Bargained Lott of Land as the Same as above bounded and Described unto him the said- Samuel Tucker his heirs and afsigns against the them the said Benjamin Yard and Isaac Yard and their several and Respective Heirs and against all and Every other person and Persons Lawfully Claiming or to Claim any Estate Right Title or Demand in or to the Said Granted and bargained Lott of Land or any part or parcel thereof by from or under them or their Heirs Shall and will Jointly and Severally warrant and forever Defend by these (presents)

In Witnefs whereof the parties first above named have hereunto Sett their hands and Seals the day and year first above Written 1768-

Signed Sealed and Delivered in the Resence of us}

Signed: William Yard}

            Nathan Wright}

            Francis Christian Witt}

Received from Samuel Tucker Esq’r Thirty five pounds Ten Shillings the Consideration money aforementioned witnefs our hand the 29^th Day of march 1768-

                                    Signed: Benj’a Yard

                                                Isaac Yard

Signed: Benj’a Yard Wax Seal

            Isaac Yard    Wax Seal

Verso:

Benjamin & Isaac Yard

To

Samuel Tucker

For

5 ½ acre