Part 637s – Smith Robertson Genealogy – 1802 Port D’Espagne, Trinidad – Benjamin D’Harriette Smith

Good Day,

I’m reading the book A Passion for the Possible by Jean Houston and I chanced upon a couple of sentences in her first chapter that… well, here they are “And so I ask you to reflect on this: What would you be like if you started today to make the most of the rest of your life? If you turned a corner and awoke?”

As I type and work on this Posting, I have three of the four members of the Pack in my chair and lap, trying to get comfortable, while low-growling at each other as he or she adjusts position of comfort.

And then I continue in the search and research for the genealogy and origins of my ggg-grandfather James Smith. I continue with my Transcription Project.

The next Document from the Grenada Registers of Records is now from Item 4 of the microfilm FHL [1563378]. It is an 1802 contract between Benjamin D’Harriette Smith and Archibald Armstrong regarding some properties in Trinidad. As to a clue to a connection to ggg-grandfather James, I do not read one.

The above-inserted Google Map image is my guesstimate of the approximate location of one of the properties in Port of Spain, Trinidad at Abercromby(e) (formerly Princes) and Queen Streets.

Check out that Port of Spain is referred to as Port D’Espagne.

Here are images of the Pages 169 and 170.

And my transcription –

169

Entered 7th January 1803

This Indenture made the twenty seventh day of August in the Year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and two Between Benjamin D’Harriette Smith of the Island of Grenada Merchant of the one Part and Archibald Armstrong of the same Island Merchant of the other Part Witne∫seth that for and in Consideration of Five Shillings Sterling to the said Benjamin D’Harriette Smith in hand well and truly paid by the said Archibald Armstrong before the Sealing and delivery of these Presents the Receipt whereof thesaid Benjamin D’Harriette Smith Doth hereby acknowledge He the said Benjamin D’Harriette Smith Hath granted bargained and sold by these Presents doth grant bargain and sell unto the said Archibald Armstrong his Executors Administrators and A∫signs All his the said Benjamin D’Harriette Smith’s one undivided fourth part or share (the whole into four part to be equally divided) of and in All that Plantation Piece or Parcel of Land called the Garden containing two hundred and ten Acres of Land or thereabouts be the same more or le∫s situate lying and being in the Quarter of Arouca in the Island of Trinidad abutting and bounded as follows that is to say to the North by the Savannah of Arouca aforesaid to the South by the Savannah called Portivera, to the East by Lands of Count de Saint Pierre and of Monsieur LeBlanc and to the West of the Lands of Me∫sesieurs Nihell and Robinson or howsoever otherwise thesaid Plantation Piece or Parcel of Land or any part thereof is abutting and bounded and by whatever other Name or Names Description or Descriptions the same Plantation or any part thereof now is or heretofore hath been called or known distinguished or described And also of and in all Me∫suages Tenements Houses Outhouses Mills Stills Boiling houses Curing houses Edifices Erections and Buildings whichever erected Built standing or being in or upon the said Plantation Piece or Parcel of Land or on any part thereof And also of and in all Timber and other Trees Woods Underwoods and other growing things Ways Paths Pa∫sages Waters Water courses Pastures Grounds Hedges Ditches Fences Boundaries Lights Easements Profits Commodities Emoluments Advantages Hereditaments Rights Privileges Members and Appurtenances whatsoever to the said Plantation Piece or Parcel of Land Me∫suages Tenements and Premises or to any part or parcel thereof belonging or in any wise appertaining or with the same or any part thereof now or at any time heretofore used occupied po∫se∫sed or enjoyed or accepted reputed deemed taken or known as part parcel or Member of the same And also of and in all these Twenty Negro and other Slaves (be the same more or le∫s upon and belonging to the said Plantation and the future I∫sue and Increase of the Females of the said Slaves And also of and in all Horned Cattle Horses Mules and other Stock upon and belonging to the same Plantation And all

Plantation 

170

Plantation Tools Implements Utensils and other things whatsoever to thesaid Plantation Piece or Parcel of Land Me∫suages Tenements and Premises belonging or in anywise appertaining And the Reversion and Reversions Remainder and Remainders Rents I∫sues and Profits thereof and of every part and Parcel thereof with the Appurtenances And also all his the said Benjamin D’Harriette Smith’s one undivided Moiety or half part of and in All that Lot Piece or Parcel of Land Me∫suages and Premises numbered Sixty two and situate in Queen Street in the Town of Port D’Espagne in the Island of Trinidad aforesaid formerly belonging to Rebecca Griffith, containing in Front Sixty French feet and in Depth one hundred and twenty like feet be the same more or le∫s, bounded on the East by Lands and Houses of the said Rebecca Griffiths, on the West by Princes Street now called Abercrombe Street, on the North by Houses of Mr. Pache and on the South by the said Street called Queen Street, together with the Me∫suage or Tenement Outhouses Erections and Buildings thereon erected and built, and all Ways Paths Pa∫sages Waters Watercourses Easements Profits Commodities Advantages Emoluments and Hereditaments whatsoever to the said Lot Me∫suage or House and Premises belonging or in any wise appertaining or which to and with the same now are or at any time heretofore have been used held occupied accepted reputed deemed taken or known as part parcel or member thereof or of any part thereof And the Reversion and Reversions Remainder and Remainders Yearly and other Rents I∫sues and Profits thereof and of every ‘ part and parcel thereof with the Appurtenances To Have and to Hold All his thesaid Benjamin D’Harriette Smith’s said undivided fourth part of and in the said Plantation Slaves Hereditaments and Premises And also all his said undivided Moiety of thesaid Lot of Land Me∫suage and Premises and all and singular other the Premises above bargained and sold or meant mentioned or intended so to be with their and every of their Appurtenances unto the said Archibald Armstrong his Executors Administrators and A∫signs from the day next before the day of the date of these Presents for and during and until the full end and term of one whole Year from thence next ensuing and fully to be compleat and ended Yielding and Paying therefore unto the said Benjamin D’Harriette Smith the Rent of one Grain of Indian Corn on the last day of the said Term (if the same shall be lawfully demanded) To the Intent that by virtue of these Presents and by force of the Statute made for transferring Uses into Po∫se∫sion He the said Archibald Armstrong may be in the actual Po∫se∫sion of all and singular the said Premises hereby bargained and sold or meant mentioned or intended so to be with the Appurtenances and be thereby enabled to accept and take a Grant and Release of the Reversion and Inheritance thereof to him and his Heirs to the only proper Use and Behoof of the said Archibald Armstrong his Heirs and A∫signs for ever as in and by a certain Indenture intended to bear date the day next after the day of the date of these Presents and to be made between the same Parties as are Parties to these Presents In Witne∫s whereof the said Parties to these Presents have hereunto set their Hands and Seals the day and Year first above written

Benja: D (L S ) Smith

Sealed and Delivered In the presence of Thomas Berry & Rich Lawson

Grenada

Acknowledged before me by Benjamin D’Harriette Smith the Party executing the within Indenture as and for his free and voluntary Act and Deed this ninth day of August One thousand eight hundred and Two

GH Horsley Dep Register

On to the next Document in Item 4.

Enjoy,

Jim