Name/Title
Deed Sale Thomas Watkins, Abe Watkins Nov 7, 1801Entry/Object ID
002587Tags
Peter Bull, Joseph Watkins, Thomas WatkinsScope and Content
These documents trace a property transfer in Orange County, New York, specifically involving land known as "The Mudhole."
The records detail a process starting with a 1773 will and culminating in an 1807 quitclaim deed to ensure the buyer, Peter Bull, held a "fee simple" (clear and absolute) title to the land.
Key Figures
The Grantor/Sellers: Thomas Watkins, Able B. Watkins (and wife Hannah), and later Jesse Booth (and wife Dolly Watkins Booth).
The Grantee/Buyer: Peter Bull of the Town of Goshen.
The Original Owner: Joseph Watkins, Esq. (deceased by 1773).
Document 1: Indenture (November 7, 1801)
This is the primary deed of sale.
The Land: Approximately 50 acres in the Town of Goshen, part of a larger tract called "The Mudhole."
The Transaction: Thomas and Able B. Watkins sell the land to Peter Bull for 320 dollars.
Details: The document provides a detailed "metes and bounds" description, mentioning local landmarks like "Purgatory Bridge," a "Walnut Stump," and the lands of Jonathan Sayer and Richard Bull.
Document 2: Quitclaim Deed (January 28, 1807)
This document was created six years later to resolve a legal technicality regarding the inheritance.
The Problem: Doubts had arisen whether the 1773 will of Joseph Watkins actually granted his sons (Thomas and Able) the full "fee simple" title, or if the rights might have reverted to their siblings upon their death.
The Solution: Jesse Booth and his wife Dolly (who was Thomas and Able’s sister) officially "remise, release, and forever quitclaim" any potential interest they might have in the 50 acres.
The Motivation: Out of "Natural Love and Affection" for their brothers and to ensure Peter Bull’s title remained undisputed.
Summary of Property History
1773: Joseph Watkins wills 113 acres of "The Mudhole" to his sons: 100 acres to Thomas and 13 acres to Able.
1801: Thomas and Able sell a combined 50-acre portion of that land to Peter Bull.
1807: The siblings (the Booths) sign off on the deal to guarantee the buyer has total ownership, protecting the sale from future family inheritance claims.
