WADSWORTH, JEREMIAH
A.M.S. "Jere Wadsworth" [sic].
November 24, 1799.
Countersigned by John Porter and Samuel Wyllys.
This is a sales contract, or quit-claim for land in Hartford, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, to Ebenezer Barnard. Mentioned is William Ellery, a Signer of the Declaration of Independence, who owned land adjoining this property.
Jeremiah Wadsworth (1743-1804) He was a son of the Reverend Daniel Wadsworth, a pastor with the First Church of Christ, and his mother was Abigail Talcott, daughter of Connecticut governor Joseph Talcott. He married Mehitable Russell in 1767 and had three children, Daniel, Harriet, and Catherine.
He was a descendant of William Wadsworth, one of the founders of Hartford, and was an American sea captain and merchant who served in both the Continental Congress, and the U. S. Congress. He was appointed Treaty Commissioner, by George Washington, at the Treaty of Big Tree between the U.S. and the Seneca nation in 1797.
During the Revolution, he supplied provisions to the Continental Army, as a government official.
He was a member of the Continental Congress in 1788 and a member of the Connecticut convention which ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1788. From 1789 to 1795 he served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1795 and of the state Executive Council from 1795 to 1801.
Samuel Wyllys (1739-1823) was an American military officer and a Connecticut politician. He served as an officer in the American Revolution. In 1775, he was appointed lieutenant colonel in Colonel Joseph Spencer's 2nd Connecticut Regiment. on July 1, he was promoted to Colonel, and commanded the regiment until January 1, 1776, when the 2nd Connecticut was reorganized as the 22nd Continental Regiment. Wyllys remained in command of the regiment, serving in the Siege of Boston until the British evacuation on March 17, and then marched with George Washington to New York. He saw action in the Battle of Long Island and served in the New York vicinity until the end of the year.
From 1777-1781, Colonel Wyllys commanded the 3rd Connecticut Regiment in the Connecticut Line, serving under General Samuel Holden Parsons. His regiment served in the New York area throughout the remainder of the war. He was later appointed Major General of the Connecticut Militia.
Following the war, he served as a representative in the Connecticut General Assembly, and as the Secretary of the State of Connecticut from 1796 to 1809.
Ebenezer Barnard (1748-1827) was a son of Ebenezer (1725-1799) and Thankful Nichols (1722-1780). Having no children of his own, he was guardian of the children of Nathaniel Goodwin.
Excerpts transcribed; Know all men present That I Jeremiah Wadsworth of Hartford in the county of Hartford and state of Connecticut for diverse good causes and considerations thereunto moving, especially for Two Thousand Dollars received to my full satisfaction of Ebenezer Barnard Of Berlin in the county and state aforesaid....and forever quit claim unto the said Ebenezer Barnard all such right and title as I the said Jeremiah Wadsworth have or ought to have in or to the following pieces or parcels of land lying in said Town Of Hartford. Viz.The first of said pieces of land is part of a lot bought by Josiah Buck of John Thomas lies on Connecticut River beginning on said Connecticut River on the north line of land this day deeded to Josiah Buck running westerly about one hundred fifteen feet to a monument near the height of the bank of said river........Said passway to begin on the line of William Ellery’s land and to extend northerly of the aforesaid width.....
The second piece of land is part of a lot of land lying On the little river bought by Josiah Buck Of John Thomas..... to a point from which a northerly line shall strike the first mentioned boundary reserving to Chauncey Goodrich & Josiah Buck respectively add to their heirs and assigns forever full right title.....
The third piece of land is part of the lot bought by Josiah Buck of John Thomas and lying on the little river..... South of Ellery’s road so called.....
The fourth piece of land is part of sandlot bought by Josiah Buck of John Thomas And line on the little river on the east side of a road ....laid out in the line of William Ellery’s land, northerly in the line of Ellery’s land...
... fall right title and privilege to Ebeneezer Barnard...Thoughts this piece of land is part of sandlot part by Josiah Buck of John Thomas And lying and a little river beginning at a monument on the west side of a road.
( section covered by old paper as shown, most likely an original error and avoid rewriting the document!)
...So that neither I the said Jeremiah nor any other person or persons in my name or behalf shall or will hereafter claim or demand any right or title to the premises.....
...the 23rd date of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred ninety nine signed sealed and delivered in the presence of John Porter, Samuel Wyllys
Hartford County, Hartford Nov. 23, 1799 personally appeared Jeremiah Wadsworth Esq signer & sealer of the foregoing instrument & acknowledged the same to be his free Act & Deed before me. Sam. Wyllys
Revised November 24, 1799 and entered on the records of the Town of Hartford book No. 22 page 39. {most likely the day that portion was covered over about 7 or 8 lines)
Hartford, located at the end of the navigable portion of the Connecticut River, was settled in 1623 as a Dutch trading post called House of Hope. In 1636, a group of English settlers led by the Reverend Thomas Hooker left Massachusetts and formed a colony here. The settlers made peace with the local Algonquin Native Americans, who called the town Saukiog, and renamed it after Hertford, England. It was chartered in 1784. Population in 1800 was 3,523.
Condition and notes
Folio, 4pp.
three horizontal folds
some breaks and separation
with seals
Age toned
Light foxing
Edge chips
Some stains
Heavily creased
Ink smudges
As pictured they placed a piece of paper over the lower portion on the third page
Entire document pictured as part of condition report
Additional photos on request
Shipped folded in half as it has been for generations