Three years after Elizabeth White became of age and acknowledged her right in the previously discussed deed, John White had a new wife named Mary. On January 21, 1705, both Joseph Brown (also of the 1702 deed involving Elizabeth) and Thomas Ellet signed deeds of gift to the couple. These two deeds of gift provide us with information about all the parties relationships to one another.
The first deed of trust was issued by Thomas Ellet who gave John and Mary White 150 acres of land plus five head of cattle. Ellet refers to the five cattle as, "...called by the name of daughter Mary's cattell...". Ellet also refers to John White as "...my well beloved son in law...". Ellet's deed of gift tells us that by January 21, 1705:
1. John White was no longer married to Elizabeth, but to Mary
2. Thomas Ellet, was "of" King William County, the father of Mary, and father-in-law to John White
3. John and Mary White were gifted land in King William County
The two pages of the deed of gift issued by Thomas Ellet are below, followed by an abstract transcription.
Know all men by these presents that I Thomas Ellett of the Parish of St. Johns in the County of King William for good causes and considerations and for performance of certain conditions therein expressed under my hand and seale, have granted and firmly made over unto my well beloved son in law John White and Mary his wife one hundred and fifty acres of land running cross the lower end of a certain tract of land I bought of Capt. Thos Spencer containing three hundred twenty four acres bearing an equal breadth from the line of certain land lately belonging to Mr. John Mast now in the tenure or occupation of Mr. John Munro lying and being in the parish and county aforesaid to have and to hold the said one hundred and fifty acres of land to the sole and proper use of the said John White and Mary his wife and their heirs and assigns forever as fully, freely and in ample manner and form and every intent and purpose as the sd Thomas Ellett...and moreover Know Yee that I the sd Thomas Ellett doe by this deed likewise give assign and firmly makeover unto the sd John White and Mary his wife five head of cattell ____ commonly known and called by the name of daughter Mary's cattell now the wife of the said John White. And lastly I do hereby oblige myself my heirs and assigns from time to time and at all times during the space of seven years next ensuing at and upon every reasonable request and at the cost and charges of the law only of the sd John White and Mary his wife their heirs or assigns _____ and will doe make acknowledge ____ and execute or ____ to be done made acknowledged suffered and executed all his singular such lawful and reasonable certain acts thing and things in law for the further assurance conveyance surety and sure ____ making of all singular the above bargained premises be conveyed and made sure to the sd John White and Mary his wife their heirs or assigns forever to the only use and behoof of the sd John White and Mary his wife their heirs and assigns as by the sd John White and Mary his wife their heirs or assigns or by his _____ Councell in the _____ of England _______________________________________________ hereunto set my hand and seale this 21st day of Janry Anno Dom 1705
Thomas E Ellett (seal)
Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of us
Joseph Bickley
Wm Gough
John BroodingWe don't know the purpose of the above gifts, but the land and cattle may have been a wedding present given the similar nature of the deed of gift provided by Joseph Brown on the same day and listed on the page after the Thomas Ellet deed of gift! As a reminder, in 1702 Joseph Brown was party to the deed involving John and Elizabeth White. Below is Brown's deed of gift in which he also refers to John White as "...my well beloved son in law...". Brown's gifts to John and Mary White included 75 acres of land in King William County plus four head of cattle and one horse. Notice that the cattle and horse are referred to in a fashion that implies John White already had possession of them, "...four head of cattell commonly known by the name of John White's cattell and one horse commonly called John White's horse."
Below are the images of Brown's deed of gift to John and Mary White followed by an abstract transcription.
Know all men by these presents that I Joseph Brown of the Parish of St. Johns and County of King William for divers good causes and caused orations the hereunto moveing ___ more especially for the conveyances with and discharge of ___ certain bond for performance of certain conditions thereunto expressed given under my hand and seale have given granted confirmed assigned and firmly made over, and by this my Present Deed of gift doe give grant confirm assign ___ formerly made over unto my well beloved son in law John White and Mary his wife seventy five acres of land ______ running cross the land I bought of Joseph Norman situate lying and being the parish and county aforesaid to have and to hold the seventy five acres as before expressed to the ______ and purpose of the said John White and Mary his wife their heirs forever ______________I do hereby oblige myself upon request or demand of the sd John White and Mary his wife to survey and lay out the seventy five acres of land before mentioned ____moreover Know Yee that I the sd Joseph Brown doe by this my deed of gift likewise give assign and firmly make over unto the sd John White and Mary his wife four head of cattell commonly known by the name of John White's cattell and one horse commonly called John White's horse. And Lastly Doe hereby oblige myselfe ______In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand seale this 21st day of Janry Anno Dom 1705/6
Signed sealed and delivered Joseph Brown (seal)
In the presence of us:
Joseph Bickley
The above two deeds of gift appear to be wedding presents to the couple, John and Mary White. But how is it possible that John White was the son in law of both Ellet and Brown? The answer to that question will be discussed in a follow up entry.
copyright©2024 Deborah Thurman Parks
