Know all men by these presents that I Seth
Sheldon of Deerfield in the county of Franklin and
Commonwealth of Massachusetts am holden and firm
by bound to Zur and Alvah Hawks both of said
Deerfield in the sum of one thousand dollars to
be paid to said Zur and Alvah their several heirs,
executors administrators or assigns to which pay
ment I bind myself my heirs executors and ad
ministrators firmly by these presents- Sealed
with my seal and dated at Deerfield afore
said the twelfth day of January in the year
one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight.
The condition of this obligation is such that
whereas by a certain bond this day made and ex
ecuted by said Zur and Alvah they have therein
bound themselves to convey to me by a equal
and sufficient warrantee deed on or before
______ day of April next certain lands and
buildings at the sum of two thousand six hun
dred and seventy dollars or such sums as said
tracts should be appraised at. Now if upon the
failure of excepting said deed and of paying the
sum of $2670.00 or the appraised sum I shall fail
pay or cause to be paid the sum of five hun-
dred dollars then this deed to be void otherwise
in force
Signed Sealed & delivered in }
presence of
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In the days before typewriters, agreements like this land purchase were written by hand by clerks and signed by the principals in the presence of witnesses. On January 12, 1838 Seth Sheldon (1787-1860) of Deerfield, Massachusetts, promised to pay one thousand dollars for certain lands and buildings owned by his neighbors, father and son Zur (1760-1844) and Alvah (1801-1843) Hawks.