LOT OF 5: 18TH AND EARLY 19TH CENTURY LAND PURCHASES AND DISPUTES

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/7/2018

1) Lieutenant Governor Richard Penn (1735-1811) to John Lukens (1720-1789), dated 28 April 1772, partially-printed DS, 1 page, oblong folio, slight toning on folds and edges, otherwise very good. Penn authorizes Surveyor General Lukens, on behalf of the Proprietors of Pennsylvania, to survey 25 acres in Whitehall Township, Northumberland County for Jacob Mickley, Jr., "provided the same Land does not lie in or interfere with any of our Manors." Order endorsed by Lukens at the bottom of the page, who instructs Deputy James Scull to execute the warrant. Provenance: Lot 426, A. L. Hanford Collection Sale, Kleinfelter's Auction Gallery, 11 March 2008. 2) William Maclay (1737-1804) to John Lukens, dated Fort Augusta, 16 April 1773, 1 page, on folded folio sheet with integral address leaf, some chipping and toning on the edges and external folds, otherwise very good. Future US senator and chronicler of the Constitutional Convention, Maclay originally studied law, but became a deputy surveyor for the Proprietors under Lukens. He appeals to the Surveyor General to determine whether the warrants granted to Doctor Plunket and Samuel Maclay fall within his survey district or that of Lukens' son, Deputy Charles Lukens, "as it would be unjust that he should be deprived of one farthing of the Fees, if in mine the same Reason holds good with respect to me." (A-11) 3) John Wilson transfers 400 acres in Northumberland County to Tench Francis. Partly-printed DS, 2 pages, bifolium, folds, and mount marks on docketed recto, otherwise near fine. Signed copy of a 31 October 1785 deed transferring 400 acres in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania from John Wilson to Tench Francis, signed and sealed by the former, witnessed and signed by Richard Bache and William Knox, the latter attesting to witnessing said transfer on party-printed recto attestation, dated 17 September 1787. Tench Francis (1730–1800) was a merchant, lawyer and agent for the family of William Penn, and the first cashier of the Bank of North America. He is said to have contributed £5,000 for the support of the Revolutionary army. Richard Bache (1737-1811), born in Yorkshire, England, immigrated to Philadelphia, where he was a businessman, a marine insurance underwriter, and later served as head of the Post Office. He also was the son-in-law of Benjamin Franklin. William Knox (1756–1795) was a younger brother of General Henry Knox, served as a military secretary to his brother during the siege of Boston, and in 1777 he operated his brother’s Boston bookshop and invested in privateering ventures, later becoming a merchant in Europe from 1781 to 1785. At the time of this transfer, he was a member of the tax commission in Philadelphia. Secretary of War Knox employed William as a clerk in the War Department from 1788 to 1789 before President Washington appointed him consul at Dublin in 1790. After his return from Ireland in 1793, he was confined in the Pennsylvania Hospital for insanity until his death. Provenance: Part of lot 48, Sotheby Park Bernet. 29 April 1980 4a-b) Berks County Survey Maps. "Draught of a tract of Land Situate in Roscombmenor township Berks County" sold by Jacob Strunk to William Henz [Haines?], dated 12 June 1845, with integral sketch map of survey, 1 page, quarto, light soiling on docketed area of recto, otherwise very good; with "Draught of a tract of One Acre and Sixty five perches...in Ruscombmanor township", sold Jacob Price to William D. Hains, 10 April 1856, 1 page with docketed recto, quarto, fine. (2 pieces) 5) Berks County Deed, Jacob and Susanna Price transfer a one acre and 65 perch parcel to William D. Haines (as per survey above), dated 19 April 1856, 2 pages, folded elephant folio sheet, separated at folds, with tape staining at same, light toning and chipping at edges, poor. From the Walter O'Connor collection.