Name/Title
Margaret Williams Mortgage Letter - 1840 - (Courtesy Historical Society of Pennsylvania)Tags
Jacob C. White, Sr., Ralph Smith, Margaret Williams, MortgageScope and Content
This document is a mortgage agreement between Margaret Williams (the borrower), Jacob C. White, Sr. (the lender) and Ralph Smith (the builder) for a house to be be built in Free Haven, New Jersey.Context
Jacob C. White, Sr. was an African-American Businessman and Underground Railroad leader in Philadelphia, PA. He purchased tracts of land in Free Haven, New Jersey to build spaces of sanctuary for thousands of freedom seekers who needed a place to call home.
This letter describes the dimensions of the house to be build and the payment schedule for the mortgage.Collection
Lawnside ArchivesArchive Items Details
Title
Margaret Smith Mortgage LetterCreator
Jacob C. White, Sr.Date(s) of Creation
Mar 27, 1840Container
Leon Gardiner Collection, Historical Society of PennsylvaniaSubjects
Abolitionists, Underground railroad system, MortgagesSearch Terms
Jacob C White, Margaret Williams, Ralph Smith, Free Haven, MortgageRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
1838 Vigilance Committee, Jacob C. White, Sr., Ralph SmithResearch Notes
Research Type
TranscriptionPerson
archives@petermotthouse.orgDate
Oct 9, 2023Notes
Transcription of Letter
Page 1
This agreement made the seventh day of March in the year 1840
between Margaret Williams of the one part and Ralph Smith of the other part
witneseth
the said Ralph agrees to and with the said Margaret that he will build and erect
In the lot cat of ground on by the said Margaret in freehaven New Jersey
and furnished at his own expense all the materials
a dwelling house fourteen feet front
Fifteen deep two stories high
the post and sales to be of Oak
the rest of the scantting? to be of other wood
the roof to be of white pine shingles
first story eight feet in the clear
second to be seven feet
Threw twelve light indows in front
two back and
one nine light in the Garrett
the first and second story to be plastered
the floors to be of inch boards
a brick chimney in the same fireplace in the first and one in the Second Story
Cedar weatherboards planed and beaded in front
sap boards in the ends and back front
and back door stairs in the same closet in first and same in Second Story
the house to elevated 18 inches from the ground
the whole to be composed of good materials and done in a workman like maner
to be commenced on the first of April next
and finished on or about the first day of July next
Page 2
And fully completed and finished far and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and twenty dollars
and the said Margaret agrees to pay the said Ralph sixteen dollars on the signing of this agreement
and sixteen dollars when the house is raised and
Sixteen dollars when the chimney is erected
and sixteen dollars when the house is enclosed with shingles
and sixteen dollars when the floors are laid and windows finished
and sixteen dollars when the house is furnished
And twenty six dollars in one year from this date
writing the hands
seals of the parties this twenty ninth day of March in the year 1840
witnessed present
Ralph Smith
Jacob C White
Margaret Williams
Received Jacob C white from Margaret Williams $16 first installment
of account
March 28th 1840
$16 Ralph Smith received 1840 October 16th
$16 second installment due
Ralph Smith
