Part 654s – Smith Robertson Genealogy – 1803 Gavin Smith – St. George, Grenada – A Diagram of Property

Good Day,

And just for any of you who may have thought that I had gone missing in my work of my Transcription Project of all Smith-related Indentures from the Grenada Registers of Records… No such deal!

Believe it or not I took a bit of a respite from the search for the genealogy and origins of my ggg-grandfather James Smith. I have been preoccupied, with my quilting partner Andy, getting our quilt exhibit portfolio, Evolution together and ready for the upcoming MQX East 2012 Show to be held in April in Providence, Rhode Island. Just a small break… and almost all the work is all done.

And so I continue now with my Transcription Project.

This next 1803 Document from the Grenada Register of Records is a continuation of the sale of property between Samuel Bosanquet and Jacob Bosanquet and Gavin Smith. The nice thing about this document is that a diagram of the actual property borders and boundaries is included in the Indenture. I do not have to check out with modern maps to understand the specifications. The Diagram is the one inserted above.

This Document is a continuation of and follows the contract transcription work from Part 642s.

Here are the images of Pages 377 through and including 380. They are downloaded from Item 4 of the FHL microfilm [1563378].

And my transcription –

377

Xd

Entered 12th May 1803

This Indenture made the Eleventh day of May in the Year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and three between Samuel Bosanquet and Jacob Bosanquet of the City of London Esquires acting herein by Henry Rush of the Island of Grenada Esquire their constituted Attorney in this behalf (as appears by a certain Deed Poll under the respective Hands and Seals of thesaid Samuel Bosanquet and Jacob Bosanquet bearing date on or about the fourth day of March in the Year aforesaid and recorded in the Register’s Office of the Island aforesaid) of the one Part and Gavin Smith of the Island aforesaid Gentleman of the other Part Witnesseth that for and in Consideration of Six hundred Pounds lawful Money of Great Britain by thesaid Gavin Smith to the

said

378

Said Samuel Bosanquet and Jacob Bosanquet in hand at or before the ensealing or delivery of these Presents well and truly paid (being the Consideration for the complete purchase of the absolute Estate of Inheritance in fee simple of and in the Lot of Land and Hereditaments hereinafter mentioned to be hereby released) the receipt whereof they the said Samuel Bosanquet and Jacob Bosanquet do hereby acknowledge and thereof do acquit release and discharge the said Gavin Smith his Heirs Executors and Administrators and every of them for ever by these Presents They thesaid Samuel Bosanquet and Jacob Bosanquet Have and each to them Hath granted bargained sold released and confirmed and by these Presents Do and each of them Doth grant bargain sell release and confirm unto thesaid Gavin Smith (in his actual Po∫se∫sion now being by virtue of a Bargain and Sale to him thereof made by the said Samuel Bosanquet and Jacob Bosanquet for five shillings consideration by Indenture bearing date the day next before the day of the date of these Presents for one whole Year commencing from the day next before the day of the date of the same Indenture of Bargain and Sale and by force of the Statute for transferring uses into po∫se∫sion) and to his Heirs and A∫signs All that Lot Piece or Parcel of Land situate lying and being in the Town of St. George in the Island aforesaid formerly belonging to Me∫srs Threlfords and Anderson ( A Diagram whereof is hereunto annexed) containing in front towards Melville Street and Halifax Street forty five feet by two hundred feet in Depth being bounded on the North by Lands of McDowall and Moritz Hardman on the East by Halifax Street on the South by Lands of John Coxal and Brothers and Alexander Houstoun and on the West by Melvile Street aforesaid together with all Me∫suages Tenements Pieces of Garden Ground outhouses edifices buildings Stables Yards Backsides and Appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging or in any wise appertain- ing and all ways waters watercourses Liberties Easements Privileges Profits Advantages Heredita- ments and Appurtenances whatsoever to thesaid Lot Piece or Parcel of Land Hereditaments and Premises or any part thereof belonging or in any wise appertaining or therewith usually occupied or enjoyed or 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 Rents I∫sues and Profits thereof And all the Estate Right Title Interest Use Trust Claim and Demand whatsoever both at Law and in Equity of them the said Samuel Bosanquet and Jacob Bosanquet or either of them of in or to the same every or any part or parcel thereof And all Deeds Evidences and Writings in their and each of their hands Custody or Power which solely relate to or concern thesaid Premises or any part thereof and true Copies of all such other deeds evidences and Writings as relate to or concern the same jointly with other Lands and Hereditaments such Copies to be made and written out at the proper costs and Charges of the said Gavin Smith his Heirs and A∫signs To Have and to Hold the said Lot Piece or Parcel of Land Me∫suages Tenements Hereditaments and Premises mentioned to be hereby granted and released with their Appurtenances unto thesaid Gavin Smith his Heir and A∫signs for ever and to and for no other uses intent or purpose whatsoever And thesaid Samuel Bosanquet as far as relates to his own acts and deeds but not further or otherwise and the said Jacob Bosanquet as far as relates to his own acts and deeds but not further or otherwise covenant and declare with and

to 

379

To the said Gavin Smith his Heirs and A∫signs that they have not heretofore done any Act deed matter or thing whereby or by reason or means thereof the said Lot Piece or Parcel of Land and other the Hereditaments hereinbefore granted and released are or can shall or may be affected impeached or charged in Title Estate or otherwise howsoever And that for and notwithstanding any act deed matter or thing whatsoever by any Persons whomsoever made done committed executed or knowingly or willingly suffered to the contrary they thesaid Samuel Bosanquet and Jacob Bosanquet or one of them are or is at the time of sealing and delivery of these Present lawfully rightfully and absolutely seized of and in or well entitled to thesaid Lot Piece or Parcel of Land and other the Hereditaments hereby granted and released or expre∫sed or intended so to be with the appurtenances for a good sure absolute and indefeasible Estate of Inheritance in fee simple in Po∫se∫sion free from all Incumbrances whatsoever and have or hath in themselves or himself good right and full power to convey the same unto and to the use of thesaid Gavin Smith his Heirs and A∫signs in manner and form aforesaid and according to the true Intent and meaning of these Presents And that for and notwithstanding any act deed matter or thing by the said Samuel Bosanquet and Jacob Bosanquet or either of them or any other Person done permitted or suffered to the contrary the same Hereditaments shall for ever hereafter be quietly and peaceably held and enjoyed by the said Gavin Smith his Heirs and A∫signs without any lawful Let Interruption or disturbance whatsoever And lastly that they thesaid Samuel Bosanquet and Jacob Bosanquet and their respective Heirs and A∫signs and all and every Person claiming any Estate or Interest in the Premises under them or any of them or any Person by through or under whom they or any of them claim or derive any Estate or Interest in the Premises hereinbefore granted and released shall and will do and perform all such further and other Acts for the better and more absolutely conveying and a∫suring the same Lot Piece or Parcel of Land and Hereditaments with the Appurtenances unto the said Gavin Smith his Heirs and A∫signs as by the said Gavin Smith his Heirs and A∫signs or his or their Counsel learned in the Law shall be reasonably advised dursed or required In Witne∫s whereof the said Parties to these Presents their Hands and Seals have hereunto subscribed and set the day and Year first above written

Samuel ( LS ) Bosanquet Jacob ( LS ) Bosanquet

by his Attorney         by his Attorney

Henry Rush                             Henry Rush

Sealed and Delivered in the Presence of John Noble # # G. L. Tuckett

Grenada # # Received of Gavin Smith Gentleman, the day of the date of the within Indenture the sum of Six hundred Pounds being the Consideration within mentioned to be paid by him to us

Samuel Bosanquet by his Attorney Henry Rush

Jacob Bosanquet by his Attorney Henry Rush

Grenada # # Be it Remembered that on this Eleventh day of May in the Year One thousand eight hundred and three Personally appeared before me The Honorable Thomas Bridgwater Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Judicature of this Island Henry Rush Esquire the Attorney of the within named Samuel Bosanquet and Jacob Bosanquet who acknowledged that the within Indenture and the Indenture of Bargain and Sale leading thereto where executed by him as

the 

380

The Attorney of the said Samuel Bosanquet and Jacob Bosanquet for the Purposes within mentioned In Faith whereof I have in my Capacity aforesaid hereunto subscribed my hand the day and Year first within written

T Bridgwater

A Diagram of the 

Lot of Land within referred to 

The Diagram ABCD represents the figure and situation of a Lot of Land in the Town of St. George formerly the Property of Me∫srs Threlfat and Anderson containing in front to Melvile and Halifax Streets forty five feet by two hundred feet in depth being bounded on the North by Lands of Mr. McDowal and Morizt Hardmand on the East by Halifax Street on the South by lands of Mr John Coxal and Brothers and Alexdr Houston and the West by Melvile Street as the Diagram more particularly represents surveyed April 1803 by

Gavin Smith Sworn Surveyor

All-things-being-equal, there is no identifiable connection between ggg-grandfather James Smith and Gavin Smith, the Surveryor.

Guess what? This is the last Smith-related Document from Item 4 as presented from the Grenada Registers of Records. And now to continue on to Item 5.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 538s – Smith Robertson Genealogy – 1796 William Smith – Last Will and Testament – The Logie Connection!

Good Hot Evening,

In the heat of the day, with the lack of the precious commodity of air-conditioning, I have been able to stumble upon a prize Document. This Indenture is the Last Will and Testament of William Smith.

Is this William Smith a connection to my ggg-grandfather James Smith? That I cannot answer… but there are a number of answers that are revealed from the script of this 1796 Last Will and Testament.

In the body of the Will is the reference “As for all the rest and Residue of my Estate and Effects of whatsoever nature or kind I give and bequeath the same to my dear Brother James Smith living at Logie in Scotland…” James Smith! Brother! Living at Logie in Scotland! This is a connection that I have been searching for, the detail that will connect Smiths of Logie, Scotland to Grenada.

I introduced in Part 178s a James Smith, a Weaver from Logie in Scotland who in 1803 is searching for information regarding his brother William Smith’s estate. Accordingly it is written that the brother William Smith was a Merchant in Grenada.

This looks to be the Last Will and Testament of the “lost” brother, William. As the LWT was written on 1 December 1796 and sworn to on 3 December 1796, it would appear that William Smith passed away sometime between the 1st and the 3rd. The Saint George Parish Death Registration, in Part 440s “1491 Mr. William Smith, Merchant; was buried on the 2nd day of Decbr. 1796” is the next confirmation.

Examining William Smith’s 1796 Last Will and Testament there does not appear to be any mention of any direct family inheritance, that is, the only immediate relative that is mentioned in the text of the Will is his brother James Smith of Logie. There are notices of bequests to others but I cannot conclude that there are any gifts given to any direct relative save that to his brother.

In the 7 June 1803 entry of the Power of Attorney by James Smith, the Weaver of Logie, it is indicated that “Whereas William Smith of the Island of Grenada Merchant died lately without iʃsue and whereas James Smith late of St. Georges in the same Island according to the best of my Information died sometime before the said William Smith…”. (See Part 178s.) This means, of course, that I need to now search and find any documentation that may lead me to William Smith’s nephew James, son of James Smith the Weaver of Logie.

William Smith’s Last Will and Testament was found in the 1796 Grenada Registers of Records, Volume F, pages 329 – 331. The same copy is downloaded from the microfilm FHL [1563320]. Here are the images –

My transcription –

329

Entered 6th December 1796.

Grenada
In the Name of God Amen I William Smith of the Town of
Saint George in the said Island Merchant do make this my last Will and Testament
in manner and form following (to wit) First I desire that all my just Debts to be fully
paid and satisfied Item I give and bequeath unto Felicité Boisfermé free Mulatre∫s
my House keeper the five Negroes hereinafter named Viz, Sam, Romeo, Jack, John, Tweed

and

330

and Sally and also the Sum of Sixty Joes in Cash as a Reward for her constant
Care and Attention towards me. Item I give and bequeath the Sum of twenty
Joes in Cash to Betsy Bridgwater Housekeeper to Mr. George Campbell of this
Town. Item I desire my Executors hereinafter named to make free and manumit
as soon as po∫sible my Negro Slave Dick and for the Expence to be paid out of my
Estate. As for all the rest and Residue of my Estate and Effects of whatsoever
nature or kind I give and bequeath the same to my dear Brother James Smith
living at Logie in Scotland And for the Execution of this my Will I request my
Friends
William Stiel William Shaw George Campbell and George Henry Horsley
to take upon themselves that trouble and I hereby appoint the said William
Stiell William Shaw George Campbell and George Henry Horsley Executors of this
my last Will In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this first
day of December On thousand ∫even hundred and ninety Six.

Wm. Smith (LS)

Signed ∫ealed published and declared }
by the said Testator William Smith as }
and for his last Will in the presence of us }

Alex Cockburn __ R Mitchelson __ Edward Nichols

Grenada

Before His Honor Alexander Houston Esquire Lieutenant
Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the Island of
Grenada and it’s Dependencies Chancellor Ordinary and Vice
Admiral of the same.

Personally appeared Edward Nicholls of the Town of Saint George Mariner one of
the subscribing Witne∫ses to the within Paper Writing purporting to be the Will of William
Smith late of the said Town Merchant deceased, who being duly sworn on the holy Evan
gelists of Almighty God maketh Oath and ∫aith that he was present with Alexander
Cockburn and Robert Mitchelson the other subscribing Witne∫ses thereto and did see
the said William Smith the Testator sign and ∫eal the same and also heard him publish
and declare the same as and for his last Will and Testament. And the Deponent
further Saith that in Testimony of such Execution as aforesaid the said Alexander
Cockburn Robert Mitchelson and the Deponent did in the presence of the said Testator
at his request and in the presence of each other severally subscribe their Names as
Witne∫ses to the said Will. And the Deponent lastly saith that at the time the said

Testator

331

Testator so executed his said Will as aforesaid he was to the best of this Deponents
Judgment and belief of sound and disposing Mind Memory and Understanding

Edward Nichols

Sworn to before me }
this third day of }
December 1796 }

Alexander Houstoun

And as a part of the Item gifted in the will are "Joes". I had to find out what a "Joe" is/was? It appears that it is a slang term for a Johannes, a Portuguese coin. At about the time some of the currencies used in Grenada and the Windward Islands included a Spanish doubloon which passed for $16 and a half joannes or joes for $8. (From The Shipmaster's Assistant and Commercial Digest by Joseph Blunt, 1851, New York.) That resolves that issue.

And now to search for the son and nephew James Smith. Could this be a connection to ggg-grandfather James?

Enjoy,

Jim

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