1739 Norwich CT Deed Gager to Armstrong Huntington Hartshorn Meacham Watermarks For Sale

1739 Colonial Connecticut Land Deed – Norwich – Gager to Armstrong – Huntington, Hartshorn, Meacham

Offered here is an original and complete colonial-era land deed dated September 3, 1739, executed in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut Colony, documenting the transfer of four acres of land from Samuel Gager Jr. to Benjamin Armstrong for the sum of ninety pounds.

The document is written in a clear 18th-century hand on laid paper with a visible shield watermark containing the letter “H”, and retains full legal structure including grant language, boundary descriptions, witness signatures, and official acknowledgment.

📜 HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DOCUMENT

“…I Samuel Gager Junr… for Ninety pounds… do fully freely and absolutely give grant bargain sell… unto him the said Benjamin Armstrong… four acres of land lying in Norwich…”

“…bounded westerly on the road to Pautapaug… southerly and easterly on land of Jacob Hazzard…”

“Signed, sealed and delivered… in presence of Samuel Meacham and Ebenezer Hartshorn…”

“Personally appeared Samuel Gager Junr… before me Isaac Huntington, Justice of the Peace…”

These passages clearly illustrate a formal colonial land conveyance, complete with boundary markers tied to real geography and neighboring landholders.

👤 BIOGRAPHIES OF INDIVIDUALSSamuel Gager Jr. (Grantor)

Member of an early Norwich landholding family. Son of Samuel Gager (1654–1740), a longtime resident described in early histories as a man of “good repute and considerable estate.” The Gager family held land on the Connecticut Plains, including property associated with the Gager Burial Ground.

Benjamin Armstrong (1707–1798) – Grantee

Norwich resident and juror in 1739, a role typically reserved for men of property and standing. His participation in civic and legal affairs reflects his position within the established colonial community.

Isaac Huntington (1688–1764) – Justice of the Peace

A prominent Norwich official, age 51 at the time, and member of the influential Huntington family. As Justice of the Peace, he formally acknowledged and validated this transaction, giving it full legal standing.

Ebenezer Hartshorn (1702–1795) – Witness

Norwich resident, age 37, from a well-established Connecticut family. His presence as a witness reflects his role within the local legal and social network. The Hartshorn name is also associated with early New England craftsmanship, including documented 18th-century furniture attributed to the family.

Samuel Meacham (1712–1787) – Witness

Age 27 at the time of signing. A resident of the Norwich/Windham area and later known as a Deacon, indicating his standing within the religious and community structure of the region.

Jacob Hazzard – Adjacent Landowner

Named in the deed as the owner of adjoining land, providing a boundary reference. His inclusion confirms his status as a local landholder within the Norwich area in 1739.

🧠 HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

This document represents more than a simple land transaction—it reflects the interconnected structure of colonial New England society, bringing together:

• Landholding families (Gager, Armstrong)
• Legal authority (Huntington)
• Community witnesses (Hartshorn, Meacham)
• Neighboring land network (Hazzard)

Executed in 1739, just one year before the death of Samuel Gager Sr., this deed falls within a likely late-life or generational transfer period, offering insight into how property moved within established colonial families.

📄 CONDITION

• Original 18th-century manuscript on laid paper
• Visible watermark (shield with “H”)
• Age toning, staining, and fold wear consistent with period
• Minor edge wear and small losses
• Ink remains clear and legible throughout

A strong and displayable example of an early colonial American document.

📦 PROVENANCE

From a long-held private collection of early American historical documents, not previously offered for sale in decades.