Rare William Penn Family Philadelphia Deed 1822 Signed & Sealed by John Cadwalader and Thomas Morris.

This is a wonderful piece of Philadelphia history, a vellum indenture / deed, recording the transfer of property from Mary Penn, wife of Richard Penn, Jr., who was the grandson of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania.

This is a bit of historical background on Mary Penn and family:

Richard Penn, Jr., ( 1735-1811 ) was the grandson of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania.

He was the Governor of Pennsylvania from 1771 to 1773. From 1773 – 1774, he was the President of the Board of what became the University of Pennsylvania. He was the 1^st president of the Philadelphia Jockey Club from it’s inception in 1766 until he departed for England in 1769.

He returned to Philly in in 1771, marrying Mary (Lawrence) Masters the following year in Christ Church.

As a wedding present, Mary’s family gave the couple a fancy new residence on Market Street. The house was so fine that it later became the United State’s 1^st Executive Mansion, and the home of George Washington and John Adams when Philadelphia was the Capital.

Richard was well thought of by the people of Philadelphia, and in 1775 agreed to carry the “Olive Branch” petition from the Continental Congress to King George.

This petition was essentially a last attempt to prevent formal war from being declared.

The terms of the petition were rejected by the British House of Lords, and the American War for Independence became inevitable.

From that time on, other than a year-long visit back to Philadelphia in 1808, Penn and family resided in England for the rest of their days.

Richard Penn became a member of Parliament for many years, and passed away in Surrey in 1811.

Mary Penn, his widow, is the “seller” associated with this deed.

Mary, ( maiden name Mary “Polly” Masters, ) who was born & raised in Philadelphia, survived her husband by 18 years, passing on Aug. 16^th, 1829. ( 7 years after selling this Philadelphia property to Joseph Lowery.)

Mary, was the daughter of William Masters of Philadelphia. Her grandfather, Thomas Masters, was the Mayor of Philadelphia from 1707 to 1709.

William Masters inherited “Green Spring,” a large tract of land in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia, where he lived and where he operated the Globe Mill. A man of considerable wealth, he married Mary Lawrence, the daughter of Councillor Thomas Lawrence.

Masters was a member of the provincial assembly and a commissioner to spend money designated for the defense of the province of Pennsylvania. He was also a founder and trustee of the College and Academy of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania), serving until his death in 1760.

Masters’ Globe Mill business was located just west of the plot of ground discussed in this indenture. You can see it on the map, just to the left of the “X” in image 12, which marks the spot described here.

Mary Penn died in Surrey, England on August 16^th, 1829.

 

The front of the folded document states “N. 921….. April, 1822

Deed of Extinguishment…Mary Penn by her attorney John Cadwalader to Joseph Lowery”

( There is also a stamp from the “Reading Co. Real Estate Dept.” I imagine that at some point the title passed to the Reading Railroad. )

This is the text of the indenture, as best as I can decipher the 19^th century legalese:

“Know all men by these presents that whereas Mary Penn, in the town of Richmond, in the county of Surrey, in England, widow, did by this indenture dated the 1^st day of August, in the year of Our Lord one thousand-eight hundred and twelve, grant and convey to John Craige (?) of the Northern Liberties, saddler, all that certain lot or piece of ground situate in the Northern Liberties assorded(?) on the east side of the Germantown Road, three hundred and sixty-eight feet southward from a fifty feet wide street called Masters Street, containing in front on said Germantown Road, forty feet and running the same breadth two hundred and fifteen feet in length or depth to a forty feet wide street called Cadwalader Street bounded northward by a lot intended to be let on ground sent forward to Thomas Reed, southwardly by ground intended to be let on ground sent forward to Hugh Blair, eastwardly by Cadwalader Street, and westwardly by Germantown Road, he the said John Craige his heirs and assignees(?) yielding and paying(?) therefore and thereout to the said Mary Penn her heirs and assignees(?) the yearly rent or sum of eighty dollars lawful money of the trusted(?) state(?) as by a reference to said indenture will more fully and at large appear and whereas the said John Craige by indenture dated the twenty-fifth day of February, anno domini 1814, did convey all his rights title and interest in the premises above described to Joseph Lowery(?) of Montgomery County, farmer, and to his heirs and assignees(?) subject nevertheless  to the aforesaid yearly rent. Know(?) this indenture witnesseth that the said Mary Penn, by Thomas Cadwalader of the City of Philadelphia, Esquire, her attorney duly constituted by Letter of Attorney duly executed and recorded at Philadelphia aforesaid in the office for Recording of Deeds in Letter of Attorney book IO no.1 vol 193 ve(?) for and in consideration of the sum of one thousand-three hundred and thirty-three dollars and thirty-three cents to her said attorney in hand(?) paid at or before the sealing and delivering(?) hereof the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged Hath extinguished termed(?)  and released and forever quitted claim and by these presents doth extinguish termed(?) and forever quit claims unto the said Joseph Lowery, his heirs, executors, and administrators and assigns all the aforesaid ground rent of eighty dollars issuing(?) out of the terms(?) is herebefore set forth and described and all and every covenant in the above executed indenture set forth and contained, and all and every claim and demand of, in, and to the said yearly rent, and all arrearages thereof unto the said Joseph Lowery, his heirs, executors, administrators and assignees, so that the said ground rent shall be forever extinguished, released, and destroyed, and the above described lot of ground and premises be and remain forever free and discharged from the payment of said rent. In witness whereof the parties of these presents have hereunto set their hands and seals this ninth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand-eight hundred and twenty-two.”

Mary Penn, by her attorney John Cadwalader ( seals affixed )

Sealed and delivered in the presence of us ( “signed” John Cadwalader & Tho. W. Morris) on the fourth day of April, AD 1822 before me, the subscriber, one of the Aldermen of the City of Philadelphia, personally appeared Thomas Cadwalader, above named and acknowledged in this indenture to be his act and deed, and the act and deed of his constituent, the said Mary Penn, and desired the same may be recorder as such. In witness whereof I have hereunto I have set my hand and seal this day and year first above written.

( signature ? ) ( I can’t make it out.)

Received on the day of the date of this indenture, the sum of one thousand-three hundred and thirty-three-dollars and thirty-three cents, in full for the consideration above.

(Signed) J. Cadwalader, attorney for Mary Penn

(Signed) Witness Tho. W. Morris

On the reverse, folded side of the document it says: “Recorded in the office for recording deeds for the City and County of Philadelphia in Deed Book J.FCNo.1 page 598(?)

Witness my hand and seal of office this 12^th day of April, 1822. Signed John Harrison” (?)

 

There is no doubt that the Master’s, Penn’s, Cadwalader’s, and Morris’s were all well known to each other. Indeed, Master’s ( now Master ) Street and Cadwalader Street ran adjacently.

The indenture doesn’t list a street address for the property, but in the 1813 Philadelphia Directory, John Craige’s Saddlery is listed as being located at “the Corner of 3^rd & Germantown Road. “

John Cadwalader, attorney at law, resided at 62 S. 6^th Street, with his office on the S.E. corner of Ninth & Mulberry ( Mulberry is now Arch Street )

Cadwalader street ran between 2^nd Street & Germantown, above Master’s Street.

Thomas W. Morris, also an attorney, had his house at 134 S. 3^rd Street.

The indenture references Mary Penn first leasing this land to “John Graige, Saddler”, in 1812.

In 1814, the property was leased to “John Lowery, Farmer.”

Finally, in 1822, the plot was sold outright by Mary Penn to John Lowery, which is the final transaction recorded in this deed.

In addition to being signed by John Cadwalader, Mary Penn’s attorney, and Thomas W. Morris, as a witness, there is one other signature on the document. Unfortunately, I can’t decipher what it says.

There is a bit of “bleed-through” at the seals. Not surprising after 200+ years. Otherwise, very good original condition.

Unfolded, the indenture measures @ 27 X 16". It is made of heavy vellum, probably goatskin.

This rare find would be great for anyone interested in Philadelphia, or Penn family history.

I welcome any and all questions.

Happy Bidding & Good Luck!