1794 Pennsylvania Land Deed Signed by Revolutionary Financier Tench Francis Jr. – Henry Drinker, 100 Acres
Original partly printed Pennsylvania land conveyance executed in Philadelphia on May 23, 1794, signed by prominent Revolutionary-era merchant and financier Tench Francis Jr., transferring his interest in a 100-acre tract to noted Philadelphia Quaker merchant and major Pennsylvania land investor Henry Drinker.
The document preserves the property’s earlier land-office history, beginning with an application made on July 18, 1786, apparently by James Boyd. A warrant was subsequently issued for the survey of 100 acres, described as originally situated in Northampton County and later in Luzerne County. Boyd conveyed his application and warrant rights to Tench Francis on August 15, 1786. For the nominal consideration of five shillings, Francis here “granted, bargained, and sold, conveyed and confirmed” those rights to Henry Drinker and his heirs.
Tench Francis Jr. was one of Philadelphia’s leading merchants and public figures. He served as agent for the Penn family, became the first cashier of the Bank of North America, helped finance the Continental cause during the Revolution and later served as Purveyor of Public Supplies for the United States. Henry Drinker was a prominent merchant whose extensive land investments in Pennsylvania and New York reportedly reached approximately half a million acres. The instrument is additionally witnessed by Henry S. Drinker, Henry Drinker’s son.
A compelling early American land document connecting two important members of Philadelphia’s Revolutionary and Federal-period commercial community with the rapid development and speculation of northeastern Pennsylvania lands.
Date: May 23, 1794
Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Signed: “Tench Francis”
Recipient: Henry Drinker
Witness: Henry S. Drinker
Property: Approximately 100 acres, formerly Northampton County and subsequently Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Format: Partly printed document completed in manuscript, one sheet
Condition: Expected folds from historical filing and storage; scattered toning, soiling and minor staining; edge wear with small chips and short tears, including minor loss at the upper-right corner. Several fold intersections show wear, but the principal text and Tench Francis signature remain clear and readily legible. Overall, an attractive and substantially complete example for a document more than 230 years old.
Original partly printed Pennsylvania land conveyance executed in Philadelphia on May 23, 1794, signed by prominent Revolutionary-era merchant and financier Tench Francis Jr., transferring his interest in a 100-acre tract to noted Philadelphia Quaker merchant and major Pennsylvania land investor Henry Drinker.
The document preserves the property’s earlier land-office history, beginning with an application made on July 18, 1786, apparently by James Boyd. A warrant was subsequently issued for the survey of 100 acres, described as originally situated in Northampton County and later in Luzerne County. Boyd conveyed his application and warrant rights to Tench Francis on August 15, 1786. For the nominal consideration of five shillings, Francis here “granted, bargained, and sold, conveyed and confirmed” those rights to Henry Drinker and his heirs.
Tench Francis Jr. was one of Philadelphia’s leading merchants and public figures. He served as agent for the Penn family, became the first cashier of the Bank of North America, helped finance the Continental cause during the Revolution and later served as Purveyor of Public Supplies for the United States. Henry Drinker was a prominent merchant whose extensive land investments in Pennsylvania and New York reportedly reached approximately half a million acres. The instrument is additionally witnessed by Henry S. Drinker, Henry Drinker’s son.
A compelling early American land document connecting two important members of Philadelphia’s Revolutionary and Federal-period commercial community with the rapid development and speculation of northeastern Pennsylvania lands.
Date: May 23, 1794
Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Signed: “Tench Francis”
Recipient: Henry Drinker
Witness: Henry S. Drinker
Property: Approximately 100 acres, formerly Northampton County and subsequently Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Format: Partly printed document completed in manuscript, one sheet
Condition: Expected folds from historical filing and storage; scattered toning, soiling and minor staining; edge wear with small chips and short tears, including minor loss at the upper-right corner. Several fold intersections show wear, but the principal text and Tench Francis signature remain clear and readily legible. Overall, an attractive and substantially complete example for a document more than 230 years old.
