Transcript:Land sale, John Cowing to Israel Cowing, of Rochester, Plymouth, Massachusetts, 5 March 1724/25

Source

Original Source:Deed recorded in Plymouth County Registry of Deeds, Book 22, Page 172)

Intermediate Source:Leigh Cowing, 4 November 2013 to WMWILLIS, personal communication

Related

Person:John Cowen (2)

Text

To all people to whom those present shall come John Cowing of the Town of Rochester in the County of Plymouth within the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, Yeoman sendeth greeting. Know ye that I the seller John Cowing for and in consideration of the sum of two hundred pounds of currant money of New England to me in hand well truly paid at and before the unsealing and delivery hereof by Israel Cowing of Rochester aforesaid, in the County and Province aforesaid singleman . . . the receipt whereof I do acknowledge myself these with fully satisfied contented paid and thereof offering part and parcel thereof do acquit, exonerate and discharge to Israel Cowing his heirs executor administer every one of them forever. Have given, granted, bargained, sold aliened, entrusted and confirm unto him the buyer Israel Cowing his heirs and assigns forever the Northerly end of my Homestead whereup my now dwelling house standeth with part of my meadow ground and grounds as followeth beginning at a red oak sapling on the west side of ye road that leadeth to Mattapoisett adjoyning to ye land of Joshua Cowing towards the north with a range of white oak trees marked and bounded with ye Joshua Cowings land with it cometh to Mattapoisett river and bounded ye river towards the West down stream until it cometh to ye land of Caleb Cowing and then East by ye Caleb Cowings land towards South to the aforesaid way and bounded by the way towards ye East about one hundred and twenty eight rods to the first mentioned red oak sapling with the two acres of the two hundred acre grant belonging to Benjamin Fosters share. At first to have had and to hold all the above land with all singular and appurtenances, rights, privileges thereunto belonging or in any way appertaining unto him the buyer Israel Cowing his heirs assigns and to his and them alone propertys benefit forever. In witness whereof I have hereunto let my hand and seal this fifth day of March anno domini . . . one thousand seven hundred and twenty four/five, 1724/5." Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of --------- Note that before signing I do receive four rods in breadth for a way to walk ye cows from ye river to ye highway ----. John Cowing (Seal) Caleb Cowing & Mary Cowing (Source: Deed recorded in Plymouth County Registry of Deeds, Book 22, Page 172)

COURT RECORDS: At the General Session Court, Plymouth, September 1729, Samuel Clark, "Keeper of his Majesty's Gaol (jail) in Plymouth," stated that "John Cowing a poor Indigent Person was Imprisoned for Debt and had layn there for Eight Months past and had Nothing to Subsist him Self There." The Court order his children, John Cowing of Provincetown, and Joshua, Caleb & Israel Cowing, all of Rochester to show cause why they should not support their father. In December 1729, John Cowing requested that he be given the oath "for the Releif and Release of Poor Prisoners for Debt . . . by the said Law appointed." Cowing acknowledged that he had "Conveyed a Grate part of his Estate to and among his Children and acknowledged before the Court that the Debt for which he is imprisoned was Contracted before the conveyance of the said Estate and Could Not Give any Satisfactory accompt to the said Court how he was paid for the Same by his said Sons . . . which in the opinion of the Court amounts to legall Evidence . . . that the said John Cowing conveyed his estate with a Design to Defraud his Creditors." Therefore, the Court denied the oath by Law for Poor Prisoners for debt.