84 Gift of Samuel Ward

    1680–1681

    A. Deed to Harvard College

    [April 9 1680]

    This witnesseth that I Samuel Ward of Charlestown in the County of Middlesex in the Massachusetts Colonye yeoman for Sundry causes mee thereunto moveing and more especially for the manifestation of [my] sincere desire to incourage and uphold the Seminary [of] learning and piety in Harvard Colledge at Cambridge [in] the abovenamed County Have given, granted, and assigned, and by these presents do fully clearly absolutely give, grant, assigne and confirme unto Mr. Urian Oakes President, Mr. John Shearman, Mr. Increase Mather, Mr. Daniel Gookin, Mr. Sa[muel] Andrew, fellows, and Capt. John Richards Trea [surer] All that my Iland scittuate, lying and being betw[een] the Towne of Hingham and Hull, commonly called Bumkin, or Wards Iland, conteyneing by estima[te] thirty acres more or less, with all the priviledges and appurtenances to the same apperteyneing in any wise belonging . . . . In witnes hereof I the above named Samuel Ward have hereunto put my hand and seale Aprill 9th, 1680.

    Samuell Ward [Seal]

    Sealed and delivered

    Jno. Danforth

    In presence off

    Thomas Barnard

    Before the signing hereof, Mr. Samuel Ward doth condition that he will hold and have the benefit and rent of said Iland during his life, and that his son in Law Isaac Lobdell shall hold same during his lease of twenty yeares, he paying the rent after his decease to the Colledge: ie. after said Samuel Wards decease and said rent to be in good pay.

    Acknowledged by Mr. Samuel Ward to be his act and deed.

    Before1 Thomas Danforth Deputy Governour.

    June 15th 1703 Received and Recorded with the Records of Deeds for the County of Suffolk Lib. XXIst page 278.

    per Addington Davenport Register

    Deeds Papers, Seventeenth Century Series. A tear in the margin requires some words to be supplied. For Samuel Ward and Bumpkin Island see CSM Publications, xv. 247. Three dots, in italics, indicate the omission of legal phrases common to such documents.