Name/Title
Quit-Claim release John Bull and Thomas WatkinsEntry/Object ID
002556Tags
John Bull, Thomas WatkinsScope and Content
This document is an 18th-century indenture (a legal contract) from Orange County, New York, dated January 28, 1802. It details a property release and quitclaim among the heirs of John Bull, involving lands originally belonging to Thomas Watkins.
Due to the age of the document, some words are faded or obscured by folds. Below is a transcription of the primary text.
Document Transcription
[Top Receipt Section]
Received April 21st 1787 of John Bull the sum of Ninety seven pounds Seventeen shillings and Nine pence of Lawfull money as mentioned by the within written Indenture. I say Received by me.
Thomas Watkins
Witnesses present:
Joshua Crawford
[Main Body]
This Indenture made the Twenty Eighth Day of January in the year one thousand Eight hundred & Seven [1807/1802]* Between Abel B. Watkins & Hannah his wife and Jesse Booth and Dolly his wife all of the Town of Wallkill in the County of Orange & State of New York of the first part and Thomas Bull, Hezekiah Bull & John Mulliner Bull surviving Children & heirs of the Solitary John Bull late of the Town of Wallkill aforesaid deceased of the second part.
WHEREAS Thomas Watkins Esqr. of the late precinct now town of Wallkill in the then New York Orange County deceased in & by his last will & testament in writing duly Executed & bearing Date the Tenth Day of November in the year 1773 among other things therein contained did give devise & Bequeath unto his son Thomas Watkins and his heirs a certain tract of Land in the said County of Orange that he purchased of Daniel Crane...
AND WHEREAS the said Thomas Watkins supposing that the said Lands in & by the said last will & testament of his father so Given & devised were Given & Devised to him in fee simple Did therefore in & by the within written Indenture of Conveyance Dated the Twenty Tenth day of April one thousand seven hundred & Eighty seven sell & Convey the Lands & premises therein mentioned and described unto the said John Bull in his lifetime in fee simple...
AND WHEREAS the within named Jesse Booth hath since died intestate and the said Thomas Bull, Hezekiah Bull & John Mulliner Bull are the surviving children & Heirs of him the said John Bull deceased to whom his Estate did Descend...
NOW THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH That the said Abel B. Watkins & Hannah his wife & Jesse Booth & Dolly his wife for and in Consideration of the natural Love & affection they bear to their brothers the said Thomas, Hezekiah & John... and for the sum of Fifty Cents Lawfull money of the State of New York... Have Remised Released & Quit Claimed... unto the said Thomas Bull, Hezekiah Bull & John Mulliner Bull all the Right, Title, Interest, property Claim & Demand whatsoever...
Signatures and Witnesses
Sealed & Delivered in the presence of:
Peter Bull
Lucy Bull
Grantors:
A. B. Watkins
Jesse Booth
Dolly Booth
Summary of the Legal Action
The document acts as a Quitclaim Deed. The grantors (Abel Watkins, Hannah Watkins, Jesse Booth, and Dolly Booth) are formally giving up any legal claim they might have had to a specific piece of property in Wallkill, NY. They are transferring those rights to Thomas, Hezekiah, and John Mulliner Bull.
The text clarifies a chain of title:
Thomas Watkins (the elder) willed land to his son in 1773.
Thomas Watkins (the younger) sold that land to John Bull in 1787.
John Bull died, and his heirs are now clarifying the ownership to ensure the title is legally "clean" for the next generation.