Land Grant to William Happer

Letter

Patrick Henry's Red Hill

Name/Title

Land Grant to William Happer

Entry/Object ID

2023.5

Description

Land grant, typed and written on paper with iron gall ink, to William Happer for 300 acres in Norfolk County, Virginia. Signed by Patrick Henry on January 11, 1786. Original wax seal.

Collection

Patrick & Dorothea Henry Collection

Transcription

[Page 1] Patrick Henry Esq; Governor of the Commonwealth of VIRGINIA, to all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: KNOW YE, that in Consideration of the [___] Composition of one Pound Ten Shillings Sterling Paid by William Happer unto the Treasury of this Commonwealth there is granted by the said Commonwealth, unto the said William Happer a certain Tract or parcel of Land, containing Three hundred acres by Survey bearing date the Thirteenth day of October one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty three lying and being in the County of Norfolk in Saint Brides Parish and bounded asfolloweth To “wit,” Beginning at the North East corner of William Warrow running South fifty five degrees. East one hundred and fifty four poles to a Nicholas Creek mores South West corner of this old Survey thence South. Twenty Seven degrees West five hundred and seventy six poles to the Carolinia [sic] line Hence Due West. Sixteen poles along the Carolinia [sic] line to the said Warrows South East corner tree a Cypress Hence North sixteen degrees East five hundred and seventy nine poles to the Creekmores [sic] Corner the Beginning — — — with its Appurtenances; to have and to hold the said Tract or Parcel of Land with its Appurtenances, to the said William Happer — — — And his Heirs for ever. IN WITNESS whereof, the said Patrick Henry Esq. 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 Eleventh Day of January in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty six and of the Commonwealth the Tenths P. Henry [Page 2] William Happer is Intitled [sic] to the within mentioned Tract of Land John Havre William Happer 300 acres Norfolk County Exd. Recorded and Exd.

Language

English

Dimensions

Width

18-1/4 in

Length

14-1/2 in

Provenance

Notes

Owner: Henry, Patrick Norfolk County, Virginia, was formed in 1691 from Lower Norfolk County in the southeastern corner of the colony. This land grant deeded 300 acres in the county to William Happer and was signed by Patrick Henry, then serving his fifth term as Virginia state governor, on January 11, 1786. Over time, the county gradually decreased in size as the county's cities became independent. The county seat of Portsmouth, founded in 1752, separated from county government in 1858 and others, like Chesapeake, followed in the twentieth century. Norfolk County was officially abolished in 1963 when the last of its land became city property. The PHMF purchased this land grant through the Alex Cooper Auction in Towson, Maryland, on November 8, 2021. Prior to that, it belonged to a private collector in Annapolis, Maryland.