Section VI - Massey Data Bank

One Maryland Massey Family by George Langford, Jr. 1901-1996 ©Cullen G. Langford and George Langford, III, 2010

Maryland Land Records, Kent County, Liber BC #8, Folio 296, 297 & 298
Benjamin Massey from David Semans, March 21, 1815

February 14, 1815 (recorded March 21, 1815): Benjamin Massey, of Kent County and State of Maryland, buys for $180 an 18+ acre tract called Adventure from David Semans of Venice County in the State of New York.  David Semans [Senior] the father of the present grantor, had purchased Adventure from Catherine Semans, one of the daughters and heirs of Lambert Semans, whose father, William Semans, purchased the land from Thomas Ringgold, which land the present David Semans, the grantor within named, took at the valuation which the commissioners duly appointed by the Court of Kent County had determined.  Witnesses: Jesse Knock and Edward Eubanks; Ben Chambers is Kent County Clerk. Note: High-resolution images of the deed at right can be viewed at the Maryland State Archives, but registration is required in advance of doing so. Once you have registered, you can access the images by entering the county clerk's initials ("BC" in this example) and volume number ("8" above) and the folio page number ("296" above).

Be it remembered that on the twenty-first day of March in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen a deed of conveyance was brought to be enrolled among the records of Kent County the tenor whereof here ensues in the following words to wit: This indenture made this fourteenth day of February, eighteen hundred and fifteen, between David Semans of the County Venice in the State of New York of the one part and Benjamin Massey of Kent County and State of Maryland of the other part. Witnesseth that the said David Semans, for and in a consideration of the sum of one hundred and eighty dollars to him in hand paid or secured so to be by the said Benjamin Massey at or before the signing and sealing of these presents, the receipt whereof he, the said David Semans, doth hereby acknowledge satisfied and paid and from every part and parcel doth exonerate, discharge, and acquit him, the said Benjamin Massey, his heirs, executors, and administrators, all and every of them, he, the said David Semans, hath granted, bargained, sold, aliened, enfeoffed, released, conveyed, and confirmed, and doth by these presents doth grant, bargain, sell, alien, enfeoff, release, convey, and confirm unto him the said Benjamin Massey, his heirs, and assigns, forever all that part of a tract of land called and known by the name of Adventure or by whatever name or names the same may be called, which was purchased by David Semans, the father of the present grantor of a certain Catherine Semans, one of the daughters and heirs of Lambert Semans, whose father William Semans purchased the said land from a certain Thomas Ringgold, which said land the present David Semans, the grantor within named, took at the valuation commissioners duly appointed by the court of Kent County, reference thereto being had will more fully appear continued in the following lines: Beginning at a black gum in a small swamp and running from thence South five degrees West twenty four and one half perches to an oak of said land, thence North eighty eight and one half degrees East fifteen perches to a white oak of Solomon Semans' part of said land, thence North two degrees West forty six perches, thence West thirteen perches, thence North two degres West sixteen perches to an oak in William Semans' line, thence South eighty nine degrees West sixty six perches to Benjamin Morrey's land, thence with said Morrey's line south two and a half degrees East and fifteen perches, thence East ten perches and one-eighth of a perch, thence South two and a half degrees East twenty four and a half perches, thence with a straight line to the beginning, containing eighteen acres and eighty perches of land, be the same more or less together with the buildings, woods, underwoods, improvements, and appurtenances whatsoever to said land belonging or in any wise appertaining, with the reversion and reversions, remainder or remainders, and every part and parcel thereof with all the estate, right, title, claim, interest, and demand whatsoever either in law or equity of him, the said David Semans, or his heirs of in or to the aforesaid lands and premises, with all their appurtenances to the same belonging or in any ways appertaining. To have and to hold the aforesaid lands hereby granted, bargained, or sold or meant, mentioned, or intended so to be, with their and every of their rights, members, and appurtenances to him, the said Benjamin Massey, his heirs, and assigns, to the only use and behoof of him, the said Benjamin Massey, his heirs and assigns, forever and the aforesaid David Semans, for himself and his heirs, executors, and administrators, do hereby covenant grant and agree to and with the said Benjamin Massey, his heirs, executors, and administrators, that he, the said David Semans and his heirs, the said lands hereby bargained and sold or meant or mentioned or intended so to be each and every of their rights, members, and appurtenances to him, the said Benjamin Massey, his heirs, and assigns, in manner aforesaid against himself, the said David Semans and his heirs, and all and every other person or persons claiming or shall or may hereafter claim by from or under him or them shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and date first above written. David Semans {seal} Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of Jesse Knock     Edward Eubanks Received February 14, 1815 of Benjamin Massey one hundred and eighty current money being the consideration money mentioned in said deed. David Semans [Witness:] Jesse Knock      Edward Eubanks State of Maryland Kent County to wit: On the day of the date of the within deed appeared David Semans, party within named, before us, the subscribers, two of the Justices of the Peace for said County, and acknowledged the within deed or instrument of writing to be his act and deed and the land and premises therein mentioned and thereby bargained and sold to be the right and the state of the within Benjamin Massey, party grantor, also therein named, his heirs, and assigns, according to the purport, true intent, and meaning of said deed or instrument and the act of assembly in such case made and provided. Jesse Knock Edward Eubanks And the said deed was accordingly recorded on the twenty-first day of March in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen by ...  Ben Chambers clerk.