11 John Newgate’s Deed of Gift

    [June 11 1650]

    These presents bearing date the Eleventh of the Fourth Month commonly called June in the year 1650 Witness that I John Newgate of the Church of Christ at Boston in Masachuset of my owne accord by the help and strength of the Lord Jesus willingly and freely doe give and grant unto and establish upon Harvard Colledge in Cambridge in New England the summe of five pound per Annum for ever towards the maintainance of Lawful, useful and Godly literature therein, and cheifly to the furtherance of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and his word and will. And the said summe to bee disposed of by the President and Fellows of the said Colledge with the Advice of the Overseers for the best advancement of the aforesaid Godly ends. Which said summe of five pound, I promise to pay by Five and Twenty Shillings Quarterly during my owne life, at or [. . .] unto the Colledge. Quarter dayes that is to say about the longest and shortest dayes, and when that nights and dayes are equal. But upon my decease I order it so to bee paid out of those Rents and Revenues that shal arise out of my farme at Rumney Marsh so called. But in case that God by his Providence offer any purchase of Twenty or Thirty pound by the year that may bee bought for the Colledges maintainance Then I shall most willingly joyne and bear a ratable part in the same; which is I conceive better for the College and shall be in stead of this yearly Revenew given by mee. So that upon such a purchase [stated?] upon the Coledge, this Annuity returne into my owne hands. Yet I furthermore promise by the same blessed strength which hath enabled mee to this thing, that if it shal please the Lord to enlarge his hand towards mee in these outward things, that then I will enlarge my hand in this my gift, to testify my thankfulnes for his mercy to mee. And in witness of these promises I hereto set my hand and seal the day and year Abovesaid.

    Sealed and Delivered in presence of

    Hezekiah Usher

    John Newgate

    This Deed was acknowledged by Mr. John Newgatt the 12th of the 3d month 1662 Before mee Richard Russell.

    [Endorsed:] Boston, March 15th 1702. Entered and Recorded with the Records of Deeds for the County of Suffolk Lib. xxi. pa. 201. per Addington Davenport, Register

    Deeds Papers, Seventeenth Century Series. Photocopy in Morison, Seventeenth Century, i. 36. This deed of gift established an annuity of £5 to the College from the income of Mr. Newgate’s farm at Rumney Marsh (later Chelsea). The donor was a well-to-do hatter in Boston, and frequently a selectman. His Will, which mentions this annuity, is printed in New England Historical and Genealogical Register, xiii. (1859), 333; see also CSM Publications, xvi. 834. The Will was dated November 25, 1664, and he died in 1665.