Samuel Carpenter Indenture
HPHA has recently acquired and restored an original Indenture dated 3 Feb 1718 in which Samuel Carpenter transfers his land holdings in Horsham to his wife and children. This document will be on display at the Horsham Library through September 29
This document was part of a collection donated to HPHA by Mr. Buck Penrose. HPHA - with generous support from the Friends of the Horsham Library - had the Indenture professsionally restored by Elizabeth Wendelin.
We have not yet had the chance to fully transcribe ( volunteers? ) the document but believe it to be a means of transferring lands owned by Samuel Carpenter or, more likely his estate since we believe he died in 1714, to his wife Hannah and their children.
{from Wikipedia....} An indenture is a legal contract between two parties, particularly for indentured labour or a term of apprenticeship but also for certain land transactions. The term comes from the medieval English "indenture of retainer"<1> — a legal contract written in duplicate on the same sheet, with the copies separated by cutting along a jagged (toothed, hence the term "indenture") line so that the teeth of the two parts could later be refitted to confirm authenticity.<2> Each party to the deed would then retain a part. When the agreement was made before a court of law a tripartite indenture was made, with the third piece kept at the court. The term is used for any kind of deed executed by more than one party, in contrast to a deed poll which is made by one individual. In the case of bonds, the indenture shows the pledge, promises, representations and covenants of the issuing party.
This Indenture shows the indented edge along the top, and along the bottom the signatures and wax seals of each party.
This is a rare find and a fascinating piece of local history so be sure to stop in at the Horsham Library to see the complete document.
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Samuel Carpenter Indenture on Display
restored original indenture date 3 feb 1718 transferring Samuel Carpenter's land holdings in Horsham to his wife and children
Photograph by: Kevin Winters 9/11/2012
xSamuel Carpenter Indenture - Detail
detail of indenture date 3 feb 1718 transferring Samuel Carpenter's land holdings in Horsham to his wife and children
Photograph by: Kevin Winters 9/11/2012