Land Grant to William Vanclift

Letter

Patrick Henry's Red Hill

Name/Title

Land Grant to William Vanclift

Entry/Object ID

2021.61

Description

Land grant signed by Patrick Henry to transfer 720 acres to William Vanclift. Partly printed and partly handwritten document signed by Patrick Henry as "P. Henry" in the lower right corner. On cream paper, with a paper-covered wax seal in the lower left corner. Docketed verso. The signature is slightly faded. Fragile fold lines and chipped edges with some loss have been stabilized with a professionally applied backing. Light overall toning and isolated discoloration at edges. Else very good to near fine.

Collection

Patrick & Dorothea Henry Collection

Transcription

Patrick Henry Esq; Governor of the Commonwealth of VIRGINIA to all to who these Presents shall come, Greeting: KNOW YE, that by Virtue and in Consideration of a preemption Treasury Warrant number Two hundred and forty one and Issued the twenty first day of march one Thousand Seven hundred and Eighty unto William Vanclift — — there is granted by the said Commonwealth, unto [loss of document] William Vanclift – A certain Tract or parcel of Land, containing Seven hundred and twenty acres by Survey bearing date the Eighteenth day of July one Thousand Seven hundred and Eighty three. lying and being within the county of Lincoln on paintlick [sic] Creek. and bounded as followeth To “wit,” Beginning at the South West corner of William Kertlys Preemption at an Elm and three Sugar trees in the edge of a chain brake running from thence North Seventy degrees East. Three hundred and fifty poles with said Kertlys line crossing paintlick and passing the corner to awhile – Walnut and hickory Standing in a deep Valley thence South twenty degrees East. Three hundred and Twenty nine poles to a cherry and two hickories thence South Seventy degrees West three hundred and fifty poles crossing paintlick to an ash and Beach [sic] tree thence North Twenty degrees West. three hundred and Seventy nine poles crossing a large fork of paintlick to the Beginning with its Appurtenances; to have and to hold the said Tract or Parcel of Land with its Appurtenances, to the said William Vinclif [Vanclift] — and his. Heirs for ever. IN WITNESS whereof, the said Patrick Henry Esquire Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hath hereunto set his Hand, and caused the lesser Seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed, at Richmond, on the twenty third Day of May. . . in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty five– and of the Commonwealth the ninth– P. Henry [Page 2] William Vinclift [Vanclift] is Intitled [sic] to the within mentioned Tract of Land John Havre Rec. S Off. William Vinclift [Vanclift] 720 acres Lincoln County Exd. Recorded and Exd. Defendants Special and Separate Entries Surveys and Title Papers De[__]io C- [?]

Language

English

Dimensions

Width

18-1/2 in

Length

14-1/4 in

Provenance

Notes

This document, signed by Patrick Henry as the 6th Governor of Virginia, authorized the transfer of 720 acres of land in then Lincoln County, Virginia to William Vanclift. The land extended from "paintlick Creek and bounded as followeth To wit Beginning at the South West corner of William Kertlys Preemption at an [?] and three Sugar trees in the edge of a [?] brake running from there North Seventy degrees East Three hundred and fifty poles with said Kertly's line crossing paintlick and passing the corner a white Walnut and hickory Standing in a deep Valley Thence South Twenty degrees East..." Surveyors provided an exact description of the tract by referring to physical landmarks like sugar, hickory, cherry and walnut trees. Paint Lick Creek is located in Lincoln County in modern day Kentucky, about 40 miles southeast of Lexington. Purchased by PHMF in August 2019.