1772 Colonial Philadelphia Vellum Deed — Christian Street House and Lot — Original Wax Seals — Revolutionary War Recording
A handsome and exceptionally large {16 x 32) Colonial American vellum indenture documenting the sale of a house and lot on Christian Street in the historic Southwark district of Philadelphia. Dated September 3, 1772, four years before the Declaration of Independence, the instrument was executed by Jane Towne, widow, and John Parrish, bricklayer, acting as executors of the estate of Philadelphia plasterer Joseph Towne.
For the considerable sum of £250 in Pennsylvania currency, the executors conveyed the property to Rebecca Jones. The deed describes a dwelling house and lot situated on the south side of Christian Street, measuring approximately 40 feet in frontage by 80 feet in depth. Its boundaries included Christian Street, a thirty-foot alley, land intended for James Bayly, and land intended for Michael Kuhn. The property remained subject to a yearly ground rent of £8—a characteristic feature of early Philadelphia real estate ownership.
The document preserves the earlier history of the title, tracing ownership through a December 24, 1760 conveyance involving Peter Klem, Andrew Bankson, Daniel Culin, John Justis, John Garret, Lawrence Garret, Elias Rambo, and Matthias Holstein. This extensive chain of title offers an unusually detailed record of property ownership in colonial Philadelphia.
Jane Towne and John Parrish have each signed the deed beside an original red wax seal. It was witnessed by Paul Isaac Voto and Abraham Shoemaker and acknowledged before Philadelphia justice Matthew Clarkson.
The reverse carries an important Revolutionary War-period recording endorsement, showing that the deed was entered in Philadelphia’s official records on August 19, 1778, in Deed Book D, No. 4, page 220. The endorsement is signed by John Morris Jr., then recorder of deeds for Philadelphia. Morris was a Revolutionary War militia quartermaster lieutenant colonel, secretary of Pennsylvania’s 1776 Provincial Convention, acting attorney general, and chief clerk of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Beautifully engrossed in brown ink on a single expansive sheet of vellum, the document begins with an ornate calligraphic “This Indenture” heading and retains its two original red wax seals. The combination of pre-Revolutionary execution, an identifiable Philadelphia street address, attractive seals, and Revolutionary War-period official recording makes this an unusually displayable artifact of colonial urban life.
Condition: Very good overall for a document more than 250 years old. Original storage folds with expected rippling, scattered light toning and soiling, several small edge nicks or holes, and occasional light or faded portions of text. The two red wax seals remain substantially complete with normal age cracking. The 1778 recorder’s seal impression and endorsement remain visible on the reverse.
A handsome and exceptionally large {16 x 32) Colonial American vellum indenture documenting the sale of a house and lot on Christian Street in the historic Southwark district of Philadelphia. Dated September 3, 1772, four years before the Declaration of Independence, the instrument was executed by Jane Towne, widow, and John Parrish, bricklayer, acting as executors of the estate of Philadelphia plasterer Joseph Towne.
For the considerable sum of £250 in Pennsylvania currency, the executors conveyed the property to Rebecca Jones. The deed describes a dwelling house and lot situated on the south side of Christian Street, measuring approximately 40 feet in frontage by 80 feet in depth. Its boundaries included Christian Street, a thirty-foot alley, land intended for James Bayly, and land intended for Michael Kuhn. The property remained subject to a yearly ground rent of £8—a characteristic feature of early Philadelphia real estate ownership.
The document preserves the earlier history of the title, tracing ownership through a December 24, 1760 conveyance involving Peter Klem, Andrew Bankson, Daniel Culin, John Justis, John Garret, Lawrence Garret, Elias Rambo, and Matthias Holstein. This extensive chain of title offers an unusually detailed record of property ownership in colonial Philadelphia.
Jane Towne and John Parrish have each signed the deed beside an original red wax seal. It was witnessed by Paul Isaac Voto and Abraham Shoemaker and acknowledged before Philadelphia justice Matthew Clarkson.
The reverse carries an important Revolutionary War-period recording endorsement, showing that the deed was entered in Philadelphia’s official records on August 19, 1778, in Deed Book D, No. 4, page 220. The endorsement is signed by John Morris Jr., then recorder of deeds for Philadelphia. Morris was a Revolutionary War militia quartermaster lieutenant colonel, secretary of Pennsylvania’s 1776 Provincial Convention, acting attorney general, and chief clerk of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Beautifully engrossed in brown ink on a single expansive sheet of vellum, the document begins with an ornate calligraphic “This Indenture” heading and retains its two original red wax seals. The combination of pre-Revolutionary execution, an identifiable Philadelphia street address, attractive seals, and Revolutionary War-period official recording makes this an unusually displayable artifact of colonial urban life.
Condition: Very good overall for a document more than 250 years old. Original storage folds with expected rippling, scattered light toning and soiling, several small edge nicks or holes, and occasional light or faded portions of text. The two red wax seals remain substantially complete with normal age cracking. The 1778 recorder’s seal impression and endorsement remain visible on the reverse.
