East Jersey Proprietor
Manuscript Indenture signed (“Char. Dunster”), also signed (“Lewis Morris"), ("Alex. Mackdowell”), (“Mich. Kearny”), conveying 500 acres of land along the North Branch of the Raritan River, in the County of Somerset, in the Province of New Jersey, to John Dumont "for & in consideration of the sum of five hundred pounds current money of the province of New Jersey"
Perth Amboy [NJ]: August 30, 1726.
Price: $500.00
About the item
1p. Pen and ink on vellum with wax seal, docketed on verso. 1 vols. 15-1/2 x 12-1/2 inches. East Jersey Proprietor. Old folds, fine.
Item #228625
An important Somerset County document relating to the colonial history of New Jersey.
The land in the Raritan Valley of New Jersey, encompassing what is now Somerset County, was acquired by the East Jersey proprietors in the 1680s, through several purchases from its Native American owners. The land conveyed in our indenture is half of lot No.55 of the Second Indian Title, which was surveyed for Lord Neil Campbell, a Scottish nobleman who served as Deputy Governor of East New Jersey during 1686. The land was subsequently acquired by East Jersey Proprietor, and Perth Amboy merchant Charles Dunster, Esq. (d.1727).
In addition to the signauture of Charles Dunster, our indenture is also signed by Lewis Morris (1671-1746), who at the time of this conveyance was president of the New Jersey Provincial Council, as well as Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court. Morris would be appointed the 8th Colonial Governor of New Jersey in 1738, and served in that office until his death in 1746. Morris was the grandfather of many prominent Americans, including Lewis Morris (1726–1798), Delegate to the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence; New York Chief Justice Richard Morris; New Jersey Chief Justice Robert Morris (1745-1815); and U.S. Senator Gouverneur Morris (1752–1816).
Other signatures include: Alexander Mackdowell, and Michael Kearney, Treasurer of the Eastern Division of New Jersey, who was also the son-in-law of Lewis Morris.
