Register of Leases 1749-1765

Introduction: This is the fifth volume in the series Register of Leases and Deeds. These were the official ledgers for recording legal instruments relating to property at St Helena. It enrolled copies or abstracts of leases and deeds of conveyance, stating the parties, dates, descriptions of land or houses, terms and consideration. These entries served as public notice and evidence of title.

Source: Images of the original records can be viewed on the British Library’s website: https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP1364-1-7-6.

Text Transcription This transcription was produced by AI from handwritten document images held on the British Library's website, at about thirty pages per hour. Given the limitations described below, the text should be regarded as unreliable and used only as a search-and-find shortcut: once a relevant section has been located, it must always be checked against the source image via the hyperlinked Film Numbers listed in the main transcription table below.

Three specific problems affected the work. First, AI tends to prioritise meaning and readability at the expense of fidelity to the original, with a strong disposition to normalise spellings, expand abbreviations, and adjust grammar. It is particularly weak with unfamiliar surnames, and scrawled signatures often resist accurate transcription entirely. Transcriptions by eye of documents spanning four centuries have also shown that a single surname could be written in a wide variety of ways: the Crowie family name appears under six different spellings, and the Isaacs family name under sixteen. Searches for surnames are therefore hindered both by genuine variations in the originals and by mistranscriptions introduced by AI, and for this reason are best run phonetically. Second, the AI struggled with the late secretary hand, the script commonly used from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries, in which the letter S appears in a form closely resembling a trailing L. Third, occasional passages in these volumes are written in a hand so obscure or poorly formed as to be difficult to read even by eye, sometimes compounded by heavy ink bleed-through from the reverse side or by the loss of sections of pages.

To mitigate these difficulties, a strict protocol was applied to each image, requiring the AI to rely solely on clearly visible ink strokes and to flag any uncertain reading, thereby reducing the risk of inferred or invented text. Two conventions are used. [...] marks text that could not be read with confidence; this may represent a single unreadable word, a full sentence, or occasionally an entire paragraph. Square brackets around letters or words indicate a conjectural reading supplied by the transcriber: brackets around a whole word, for example [Bazett], mean the entire word was unclear and a probable reading has been supplied, while brackets around individual letters within an otherwise readable word, for example B[a]z[e]tt, mean only those specific letters were unclear in the source and the unbracketed letters were legibly present.

Text Loss: All the pages suffered from extensive bleeding of ink from the reverse side. A few of the early page edges were also badly tattered.

Modern Summary and Analysis Each section of text was submitted for AI analysis in order to explain the archaic language in clear, modern UK English. These are not direct sentence by sentence replacements, but explanatory interpretations intended to clarify meaning while preserving the substance of the original. Where a specific individual is named within a section of the original text, that person will generally also be identified within the explanatory interpretation. However, where the original consists largely of lists of names, these are not usually repeated in the explanatory text.

Each text modern summary is followed by two forms of AI-generated analysis. The first, an Interpretations section, draws on wider information located on the internet to provide additional commentary on the material. The second, a Speculations section, offers one or more possible reflections on what the document might further suggest. The value of these notes range from the profound to the trivial or self-evident; time did not permit deletion of the latter.

Referencing Text Locations: A dual numbering system has been adopted, combining the British Library film number with the manuscript’s original page number. These are presented in the format: British Library Film No. / Document Page No.

Content: This volume includes several land boundary sketches. Due to the faint appearance of these sketches on darkened pages, the contrast has been increased to improve visibility. To keep the overall file size manageable, these images are provided at a limited resolution and cannot be scaled without quality loss. For much higher quality versions, please access the original film images on the British Library website.

Pagination: The pagination is unconventional, appearing sequentially only at the bottom left of each verso (left-hand) page, while the recto (right-hand) pages are left unmarked. In other words, each side of the page have the same number. This pagination system has therefore been ignored.

The records begin on film No. 6, and this has been assumed to be page 1. It is then further assumed that the page numbers continue sequentially through to the end of the volume.

Dates: During the period covered by this volume, England and its colonies followed the Old-Style Julian calendar, under which the legal new year began on 25 March (Lady Day). This system ended when the Calendar (New Style) Act 1750 was enacted, bringing Britain into line with the Gregorian calendar used across much of continental Europe. The transition took effect in 1752, shifting New Year's Day to 1 January and dropping eleven days from September to correct the historical drift accumulated by the Julian calculation, so that Wednesday, 2 September 1752 was followed immediately by Thursday, 14 September 1752.

The dates for several leases are only vaguely given in terms of the year. The first definite date is actually 16 June 1747, whilst the last lease is dated 23 September 1765. The period spanned by this volume includes the governorships of Charles Hutchinson (1747 - 1764) and John Skottowe (1764 - 1782).

AI Generated Summary

Introduction

The material gathered here is a continuous chronological run of land grants, leases and conveyances entered in the register of St Helena between 1747 and 1765, the island then held and governed by the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies. The earliest dated grant falls on 16 June 1747 and the latest on 23 September 1765, so the whole spans a little over eighteen years. Every entry is a deed of tenure of the standard Company form, and the record is accordingly narrow in kind, yet within that narrow compass it opens a detailed view of how the Company parcelled, priced and controlled the ground of a small mid-Atlantic island through the middle years of the eighteenth century. [Film No. 6-167]

These are the years of the War of the Austrian Succession, closed by the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle in October 1748, and of the Seven Years War, opened in 1756 and ended by the Peace of Paris in February 1763, both conflicts in which the East India Company had a direct stake in the eastern seas and from the second of which it emerged with a commanding position. The register itself says almost nothing of these wars, being concerned only with tenure, and any connection to the wider struggle must be drawn with care rather than read off the page. What the grants do show is a settled island administration going quietly about the business of letting ground while distant fleets fought for the trade that made the island worth holding at all, garrison officers among those taking up plots as the establishment continued through war and peace alike. [Film No. 6-161]

The record must be read for what it is and for whose purposes it was kept. It is the Company's own register, drawn up by the Company's clerks to secure the Company's rents and to fix the Company's title against dispute. It tells a great deal about landholders, boundaries and money, and very little about the people who worked the ground, the slaves who cleared and fenced it or the ordinary conditions of life on the island. Where the deeds fall silent, that silence is itself evidence of what the official record was for. [Film No. 6-167]

Because every grant follows one settled form, the value of this material lies less in the repeated words of the covenant than in what the grants reveal when read together. They show how the Company held and let its land, how it kept the timber and fuel of a small island under a standing duty, how it guarded the inheritance of dead men's children through trusts, and how a settled group of families gathered ground across the valleys and through the town. The account that follows draws out these threads chronologically rather than rehearsing the boilerplate, and weighs the record critically where its silences and tensions repay attention. [Film No. 6-167]

Governance and Administration

Every grant in the register issues from a single authority, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, named in each deed as the Lords Proprietors of the island, the corporate landlord in London from whom all title flowed. The Company held St Helena as a proprietary possession, and its Governor and Council on the spot exercised the granting power, setting their hands to one part of each instrument and affixing the Company's seal while the grantee sealed the other part. This double sealing marked the grant as a bargain between the corporate proprietor and the working tenant rather than a gift, and the formula recurs unchanged across the whole run, so that a grant of 16 June 1747 to John Bland and a grant of 23 September 1765 to William Holbrook carry the same recital of proprietorship eighteen years apart. [Film No. 7, 167]

The Governor and Council functioned as more than a granting body. In a grant of 1749 the register shows them acting as trustees for the orphans of the late John Bradley, holding £20 of the children's portion and putting it out at interest on the security of land once belonging to Robert Wright. The same body had lent £20 of that Bradley orphan's money to Robert Wright himself on a mortgage at 2 per cent on 23 June 1747, so the island's government served as a lending institution, turning a dead man's children's inheritance into secured capital that earned a return while the borrower gained ready cash. [Film No. 6]

The clerks built a cross-check into every grant by naming both the year of grace and the regnal year of the reigning king. A deed of 16 June 1747 is dated the twenty-first year of King George the Second, and a deed of 27 May 1765 the fifth year of King George the Third and the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty-five, the two figures agreeing in each, a device meant to let the tenure be dated even if one figure were later lost or disputed. That care reveals an administration conscious that its records would be read and relied on long after the men who drew them were gone, and anxious to fix each title beyond the reach of later doubt. [Film No. 7, 160]

The register also records its own imperfections, and these are as telling as its care. The day of sealing was left blank in the body of several deeds while the year stood complete, as in the Stephen Young grant of about 1755, the John Leech grant of October 1759 and the completed Swanes Valley grant of 8 November 1759, lapses the clerk expected the regnal year and the annexed date to cover. Others were entered in parts rather than recopied whole, the grant to John Robinson having its sealing of 9 September 1765 and its annexed plan set down on a later page and the grant to William Holbrook left with its sealing carried over to a further entry of 23 September 1765. That the register preserved such incomplete or divided instruments rather than recopying them clean shows an administration content to let the documentary chain stand with its gaps and joins visible, trusting the cross-checks it had built in. [Film No. 28, 51, 57, 165, 167]

The keeping of the register itself shows through at several points. A grant to Benjamin Mawson sealed on 8 November 1759 carries a struck-out passage in which the clerk had begun to engross a further Mawson lease in Swanes Valley, its ground fixed against his own land and Richard Bagley's, before the whole was cancelled. The register kept such abandoned entries by striking them through rather than cutting out the leaf, so a grant begun and given up left its trace on the page. The Swanes Valley parcel of thirteen acres and three quarters was then written out afresh and completed on the following page, perhaps because the terms were reconsidered or the parcel drawn instead into another instrument. [Film No. 56-57]

The machinery of grant-making settled into a routine worked by a few hands. Richard Law witnessed the run of grants sealed on 19 November 1750, and his name recurs as late as the Martha Scott grant of 19 November 1764, so his service spanned more than a decade. From the grants of 1760 onward the witness is most often Matthew Bazett, who attested a long unbroken run of town and country grants through to 1765, the same man whom the record identifies as secretary to the Company on the island by 1761. A change in the witness panel late in 1764 hints at the ordinary turnover of administration, the Martha Scott grant of 19 November 1764 being witnessed by Richard Powell alongside Richard Law rather than by Bazett who had attested the surrounding instruments. On a small island the same men filled several roles at once, plain in the Harper town grant of 19 September 1763 where the two executors both sealed the deed while one of them, Thomas Harper, also witnessed it. [Film No. 129, 138, 154, 156-167]

The Change of Sovereign

Wider events in Britain reached the island chiefly through the royal name carried in the oath of allegiance. The grants down to the middle of 1760 name King George the Second, the last of them the Kirkpatrick town grant sealed on 11 August 1760. King George the Second died on 25 October 1760, and the first grant of the run to name King George the Third, the small James Valley plot let to the carpenter John Robinson, records the change of sovereign within the ordinary business of the leases. That the accession appears only through the altered name in a standard clause shows how distant the island lay from the centre, the news of a king's death registering as a change of wording in a lease rather than as any event in itself. [Film No. 126-129]

The new reign then settles firmly into the record. The grant to Jonathan Doveton sealed on 1 October 1761, in the first year of King George the Third, fixes the year precisely a twelvemonth after the accession, and the run of grants that follows carries the third George through the regnal years to 1765. The steady advance of the regnal count, from the first year in 1761 to the fifth year in 1765, gives the sequence a firm internal chronology against which the undated passages can be placed. [Film No. 130-167]

Settlement, Land and Agriculture

The island was divided for the purposes of tenure into East, West and South Divisions, and the grants range across all three, located also by named valleys such as Sandy Bay, Swanley Valley, Powells Valley, Fryer Valley, Broad Bottom, Stick's Valley, Oak Gut, Lemon Valley and the ground under the Main Ridge. Ground was described not by precise survey but by its neighbours and by local landmarks, so a parcel might be bounded by the land of a named holder on one side and by the Honourable Company's waste land on another. This method fixed boundaries by memory and reputation, and the register leaned on named features such as Writing Stones in the South Division, granted to Sarah Junge on 17 January 1757, where no neighbouring holding closed a side. The Main Ridge, the high spine running the length of the island, served repeatedly as a natural edge, as in a grant to Richard Beale the elder of 19 November 1749 that bounded ten acres in Sandy Bay north upon the ridge and spared the holder that stretch of fencing. [Film No. 30, 102]

A recurring practice runs through the whole run, by which the Company let small or awkward parcels to the one holder who already worked the adjoining ground, so that the grant rounded out a block the holder largely held while its boundaries locked against the neighbouring parcels. Matthew Purling was named as his own western neighbour in a grant of 1750, Nathan Sample as his own western neighbour in a grant of 30 July 1750, and Onesiphorus Beale as his own southern neighbour in a grant of 1755, each taking ground that rounded out a holding rather than settling a newcomer. A grant to John Desfountain of 12 November 1759 let two acres in the East Division bounded on every side by his own land, an interior pocket wholly enclosed within his estate that served only to bring a small piece under the same lease and rent as the ground about it. The pattern held to the end of the run, a grant to Isaac Knipe of 1 December 1764 setting his fifteen acres of the Horse Pasture against his own adjoining ground, a grant to Henry Bazett of 27 May 1765 rounding out a block he already held under the Main Ridge, and a grant to John Robinson of 9 September 1765 closing a parcel on two sides with his own land. [Film No. 8, 9, 24, 78, 159, 160, 164]

The same logic governed the Company's waste land. Where an isolated piece of unlet ground lay ringed by the Company's own waste, it was let to a single neighbour who could enclose it, sparing the Company the cost of fencing ground it kept in hand while putting an idle parcel to use. A grant to Isaac Knipe of 8 November 1759 bound him to set about fencing and enclosing his four acres and a quarter at Bridley's Dwelling at once, marking this as raw waste to be brought in from the common, and since the parcel stood ringed on every side by Company waste the whole fencing burden fell on the single tenant. The two acres let to Lieutenant John Clark in Fryer Valley on 7 January 1760, bounded on every side by Company waste, threw the whole fencing burden on the tenant alone in the same way. [Film No. 59-60, 120]

The clearest example of consolidation is Matthew Bazett, who built up a continuous holding in the East part of the island through the early 1750s. A grant of 13 July 1752 gave him four acres and a half next to Matthew Purling's ground, a grant of 31 August 1752 added eight acres against his own earlier parcel, and a further grant of 10 February 1754/5 fitted in five acres and a half ringed by named neighbours. Each deed keyed the new ground to what Bazett already held, so the Company assembled a single estate out of successive small lettings. The same gathering appears across families by the 1760s, the grants to Benjamin Mason, John Alexander and Orlando Bagley senior of 1764 showing the Mason, Alexander and Bagley holdings fixing one another's boundaries in a tight interlocking of ground. [Film No. 12, 13, 19, 108, 150]

The register distinguished carefully between the two kinds of holding where they met. A grant of five acres to Elisha Isaacke in the East Division on 19 November 1750 named the bordering ground by its tenure, Matthew Purling's leasehold on the north set against Isaacke's own freehold on the east, so a reader of the deed could tell leasehold from freehold at the boundary. The care the register took over such boundaries is clear in a grant of twelve acres and three quarters to Richard Bagley in the West Division, sealed on 16 May 1763, where the deed traced along each of the four sides exactly where Bagley's own land met the Company's waste, so the leasehold and the surrounding freehold could be told apart and the fences set on the true line. [Film No. 108, 134]

The register marks a steady shift in how the Company reckoned its ground. Earlier grants often rested on rough acreages carried from older deeds, but by the later 1740s the clerks increasingly recorded a parcel as taken by measurement, giving a checked figure that could be held against an annexed plan. A grant to John Swaite on 31 August 1747 records eight acres by measurement, and the care to note the surveyor's figure tied both the rent and the boundary to a quantity that could be tested if any question of extent later arose. Those annexed plans carried real legal weight, since the island's tenures rested on the drawn outline wherever its figures disagreed with the words of the deed. A grant to Matthew Bazett of 31 August 1752 has a plan drawn into the margin marking the parcel as eight acres, and a grant to John Robinson of 9 September 1765 has an annexed plan marking twenty-eight acres and a half, entered after the body of the deed to fix the ground's extent. Where a tenant such as John Leech signed only by mark and could not read his own deed, sealed on 8 November 1759, the plan served him and every later reader as the surer guide to the ground. [Film No. 17, 14, 55, 165]

The naming of parcels preserved memory long after the ground had changed hands. The byname Perkins clung to land Mary Alexander held in a grant of 1749, carried on from a former holder, and the Church Ground named as a boundary in a grant to Jonathan Doveton of 8 November 1759 kept alive the memory of an earlier ecclesiastical or parish holding after the ground had passed into ordinary tenure. The byname the Brick Chamber on a one-acre parcel let to Thomas Cotgrave on 8 November 1759 marked a building of brick, an uncommon material where most structures rose in stone or timber, while the Horse Pasture on fifteen acres let to Isaac Knipe on 1 December 1764 marked ground kept for grazing the island's horses. Such bynames, like the Walls and Bridley's Dwelling, did the work a survey could not, fixing an identity to ground that could be traced across generations. [Film No. 6, 52, 70, 159]

Tenure, Rents and Money

The great majority of grants ran for a fixed term of twenty-one years, at a rent due each year at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel on 29 September. Reserving the rent at Michaelmas fixed the yearly reckoning to that quarter, a point that mattered for calculating arrears when a lease fell in. Most leases were reckoned to begin from 12 October last before the sealing, an earlier measuring day, even where the deed itself was sealed some weeks or months later, as with several of Lieutenant Clark's parcels sealed on 7 January 1760. This settled practice let a lease run from the day the ground was measured while the deed was engrossed once the survey was complete and the bounds fixed, and running the term of many scattered leases from one common date let the Company reckon the rent of a whole sitting together. Fresh allocations, by contrast, sometimes ran from the day of the date of the instrument, as with the reduced-rate grant to Orlando Bagley junior sealed on 7 January 1760 and every grant of the 1764 to 1765 run. [Film No. 29, 92, 123, 156]

The clause forbidding a tenant to sell or dispose of the lease without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council, carried in every grant, kept the Company's control over who held its ground. Paired with the oath of allegiance written into each grant, binding the tenant in true faith both to the Crown and to the corporate proprietor and to obey all the laws and constitutions of the island, this made holding Company land an obligation as well as a bargain, so that any breach could be set against the tenant's title. Tenure and loyalty were thus tied together, the land grant serving as a standing instrument of the Company's authority over its settlers. [Film No. 7, 93]

The rent itself moved through recognisable forms across the period. A grant to John Bland of 16 June 1747 carried a flat 5 shillings for the whole parcel, the single-figure form the register used in the later 1740s, while grants of the 1750s increasingly charged 5 shillings an acre, tying the yearly payment directly to the measured extent. A grant to Matthew Bazett of 13 July 1752 shows the per-acre form settled in, so the charge rose and fell with the surveyor's figure rather than resting on a single sum, and the same full rate of 5 shillings an acre held for sound ground to the end of the run, as in a grant to Isaac Knipe of 1 December 1764 and a grant to Henry Bazett of 27 May 1765. The full rate marked ground the Company reckoned worth full cultivation once worked. [Film No. 7, 13, 159, 160]

The Company adjusted its terms to the quality of the ground rather than holding to a flat rate. A grant to Joshua Worrall of 30 July 1750 set the rent at 1 shilling and 6 pence an acre, expressly reduced because the ground was steep and barren and chiefly meant to serve the convenience of fencing, and a grant to Matthew Bazett of 10 February 1754/5 cut the rate to 1 shilling an acre on poorer ground in the same quarter. The same reduced charge of 1 shilling and 6 pence fell on George Gabriel Powell at Peak Hill in February 1743, on Orlando Bagley junior for nineteen acres in the East Division on 7 January 1760, and on Benjamin Mason and John Robinson for their parcels of 9 September 1765, so the pricing down of marginal land to what it was worth was settled practice, not favour. [Film No. 11, 19, 123, 163, 164]

A half-rate of 2 shillings and 6 pence an acre appears more than once in the early 1760s, marking poor or reserved ground let cheap. Captain Henry Bazett held four acres and a half in the South Division at that rate, sealed on 13 December 1762, Orlando Bagley senior held his reserved twenty-one acres at the same rate in June 1763, and the four acres and a quarter let to Isaac Knipe at Bridley's Dwelling on 8 November 1759 had stood at 2 shillings an acre rather than the standard 5. The standard rate held for ordinary land alongside, as in a grant of nine acres to Matthew Purling sealed on 14 November 1763 expressly at 5 shillings an acre, the contrast within a single span of months showing the Company grading its ground by worth. [Film No. 59, 133, 140]

That the charge tracked the ground and not the holder is plain from a single day's grants. On 30 October 1752 Matthew Purling took two parcels, his own poorer ground at 1 shilling an acre and the Simon Whaley orphans' trust land at the full 5 shillings, the one trustee holding two rates at once. A grant to Susanna Pledger of 3 November 1754/5 likewise set 5 shillings an acre on eight acres and 4 shillings on a poorer three acres within one lease, each piece reckoned on its own worth. [Film No. 40, 22]

The rent form shifted between a single figure and a two-part charge across the period. Grants of the later 1740s folded ground rent and duty into one flat sum, while the middle 1750s saw a partial return of the older two-part rent, a grant to Richard Bagley of 16 April 1759 stating the rent as 4 shillings an acre with 1 shilling of duty, five shillings in all. The same five shillings fell due in the end, but the reversion to the split form marks a clerkly convention shifting back toward the earlier usage, the single-figure 5 shillings an acre of the 1750s standing as the settled later form that folded both parts into one. [Film No. 42, 93]

A different and heavier form of tenure was reserved for tenants of standing. A grant to Francis Wrangham senior of 17 November 1755 ran not for a fixed term but for the natural lives of three named nominees, his sons Francis and William Wrangham and his grandson Charles Steward, and the longest liver of them, renewable on each death for half a year's rent. A lives lease gave the family a horizon long enough to justify heavier investment, even building in stone, and naming young kinsmen tied the length of the grant to the survival of those who would inherit the ground in any case. [Film No. 26, 27]

Agriculture, Provisioning and the Yam Grounds

One crop stood above all others in the Company's concern for provision. Every standard country grant bound the holder to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace any that decayed or died, a continuing duty that made each planter responsible for the island's stock of fruit as a condition of holding land. The recurrence of the same four trees across the whole run, from 1747 to 1765, shows a fixed policy rather than any individual choice, though the species named were adjusted to the ground each holding could carry. A grant to Samuel Alexander sealed on 12 November 1749 named apple, lemon, mulberry and oak, while the adjoining grant to Thomas Colgrave of the same sitting named apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, the inclusion of oak, a slow timber tree, pointing to the covenant's double purpose of provision and building material. [Film No. 43, 49, 93, 94]

Above all the leases protected the yam grounds. Every covenant carved out any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams, so the staple provision was shielded even from the Company's own orchard requirement. Yams and yam plantations are named among the appurtenances carried by nearly every country grant, alongside the water, watercourses, houses, buildings and fences, and a grant to Mary Seale of 19 September 1757 spells out the exemption. Yams were the island's principal victual, the chief food supplied to the shipping lying in the road, and a standing crop represented months of labour and a harvest close at hand. That the Company wrote this protection into the routine form of every grant, rather than leaving it to the tenant's judgement, shows the crop treated as a matter of the island's whole provision and not merely of each planter's own table. [Film No. 32, 92, 93]

St Helena existed as a watering and victualling station on the long sea route to the East, and the yam ground protected in these leases was the standing reserve that fed the crews of passing ships. The naming of yams and yam plantations in grant after grant, always set apart from the general planting duties, marks the crop as the pivot of the island's purpose under the Company, the land held to a purpose fixed by the sea. The record here is a record of land, but the land was held to feed the ships that called. [Film No. 92-93]

Timber and Woodland Conservation

The persistent scarcity of timber and fuel shaped almost every country lease the Company drew. The endemic gumwood and cabbage tree could no longer meet the island's needs as the woods were cut back, so every grant bound the tenant to plant, keep and preserve on the ground its full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. A grant to Matthew Purling of 5 August 1750 carries the requirement in full, the burden of replacing what he felled laid squarely on the tenant so the ground would not be stripped bare during his term, and the same tenth-part rule ran to the end of the run, a grant to Isaac Knipe of 1 December 1764 and a grant to Henry Bazett of 27 May 1765 laying the same duty on their parcels. [Film No. 8, 159, 160]

The conservation covenant grew more elaborate as the decade wore on and sharper still in the reduced-rate grants. By the grants of 8 November 1759 the Company named the very trees a tenant must plant and replace across the whole twenty-one-year term rather than a single planting left to dwindle, as in a grant to Francis Wrangham of that date. From the late 1720s the Company had charged reduced rents on ground reserved for planting and had barred the destruction of standing wood, a response to the island's long deforestation, and a grant to Orlando Bagley senior of twenty-one acres in the South Division, sealed on 27 June 1763, shows the regime at its strictest. The deed reserved the wood then standing entirely, to be kept by all persons for the replanting of the ground, so the Company held the existing stand out of the tenant's hands altogether rather than merely requiring him to keep a tenth in wood, and the parcel carried a reduced rent of 2 shillings and 6 pence an acre because it was reserved for timber. [Film No. 43, 49, 117, 136]

Certain leases identify ground by its native timber, naming cabbage tree land after the endemic cabbage tree of St Helena, as in the parcels let to the Whaley trust and to Lieutenant Clark beneath the Main Ridge on 7 January 1760 and the nineteen acres let to Henry Bazett on 27 May 1765. The endemic cabbage tree is marked in the leases as a distinct cover, its stands valued and noted apart from gumwood and open land, so a parcel carrying that name was known for the timber standing on it. That the register recorded the ground by its native trees shows how far the scarcity of wood had made every stand a matter of account. [Film No. 136, 160]

Water and Supply

Water was as jealously guarded as wood. On an island where supply was scarce and shared between holdings, a grant to Mary Seale and the orphans of John Seale of 19 September 1757 bound them not to hinder or divert the water from the Company's land, above or below the ground granted. The Company reserved the flow across the Seale parcel for its own adjoining land, a control that recurs wherever a grant sat astride a channel serving more than one holding, so that no tenant's use could be pushed to the point of starving a neighbour of water. In the town the same care fell on the water course and the water crane, the channel that carried water down to the landing for supplying shipping in the road, features the Company repeatedly protected by barring building near the water run. [Film No. 31, 143]

Family Trusts, Widows and Orphans

A striking share of these grants dealt not with living planters but with the inheritance of the dead, and here the register shows the working of contemporary law on the island. Where a man died leaving children under age, his ground was let not to the children directly but to executors and trustees holding for their use and benefit during their minority, keeping the estate whole and continuously held while the profit ran to the minor heirs. Three responsible men would commonly take the legal tenure while the beneficial use ran to the orphans, and a grant of 31 August 1752 settled seventeen acres and a half near Diana's Peak on Matthew Purling, Richard Beale and Matthew Bazett for the orphans of the late John Bagett, choosing trustees who already held neighbouring ground so the land stayed under the eye of men with a working interest in its fences. The device recurs across the whole run, applied to the Bagett, Bazett, Goodwin, Swaite, Harper, Whaley, Mason, Pledger, Seale, Worrall and Doveton children alike. [Film No. 15, 16, 71, 97]

The trusts were carefully framed to survive the death of a trustee. Each vested the ground in the several executors and in the survivors and survivor of them, and in the executors and administrators of that survivor, so that the death of one or more would not break the trust or leave the ground without a legal holder. A grant of 8 November 1759 set a minor's West Division inheritance on four trustees, Matthew Purling, Thomas Greentree, Matthew Bazett senior and Richard Goodwin, with this express survivorship, and that the same Richard Goodwin held ground both as a trustee for the orphan John Goodwin and in his own right alongside it, the two estates lying together in the West Division, shows how closely the trust ground and the adult holdings interlocked at their bounds. The two parcels let to Lieutenant Richard Goodwin, Henry Bazett and Jonathan Doveton on 19 November 1750 as guardians for the minor Thomas Harper, son of the deceased Gabriel Harper, drew on both the military and the planting sides of island society. [Film No. 71, 74, 110, 111]

The law also provided for those who died leaving no will. A grant of 19 November 1749 let seven acres in the East Division to Mary Doveton, widow and administratrix of all the goods, chattels, rights and credits of her late husband John Doveton, in trust for their orphaned children. Where a man died intestate his estate passed to an administrator appointed to settle it, and here the widow held that office, the standard route by which a wife took charge of an intestate husband's affairs, the covenants of repair, wood, furze and fruit trees resting on her. [Film No. 99]

The trustees chosen were drawn from a close circle of established holders, often men whose own ground adjoined the trust land. The Whaley children's ground was set on 12 November 1749 upon John Desfountain and Elisha Isaacke, the Swaite children's upon James Greentree and John Worrall, and a minor child of the deceased Jonathan Doveton was placed on 19 November 1749 in the hands of John Clark, a figure of standing to whom the Governor and Council had sold the intestate Vaughans estate in 1754. On 19 November 1750 Mary Mason held thirteen acres and three quarters in Swanley Valley alongside two male executors for the orphans of the deceased Richard Mason. Setting a child's inheritance in the hands of trusted neighbours kept the ground under the eye of men fit to answer for it, though it also concentrated the management of orphan estates among the same few families who held most of the island's land. [Film No. 97, 105, 115]

Where a father had died but the mother survived, the Company sometimes let her take the tenure directly for herself and the children together, mixing a widow's own interest with a trust in one instrument. A grant to Susanna Pledger of 3 November 1754/5 gave her ground on the hillside above Youngs Valley for herself and the orphans of the late Benjamin Pledger, and a grant to Mary Seale of 19 September 1757 did the same in Sandy Bay Valley. Widows also appear repeatedly as holders in their own right, taking Company ground on the same terms set for men. Elizabeth Desfountain, widow, held fourteen acres in the outer part of the island, sealed on 7 February 1759/60, the stated thirty-fourth regnal year of King George the Second corrected here to place the grant among the early grants of 1760 by the sequence and the calendar. The largest of the trusts falls late in the run, Susannah Worrall, executrix, holding forty-two acres in Sandy Bay alongside three male executors for the children of the deceased John Worrall, sealed on 9 January 1763/64, Susannah sealing by her mark. [Film No. 21, 31, 127, 143]

James Valley and the Town

James Valley was the island's town and harbour, and the register treats its ground quite differently from the country parcels, reckoning town plots not by acreage but by street frontage and depth in feet. A grant to Francis Wrangham senior of 1755 measured forty-one feet in front and two hundred and one feet in depth, a grant to Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick of 11 August 1760 an irregular plot seventy feet across the front but only twenty-five feet at two of its edges, and a grant to Solomon Saint Maurice of 19 November 1764 sixty feet in front and ninety-five in depth on the east side of the road towards the Moldavia garden. Each edge was set down separately in feet to fix the irregular shape of a plot squeezed among existing buildings, the shape reflecting the pressure on ground in a town lying between steep hillsides. [Film No. 27, 126, 157]

The town rents followed a flat form, charged in current money of the island as a lump sum with no per-acre reckoning and no planting duty of the kind laid on country ground. A grant to John Legg of 12 October 1758 reserved 15 shillings, a grant to John Jacky of the same day 16 shillings, Captain Kirkpatrick paid 19 shillings a year for his plot, a grant to James Greentree of 19 November 1764 reserved 20 shillings and 3 pence and a grant to Richard Bagley of the same day 13 shillings and 2 pence. An urban plot built over with a dwelling carried no conservation burden, so the Company looked to the building and its upkeep rather than to timber, the tenant answering for the rent and the repair of the buildings alone. [Film No. 33, 34, 127, 157, 156]

That the town rents bore no fixed relation to the area of the ground is plain from the two Saint Maurice grants. His sixty-foot plot on the road towards the Moldavia garden and his narrow fifteen-foot strip adjoining his own house, granted 26 August 1765, both carried the same flat rent of 15 shillings, so position and the value of a plot adjoining an established house governed the charge rather than any survey measure. The pattern runs across the James Valley grants of the whole period, the built town priced by worth and place rather than extent. [Film No. 161, 162]

The Company laid out the valley frontage as a planned street rather than a scatter of dwellings. Each new house was bound to stand in a straight line with those on both sides, the plot running back at right angles and the same width at the back as at the front, a concern for the regular line of the street that the country leases never carried. The run of four building plots let in October 1758 to Thomas Leech, Gilbert Clough, John Legg and John Jacky, their adjoining names locking the sequence together, shows the Company filling in an ordered terrace. The register located these plots not by survey but by the working fabric of the town, fixing them by the bridge, the water course, the water crane, the road leading up towards the Moldavia garden, or simply by the neighbouring houses. [Film No. 33, 36, 143]

The largest single body of town grants is a run of back plots securing the residual ground behind an existing dwelling for the householder it adjoined. Those sealed together on 19 November 1764 gave Matthew Purling, Francis Wrangham, Martha Scott, Jonathan Doveton and Richard Bagley each the strip of ground behind his or her own house, and a grant to James Greentree of the same day let thirty-one feet in breadth and ninety-five feet in depth behind his own dwelling. The near-uniform depth across several of these plots, close to one hundred and ten feet, suggests the ground behind this row of houses ran back a consistent distance to a common rear line, though the Greentree depth of ninety-five feet shows the line was not perfectly even, the ground running back only as far as the rising hillside allowed. The town rents were odd sums, from 12 shillings and 5 pence to 20 shillings and 2 pence, bearing no fixed relation to area. [Film No. 151, 155, 156]

The register locates its later town plots by the same working fabric of James Valley. A grant to William Holbrook of 23 September 1765 fixed his ground by the dwelling house of James Fort the cooper on one side and by the slaughter ground on the other, the enclosure where the town's animals were killed for meat, and the strip let to Richard Bagley on the great side of the road near the water crane, sealed on 15 June 1764, measuring one hundred feet by only sixteen, was a narrow verge fit for a wall or outbuilding rather than a dwelling. The irregular shapes record the crowding of the ground, the Holbrook plot measuring forty feet in front with sides of forty-eight and forty-four feet, the two unequal depths marking a plot that could not be squared where it lay wedged between the dwellings and the rising hillside. [Film No. 148, 166]

The names on these town plots reveal who was settling the valley. John Jacky was a quarter gunner in the Company's service and Gilbert Clough a corporal, and Corporal Gilbert Clough and Sergeant Michael Frost appear as flanking holders in a grant of 12 October 1758, so the street was filling with serving garrison men who took building ground alongside the island's planters and craftsmen. The crowded heart of the valley held the establishment close together, a grant to Francis Wrangham of 8 November 1759 fitting his plot behind the yard of the late Charles Steward's house and against the Company house where the Lieutenant Governor lodged. Lieutenant Samuel Price is named as the occupier of a dwelling behind which a town plot lay, Lieutenant Onesiphorus Beale took a half plot behind his own dwelling on 8 November 1759, and Lieutenant Solomon Saint Maurice gathered the ground about his town property piece by piece across 1764 and 1765. [Film No. 34, 46, 72, 161]

Craftsmen and the Company Establishment

A distinct layer of the town record concerns the Company's craftsmen, whose trades were paid from the establishment and who held urban plots on the standing town-grant form. On 6 October 1764 the Company let neighbouring plots along the road towards the Moldavia garden to Joseph Chamberlain, carpenter, and Thomas Townsend, mason, each of nearly equal frontage and each at a flat rent of 15 shillings, marking this stretch of James Valley as a quarter taken up by the men who built and maintained the town's stonework and timber. The mason's trade in particular tied Townsend to the stone construction the Company kept up about the town and fort. A grant to William Holbrook of 23 September 1765 names him a mason too, his plot lying next to the dwelling of James Fort the cooper, so two trades of the town appear together in a single deed. [Film No. 148, 150, 166]

The carpenter John Robinson, who took a small back plot next to the James Valley water course, connects to the John Robinson recorded as master mason to the Company, who had bought a James Valley house from John Bland in 1756. The recurrence of such craftsmen among the town's holders shows how a trade paid from the establishment gave a man a settled urban footing, so that the Company's builders and stoneworkers came to hold ground in the town they served. Chamberlain and Robinson both sealed their deeds by their marks, a small sign that manual skill and full literacy did not always go together among these tradesmen. [Film No. 129, 149]

Social Order and Landholding Families

The register discloses a small society of interrelated landholding families who held the island's ground among themselves across generations, their interlocking parcels fixing one another's boundaries. Most grantees are styled planter, but a few carry the courtesy title of gentleman, setting them among the upper civilian rank. The Wrangham and Steward names recur as intermarried planter families of the West Division, joined in the lives named on Francis Wrangham senior's grant of 17 November 1755 where his own grandson bore the Steward name, and William Wrangham, taking twenty-one acres and a half in the South Division on 8 November 1759, is styled gentleman as a son of Francis Wrangham senior. Matthew Purling, Richard Beale the elder and Matthew Bazett are likewise styled gentleman, and these same men recur across the register as executors and trustees, so standing, landholding and fiduciary trust ran together in the same hands. The bar on assigning a lease without leave first obtained, carried in a grant to John Bland of 16 June 1747, let the Company vet every incoming holder and keep the land within that approved group. [Film No. 7, 26, 58, 80]

The garrison households appear at the edges of the land record and woven into its centre. Lieutenant Samuel Price, Lieutenant Onesiphorus Beale, Lieutenant John Clark, Captain John Clark and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick all deal in James Valley and South Division ground, the same men holding commissions and taking leases, so the military establishment was woven into the settled society rather than standing apart from it. Garrison officers took town ground alongside their service to the end of the run, Lieutenant Solomon Saint Maurice holding a sixty-foot plot on the road towards the Moldavia garden in November 1764 and a narrow strip adjoining his own house in August 1765. [Film No. 72, 81, 157, 161]

Women appear in the register chiefly as widows carrying forward a dead husband's ground. Sarah Junge took an acre at Writing Stones on 17 January 1757 and four further acres later that year, Mary Seale held in Sandy Bay for herself and her children in 1757, Susanna Pledger held above Youngs Valley in 1754/5, Margaret Harper, widow of Martin Harper, served as executrix and joint guardian of her husband's orphans, and Mary Doveton held her late husband's ground as administratrix. Several signed only by mark, as Sarah Junge, Mary Seale and Susannah Worrall did, so their names stand in the record while their own hands could not write them. The earlier widows Frances Price and Frances Carne survive only as the named grantees of 1738 holdings since divided between successors. Women held ground, but almost always as the relict or administratrix of a man, the land passing through them to the next generation rather than resting in their own right. [Film No. 30, 37, 91, 104]

The register also shows several holders bearing names of continental or Huguenot origin within the garrison and among the Company's people. The distinctive Saint Maurice name, borne by the lieutenant who took two James Valley plots in 1764 and 1765, marks such a holder, paralleling the appearances of Desfountain, Junge and Audouart among the Company's personnel. These names trace the mixed origins of the island's garrison and servants, drawn from beyond England into the Company's service. [Film No. 157, 161]

Read together, the grants show a landed class of deep root rather than a shifting population of newcomers. The Alexander name runs back to a John Alexander who served as register from at least 1686 and gathered ground across several valleys, still fixing boundaries and taking leaseholds a lifetime on in a grant of fifteen acres to a later John Alexander in November 1764. The Greentree name runs back through a James Greentree confirmed in sixty acres across three parcels at a sitting of 4 August 1713, and the Bazett name through a Matthew Bazett who served as surveyor and council member across sittings of 1711 and 1713 and forward to the Matthew Bazett who became secretary to the Company by 1761 and paid the highest recorded prices for James Valley property. The Powell family, whose James Valley plot was let to James Powell, gentleman, in 1764, connects to the Gabriel Powell and George Gabriel Powell who rose through the Council to the governorship. The orphan trusts bound these families together in mutual obligation, the Bagett, Bazett, Whaley, Harper, Pledger, Mason, Worrall and Seale children all appearing as beneficiaries whose ground was held by trustees drawn from the same handful of substantial men. [Film No. 92, 95, 104, 142]

The scattering of scribal renderings of a single family name is a caution to any reader of the record. The Cotgrave of the 1759 grants is written Colgrave in the 1749 grants, the two renderings falling on the same family whose ground ran back through the John Cotgrave confirmed in his Youngs Valley lot and let a one-acre parcel from 25 December 1726. The Easthope of Sandy Bay appears variously as Easthope, Eastings, Eastop and Eastrop across the record, one dead holder, James Easthope, still fixing boundaries through his orphans a generation after his death. The register's own inconsistency in spelling shows that the identity of a holding must often be traced through the ground it touched rather than through the name alone. [Film No. 70, 94, 101]

Personalities

Matthew Purling stands out as the most active figure in the register, a man the Company trusted above his neighbours. He held orphan estates for the Bagett, Bazett and Whaley children through the 1750s, carrying the Simon Whaley children's ground from a grant of 15 January 1752/3 into a fresh grant of 30 October 1752, took ground for himself in the East Division, and was styled gentleman by 1758, a courtesy that set him apart from the planters and garrison men around him. He held ground still in the 1760s, taking nine acres at 5 shillings an acre on 14 November 1763 and a James Valley back plot in 1764, and his repeated appearance as executor and trustee marks him as a pillar of the island's propertied order, the reliable hand through which the Company kept family estates whole. [Film No. 15, 20, 38, 140, 151]

The Bagley family shows the same accumulation spread across several men and divisions. Richard Bagley, a rising planter of the West Division, took Company grants and private purchases through the 1750s, gathered ten acres at Thompson's Wood on 16 April 1759 almost wholly ringed by his own ground, folded the former land of Mary Nichols into a twenty-five acre lease of 8 November 1759, and went on to take twelve acres and three quarters in the West Division in May 1763, a roadside town strip near the water crane in June 1764 and a back plot behind his own dwelling in November 1764, his purchases reaching the Steward, Ryder and Knipe estates. Two Orlando Bagleys, distinguished as senior and junior, held ground in different divisions under the same family name, the junior taking nineteen acres in the East Division in January 1760 and the senior taking parcels in the south and west divisions in 1763 and 1764, the senior's grant of 24 September 1764 sealed on his behalf by John Bagley. Richard Bagley signed counterparts for others who could not write, his own literacy setting him among the more capable men of his quarter. [Film No. 41, 42, 51, 123, 155]

Isaac Knipe, a planter of standing named in a grant of 10 October 1752, links the register's land dealings to its later conveyances and carried an established name forward into the reign of the third George. He acted as a guardian who sold the orphan Elizabeth Scott's James Valley house on 1 December 1761 and made over sixteen acres of leasehold to Richard Bagley for £117 11s 0d on 14 December 1761, and a grant of 1 December 1764 added twenty-one acres and a half to his holding, combining fifteen acres of the Horse Pasture in the West Division with six acres and a half in Lemon Valley. His family ran back through the John Knipe who held ground at the bottom of Pleasant Valley, and his career shows how a holding passed between neighbours over more than a decade. [Film No. 18, 159]

Captain Henry Bazett appears as a rising man of the garrison and a wide holder of Sandy Bay ground. He had taken four acres and a half in the South Division in December 1762 and bought Steward freehold and Woody Ridge ground through the 1750s, and a grant of 27 May 1765 added nineteen acres of cabbage tree land under the Main Ridge to his holding, bounded by Matthew Purling's land on the south and the orphans of John Worrall on the west. Formerly a lieutenant and now raised to captain, he shows the path by which a garrison officer built a landed estate across the divisions while rising in the Company's service. [Film No. 133, 160]

Lieutenant John Clark stands out among the garrison figures for the sheer accumulation of ground. He took two West Division parcels at the sitting of 19 November 1750 and then a further cluster on 7 January 1760, including six acres, two acres in Fryer Valley and five acres of cabbage tree land beneath the Main Ridge, gathering his holdings across the divisions through Company leasehold alongside his military service. He may be the same John Clark who stood as guardian for the Doveton minor at the 1750 sitting, acting as private tenant in one capacity and as trustee in another, the pattern of an officer building an island estate through leasehold recurring among the garrison men of the period. [Film No. 113, 122]

Benjamin Mason appears as an established holder of the West Division adding materially to his ground. A grant of 9 September 1765 let him thirty-one acres in the West Division, following his four-acre South Division grant of September 1764, so the same holder gathered ground across more than one division, and his name is tied through the Benjamin Mason who bought Bisley from Francis Wrangham in 1761, placing him among the families whose interlocking parcels fixed one another's boundaries in that quarter. John Robinson, styled planter, links this run's country ground to the town craftsmen of the wider record, a grant of 9 September 1765 letting him twenty-eight acres and a half in the East Division, the Robinson name running back through the master mason who bought a James Valley house in 1756 and the carpenter who took a small back plot in October 1761. [Film No. 163, 164]

Benjamin Pledger, though dead before the grants that name him, casts a long shadow across the register. He appears earlier as a soldier and freeholder who built up ground in Prosperous Bay Valley and the East Division through the 1730s, and the grant of 3 November 1754/5 to his widow Susanna carries the family's tenure forward after his death. His rise from the garrison to a landed estate, passed on through his widow to his orphans, traces the path by which a serving soldier could become the founder of a landholding family. [Film No. 21]

Slavery and Coerced Labour

The register is almost wholly silent on the slaves who must have cleared, fenced and worked the ground it so carefully parcels, and that silence is the most striking feature of the record. Not one of the abstracted grants, from 1747 to 1765, names a slave or records a transaction in slaves, though the clearing of waste, the enclosing of the Horse Pasture and Lemon Valley ground, the building of the fences on which every lease insisted, the raising of the yams that fed the island and the killing of animals at the slaughter ground named in the William Holbrook grant of 23 September 1765 all depended on coerced labour. The Company's island economy rested on slavery, yet the deeds of tenure pass it over entirely. [Film No. 30, 159, 166]

This silence is not evidence that slaves were absent but evidence of what the official register was for and whose interests it served. A deed of tenure fixed the relation between the Company and a landholder over ground and rent, and the labour that made the ground productive fell outside its purpose, so the people who did that labour left no trace in it. The record's omission of the slaves whose work underlay every fenced and planted parcel warns how much the careful documentation of property can obscure, and how the burden of first improvement laid on tenants in grants such as Sarah Junge's of 17 January 1757 in truth fell on hands the deed never names, even in a run as closely dated as that of 1764 and 1765. [Film No. 30, 156-167]

The Character and Limits of the Evidence

The value of this material lies in its consistency, and its limits lie in the same place. Because every entry follows the fixed form of a Company lease, the record is reliable for what it sets out to record, the parties, the ground, the term, the rent and the covenants, and these can be cross-checked against one another through the shared boundaries that tie neighbouring grants together. The interpretive links drawn between holders across the run are for the most part soundly grounded, but where they identify a man with a namesake in an earlier decade the identification is often reasonable rather than certain, and such links should be read with due caution. [Film No. 107, 147]

What the record obscures is as telling as what it preserves. The leases speak only of holders and boundaries, so the labour that worked the ground is almost wholly absent, and the register is silent on how far the covenants were actually kept, on whether the fruit trees were truly planted and the wood truly preserved, or on what the tenants made of ground let cheap because it was poor. The account that can be drawn is therefore an account of tenure and of the families who held it, not of the full life of the island, and it should be read as the partial and interested record it is. [Film No. 106-155]

Chronology and the Order of the Record

The order of the film sequence and the order of events pull against one another at more than one point, and this is worth drawing out plainly. Within the middle stretch of the record the lower film numbers, from 56 to 91, carry the grants of 8 November and 12 November 1759, sealed in the thirty-third year of King George the Second, while the higher film numbers, from 92 to 105, carry the grants of 12 November and 19 November 1749, sealed in the twenty-third year of the same king. The later-numbered pages thus hold the earlier grants, so a reader following those films from low to high moves backward in time by nine years at the join. [Film No. 91-92]

The 1749 grants also show a plain contradiction on their own faces, which the correction rule set out at the head of this account resolves. Each states the year of our Lord as 1750 while giving the regnal year as the twenty-third of King George the Second. Since that regnal year ran from 11 June 1749 to 10 June 1750, a November falling within it belonged to 1749, not 1750. Following the modern reckoning and the regnal year against the stated year of grace, these grants are dated here to November 1749, shown in slash form as 1750/49. The grant to Elizabeth Desfountain, sealed on 7 February 1759/60 but stated to the thirty-fourth regnal year of King George the Second, is corrected in the same way to place it among the early grants of 1760 by the sequence and the calendar. Such discrepancies are clerks' errors of the kind the register elsewhere reveals, and they stand as a caution against taking any single stated year on trust where a regnal year or the sequence can check it. [Film No. 92-105, 127]

Conclusion

Taken together, the grants of 1747 to 1765 trace a maturing colonial landholding under a commercial proprietor, a settled and methodical land administration parcelling out a small island with close attention to boundary, rent and the conservation of scarce wood and water. The Company kept the freehold of the island in its own corporate hands while letting the ground on twenty-one-year terms to a settled circle of interrelated families, consolidated working estates by fitting fresh parcels to what a holder already worked, priced marginal land down to its worth at reduced and half rates, and protected the estates of dead planters' children through a dense web of trusteeship. Through the Governor and Council it controlled who held its land and to what use, tying tenure to an oath of loyalty and reserving to itself the leave to assign any lease, and its cross-checks of regnal year and annexed plan reveal an administration anxious to fix each title beyond later doubt. [Film No. 6-167]

The grants also show a settled island society with its own ranks and its own law. A handful of families, the Alexanders, Greentrees, Bazetts, Harpers, Bagleys, Masons, Wranghams, Worralls and Dovetons among them, had gathered ground across the valleys over several generations, their estates so closely packed by the 1760s that fresh grants merely filled the pockets between established holders while the Company turned to regularising the crowded back plots of James Valley, letting each householder the strip behind his own door. The change of sovereign in 1760 passed through the record only as an altered name in the oath of allegiance, a measure of the island's distance from the centre, and a single witness, Matthew Bazett, attests the closing run. [Film No. 6-167]

Yet the record must be read against its own limits. It is the Company's register, kept for the Company's rents, and it tells almost nothing of the slaves whose labour cleared and worked the ground, little of the wider wars whose outcome decided whether the island was worth holding, and only what a deed of tenure needed to record. What it does preserve, in unusual detail, is the machinery by which a trading company turned a remote volcanic island into a patchwork of rented holdings, and the names of the families and officers who held them, across eighteen years of the middle eighteenth century. [Film No. 6-167]

Film No.

Page No.

OCR Transcription

Modern Summary with Analysis

1

EAP 1364 St Helena

Document Name and Date

[Regist]er of leases 1749 - 65

Ph[o]tographer

Aidan

Date photographed

15 th may 2023

Additional comments

2

Book cover

3

REGISTER OF LEASES

1740—1765

Ref. E. I. C. 7/8

4

Blank page

5

Blank page

6

1

[Loss along the entire right-hand edge of the page, affecting the ends of the upper lines.]

Year of the Reign of our said Soveraign Lord George the Se[...]

Grace of God of Great Brittain France & Ireland King Defender of [...]

forth & so forth and in the Year of our Lord 1749 and he the said John

Goodwin hath to these presents set his hand & Seal the day & Year abo[...]

written

Witness John Goodwin

F Wrangham Junr

A Bazett

Island of St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honble the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the Ea[...]

Indies, Do hereby Demise Grant Sett & to Farm let unto John [...] Land of the

said Island Messuage that piece or parcel of Land contain g [...] Acre 1 [...] three

quarters & thirty Six Square Poles being part of twenty Acres Granted to the

Widow & Orphans of the said John Alexander Deceased Deceby one Lease dated 4 [...]

Sept 1738 with the Appurtenances, Situate lying & being near the Dwelling

House of Mary Alexander Widow Butting & Bounding on the North upon

the Lands of James Bryans Orphans on the West upon the Lands of

Samll Devereux on the South upon the Lands of Samll Alexander on the

East upon the Lands now in possession of Mary Alexander, known by the

Name of Perkins And also one Acre & an half & twenty Six Square

Poles of planting Land being part of seven Acres & an half Granted to

the Executr of the said John Alexander Decd in trust & for the use trust hand

by one Lease dated the 3d Novr 1742 the above two Parcels being the propert

of Land belonging to the late Robert Wright Decd in right of his Wife

that we Mortgaged by him the 23 day of June 1737 for twenty pound

to the Governour & Council of the said Island as Trustees to the Orph

of John Bradley Decd & afterwards purchased by the said John Good[...]

A dwelling in James Valley belonged to the late Robert Wright, who held it in right of his wife.

The relevant passage sets out that in the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, and in the year of our Lord 1749, John Goodwin set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. John Goodwin signed and sealed it, with Francis Wrangham senior and [...] Bazett witnessing.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to John Goodwin a piece of land on the island. It contained two acres, three quarters and thirty-six square poles, part of a twenty-acre parcel granted to the heirs of the late John Alexander, deceased, and held for the use of the widow and orphans of the late John Alexander by a lease dated 30 September 1738, together with its appurtenances. The land lay near the dwelling house of Mary Alexander, widow, and adjoined on the north the land of James Ryan's orphans, on the west the land of Samuel Doveton, on the south the land now held by Mary Alexander known by the name of Perkins, and on the east the same. It also took in one acre and a half, part of a twenty-six acre parcel of planting land granted to the heirs of the late John Alexander for their use by a lease dated 30 December 1742. Both parcels formed part of the land that had belonged to the late Robert Wright, deceased, in right of his wife, which the heirs had mortgaged by their deed of 23 June 1737 for £20 to the Governor and Council of the island as trustees for the orphans of John Bradley, deceased, and afterwards purchased by John Goodwin.

Interpretations

The two dates 30 September 1738 and 30 December 1742 tie this parcel to the great sitting at which the Company settled the estate of the late John Alexander on his widow Mary Alexander and their children, dividing the ground into thirds for the widow and the remaining shares among the six children named in that trust. The land conveyed here was carved out of those trust parcels rather than out of open Company waste, so the transaction moved ground within the Alexander family settlement rather than adding new holdings to it.

The mortgage of 23 June 1737 shows the island's government acting as a lending institution on behalf of a dead man's children. The Governor and Council held £20 of the portion belonging to the orphans of the late John Bradley and put it out at interest on the security of the Wright land, so that a child's inheritance earned a return while the borrower gained ready cash. This use of orphan money as secured capital recurs in the register, the same body later lending £20 of the same Bradley orphan's portion to Robert Wright on a mortgage at two per cent on 23 June 1747.

The byname Perkins attached to the ground Mary Alexander held marks the practice of carrying a former holder's name on a parcel long after the land had passed out of that person's hands, a convention that fixed boundaries by memory and reputation where no survey pinned them down.

7

2

the same Sum of Money, Situate lying & being in Sandy Bay Butting

Butting & Bounding on the North & South upon the Lands of Mary

Alexander Widow & Orphans. East & West upon the Honble Companys

waste Land To have & to hold the said hereby Demised parcels of

Land & every part & parcel thereof together with all & singular the Woods

Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yards &

Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Wells Fences & all other & Singular

the Rights Commodities to them & each & every of them belonging or

appurtaining unto him the said John Bland his Heirs Exors Admin or

allowed Assigns from the day of the date hereof for & during the remaind

of the times Granted by the two aforesaid Leases from thence next ensuing

upon Condition that he the said John Bland his Heirs Exors Admin

or Assigns shall & do bear true Faith & Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord

King George the Second his Heirs & Successors & true faith to them the

said Honble Company & their Successors Yielding & Paying

therefore Yearly & every year during the term hereby granted, unto the

said Honble Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Rent or sum

of five Shillings of Clove at or upon the Feast day of St Michael the

Arch angel Yearly and upon Condition that he the said John Bland

his Heirs Exors Admins & Assigns do not nor shall sell or dispose of this

Lease or his or their Interest therein without the Leave & consent of the

said Honble Company for the same being and upon Condition that he the

said John Bland his Heirs Exors Admins & Assigns do & shall at the end

or sooner Determination of this Lease surrender & deliver up the

aforesaid Premisses with the Appurtenances & all such Edifices and

Buildings as shall or may be thereon in good Condition & repair In

Witness whereof we the said Govr & Council have to the other part set our

hands & Affixed the Honble Companys Seal this 16 day of June in the

twenty first Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord George the

Second by the Grace of God of Great Brittain France & Ireland King

Defender of the Faith &c so forth, & in the Year of our Lord One thousand

Seven Hundred & Forty Seven & he the said John Bland hath to these

Presents set his hand & Seal the day & Year above written

Signd Seald & Deliverd

in presence of Us

The same sum of money, for a piece of land lying in Sandy Bay, bounded on the north and south by the land of Mary Alexander, widow, and orphans, and on the east and west by the Honourable Company's waste land. The Company granted John Bland the land and every part of it, together with all its watercourses, houses, buildings and other structures, its trees, yams and plantations of yams, its fruit trees, wells and fences, and all the rights and privileges belonging to it, to have and to hold from the date of this deed for the remainder of the terms granted by the two earlier leases from their commencement.

The grant was made on condition that John Bland, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors. In return he was to pay the Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings during the term granted, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition barred John Bland, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns from selling or disposing of the lease or their interest in it without the leave of the Company or its successors first obtained. A final condition bound John Bland, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, at the end or earlier determination of the lease, to surrender and deliver up the land with its appurtenances, together with all buildings and structures on it, kept in good condition and repair.

In witness of this the Company set its hand and seal to its part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 16 June in the twenty-first year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, and in the year of our Lord 1747. John Bland set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of [...].

Interpretations

The two conditions restricting sale and requiring surrender in good repair mark the standard control the Company kept over leasehold ground on the island. A tenant could not assign his interest without leave first obtained, which let the Company vet every incoming holder and prevent the ground drifting into hands it had not approved. This bar on free assignment recurs across the register and reflects the Company's concern to keep its land within a settled circle of planters rather than open to an unregulated market.

The rent of 5 shillings with no separate duty follows the flat single-figure form the register used across the later 1730s and 1740s, in place of the older split of four shillings an acre with a shilling of duty. The reservation of the rent at Michaelmas rather than the more usual Lady Day quarter fixes the yearly reckoning to the autumn, a point that would matter for calculating any arrears when the lease fell in.

The date given by the regnal year, the twenty-first year of King George the Second, agrees with the year of our Lord 1747, an internal cross-check the clerks built into these grants so that the tenure could be dated even where one figure was later lost or disputed.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honourable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies

Do hereby Demise Grant and to Farm let unto Matthew Purling of the

said Island all that piece or parcel of Land Containing one Acre and an half

Situate lying & being in the East Division of the said Island Butting and

bounding South upon the High Road leading to the Long Wood West upon

the Land of him the said Matthew Purling and East and North upon the

Lands of Nathan Sample To have and to hold the said hereby

Demised parcel of Land with the appurtenances unto every part and parcel

thereof unto him the said Matthew Purling his Heirs Executors Administrators

and Assigns from the day of the date hereof for and during all the space

term of Twenty one Years from thence next ensuing Upon Condition

that he the said Matthew Purling his Heirs Executors Administrators or

allowed Assigns do always bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign

Lord King George the Second his Heirs and Successors and true faith to them

the said Honourable Company and their Successors and shall duly obey

all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island Yeilding and paying

therefore Yearly and every Year during the term and time of twenty one

Years unto them the said Honourable Company their Successors Agents

or Assigns the Yearly Rent of 5s of Clove or at or upon the feast of St

Michael the Arch angel Yearly And upon Condition that he

the said Matthew Purling his Heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

Assigns shall and do set about and fence in the said parcel of Land

with a good and sufficient Fence and when a Fence and Enclose do and

shall keep and Maintain the same in good Condition and repair and do

not suffer the same or any part thereto to run to ruin or decay and shall

also plant keep up and Maintain the full Quantity and proportion

of Wood and do not suffer or shall alter the fences they being the boundes

or Landmarks of the said parcel of Land and do not nor shall sell or dispose

of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the Leave and

consent of the Governour and Council for the time being for Witness

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Matthew Purling a piece of land on the island. It contained one acre and a half, lying in the East Division, bounded on the south by the high road leading to the Long Wood, on the west by the land of Matthew Purling himself, and on the east and north by the land of Nathan Sample. The Company granted him the land with its appurtenances, and every part of it, to have and to hold from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Matthew Purling, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns always bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings during the term of twenty-one years, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound Matthew Purling, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, to set about fencing the parcel of land with a good and sufficient fence, and once it was fenced and enclosed, to keep and maintain it in good condition and repair, and not to let it fall to ruin or decay. He was also bound to plant up and maintain the full quantity and proportion of wood, and not to alter the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel. Neither was he to sell or dispose of the lease or his interest in it without the leave of the Governor and Council for the time being.

Interpretations

The requirement to plant and maintain a fixed proportion of wood ran through every Company lease of this period on the island, reflecting the persistent scarcity of timber and fuel that the endemic gumwood and cabbage tree could no longer meet as the woods were cut back. The tenant carried the burden of replacing what he felled, so that the ground would not be stripped bare during his term.

The clause treating the fences as the bounds and landmarks of the parcel gave the enclosure a legal weight beyond mere containment of stock. Because the island's grants were fixed by reference to an annexed plan and to neighbouring holdings rather than by precise survey, a tenant who moved a fence could unsettle the boundary itself, so the bar on altering fences protected the certainty of every adjoining holder's title as much as his own.

The naming of Matthew Purling as his own western neighbour shows the Company letting a fragment to the one holder who already worked the adjoining ground, a recurring practice by which small or awkward parcels went to whoever could most easily reach and fence them rather than being offered generally.

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hereof we the said Governour and Council hath to the other part set our hands and

Affixed the said Honourable Companys Seal this 6 th day of August in the

twenty fourth Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord George the Second

by the grace of God King Defender of the faith and So forth and in the Year

of our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred and fifty and he the said Matthew

Purling hath to & & & & & & these presents set his hand and seal the day

and Year above written

Witness Purling

Bazett

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honourable the United

Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do hereby Demise

Grant and to Farm let unto Nathan Sample of the said Island All that piece or

parcel of Land containing Eight Acres and an half Situate lying and being in

the East Division of the said Island Butting and Bounding North and East on

the Honourable Companys Waste Land South on the High Road leading to the

Long Wood and West partly on the Lands of Matthew Purling and partly on the

Lands of him the said Nathan Sample To have and to hold the said hereby

Demised parcel of Land with the Appurtenances and every part and parcel thereof

unto him the said Nathan Sample his Heirs Executors Administrators or Allowed

Assigns from the Day of the Date hereof for and During all the space and term

of Twenty one Years from thence next ensuing Upon Condition that he the

said Nathan Sample his Heirs Executors Administrators or Allowed Assigns

do always bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the

Second his Heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said Honourable Compa

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 5 August in the twenty-fourth year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1750. Matthew Purling set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Gurling, with Bazett witnessing.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Nathan Sample of the island a piece of land. It contained eight acres and a half, lying in the East Division, bounded on the north and east by the Honourable Company's waste land, on the south by the high road leading to the Long Wood, on the west partly by the land of Matthew Purling and partly by the land of Nathan Sample himself. The Company granted him the land with its appurtenances, and every part of it, to have and to hold from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Nathan Sample, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns always bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company.

Interpretations

The bounds tie this parcel directly to the Matthew Purling lease of 5 August 1750 sealed on the same page, since Purling's ground closes part of Sample's western side while Sample's own earlier land closes the rest. The two grants read as a coordinated letting along the high road to the Long Wood, each man taking the ground that ran up against what he already held.

The naming of Nathan Sample as his own western neighbour, like Purling before him, shows the Company adding to an existing holding rather than settling a newcomer, so the eight acres and a half rounded out ground Sample already worked in that quarter of the East Division.

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and their Successors and shall duly obey all Laws and Constitutions of the said Island

Yeilding and paying therefore Yearly and every year during the term and time of tow

one Years unto them the said Honourable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns

the Yearly Rent of 5s of Clove or at or Upon the Feast of St Michael the Arch a

Angel Yearly and Upon Condition that he the said Nathan Sample his Heirs

Executors Administrators or Assigns shall and do set about and fence in the said

parcel of Land with a good and Sufficient fence and when so Fenced and

Enclosed do and shall keep and Maintain the same in good Condition and rep

and do not Suffer the same or any part thereof to run or Decay and shall

plant keep up and Maintain the full Quantity and proportion of Wood and

not suffer or shall alter the fences they being the bounds or Landmarks

of the said parcel of Land and do not nor shall sell or dispose of this Lease

or his or their Interest therein without the Leave and Consent of the Governour

and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the said

Governour and Council hath to the other part set their hands and Affixed the

said Honourable Companys seal this 36 Day of July in the twenty

fourth Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord George the Second by the

grace of God of great Brittain France and Ireland King Defender of the

faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven

Hundred and Fifty and he the said Nathan Sample hath to these presents

set his hand and Seal the day and Year above written

Witness Nathan Sample

Bazett

Nathan Sample and his successors were to obey all the laws and constitutions of the island, and to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings during the term, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

The grant was made on condition that Nathan Sample, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns set about fencing the parcel of land with a good and sufficient fence, and once it was fenced and enclosed, keep and maintain it in good condition and repair, and not let it fall to ruin or decay. He was also bound to plant, keep up and maintain the full quantity and proportion of wood, and not to alter the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel. Neither was he to sell or dispose of the lease or his interest in it without the leave of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 30 July in the twenty-fourth year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1750. Nathan Sample set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. Bazett witnessed.

Interpretations

The two dates carried on this grant sit slightly apart, the sealing by the Governor and Council entered as 30 July 1750 here while the companion recital gave 5 August for the Purling lease on the same run of ground. The clerk's practice of engrossing several grants together and sealing them across a few days accounts for the gap, since the leases along the high road to the Long Wood were plainly settled as one piece of business.

The clause treating the fences as the bounds and landmarks of the parcel carried real weight on ground fixed by neighbouring holdings rather than by exact survey. A tenant who shifted a fence could unsettle the line between his land and Matthew Purling's or the Company's waste, so the bar on altering the fences guarded the certainty of every adjoining title as much as Sample's own.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honourable

the United Company of Merchants of England Trading to the East Indies Do

hereby Demise Lease and to Farm let unto Joshua Warrall of the said Island

All that piece or parcel of Land containing 5 Acres and an half Situate Lying

and being in the East Division of the said Island Butting and Bounding East

on the Honourable Companys Waste Land South on Thomas Cottgeries Land

North and West on the said Joshua Warrall's own Land To have and to hold

the said hereby Demised parcel of Land with the Appurtenances and Every part and

parcel thereof unto him the said Joshua Warrall his Heirs Executors Administrators

and Assigns from the Day of the date hereof for and during all the space and

Term of Twenty one Years from thence next ensuing Upon Condition

that he the said Joshua Warrall his Heirs Executors Administrators or Allowed Assigns

do always bear true Faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George

the Second his Heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said Honourable

Company and their Successors and shall duly obey all the Laws and Constitutions

of the said Island Yeilding and paying therefore Yearly and every year

during the Term and time of Twenty one Years unto them the said Honourable

Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent of only one shilling

and three pence of Clove (in Consideration of its being very Steep and Barren and

chiefly Designed for the Conveniency of fencing) in at or Upon the Feast of

St Michael the Arch Angell Yearly and Upon Condition that he the said

Joshua Warrall his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns shall and

do set about and fence in the said parcel of Land with a good and Sufficient

Fence and when so fenced and Enclosed do and shall keep and Maintain the

same in good Condition and repair and do not suffer the same or any part

thereof to run to ruin or Decay and shall also plant keep up and Maintain

the full Quantity and proportion of Wood and do not suffer or shall alter the fences

they being the Bounds or Land Marks of the said parcel of Land and do not nor

shall sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the

Leave and Consent of the Governour and Council for the time being In

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Joshua Worrall of the island a piece of land. It contained five acres and a half, lying in the East Division, bounded on the east by the Honourable Company's waste land, on the south by the land of Thomas Cottgreive, and on the north and west by the land of Joshua Worrall himself. The Company granted him the land with its appurtenances, and every part of it, to have and to hold from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Joshua Worrall, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns always bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 1 shilling and 6 pence during the term of twenty-one years, this reduced rate allowed because the ground was very steep and barren and was chiefly meant to serve the convenience of fencing, the rent due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound Joshua Worrall, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, to set about fencing the parcel of land with a good and sufficient fence, and once it was fenced and enclosed, to keep and maintain it in good condition and repair, and not to let it fall to ruin or decay. He was also bound to plant, keep up and maintain the full quantity and proportion of wood, and not to alter the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel. Neither was he to sell or dispose of the lease or his interest in it without the leave of the Governor and Council for the time being.

Interpretations

The reduced rent of 1 shilling and 6 pence, set expressly below the usual charge because the ground was steep and barren, shows the Company adjusting its terms to the quality of the land rather than holding to a flat rate across every parcel. The register records the same rate cut applied to George Gabriel Powell at Peak Hill, one of several ways the Company met poor ground, alongside charging on a reduced acreage or fixing a flat sum for the whole.

The frank statement that the parcel was chiefly meant to serve the convenience of fencing reveals the Company letting marginal ground not for its yield but to close a boundary. Joshua Worrall already held the land on the north and west, so the five acres and a half rounded out his holding and let him carry a single continuous fence rather than work around a pocket of Company waste, the low rent acknowledging that the ground was worth little except for that purpose.

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[Loss along the right-hand edge, affecting the ends of the upper lines.]

Witness whereof the said Governour and Council hath to the other part set their [...]

and Affixed the said Honourable Companys Seal this 30 th Day of July in the [...]

fourth Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace [...]

God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and s[...]

forth and in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty and

he the said Joshua Warral hath to these presents set his hand and seal

the Day and Year above written

Witness Jno Warrall

Bazett

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honble

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do hereby

Demise Lease and to Farm let unto Matthew Bazett of the said Island All that

piece or parcel of Land containing by Measuration Four and an half Acres

Situate lying and being in the East part of the said Island Butting & Bounding

East upon the Freehold Land of Matthew Puerling West upon the Freehold Land

of John Desfountain North upon the Freehold Land of him the said Matthew

Brazell and South upon the Main Ridge To have and to hold the

said hereby Demised parcel of Land with the Appurtenances & every part and

parcel thereof unto him the said Matthew Bazett his Heirs Executors Administrators

and Assigns from the day of the date hereof for and during all the space & Term

of Twenty one Years from thence next ensuing Upon Condition that he

the said Matthew Bazett his Heirs or Allowed Assigns do always bear true Faith

and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second his Heirs & Successors

and true faith to them the said Honble Company & their Successors and shall

duly Obey all the Laws & Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and

paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the said term & Time of twenty

one Years unto the said Honourable Company their Successors Agents or As

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 30 July in the twenty-fourth year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1750. Joshua Worrall set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. Bazett witnessed.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Matthew Bazett of the island a piece of land. It contained, by measurement, four acres and a half, lying in the East part of the island, bounded on the east by the freehold land of Matthew Purling, on the west by the freehold land of John Desfountain, on the north by the freehold land of Matthew Bazett himself, and on the south by the Main Ridge. The Company granted him the land with its appurtenances, and every part of it, to have and to hold from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Matthew Bazett, his heirs or allowed assigns always bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent during the term of twenty-one years.

Interpretations

The bounds fix this parcel among a cluster of holdings settled along the same quarter of the East Division, since Matthew Purling closes the east and Matthew Bazett his own ground the north, both names attached to the leases sealed on the preceding pages. The four acres and a half rounded out ground Bazett already held, following the pattern by which the Company let small pieces to the neighbour who could most easily fence and work them.

The care taken to record the parcel as measured, giving four acres and a half by measurement rather than by estimate, marks the Company's growing reliance on the surveyor's figure to fix a holding. Where earlier grants often rested on rough acreages carried from older deeds, the measured figure tied the rent and the boundary to a checked quantity that could be held against the annexed plan if any dispute arose.

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Yearly Rent of five Shillings of Clove in at or upon the Feast of St

Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And upon Condition that he the said

Matthew Bazett his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns do and shall

well & sufficiently keep up and maintain the Fences to the said Land and the

full Quantity of Wood thereon & do not nor shall Sell or Dispose of this Lease

or his or their Interest therein without the Leave and Consent of the Governour

and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governour

and Council have to the other part Set our Hand and Affixed the Honourable

Companys Seal this 13 day of July on the twenty sixth Year of the Reign of

our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Brittain

France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth and in the

Year of our Lord one Thousand seven Hundred and fifty two and he the said

Matthew Bazett hath hereunto Set his hand and Seal the day and Year

above written

Witness Ce Bazett

Wrangham Junr

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honble the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies

Do hereby Demise Grant Lease and to Farm let unto Matthew Bazett of the

said Island All that piece or parcel of Land containing by Measuration Eight

Acres Situate lying and being in the East part of the said Island Butting and

bounding East upon the Land of him the said Matthew Bazett North upon the

Land of Matthew Purling & South & West upon the Land of John Bagetts Orphans

To have & to hold the said hereby Demised parcel of Land with the

Appurtenances & Every part & parcel thereof unto him the said Matthew

Bazett his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns from the day of the

date hereof for and during all the space and Term of twenty one Year from

thence next ensuing Upon Condition that he the said Matthew Bazett

his

Margin Notes: Long Wood Plantation

A yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year. A further condition bound Matthew Bazett, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, to keep up and maintain the fences on the land well and sufficiently, and to keep the full quantity of wood on it, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 13 July in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1752. Matthew Bazett set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Bazett, with Wrangham senior witnessing.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Matthew Bazett of the island a piece of land. It contained, by measurement, eight acres, lying in the East part of the island, bounded on the east by the land of Matthew Bazett himself, on the north by the land of Matthew Purling, and on the south and west by the land of John Bagett's orphans. The Company granted him the land with its appurtenances, and every part of it, to have and to hold from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Matthew Bazett and his heirs bear the usual obligations.

Interpretations

The rent stated as 5 shillings an acre marks a shift from the flat parcel charge that ran through many of the earlier grants of this period, tying the yearly payment directly to the measured extent of the ground. Across eight acres this produced a charge that rose and fell with the surveyor's figure rather than resting on a single sum for the whole holding.

The bounds place this eight-acre parcel next to Matthew Bazett's own earlier four acres and a half and against Matthew Purling's ground, both settled by the leases on the preceding pages, so the Company was building up a continuous Bazett holding in this quarter of the East Division piece by piece. The land of John Bagett's orphans closing the south and west shows an orphan estate held intact alongside, its bounds fixing the neighbouring grant much as a living holder's would.

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his Heirs or Allowed Assigns do always bear true Faith & Allegiance to our Sovereign

Lord King George the Second his Heirs & Successors and true faith to them the said

Honble Company & their Successors and shall duly Obey all the Laws Constitutions

of the said Island Yielding and paying thereof Yearly & every Year during the

said Term & Time of twenty one Years unto the said Honourable Company their

Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent of five Shillings of Clove in at or upon

the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And upon condition that he

the said Matthew Bazett his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns do and shall

well & sufficiently keep up & maintain the fences to the said Land and the full

Quantity of Wood thereon & do not nor shall Sell or Dispose of this Lease or his

or their Interest therein without the leave & Consent of the Governour & Council for

the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governour and Council have to

the other part set our Hands and affixed the Honourable Companys Seal this 31 day of

August in the twenty sixth Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord George

the Second by the Grace of God of great Brittain France and Ireland King

Defender of the Faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord one thousand

seven hundred and fifty two and he the said Matthew Bazett hath hereunto set

his hand and Seal the day and Year abovewritten

Bazett

Witness

Wrangham Junr

Margin Notes: Eight Acres

Matthew Bazett, his heirs or allowed assigns, were to bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre during the term of twenty-one years, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound Matthew Bazett, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, to keep up and maintain the fences on the land well and sufficiently, and to keep the full quantity of wood on it, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 31 August in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1752. Matthew Bazett set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Bazett, with Wrangham senior witnessing.

A plan drawn in the margin marks the parcel as eight acres.

Interpretations

The rent of 5 shillings an acre carried on this eight-acre grant confirms the shift away from the flat parcel charge of the earlier grants, tying the yearly payment to the measured extent rather than to a single sum for the whole. The clerk set out the same per-acre form on both of Matthew Bazett's leases of this run, so the charge tracked the surveyor's figure across each holding he took up.

The annexed plan drawn into the margin gave the grant its controlling record of shape and extent, since the island's tenures were fixed against such a plan wherever its figures disagreed with the words of the deed. The narrow tapering outline marked as eight acres let a later reader check the ground on the plan itself rather than rely on the boundary names alone, which shifted as neighbouring holders changed.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honble

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the said Indies Do

hereby Demise Grant Sett & to farm let unto Matt Purling Richd Beale & Matt

Bazett Executrs to the last Will & Testament of Mr John Bagett Decd All that piece or

parcel of Land containing 17½ Acres Situate lying & being near Beanes Peak

in the East Division of this Island butting & Bounding North upon the Landholds

and of Matt Bazett South & East upon the Freehold Land now in the

Possession of the Orphans of the said John Bagett & West upon the Main Ridge

To have & to hold the said hereby Demised parcel of Land with all &

singular the Appurtenances Hereunto belonging unto them the said Matthew

Purling Richd Beale & Matt Bazett their Heirs Exors Admins & Assigns in

trust nevertheless & to the use of the Children of the said John Bagett Decd in

the day of the date hereof for & during all the space & Term of twenty one Years

from thence next ensuing Upon Condition that they the said Children of the

said John Bagett their Heirs Exors Admins & Assigns do & shall bear true Faith &

Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second & his Heirs & Successors & true

faith to them the said Honble Company & their Successors & shall duly Obey all the

Laws & Constitutions of the said Island Yielding & paying therefore Yearly & every

Year during the said term & time of twenty one Years unto the said Honble Company

their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent of 5s of Clove in at or upon the

Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And upon Condition that the

said Matthr Purling Richd Beale & Matt Bazett their Heirs Exors Admins or Assigns

do & shall well & sufficiently keep up & maintain the Fences to the said Land &

the full Quantity of Wood thereon & do not nor shall Sell or Dispose of this Lease

or their Interest therein without the leave & Consent of the Govr & Council for the

time being In Witness whereof we the said Govr & Council have to the other part set our

hands & Affixed the Honble Companys Seal this 8 day of January in the twenty ninth

Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of

Great Brittain France & Ireland King Defender of the Faith & so forth & in the Year of

our Lord 1755 & they the said Matt Purling Richd Beale & Matt Bazett hath hereunto

set their hands & Seals the day & Year abovewritten

Witness Purling

Wrangham Junr

Bazett

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Matthew Purling, Richard Beale and Matthew Bazett, executors of the last will and testament of the late John Bagett, a piece of land. It contained seventeen acres and a half, lying near Diana's Peak in the East Division of the island, bounded on the north by the land of Matthew Bazett, on the south and east by the freehold land now in the possession of the orphans of the late John Bagett, and on the west by the Main Ridge. The Company granted them the land with all its appurtenances, to have and to hold to Matthew Purling, Richard Beale and Matthew Bazett, their heirs, administrators and assigns, in trust nevertheless for the use of the orphans of the late John Bagett, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Matthew Purling, Richard Beale and Matthew Bazett, their heirs, administrators and assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return they were to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre during the term of twenty-one years, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound Matthew Purling, Richard Beale and Matthew Bazett, their heirs, administrators and assigns, to keep up and maintain the fences on the land well and sufficiently, and to keep the full quantity of wood on it, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 31 August in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1752. Matthew Purling, Richard Beale and Matthew Bazett set their hands and seals to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Purling and Bazett, with Wrangham senior witnessing.

Interpretations

The grant to three named men as trustees for the orphans of the late John Bagett shows the Company settling a dead planter's ground on responsible holders to keep it whole during the children's minority rather than letting it fragment or fall idle. The trustees took the legal tenure while the beneficial use ran to the orphans, a structure the register used repeatedly to protect a family estate where no father survived to hold it. The same orphans' freehold closing the south and east of this parcel shows their inheritance held together across both freehold and this leasehold trust.

The choice of Matthew Purling, Richard Beale and Matthew Bazett as trustees drew on men who already held neighbouring ground in this quarter of the East Division, since Bazett's own land closed the north and the wider cluster of Purling and Bazett holdings lay alongside. Setting the trust in the hands of adjoining holders meant the ground stayed under the eye of men with a working interest in its fences and boundaries, so the orphans' land would be kept up rather than neglected by distant guardians.

16

11

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honble the United

Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant

Sett & to farm let unto Matt Purling Richd Beale & Matt Bazett Executrs to the last Will

& Testament of Mr John Bazett Decd All that piece or parcel of Land containing one

Acre Situate lying & being in the East Division of this Island butting & bounding

North upon the Freehold Land now in the possession of the Orphans of the said John

Bazett South upon the Leasehold Land of Gabriel Harpers Esqr East upon the

Leasehold Land of the said John Bazett Esqr & West upon the Freehold Land of the

said Gabl Harpers Orphans to have & to hold the said hereby Demised

parcel of Land with all & singular the Appurtenances thereunto belonging unto

them the said Matt Purling Purling Richd Beale & Matt Bazett their Heirs Exors

Admins & Assigns In trust Nevertheless & to the use of the Children the said John

Bazett Decd from the day of the date hereof for & during all the space & term of 21

Years from thence next ensuing Upon Condition that they the said Children

of the said John Bazett their Heirs Exors Admins & Assigns do & shall bear true faith &

Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second his Heirs & Successors & true

faith to them the said Honble Company & their Successors & shall duly Obey all the Laws

& Constitutions of the said Island Yeilding & paying therefore Yearly & every Year

unto the said Honble Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent of

five shillings of Clove in at or upon the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly

And upon Condition that they the said Matt Purling Richd Beale & Matt Bazett their

Heirs Exors Admins or Assigns do & shall well & sufficiently keep up & maintain the

Fences to the said Land & the full Quantity of Wood thereon & do not nor shall Sell or

Dispose of this Lease or their Interest without the Leave & consent of the Govr & Council

for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Govr & Council have to the other

set our hands & Affixed the Honble Companys Seal this 15 day of January in the twenty

sixth Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace

of God of Great Brittain France & Ireland King Defender of the Faith & so forth

& in the Year of our Lord 1753 & they the said Matthew Purling Richard Beale &

Matthew Bazett hath hereunto Set their Hands & Seals the day & Year

abovewritten

Purling

Witness

Wm Wrangham

Bazett

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Matthew Purling, Richard Beale and Matthew Bazett, executors of the last will and testament of the late John Bazett, a piece of land. It contained one acre, lying in the East Division of the island, bounded on the north by the freehold land now in the possession of the orphans of the late John Bazett, on the south by the leasehold land of Gabriel Harper, on the east by the leasehold land of John Bazett himself, and on the west by the freehold land of Gabriel Harper's orphans. The Company granted them the land with all its appurtenances, to have and to hold to Matthew Purling, Richard Beale and Matthew Bazett, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, in trust nevertheless for the use of the children of the late John Bazett, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that the children of the late John Bazett, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return they were to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre during the term, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound Matthew Purling, Richard Beale and Matthew Bazett, their heirs, administrators or assigns, to keep up and maintain the fences on the land well and sufficiently, and to keep the full quantity of wood on it, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 15 January in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1753. Matthew Purling, Richard Beale and Matthew Bazett set their hands and seals to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Purling and Bazett, with William Wrangham witnessing.

Interpretations

The trust followed the same three men who took the seventeen-acre parcel near Diana's Peak for the same orphans on 31 August 1752, so this single acre rounded out the Bazett children's leasehold settlement under the same guardians. Setting both grants in the hands of Matthew Purling, Richard Beale and Matthew Bazett kept the whole of the orphan estate under one body of trustees rather than splitting its management across separate hands.

The bounds show the children's own freehold closing the north while their leasehold ran alongside, and the ground of Gabriel Harper and Harper's orphans closing the south and west, so this acre sat wedged among family and neighbouring holdings. Letting so small a piece made sense only as a means of completing a boundary the trustees already worked, the Company filling in a pocket of ground between estates rather than settling a fresh holding.

17

12

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honble the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East

Indies Do hereby Demise Lease & to Farm let unto John Swaite of the said

Island All that piece or parcel of Land containing by Measuration eight Acres

Situate lying & being in the West Division of the said Island butting & bounding

North upon the Leasehold Lands of John Alexander & the Honble Companys

waste Land South upon the Leasehold Land of Wm Bagley West upon the

Leasehold Land of Wm Mason & East upon the Honble Companys Land

to have & to hold the said hereby Demised parcel of Land with the

appurtenances & every part & parcel thereof unto him the said John Swaite

his Heirs Exors Admins & Assigns from the day of the Date hereof for and

during all the space & term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing

Upon condition that he the said John Swaite his Heirs or Allowed

Assigns do always bear true Faith & Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King

George the Second his Heirs & Successors & true faith to them the said

Honble Company & their Successors & shall duly Obey all the Laws &

Constitutions of the said Island Yeilding & paying therefore Yearly &

every Year during the said term & time of Twenty one Years unto the

said Honble Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly

Rent of five Shillings of Clove in at or upon the Feast of St Michael the

Arch Angel Yearly And upon condition that he the said John Swaite

his Heirs Exors Admins or Assigns shall & do set about & Fence in the said

parcel of Land with a good & sufficient Fence & when so Fenced & Enclosed

do & shall keep & maintain the same in good condition & repair & do not suffer

the same or any part thereof to run to ruin or decay & shall also plant keep

up & maintain the full quantity & proportion of Wood & do not nor shall alter

the fences they being the bounds or Landmarks of the said parcel of Land & to

not nor shall Sell or Dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein

without the leave & Consent of the Govr & Council for the time being In

Witness whereof we the said Govr & Council have to the other part set our

Hands & Affixed the Honble Companys Seal this 31 Day of August in the

twenty first Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord George the Second by

the Grace of God of Great Brittain France & Ireland King Defender of the faith

& so forth & in the Year of our Lord 1747 & he the said John Swaite hath

hereunto set his Hand & Seal the day & Year abovewritten

Witness John Swait

Bazett

Wm Wrangham

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to John Swaite of the island a piece of land. It contained, by measurement, eight acres, lying in the West Division of the island, bounded on the north by the leasehold land of John Alexander and the Honourable Company's waste land, on the south by the leasehold land of Richard Bagley, on the west by the leasehold land of Richard Mason, and on the east by the Honourable Company's land. The Company granted him the land with its appurtenances, and every part of it, to have and to hold to John Swaite, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that John Swaite, his heirs or allowed assigns always bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre during the term of twenty-one years, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound John Swaite, his heirs, administrators or assigns, to set about fencing the parcel of land with a good and sufficient fence, and once it was fenced and enclosed, to keep and maintain it in good condition and repair, and not to let it fall to ruin or decay. He was also bound to plant, keep up and maintain the full quantity and proportion of wood, and not to alter the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel. Neither was he to sell or dispose of the lease or his interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 31 August in the twenty-first year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1747. John Swaite set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by John Swaite, with Bazett and William Wrangham witnessing.

Interpretations

The bounds place this eight-acre parcel among a cluster of West Division leaseholds, since the ground of John Alexander, Richard Bagley and Richard Mason closes three of its four sides while the Company's waste and land close the rest. The Company was letting a piece hemmed in by existing holders, so the grant fitted John Swaite into a gap between established tenants rather than opening fresh ground on the margin.

The rent of 5 shillings an acre carried on a parcel measured at eight acres shows the per-acre form the register settled into through the later 1740s, tying the yearly charge to the surveyor's figure. The care to record the land as taken by measurement gave the rent and the boundary a checked quantity that could be held against the annexed plan if any question of extent later arose.

18

13

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honble the United

Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Sett

and to Farm let unto Isaac Knipe planter of the Island St Helena all that piece or parcel of

Land containing fourteen Acres lying in or near Thompson Wood, Butting & Bounding

North East & West upon the Honble Companys Wast Land and South upon the Lease

hold Land of Richard Bagley and also all those three parcels of Land containing in the

Whole two Acres lying in Old Womans Valley butting & Bounding on all sides upon the

Honble Companys Waste Land Tohave & to hold the said hereby Demised Parcels of

Land being in the Whole Sixteen Acres with the Appurtenances & every part & parcel thereof

unto him the said Isaac Knipe his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns from

the day of the date hereof for and during all the space & Term of Twenty One Years from thence

next Ensuing Upon Condition that he the said Isaac Knipe his Heirs or Allowed

Assigns do always bear true Faith & Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the

Second his Heirs & Successors & true faith to them the said Honble Company & their

Successors & Shall duly Obey all the Laws & Constitutions of the said Island Yielding

& paying therefore Yearly & every Year during the said Term & Time of twenty One

Years unto the said Honble Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent

of five Shillings of Clove in at or upon the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly

And upon Condition that he the said Isaac Knipe his Heirs Executors Administrators or

Assigns do & Shall well & Sufficiently keep up and maintain the fences to the said Land and

the full Quantity of Wood thereon & do not nor Shall Sell or Dispose of this Lease or his or their

Interest therein without the leave & Consent of the Governor & Council for the time being

In Witness whereof we the said Governor & Council have to the other part set our Hands and Affixed

the Honble Company Seal this 10 Day of October in the twenty Sixth Year of the Reign of

our said Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Brittain France

& Ireland King Defender of the Faith & so forth and in the Year of our Lord one thousand

Seven Hundred and fifty two And he the said Isaac Knipe hath hereunto set his

Hand & Seal this day & year abovewritten

Isaac Knipe

Witness

Charles Steuart

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Isaac Knipe, planter of the island of St Helena, a piece of land. It contained fourteen acres, lying near Thompson's Wood, bounded on the north, east and west by the Honourable Company's waste land, and on the south by the leasehold land of Richard Bagley. The grant also took in three further parcels of land containing two acres in all, lying in Old Woman's Valley, bounded on all sides by the Honourable Company's waste land. The Company granted him the land, sixteen acres in all, with its appurtenances, and every part of it, to have and to hold to Isaac Knipe, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Isaac Knipe, his heirs or allowed assigns always bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre during the term of twenty-one years, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound Isaac Knipe, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, to keep up and maintain the fences on the land well and sufficiently, and to keep the full quantity of wood on it, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 10 October in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1752. Isaac Knipe set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Isaac Knipe, with Charles Steward witnessing.

Interpretations

The grant gathered a single main parcel at Thompson's Wood together with three small scattered pieces in Old Woman's Valley into one lease reckoned at sixteen acres, letting the Company settle a spread of ground on one tenant under a single instrument rather than drawing separate deeds for each fragment. The two acres in Old Woman's Valley, ringed on every side by Company waste, carried the whole fencing burden on Isaac Knipe, a recurring feature where the Company let isolated pockets to whoever would take and enclose them.

Isaac Knipe appears elsewhere in the register as a planter of standing, acting as one of the guardians who sold the orphan Elizabeth Scott's James Valley house on 1 December 1761 and making over sixteen acres of leasehold to Richard Bagley for £117 11s 0d on 14 December 1761. The Thompson's Wood ground taken here, closed on the south by Richard Bagley's leasehold, sat in the same quarter where Knipe and Bagley later dealt together, so this 1752 lease marks an early stage of a holding that passed between the two men a decade on.

19

14

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the United

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do hereby

Demise Grant Lease and to Farm let unto Matthew Bazett of the said Island all

that piece or parcel of Land containing by Measuration five Acres and an half

Situate lying & being in the East part of the said Island butting and bounding

East upon the Leasehold Lands of Joseph Desfountains Orphans North upon the

Leasehold Lands of Joshua Worrall South upon the Freehold Land of John Seales

Orphans and West upon the Freehold Lands of the said Matthew Bazett To

have and to hold the said hereby Demised parcel of Land with the

appurtenances & every part & parcel thereof unto him the said Matthew

Bazett his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns from the day of the date

hereof for and during all the space & Term of twenty one Years from thence next

ensuing upon Condition that he the said Matthew Bazett his Heirs or

allowed Assigns do always bear true faith & Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King

George the Second his Heirs & Successors & true Faith to them the said Honourable

Company & their Successors & shall duly obey all the Laws & Constitutions of the

said Island Yielding and paying therefore Yearly & every during the term &

time of twenty one Years unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Admins

or Assigns the Yearly Rent of five Shilling of Clove in at or upon the Feast of St

Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And upon Condition that he the said Matthew

Bazett his Heirs Executors Admins or Assigns do & shall well & sufficiently

keep up & maintain the fences to the said Land and the full quantity of Wood

thereon & do not nor shall Sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest

therein without the Leave & Consent of the Governor & Council for the time being In

Witness whereof we the said Governor & Council have to the other part set our

Hands and Affixed the Honorable Companys Seal this 10 day of February in the

twenty eight Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the

Grace of God of Great Brittain France & Ireland King Defender of the faith &

so forth & in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & fifty five and he

the said Matthew Bazett hath hereunto set his Hand & Seal the day & Year abovewritten

written

Bazett

Witness

C Steward

Margin Notes: 5½ Acres

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Matthew Bazett of the island a piece of land. It contained, by measurement, five acres and a half, lying in the East part of the island, bounded on the east by the leasehold land of Joseph Desfountain's orphans, on the north by the leasehold land of Joshua Worrall, on the south by the freehold land of John Seale's orphans, and on the west by the freehold land of Matthew Bazett himself. The Company granted him the land with its appurtenances, and every part of it, to have and to hold to Matthew Bazett, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Matthew Bazett, his heirs or allowed assigns always bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 1 shilling an acre during the term of twenty-one years, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound Matthew Bazett, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, to keep up and maintain the fences on the land well and sufficiently, and to keep the full quantity of wood on it, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 10 February in the twenty-eighth year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1755. Matthew Bazett set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Bazett, with Charles Steward witnessing.

A plan drawn in the margin marks the parcel as five acres and a half.

Interpretations

The rent of 1 shilling an acre set this parcel well below the 5 shillings an acre carried on Matthew Bazett's earlier East Division leases, a reduction that marked poorer ground in the same quarter where the Company met steep or barren land by cutting the rate rather than the acreage. The register records the same device applied to Joshua Worrall's steep parcel nearby and to George Gabriel Powell at Peak Hill, so the lower charge here fits a settled practice of pricing marginal ground down to what it was worth.

The bounds gathered this five acres and a half into the block of holdings Matthew Bazett was steadily building in the East part of the island, since his own freehold closed the west while the leaseholds of Joshua Worrall and the Desfountain orphans and the freehold of John Seale's orphans closed the other sides. The Company filled a pocket ringed by named holders, letting the ground to the one neighbour whose freehold already ran up against it rather than opening it to a general offer.

20

15

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honble

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do

hereby Demise Grant Set and to Farm let unto Matthew Purling Executor to the

last Will & Testament of Simon Whaley Deceased All that piece or parcel of

Cabbage tree Land containing two Acres and an half Situate lying and being

the East Division of this Island butting and Bounding every way upon the Lands

of John Bagths Orphans To have and to hold the said hereby Demised

parcel of Land with all and singular the Appurtenances thereunto belonging unto

him the said Matthew Purling His Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns

In trust nevertheless and to the use of the Children of the said Simon Whaley Deceased

from the Day of the Date hereof for and during all the space and term of twenty

one Years from thence next ensuing Upon Condition that they the said

Children of the said Simon Whaley their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns

do and shall bear true faith and Alligiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the

Second his Heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable Company

and their Successors and shall duly obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said

Island Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every year unto the said

Honorable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent of five

Shillings of Clove in at or upon the Feast of Saint Michael the Arch Angel Year

And upon Condition that the said Matthew Purling his Heirs Executors

Administrators or Assigns do and shall well and Sufficiently keep up and main

the Fences to the said Land, and the full quantity of Wood thereon and do not nor

shall sell or Dispose of this Lease or their Interest therein without the leave &

Consent of the Governor & Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the

Governor & Council have to the other part set our Hands and Affixed the Honourable

Company Seal this 15 Day of January in the Twenty sixth Year of the Reign of

our Sovereign Lord George the second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France

and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth and in the year of our

Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty three and he the said Matthew

Purling hath hereunto set his Hand and Seal the Day and year above written

Witness

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Matthew Purling, executor of the last will and testament of the late Simon Whaley, a piece of cabbage tree land. It contained two acres and a half, lying in the East Division of the island, bounded on every side by the land of John Bosworth's orphans. The Company granted him the land with all its appurtenances, to have and to hold to Matthew Purling, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, in trust nevertheless for the use of the children of the late Simon Whaley, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that the children of the late Simon Whaley, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return they were to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre during the term, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound Matthew Purling, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, to keep up and maintain the fences on the land well and sufficiently, and to keep the full quantity of wood on it, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 15 January in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1753. Matthew Purling set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above.

Interpretations

The grant set a dead planter's ground on Matthew Purling as trustee for the children of the late Simon Whaley, the same device the register used across this run of grants to keep an orphan estate whole during minority. Purling held the legal tenure while the beneficial use ran to the children, and he was already acting as trustee for the Bazett orphans in the grants of 31 August 1752 and 15 January 1753, so the Company was routing several orphan estates through the same reliable holder.

The parcel of cabbage tree land ringed entirely by the ground of John Bosworth's orphans marks two orphan estates lying against each other, the Whaley children's leasehold enclosed on every side by the Bosworth inheritance. Letting so enclosed a piece served to complete a boundary rather than open new ground, and the description by a single surrounding holder shows how tightly the East Division had by now been parcelled among named family estates.

21

16

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island

the Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East

Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Set and to Farm let unto Susanna Pledged

for the use of herself and the Orphans of Benjamin Pledged Deceased All that

piece or parcel of Gumwood Land containing by mensuration Eight Acres

Situate lying and being in and on the Hills Side next to Youngs Valley and

near to the Land known by the name of Sextons Ground at the Head of Woody

Ridge and now in the possession and Occupation of her the aforesaid Susanna Pledged

Butting and Bounding towards the North upon the Honorable Companys Waste

Lands and part of the Lands belonging to and in the Possession of Samuel Knipe

towards the South and East upon and next adjoying to her the said Susanna

Pledged's other Lease Lands aforesaid, and towards the West upon part of the

Lands now in the Possession of John Desfountain Situate at the Head of the

said Springs Valley, and the Honorable Companys Wast Lands lying Adjacent and

in the East Division of the said Island Also three Acres more adjoyning to

the above mentioned Eight Acres, Butting and Bounding North upon the Lands now

in the Possession of her the said Susanna Pledged East upon the Honorable Companys

Waste Lands South and West upon the Lands of Joshua Worrall To have and

to hold the said hereby Demised parcels of Lands with the appurtenances and every

part and parcel thereof unto her the said Susanna Pledged her Heirs Executors

Administrators and allowed assigns for the use of herself and the Orphans

of Benjamin Pledged Deceased as aforesaid from the Day of the Date hereof

for and during all the space and term of Twenty one Years from thence next

ensuing Upon Condition that she the said Susanna Pledged her Heirs

Executors Administrators or allowed Assigns do always bear true faith and

Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the second his Heirs and

Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable Company & their Successors & true

Successors and shall duly obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said

Island Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during

said term and time of Twenty one Years unto the said Honorable

Company

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Susanna Pledger, for the use of herself and the orphans of the late Benjamin Pledger, a piece of gumwood land. It contained, by measurement, eight acres, lying on the hillside next to Youngs Valley and near the land known by the name of Sexton's Ground at the head of Woody Ridge, now in the possession and occupation of Susanna Pledger herself. The parcel was bounded on the north by the Honourable Company's waste land and part of the land belonging to and in the possession of Samuel Knipe, on the south and east by Susanna Pledger's own other leasehold land next adjoining, and on the west by part of the land now in the possession of John Desfountain at the head of Youngs Valley and the Honourable Company's waste land lying adjacent in the East Division of the island.

The grant also took in three further acres adjoining the eight acres, bounded on the north by the land now in the possession of Susanna Pledger herself, on the east by the Honourable Company's waste land, and on the south and west by the land of Joshua Worrall. The Company granted her these parcels with their appurtenances, and every part of them, to have and to hold to Susanna Pledger, her heirs, executors, administrators and allowed assigns, for the use of herself and the orphans of the late Benjamin Pledger, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Susanna Pledger, her heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns always bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return she was to pay the Honourable Company a yearly rent during the full term of twenty-one years.

Interpretations

The grant joined an eight-acre parcel and a further three acres into a single lease held by Susanna Pledger both for herself and for the orphans of the late Benjamin Pledger, mixing a widow's own interest with a trust for the children in one instrument. This differs from the pure orphan trusts of the same run, where three outside men held the ground wholly for the children, since here the mother took the tenure directly and worked ground she already occupied.

The bounds tie the parcel to Sexton's Ground at the head of Woody Ridge and to Susanna Pledger's other leasehold next adjoining, so the Company was rounding out a holding she already possessed rather than settling fresh ground. Benjamin Pledger appears earlier in the register as a soldier and freeholder who built up ground in Prosperous Bay Valley and the East Division through the 1730s, and this grant carries his family's tenure forward under his widow after his death, keeping the Pledger holdings gathered on the hillside above Youngs Valley.

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Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent of five Shillings of Clove

or the aforesaid eight Acres & four Shillings of Clove for the three Acres

in at or upon the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And upon

Condition that she the said Susanna Pledged her Heirs Executors Administrators or

Assigns do and shall well and sufficiently keep up and maintain the Fences to the

said Land, and the full quantity of Wood thereon, and do not nor shall sell or Dispose

of this Lease, or her, or their Interest therein, without the leave and Consent of the

Governor & Council for the Time being In Witness whereof we the said Governour

and Council have to the other part set our Hands and Affixed the Honorable Companys

Seal this third Day of November in the Twenty eight Year of the Reign of our

Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France

and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord

one thousand seven hundred and fifty five and she the said Susanna Pledged

hath hereto set her Hand and Seal the Day and Year above written

Witness

Wrangham Junr

the

mark I of

Susanna Pledged

Margin Notes: E N S 8 Acres W

E N S 3 Acres W

Susanna Pledger was to pay the Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre for the eight acres and 4 shillings an acre for the three acres, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

The grant was made on condition that Susanna Pledger, her heirs, executors, administrators or assigns keep up and maintain the fences on the land well and sufficiently, and keep the full quantity of wood on it, and not sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 3 November in the twenty-eighth year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1755. Susanna Pledger set her hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above, making her mark. Wrangham senior witnessed.

Two plans drawn below mark the parcels as eight acres and three acres.

Interpretations

The two rates set on a single grant, 5 shillings an acre for the eight acres and 4 shillings for the three, show the Company pricing the two parcels apart within one lease according to the ground each covered. The lower rate on the three acres marks it as the poorer of the two, following the practice by which the register charged marginal or steeper ground below the standard rate rather than at a flat sum for the whole holding.

The two annexed plans gave each parcel its controlling record of shape and extent, drawn separately so that the eight acres and the three could each be checked against the ground. The island's tenures rested on such plans wherever their figures disagreed with the words of the deed, so the pair of outlines fixed the boundaries of a scattered holding more surely than the boundary names alone, which shifted as neighbouring holders came and went.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this

Island the Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading

to the East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Set and to Farm let unto John

Goodwin Samuel Alexander and Thomas Harper Junr Executors to the Last

Will and Testament of Martin Harper Deceased All that piece or parcel of

Land containing three Acres lying in Twonly Valley Butting and Bounding

North upon the Leasehold Lands of Thomas Harpers Orphans and East West

and South upon the Honorable Companys Wast Lands Also Twenty Rods

Long and Four Rods Wide more adjoyning to the above mentioned Three Acres

To have and to hold the said hereby demised parcels of Lands with all

and Singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging unto them the said

John Goodwin Samuel Alexander and Thomas Harper Junr their Heirs

Executors Administrators and Assigns In trust nevertheless and to the use

of the Children of the said Martin Harper Deceased from the Day of the Date

hereof for and during all the space and term of Twenty one Years from thence

next ensuing Upon Condition that they the said Children of the said Martin

Harper their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns do and shall bear

true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second his Heirs

and Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable Company and their

Successors and shall Duly Obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said

Island Yielding and paying therefore yearly and every year unto the said

Honorable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent of

five Shillings & 4 in at or upon the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel

yearly And upon Condition that they the said John Goodwin Samuel

Alexander and Thomas Harper Junr their Heirs Executors Administrators

and Assigns do and shall well and Sufficiently keep up and

maintain the Fences to the said Lands and the full Quantity of Wood thereon

and do not nor shall Sell or Dispose of this Lease or their Interest therein

without the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for the Time

being

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to John Goodwin, Samuel Alexander and Thomas Harper junior, executors of the last will and testament of the late Martin Harper, a piece of land. It contained three acres, lying in Swanley Valley, bounded on the north by the leasehold land of Thomas Harper's orphans, and on the east, west and south by the Honourable Company's waste land. The grant also took in a further parcel adjoining the three acres, twenty rods long and four rods wide. The Company granted them the land with all its appurtenances, to have and to hold to John Goodwin, Samuel Alexander and Thomas Harper junior, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, in trust nevertheless for the use of the children of the late Martin Harper, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that the children of the late Martin Harper, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return they were to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound John Goodwin, Samuel Alexander and Thomas Harper junior, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, to keep up and maintain the fences on the land well and sufficiently, and to keep the full quantity of wood on it, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

Interpretations

The grant settled the ground of the late Martin Harper on three named executors as trustees for his children, the same structure the register applied across this run of orphan estates, keeping the tenure whole under responsible men while the beneficial use ran to the children. The leasehold of Thomas Harper's orphans closing the north shows two Harper family estates lying side by side, so the trust fitted a fresh parcel against ground the wider family already held.

The addition of a strip twenty rods long and four rods wide to the main three acres marks the Company letting an awkward sliver alongside the principal parcel, a shape too narrow to stand as a holding on its own. Gathering it into the same lease let the trustees fence and work it with the larger piece rather than leave it as an unusable margin of Company waste.

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being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council have to the

other part set our Hands and Affixed the Honorable Companys Seal this thirtieth

Day of November in the Twenty eight Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord

George the Second by the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland

King Defender of the Faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord one

thousand seven hundred and fifty five and they the said John Goodwin

Samuel Alexander and Thomas Harper Junr hath ture to set their Hands

and Seals the Day and year above written

Witness

Thomas Harper Junior

S W

3 Acres

E N

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East

Indies Do hereby demise Grant Lease and to Farm let unto Oneisiphorus

Beale of the said Island All that piece or parcel of Land containing two

Acres and an half Situate lying and being in the South Division of the

said Island buting and bounding East upon the Leasehold Lands of Thomas

Cotgrave, South upon the Leasehold Lands of the said Oneisiphorus Beale

and North and West upon the Honorable Companys Wast Lands To

have and to hold the said hereby Demised parcel of Land with the

appurtenances and every part and parcel thereof unto him the said Oneisiphorus

Beale

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 3 November in the twenty-eighth year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1755. John Goodwin, Samuel Alexander and Thomas Harper junior set their hands and seals to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Thomas Harper junior.

A plan drawn below marks the parcel as three acres.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Onesiphorus Beale of the island a piece of land. It contained two acres and a half, lying in the South Division of the island, bounded on the east by the leasehold land of Thomas Cottgrave, on the south by the leasehold land of Onesiphorus Beale himself, and on the north and west by the Honourable Company's waste land. The Company granted him the land with its appurtenances, and every part of it.

Interpretations

The naming of Onesiphorus Beale as his own southern neighbour shows the Company adding to a holding he already worked, so the two acres and a half rounded out his ground in the South Division rather than settling a newcomer. This follows the recurring practice by which small parcels went to the adjoining tenant who could most readily fence and work them.

The date carried by the regnal year, the twenty-eighth year of King George the Second, agrees with the year of our Lord 1755, the internal cross-check the clerks built into these grants so that the tenure could still be dated where one figure was later lost or disputed.

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Beale, his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns from the Day of the

Date hereof for and during all the space and term of twenty one Years from

thence next ensuing Upon Condition that he the said Oneisiphorus Beale

his Heirs, or allowed Assigns, do always bear true faith and Allegiance

to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second, his Heirs and Successors and

true Faith to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors, and

shall duly obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island Yielding

and paying therefore Yearly, and every Year during the said Term and Time

of twenty one Years, unto the said Honorable Company, their Successors Agents

or Assigns the Yearly Rent of five Shillings of Clove, in at or upon the Feast

St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And upon Condition that he the said

Oneisiphorus Beale his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns, do and

shall well and Sufficiently keep up and maintain the Fences to the said

Land, and the full quantity of Wood thereon, and do not nor shall Sell or

dispose of this Lease, or his or their Interest therein, without the leave and

Consent of the Governor and Council for the Time being In Witness whereof

we the said Governor and Council have to the other part Set our Hands and

Affixed the Honorable Companys Seal this 8 Day of December in the

twenty eight year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by

the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland, King Defender

of the Faith and so Forth and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven

hundred and fifty five and he the said Oneisiphorus Beale hath to these

presents set his Hand and Seal the Day and Year above written

Ones Beale

The Company granted the land to Onesiphorus Beale, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Onesiphorus Beale, his heirs or allowed assigns always bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre during the term of twenty-one years, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound Onesiphorus Beale, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, to keep up and maintain the fences on the land well and sufficiently, and to keep the full quantity of wood on it, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 8 December in the twenty-eighth year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1755. Onesiphorus Beale set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Onesiphorus Beale.

Interpretations

The rent of 5 shillings an acre carried the standard rate the register applied across the mid-1750s to ordinary ground, in contrast to the reduced rates of 1 shilling or 1 shilling and 6 pence reserved for parcels marked steep or barren. Onesiphorus Beale's two acres and a half drew the full charge, so the Company reckoned the South Division ground sound rather than marginal.

The date given by the regnal year, the twenty-eighth year of King George the Second, agrees with the year of our Lord 1755, the internal cross-check the clerks built into these grants so that the tenure could be dated even where one figure was later lost. Onesiphorus Beale appears elsewhere in the register as a lieutenant of the garrison dealing in James Valley ground, so this lease adds a South Division holding to his interests on the island.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island

the Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England Trading to the

East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Sett and to Farm Lett unto Francis

Wrangham Senr of the said Island Planter all that piece or parcel of Land

containing Sixty three Acres Situate in the West Division of the said Island buting

and Bounding South & East upon the Lands of the said Honble Company West upon

the Lands of John Clark & North upon the Lands of him the said Francis Wrangham

Senr To have & to hold the said hereby Demised parcel of Lands & every part &

Parcel thereof together with all & Singular the Wood, Water, & all other & Singular

the Rights Comoditys to them & each & every of them belonging or appurtaining unto

him the said Francis Wrangham Senr his Heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

Assigns from the Day of the Date hereof for & during all the space or Term of the Natural

Lives of Francis & William Wrangham Sons of the said Francis Wrangham Senr &

Charles Steward Grandson to the said Francis Wrangham Senr & the Longest liver of

either of them Renewable upon the Death of either the said Nominees upon

payment of half a years rent at the Admittance of each Life or New Nominee upon

Condition that he the said Francis Wrangham Senr his Heirs Execrs Admins or

allowed Assigns shall & do from time to time & at all times hereafter bear true

faith & Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second his Heirs & Successors

& true faith to them the said Honble Company & their Successors, & shall duly Obey all

the Laws & Constitutions of the said Island Yielding & paying therefore Yearly &

every year during the Lives of the said Nominees unto them the said Honble Company

their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly rent of five shillings & 4d in at or upon

the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly & upon Condition that he the said

Francis Wrangham Senr his Heirs Execrs Admins or Assigns do & shall well

& Sufficiently keep up & Maintain the fences to the said Land & the full Quantity

of Wood thereon & do not, or shall Sell or Dispose of this Lease, or his or their Interest

therein without the leave & Consent of the Governor & Council for the Time being In

Witness whereof we the said Govr & Council have to the other part Sett our Hands

and Affixed the Honorable Companys Seal this 17 th Day of November

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Francis Wrangham senior, planter of the island, a piece of land. It contained thirty-three acres, lying in the West Division, bounded on the south and east by the land of the Honourable Company, on the west by the land of John Clark, and on the north by the land of Francis Wrangham senior himself. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water and all other rights and privileges belonging to it, to have and to hold to Francis Wrangham senior, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from the date of this deed for the term of the natural lives of Francis and William Wrangham, sons of Francis Wrangham senior, and Charles Steward, grandson of Francis Wrangham senior, and the longest liver of either of them. The lease was renewable on the death of any of the nominees, on payment of half a year's rent for the admittance of each life or new nominee.

The grant was made on condition that Francis Wrangham senior, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns at all times bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre during the lives of the nominees, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound Francis Wrangham senior, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, to keep up and maintain the fences on the land well and sufficiently, and to keep the full quantity of wood on it, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 17 November.

Interpretations

The lives-based tenure set this grant apart from the ordinary twenty-one-year leases of the same run, running instead for as long as the last of three named nominees survived, with a fresh life enterable on payment of half a year's rent. The Company reserved this form for tenants of standing or substantial acreage, since a lives lease gave the family a horizon long enough to justify heavier investment in the ground than a fixed term allowed.

The choice of nominees drew on two of Francis Wrangham senior's own sons, Francis and William Wrangham, together with his grandson Charles Steward, keeping the tenure within the family across two generations. Naming young kinsmen rather than outside lives tied the length of the lease to the survival of those who would inherit the ground in any case, so the family's working interest and the term of the grant ran together. The Wrangham and Steward names recur across the register as intermarried planter families of the West Division, and this grant carries their joined lines forward into the ground held here.

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in the Twenty eight Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second

by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender

of the Faith & so forth & in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred

and fifty five and he the said Francis Wrangham Senr hath to these presents

set his Hand & Seal, the Day and Year above Written

Witness

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island

the Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the

East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Sett and to Farm Lett unto Francis

Wrangham Senr of the said Island Planter all that piece or parcel of Land

containing in Front Forty one Feet & in Depth two hundred and one feet

lying in James's Valley colse adjoyning to the Dwelling House of him the

said Francis Wrangham Senr also all that piece a Parcel of Land lying

behind the dwelling House & back Yard of him the said Francis Wrangham

Senr To have & to hold the said hereby Demised Premisses and every part

thereof and all & Singular the Appurtenances to each and every of them

belonging unto him the said Francis Wrangham Senr his Heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed Assigns from the Day of the Date hereof for &

during all the space or Term of Time of the Natural Lives of Francis

Wrangham Junr & William Wrangham Children of him the said Francis

Wrangham Senr and Charles Steward Grandson to the said Francis Wrangham

Senr and the longest liver of them Renewable upon the Death of either of

the said Nominees upon payment of half a Years Rent at the Admittance

of each Life or new Nominee Upon Condition that he the said Francis

Wrangham Senr his Heirs Executors Administrators or Allowed Assigns

shall

This grant was sealed in the twenty-eighth year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1755. Francis Wrangham senior set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Francis Wrangham senior, planter of the island, a piece of land. It measured forty-one feet in front and two hundred and one feet in depth, lying in James Valley next adjoining the dwelling house of Francis Wrangham senior. The grant also took in a further piece of land lying behind the dwelling house and back yard of Francis Wrangham senior. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its appurtenances, to have and to hold to Francis Wrangham senior, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from the date of this deed for the term of the natural lives of Francis Wrangham junior and William Wrangham, children of Francis Wrangham senior, and Charles Steward, grandson of Francis Wrangham senior, and the longest liver of them. The lease was renewable on the death of any of the nominees, on payment of half a year's rent for the admittance of each life or new nominee.

The grant was made on condition that Francis Wrangham senior, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear the usual obligations.

Interpretations

The town grant carried the same three lives as Francis Wrangham senior's West Division country lease sealed on the preceding page, his sons Francis and William and his grandson Charles Steward, so both his rural and urban holdings ran under a single demographic clock. Setting the same nominees across two grants let the family reckon the renewal of both by one set of deaths, simplifying the management of a scattered holding.

The measurement by frontage and depth, forty-one feet in front and two hundred and one feet in depth, marks this as a James Valley town plot rather than a country parcel, since urban ground was fixed by street frontage while country leases were reckoned by acreage. The grant of the plot next adjoining and the further piece behind his own dwelling house and back yard shows Wrangham enlarging his town premises onto neighbouring ground, assembling a larger holding in the valley around the house he already occupied. The choice of lives-based tenure gave the family a horizon long enough to justify building in stone on ground gathered from adjoining plots.

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shall bear true Faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second

his Heirs and Successors, and true faith to them the said Honorable Company and their

Successors, and shall duly obey all the Laws & Constitutions of the said Island

Yielding and Paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the Term aforesaid

unto them the said Honorable Company their Successors, Agents or Assigns, on or

upon the Feast Day of St Michael the Arch Angel the Yearly Rent of twenty

Shillings and upon Condition that the said Francis Wrangham Senr his Heirs

Executors Administrators or Assigns shall not Sell or Dispose of this Lease or his

or their Interest therein without the leave & Consent of the Governor & Council

for the Term being In Witness whereof we the said Governor & Council have

to the other part Sett our Hands, and Affixed the Honorable Companys

Seal this Day of in the twenty eight year of the Reign of our

Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France

& Ireland King Defender of the Faith & so forth & in the Year of our Lord

one thousand seven hundred and fifty five & he the said Francis Wrangham

Senr hath to these presents set his Hand & Seal the Day, & Year above

Written

Witness

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island

the Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East

Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Sett and to farm lett unto Stephen Young of

the said Island Planter All those two pieces or parcells of Land containing two

Acres more or less One Acre and a half thereof lying below Chubby Spring in

Chappel Valley butting and Bounding on other his Lease Land South and upon the

said Spring North East and West upon the said Honorable Companys Wast Land

and the other Parcell of half an Acre lying adjoining or contiguous thereunto

and bounded on all sides by the said Honorable Companys Waste Land And a less

one other Acre of Land lying in the aforesaid Valley butting North upon the free

Land

Francis Wrangham senior was to bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 20 shillings, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year. A further condition barred Francis Wrangham senior, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns from selling or disposing of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal in the twenty-eighth year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1755. Francis Wrangham senior set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Stephen Young of the island, planter, two pieces of land. The first contained two acres, more or less, one acre and a half of it lying below Chubby Spring in Chapel Valley, bounded on the south by Stephen Young's other leasehold land, and on the north, east and west by the Honourable Company's waste land near the spring. The other piece was half an acre lying adjoining or contiguous to it, bounded on all sides by the Honourable Company's waste land in the same valley. The grant also took in one further acre of land lying in the same valley, bounded on the north by the free land.

Interpretations

The town plot rent of 20 shillings set on Francis Wrangham senior's James Valley ground marks the flat-charge form the register used for urban parcels, reckoned by frontage and depth rather than by acreage, and carrying no planting duty of the kind laid on country leases. The day of sealing was left blank in the body of the deed while the year stood complete, a lapse in the clerk's engrossing that the annexed date and the regnal year were meant to cover.

The Stephen Young grant gathered three small pieces at Chubby Spring in Chapel Valley into one lease, an acre and a half, a half acre and a further acre, all fitted against ground Young already held or against Company waste around the spring. This follows the recurring practice by which the Company let scattered fragments to the neighbour who could reach and fence them, consolidating a working holding out of pockets too small to stand alone.

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Land of him the said Stephen Young and South East and West upon the said

Honorable Companys Waste Land To have and to hold all the said hereby

Demised three parcells of Land containing in the whole three Acres with all the

Wood Water Watercourses and all other the rights Comoditee and appurtenances

thereunto belonging or appertaining unto him the said Stephen Young his heirs

Executors Administrators or allowed assigns from the day of the date hereof for

and during all the space and Terom of Twenty one Years from thence next ensuing

Upon Condition that he the said Stephen Young his heirs Executors Administrators

or Assigns shall & do always bear true faith and allegiance to our Sovereign

Lord King George the Second his heirs and Successors and true faith to them the

said Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly obey all the Laws

and Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and paying therefore Yearly &

every Year unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns

the Yearly Rent of five Shillings of Clove in at or upon the Twenty ninth day of

September being the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel for and during all

the Term and time of Twenty one Years as aforesaid And upon Condition that

he the said Stephen Young his heirs Executors Administrators or assigns do and

shall during the said Term well and Sufficiently keep up and maintain the fences

to the said three parcells of Land and the full quantity of Wood and Furze thereon &

shall not in any manner alter or remove the said fences they being the bounds or

Land Marks of the aforesaid parcells of Land, which in such Case would occasion

the alteration of the Plot or Plan hereunto annexed and shall he the said Stephen

Young his heirs Executors Administrators or assigns or any of them sell or dispose

of this Lease or his or their interest therein without the leave and consent of the Governor

and Council for the time being first had and obtained In witness whereof we the

said Governor and Council have to the other part set our hands and affixed the

Honorable Companys Seale this South Day of January in the Thirtieth Year of

the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the grace of God of great Brittain

France & Ireland King defender of the Faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord

One Thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Seven and he the said Stephen Young hath

to these presents set his hand and Seale the day and Year above written

Witness

Steward

Stephen Young

The further acre was bounded on the north by the free land of Stephen Young himself, and on the south, east and west by the Honourable Company's waste land. The Company granted him the three parcels of land, three acres in all, together with all their wood, water and watercourses and all other rights and privileges belonging to them, to have and to hold to Stephen Young, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Stephen Young, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns always bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre during the term of twenty-one years, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel on 29 September each year.

A further condition bound Stephen Young, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, during the term to keep up and maintain the fences on the three parcels well and sufficiently, and to keep the full quantity of wood and furze on them, and not to alter or remove the fences in any way, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcels and any change would call for the alteration of the deed and the plan annexed to it. Neither was Stephen Young, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, or any of them, to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being first had and obtained.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 6 January in the thirtieth year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1757. Stephen Young set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Stephen Young, with Steward witnessing.

Interpretations

The date carried by the regnal year, the thirtieth year of King George the Second, agrees with the year of our Lord 1757, and shows the grant sealed on 6 January rather than in the run of 1755 leases on the preceding pages, so Stephen Young's holding at Chubby Spring was settled some two years after the Wrangham grants it follows in the register.

The clause requiring furze as well as wood on the ground, and tying any change in the fences to a formal alteration of the deed and its annexed plan, marks the weight the Company placed on the boundary as a fixed record. Because the island's tenures rested on the plan wherever it disagreed with the words, a tenant who shifted a fence would unsettle not only his own line but the certainty of the whole instrument, so the bar on moving the fences guarded the plan as much as the ground.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the united Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies

Do hereby grant Sell and to farm lett unto Sarah Junge of the said Island Widow

One Acre of wast Land belonging to the said Honorable Company lying and being

in the South division of the said Island and commonly called or known by the name

of Writing Stones and now not inclosed which said Acre will when fenced in butt

and bound on all sides on the said Honorable Companys wast Land To have

and to hold the said hereby demised one Acre of Land with all and singular the

Appurtenances thereunto belonging unto her the said Sarah Junge her heirs Executors

Administrators and assigns from the day of the date hereof for and during all the

Space and term of Twenty one Years from thence next ensuing Upon Condition

that she the said Sarah Junge her heirs Executors Administrators and assigns do &

shall bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second his

heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable Company and their

Successors and shall duly obey all the Laws and constitutions of the said Island

Yielding and paying therefore Yearly & every Year unto the said Honorable Company,

their Successors Agents, or assigns, the Yearly Rent of five Shillings for the said Acre

in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Archangel And upon Condition that she the

said Sarah Junge her heirs Executors Administrators or assigns shall and do

immediately set about and fence in the said One Acre of Land with a good & Sufficient

fence and when so fenced and inclosed do and shall keep and maintain the same in good

order and tenantable repair and not Suffer the same to run to ruin or decay And also shall

plant keep up and maintain the quantity of Wood and young Trees and Furze pursuant

to the Law and Custom of this Island and shall not alter the said fences when made they

being the Bounds or Landmarks to the said Land and shall not dispose of this Lease or her

or their Interest therein without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the

time being In witness whereof wee the said Governor and Council have to the other part set

our hands and affixed the Honorable Companys Seal this Seventeenth day of January

in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Seven And the said Sarah

Junge hath to these presents set her hand and Seal the day and Year above written

Witness

Steward

her

Sarah Junge

mark

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Sarah Junge of the island, widow, one acre of waste land belonging to the Honourable Company. It lay in the South Division of the island, commonly called or known by the name of Writing Stones, and was as yet unenclosed. Once fenced it would stand bounded on all sides by the Honourable Company's waste land. The Company granted her the acre with all its appurtenances, to have and to hold to Sarah Junge, her heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Sarah Junge, her heirs, executors, administrators and assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return she was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings for the acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound Sarah Junge, her heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, to set about fencing the acre at once with a good and sufficient fence, and once it was fenced and enclosed, to keep and maintain it in good and tenantable repair, and not to let it fall to ruin or decay. She was also bound to plant, keep up and maintain the quantity of wood and young trees and furze required by the law and custom of the island, and not to alter the fences once made, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the ground. Neither was she to dispose of the lease or her interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 17 January in the year of our Lord 1757. Sarah Junge set her hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above, making her mark. Steward witnessed.

Interpretations

The grant of a single acre of waste as yet unenclosed, ringed on every side by Company waste once fenced, shows the Company settling raw ground on a tenant bound to bring it in from the common. Sarah Junge took the acre before any fence stood, so the covenant to set about enclosing it at once carried the work of first improvement, converting open waste into a held and worked parcel.

The byname Writing Stones fixed the ground by a local landmark rather than by survey, the kind of named feature the register leaned on where no neighbouring holder's land closed a boundary. Since the acre stood surrounded by Company waste on all sides, the name did the work a neighbour's holding usually did, giving the parcel an identity that could be traced on the ground.

The requirement to plant wood, young trees and furze by the law and custom of the island marks the standard conservation duty laid on every country lease of the period, reflecting the persistent scarcity of timber and fuel. A tenant bringing in fresh waste carried the same obligation to establish planting as one renewing an old holding, so that new enclosure added to the island's wood rather than stripping its margins.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of the said Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England Trading

to the East Indies Do hereby demise Grant Sett and to farm Lett

unto Mary Seale Widow of John Seale late of the said Island

Planter Deceased and to the Orphans of the said John Seale

All that piece or parcell of Land lying and being in Sandy Bay

Valley in the said Island now in the possession of the said Widow

and Orphans Containing seven Acres and an half more or less and

butting and bounding on all sides on the Honorable Companys

Waste Land Together with all and Singular Wood Water

Water Courses Edifices Buildings Yams and Plantations of Yams

Fruit Trees Ways Fences Rights Comodities & appurtenances

whatsoever thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and

to hold all and Singular the said hereby demised piece or

parcell of Land and Premisses and every part thereof with all

and singular the Rights Comodities and Appurtenances whatsoever

unto them the said Mary Seale Widow and the said Orphans their

Heirs Executors Administrators and Allowed Assigns from the

Day of the Date hereof for and during all the Space or Term of

Twenty one Years from thence next Ensuing fully to be compleat

and Ended Yielding and Paying therefore Yearly and every Year

during the Term of this present Lease unto the said Honorable

Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Sum of Five Shillings

per Clove at or upon the Feast of St Michael the Archangel Yearly

And upon Condition that they the said Widow and Orphans

their Heirs Executors Administrators and allowed Assigns shall

and do bear true Faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King

George the Second his Heirs and Successors and true Faith to the

said Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly

Obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And upon

further Condition that neither She the said Mary Seale Widow nor

any of the said Orphans to whom this Lease is granted nor their or any of

their Heirs Executors Administrators or allowed Assigns shall

during the Term hereby demised in any Manner hinder or divert the

Water from the Honorable Companys Land either above or below the

above

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Mary Seale, widow of the late John Seale, planter of the island, and to the orphans of the late John Seale, a piece of land. It contained seven acres and a half, more or less, lying in Sandy Bay Valley, now in the possession of the widow and orphans, bounded on all sides by the Honourable Company's waste land. The Company granted them the land together with all its wood, water, watercourses, buildings, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, cartways and rights of way, and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Mary Seale, widow, and the orphans, their heirs, executors, administrators and allowed assigns, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that the widow and orphans, their heirs, executors, administrators and allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return they were to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre during the term, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound Mary Seale, widow, and the orphans, and their heirs, executors, administrators and allowed assigns, that during the term neither the widow nor any of the orphans hinder or divert the water from the Honourable Company's land, either above or below the ground granted.

Interpretations

The grant settled a Sandy Bay holding jointly on Mary Seale and the orphans of her late husband John Seale, mixing the widow's own interest with the children's inheritance in a single lease. This differs from the pure orphan trusts of the same run, where outside men held the ground wholly for the children, since here the mother took the tenure directly alongside them and worked ground the family already possessed.

The express covenant against hindering or diverting the water, above or below the ground, marks the value of watercourses on an island where supply was scarce and shared between neighbouring holdings. The Company reserved the flow across the Seale ground for its own land, so the tenant's use of the parcel could not be pushed to the point of starving the Company's adjoining ground of water, a control that recurs where a grant sat astride a channel serving more than one holding.

The passing of yams, plantations of yams and fruit trees with the land shows the parcel let as a going concern rather than as bare ground, the standing crop and trees carried with the tenure so the family kept the fruits of ground they already worked. The John Seale orphans appear elsewhere in the register as boundary holders in the same quarter, and this grant carries their inheritance forward under their widowed mother after their father's death.

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above mentioned piece or parcell of Land hereby demised And also upon

Condition that they the said Widow and Orphans their Heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed Assigns shall and do from time to time and

at all times hereafter during the Term of this present Lease keep up

and Maintain in good Order and Sufficient and legal repair the

Buildings Plantations and Fences which now are or hereafter during

the Continuance of this Lease shall be made Built or Erected on the

said hereby demised Premisses and shall plant and preserve in and

upon the same Premisses the whole Quantity of Wood or as much as it

can conveniently contain And shall likewise plant and preserve

Furze in the Fences of the said Premisses And shall plant Fruit

Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are most likly to grow And

as they shall happen to Decay or Dye replant Others of the like sort thereon

without hurt or Prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as

shall be set apart for the Sole purpose of planting and raising of

Yams And upon further Condition that they the said Widow and Orphans

their Heirs Executors Administrators or Allowed Assigns shall not sell

or dispose of this Lease or her or their Interest therein without the

Consent of the Governor and Council for the Time being In Witness

whereof we the said Governor and Council have hereunto set our

Hands and Affixed the Honorable Companys Seal at St Helena

this Nineteenth Day of September in the Thirty first Year of the

Reign of Our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God

of Great Brittain France and Ireland King defender of the Faith and

so forth and in the Year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred

and Fifty seven And the said Mary Seale Widow for herself and

Orphans to the Other Part of this Lease hath set her Hand and

Seal the Day and Year above written in

her

Mary Seale

mark

Witness

Steward

A further condition bound the widow and orphans, their heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair the buildings, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. They were also bound to plant and preserve on the ground the whole quantity of wood it could conveniently hold, and to plant and preserve furze in the fences, and to plant fruit trees in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or aged, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition barred the widow and orphans, their heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns from selling or disposing of the lease or their interest in it without the consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal at St Helena on 19 September in the thirty-first year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1757. Mary Seale, widow, for herself and the orphans, set her hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above, making her mark. Steward witnessed.

Interpretations

The covenant carving out ground set apart for the sole purpose of raising yams from the general duty to plant wood and fruit trees marks the standing exemption the register allowed for the island's staple provision crop. Yams fed the garrison and inhabitants, so the Company let a tenant keep planting ground clear of the conservation duties that governed the rest of a holding, balancing its concern for timber and fuel against the need to grow food.

The requirement to replant fruit trees of the same kind as they decayed or aged shows the Company treating an orchard as a continuing asset to be renewed rather than a one-off planting, so the ground would carry fruit across the whole twenty-one-year term. This ongoing replacement duty recurs through the leases of the period and reflects a deliberate policy of keeping the island's cultivated trees from dwindling as older stock failed.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of the said Island

the Honorable the united Company of Merchants of England trading to the

East Indies Do hereby Grant Sett and to farm Lett unto John Legg Inhabitant

of the said Island All all that piece or parcell of the Honorable Companys Waste

Land with the Appurtenances lying in James's Valley in the said Island

uninclosed adjoining in Corporal Gilbert Clough on the North or Northerly and

Serjeant Michael Frost on the South or Southerly and which piece or parcel of this

Waste Land contains in Front to the Street between the said Gilbert Clough and

Michael Frost Forty seven feet and backward towards the West or Westward Sixty feet

or thereabouts, and is so demised to him the said John Legg with intent for him build

a Dwelling house thereon with a small yard backwards, the Dwelling house to be in a

right Line in Front with the other Houses on both sides, and the Land backward to be

inclosed in right Lines from the aquisition Northerly and Southerly Langles of his Front

and the same or oade backwards as founded To have and to hold the

said hereby demised parcell of Land and premises with the appurtenances unto him

the said John Legg his Executors Administrators and Assigns from the Day of the

date hereof for and during and untill the full end of Twenty one Years from hence next ensuing

fully to be Compleat and Ended Upon Condition that he the said John Legg his

Executors Administrators or allowed Assigns do always bear true faith and Allegiance

to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second to his heirs and Successors and true faith

to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly obey all the

Laws and Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and paying therefore yearly

and every year during the said term unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents

or Assigns the yearly rent of fifteen Shillings of Current money of the said Island in at or

upon the feast of St Michael the Archangel yearly And upon Condition that he the

said John Legg his Executors Administrators or Assigns shall and do keep the fences of

the said piece or parcell of Land and all buildings thereon to be Erected in good sufficient

and Tenantable repair and leave the same so at the Expiration of the said Term And do not

nor shall sell or dispose of this Lease or his their or any of their Interest therein without the

Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the said

Governor and Council have hereunto sett our hands and affixd the Honorable Companys

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to John Legg, inhabitant of the island, a piece of the Honourable Company's waste land, with its appurtenances, lying in James Valley. It lay unenclosed, adjoining Corporal Gilbert Clough on the north and Sergeant Michael Frost on the south. The piece measured forty-seven feet in front to the street between Gilbert Clough and Michael Frost, and about sixty feet backward towards the west. It was let to John Legg with the intention that he build a dwelling house on it, the house to stand in a straight line in front with the other houses on both sides, and the land behind to be enclosed in a straight line from the front, at right angles on the north and south, and the same width at the back as at the front. The Company granted him the land and premises with their appurtenances, to have and to hold to John Legg, his executors, administrators and assigns, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that John Legg, his executors, administrators or allowed assigns always bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 15 shillings in current money of the island during the term, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound John Legg, his executors, administrators or assigns, to keep the fences of the land and all buildings erected on it in good, sufficient and tenantable repair, and to leave them so at the end of the term. Neither was he to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

Interpretations

The grant fixed the new house to stand in a straight line with those on both sides and the plot to run back at right angles, showing the Company controlling the frontage of James Valley as a planned street rather than a scatter of dwellings. By tying each new building to the line of its neighbours, the Company kept the valley's main street regular as it filled in, a concern for townscape absent from the country leases reckoned only by acreage.

The rent of 15 shillings in current money of the island, set as a flat charge with no planting duty, marks the town-plot form the register used for James Valley ground, distinct from the per-acre country rate and its covenants to plant wood and furze. An urban plot built over with a dwelling carried no conservation burden, so the Company looked to the building and its upkeep rather than to timber, reserving only the duty to keep the house in tenantable repair to the end of the term.

The naming of Corporal Gilbert Clough and Sergeant Michael Frost as the flanking holders shows James Valley ground held by serving garrison men, the street filling with soldiers of the establishment who took building plots alongside the island's planters and craftsmen.

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Seal this twelveth day of October in the Thirty first year of the Reign of Sovereign

Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Brittain France and Ireland King

Defender of the faith and so forth and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred

and fifty Eight and the said John Legg to the other part hereof hath set his hand and Seal

the day and year above written

Witness John Legg

Wrangham Junr

Redhead Merchant

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of the said Island

the Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies

Do hereby Grant Sett and to farm Lett unto John Sacke Quarter Gunner in the service

of the said Honorable Company All that piece or Parcell of the Honorable Companys Waste

Land with the Appurtenances lying in James's Valley in the said Island uninclosed adjoining

on Serjeant Michael Frost on the North or Northerly and on the Honorable Companys Waste

Land on the South or Southerly and which piece or parcell of waste Land Contains in the front

to the Street from the said Michael Frost on the South or Southerly Sixty feet and backward

towards the West or westerly Sixty feet or thereabouts, and is so demised to him the said

John Sacke with intent for him to build a Dwelling house thereon with a Small yard

backward, the Dwelling house to be in a right Line in front with the other houses below

and the Land backward to be inclosed in right Lines from thereupon North and Southerly

Angles of his front and the same or oade backward as foward which will make it a Square

To have and to hold the said hereby demised parcel of Land and premises with

the Appurtenances unto him the said John Sacke his Executors Administrators and Assigns

from the day of the date hereof for and during and untill the full end and Term of Twenty one years

from hence next Ensuing fully to be Compleat and Ended Upon Condition that he the

said John Sacke his Executors Administrators or allowed Assigns do always bear true faith

and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second his Heirs and Successors

and true faith to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly obey

all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island Yeilding and paying yearly and every

Year during the said term unto the said Honorable Company their Successors agents or Assigns

the yearly rent of sixteen Shillings of Current money of the said Island in at or upon the

Feast

This grant was sealed on 12 October in the thirty-first year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1758. John Legg set his hand and seal to his part of this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by John Legg, with Wrangham junior and Radbrook, merchant, witnessing.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to John Jacky, quarter gunner in the service of the Honourable Company, a piece of the Honourable Company's waste land, with its appurtenances, lying in James Valley. It lay unenclosed, adjoining Sergeant Michael Frost on the north and the Honourable Company's waste land on the south. The piece measured sixty feet in front to the street from Michael Frost on the south, and about fifty feet backward towards the west. It was let to John Jacky with the intention that he build a dwelling house on it, the house to stand in a straight line in front with the other houses below, and the land behind to be enclosed in a straight line from the front, at right angles on the north and south, and the same width at the back as at the front. The Company granted him the land and premises with their appurtenances, to have and to hold to John Jacky, his executors, administrators and assigns, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that John Jacky, his executors, administrators or allowed assigns always bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 16 shillings in current money of the island during the term, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel.

Interpretations

The grant continued the line of building plots let up James Valley, since John Jacky's ground adjoined Sergeant Michael Frost, who had closed the south side of John Legg's plot sealed on the preceding page. The three plots read as a planned run along the same street, each fixed to stand in line with the houses below, so the Company was letting the valley frontage in an ordered sequence rather than piecemeal.

The letting of a plot to a quarter gunner in the Company's own service shows James Valley ground going to men paid from the establishment rather than to planters, the street filling with garrison and Company servants who took building ground alongside the island's civilian inhabitants. The rent of 16 shillings in current money of the island, a shilling above John Legg's, marks the flat town-plot charge fixed to the frontage rather than to any acreage, carrying no planting duty of the kind laid on country leases.

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the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel Yearly And upon

Condition that he the said John Sacke his Executors Administrators

or assigns shall and do keep the fences of the said piece or parcel of Land and

all buildings thereon to be Erected in good Sufficient and Tenantable repair

and leave the same so at the Expiration of the said term And do not nor

shall sell or dispose of this Lease or his their or any of their Interest

therein without Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being

In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council set our hands

and the Honorable Companys Seal this twelveth day of October

in their thirty first Year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord George the

Second by the Grace of God of great Brittain France and Ireland King

Defender of the Faith and so forth and in the year of our Lord one thousand

seven hundred and fifty eight And the said John Sacke to the other part

hereof hath set his hand and Seal the day and year above written

Witness John Sacks

Wrangham Junr

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of the said Island

the Honorably the united Company of Merchants of England trading to the

East Indies Did hereby grant Set and to farm Lett unto Gilbert Clough Corporal

in the service of the said Honorable Company All that piece or parcell of the

Honorable Companys Waste Land with the Appurtenances lying in James's Valley

in the said Island uninclosed adjoining on Serjeant Thomas Leech on the

North or Northerly and John Legg on the South or Southerly and which piece or parcell

of waste Land contains in front to the Street between the said Thomas Leech and John

Legg's forty seven feet and backward towards the West or Westerly Sixty feet or thereabouts

and is so demised to him the said Gilbert Clough with intent for him build a dwelling

House thereon with a Small yard backward the dwelling house to be in a right Line

A further condition bound John Jacky, his executors, administrators or assigns, to keep the fences of the piece and all buildings erected on it in good, sufficient and tenantable repair, and to leave them so at the end of the term. Neither was he to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 12 October in the thirty-first year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1758. John Jacky set his hand and seal to his part of this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by John Jacky, with Wrangham junior witnessing.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Gilbert Clough, corporal in the service of the Honourable Company, a piece of the Honourable Company's waste land, with its appurtenances, lying in James Valley. It lay unenclosed, adjoining Sergeant Thomas Leech on the north and John Legg on the south. The piece measured sixty feet in front to the street between Thomas Leech and John Legg, and about sixty feet backward towards the west. It was let to Gilbert Clough with the intention that he build a dwelling house on it, with a small yard behind, the house to stand in a straight line with the others.

Interpretations

The grant added a further plot to the run of building ground let up James Valley, since Gilbert Clough's piece sat between Sergeant Thomas Leech and John Legg, whose own plots were settled on the preceding pages. The chain of adjoining names shows the Company letting the valley frontage as one ordered street, each new plot keyed to its neighbours above and below.

The letting to a corporal in the Company's service continues the pattern of James Valley ground going to serving garrison men, the street filling with soldiers of the establishment who took building plots alongside the island's planters and craftsmen. Gilbert Clough had himself closed the north side of John Legg's plot in the grant of 12 October 1758, so the same men recur as neighbours across this run of town leases, marking a settled block of garrison households in the valley.

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in front with the other Houses on both sides and the Land backward to be inclosed

in right Lines from the respective North and Southerly, Angles of his front and the same

as wide backwards as founded To have and to hold the said hereby demised

parcell of Land and premises with the Appurtenances unto him the said Gilbert Clough

his Executors Administrators and Assigns from the Day of the Date hereof for during

and untill the full end and term of Twenty one Years from hence next Ensuing fully to

be Compleat and ended Upon Condition that he the said Gilbert Clough his

Executors Administrators or allowed Assigns do always bear true faith And Allegiance

to our Sovereign Lord King George the second his heirs and Successors and true faith

to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly obey

all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island Yeilding and paying therefore

yearly and every year during the said term unto the said Honorable Company

their Successors Agents or Assigns the yearly Rent of fifteen Shillings of Current

money of the said Island in at or upon the feast of Saint Michael the Arch Angel

Yearly And upon Condition that he the said Gilbert Clough his

Executors Administrators or Assigns shall and do keep the fences of the said piece

or parcell of Land and all buildings thereon to be Erected in Good Sufficient and

tenantable repair and leave the same so at the Expiration of the said term And

do not nor Shall sell or dispose of this Lease or his their or any of their Interest

therein without the Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being

In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council have to the other part sett

our hands and afixed the Honorable Companys Seal this twelfth Day of October

in the thirty first year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by

the Grace of God of Great Brittain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith

and so forth and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty

Eight And the said Gilbert Clough hath hereunto sett his hand

and Seale this day and year above written

Gilbt Clough

Witness Rich Law

The house was to stand in a straight line in front with the houses on both sides, and the land behind to be enclosed in a straight line from the front, at right angles on the north and south, and the same width at the back as at the front. The Company granted him the land and premises with their appurtenances, to have and to hold to Gilbert Clough, his executors, administrators and assigns, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Gilbert Clough, his executors, administrators or allowed assigns always bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 15 shillings in current money of the island during the term, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound Gilbert Clough, his executors, administrators or assigns, to keep the fences of the piece and all buildings erected on it in good, sufficient and tenantable repair, and to leave them so at the end of the term. Neither was he to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 12 October in the thirty-first year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1758. Gilbert Clough set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Gilbert Clough, with Richard Law witnessing.

Interpretations

The rent of 15 shillings in current money of the island set Gilbert Clough's plot on the same flat town charge as John Legg's, a shilling below John Jacky's, each fixed to the frontage and carrying no planting duty of the kind laid on country ground. The uniform charge across these James Valley plots shows the Company pricing urban building ground by a settled town rate rather than by the per-acre reckoning of the country leases.

The grant completes the run of four building plots let along the same James Valley street in October 1758, the adjoining names of Thomas Leech, Gilbert Clough, John Legg, John Jacky and Michael Frost locking the sequence together in an ordered line. Each plot fixed to stand in front with the houses on both sides, so the Company laid out the valley frontage as a planned terrace of garrison households rather than a scatter of separate dwellings, a concern for the regular line of the street that the country leases, reckoned only by acreage, never carried.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable the United

Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies

Do hereby demise grant sett and to farm let unto Sarah Junge

of the said Island widow All that piece or parcel of the Honorable

Companys Wast Land containing by Mensuration Four Acres Situate

lying and being in the South division of the said Island butting and

bounding North upon upon Richard Bagley and Samuel Alexander

East, West and South upon the Honorable Companys wast Land

To have and to hold the said hereby demised parcel of Land with

the Appurtenances, and every part and parce & thereof unto her the said

Sarah Junge her Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns from the

day of the date hereof for and during the Space and term of Twenty one

years, from thence next Ensuing upon Condition that She

the said Sarah Junge her heirs or allowed Assigns, do always bear

true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the second

his Heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable

Company and their Successors and shall duly obey all the Laws &

Constitutions of the said Island Yeilding and paying therefore

yearly and every year during the said term and time of Twenty

one Years unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents

or Assigns the yearly rent of five shillings per Acre in at or upon

the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel And upon Condition

that She the said Sarah Junge her Heirs Executors Administrators

or Assigns, shall and do sett about and fence the said parcel of Land

with a good and Sufficient fence and when so fenced and Enclosed do

and Shall keep and maintain the same in good Condition and repair

and do not Suffer the same or any part thereof to run to ruin or decay

And also shall plant keep up and maintain the Quantity of wood and

Young Trees and Furze pursuant to the Law & Customs of this Island &

Shall not alter the fences when made they being the bounds or Land

marks of the said Land and shall not dispose of their Leave or her or

their Interest therein without the Leave or Consent of the Governor

and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the said

Governor and Council to the other part hath Set our hands and

affixed the Honorable Company Seal this twelfth day of Octr

in the thirty second year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George

the second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Sarah Junge of the island, widow, a piece of the Honourable Company's waste land. It contained, by measurement, four acres, lying in the South Division of the island, bounded on the north by Richard Bagley and Samuel Alexander, and on the east, west and south by the Honourable Company's waste land. The Company granted her the land with its appurtenances, and every part of it, to have and to hold to Sarah Junge, her heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Sarah Junge, her heirs or allowed assigns always bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return she was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre during the term of twenty-one years, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound Sarah Junge, her heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, to set about fencing the parcel with a good and sufficient fence, and once it was fenced and enclosed, to keep and maintain it in good condition and repair, and not to let it fall to ruin or decay. She was also bound to plant, keep up and maintain the quantity of wood, young trees and furze required by the law and custom of the island, and not to alter the fences once made, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the land. Neither was she to dispose of the lease or her interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 12 October in the thirty-second year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland.

Interpretations

The grant added four acres of waste in the South Division to Sarah Junge's existing ground, following her single acre at Writing Stones taken on 17 January 1757. The Company was building up a holding for her out of the common, letting fresh waste to a widow who already held ground nearby and could bring the new parcel in alongside it.

The bounds fixed the parcel against Richard Bagley and Samuel Alexander on the north and Company waste on the other three sides, showing the ground let where it ran up against established holders while the rest lay open to the common. The rate of 5 shillings an acre marked it as sound ground drawing the full charge, in contrast to the reduced rates the register reserved for parcels noted steep or barren, so this South Division waste was reckoned worth ordinary cultivation once enclosed.

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Ireland King defender of the faith and so forth and in the Year of our

Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty Eight And the said

Sarah Junge hath hereunto set her hand and Seal the day and year

above written

Witness Rich Law

her

Sarah Junge

Mark

Islands St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies

Do hereby demise grant Set and to farm let unto Matthew Purling of the

said Island St Helena Gentleman All that piece or parcel of the

Honorable Companys Waste Land containing by Mensuration five Acres and

a Quarter situate lying and being in the East Division of the said Island

To have and to hold the said hereby demised parcel of Land with the

Appurtenances and every part and parcel thereof unto him the said Matthew

Purling his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns from the day of the date

hereof for and during the Space and term of Twenty one Years from thence next

Ensuing Upon Condition that he the said Matthew Purling his Heirs or allowed

Assigns do always bear true faith and Allegiance to Our Sovereign Lord King

George the Second his heirs or Successors and true faith to them the said

Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly obey all their Laws

and Constitutions of the said Island Yeilding and paying therefore

Yearly

Margin Notes: 4 Acres

The grant was sealed in the year of our Lord 1758. Sarah Junge set her hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above, making her mark. Richard Law witnessed.

A plan drawn in the margin marks the parcel as four acres.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Matthew Purling, gentleman of the island, a piece of the Honourable Company's waste land. It contained, by measurement, four acres and a quarter, lying in the East Division of the island. The Company granted him the land with its appurtenances, and every part of it, to have and to hold to Matthew Purling, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Matthew Purling, his heirs or allowed assigns always bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay a yearly rent.

Interpretations

The style of gentleman attached to Matthew Purling here marks his standing above the planters and garrison men who took the neighbouring grants, a courtesy title fixing his place among the island's more substantial holders. The register carries his name repeatedly through the 1750s as an executor and trustee for orphan estates in the East Division, so this parcel added to ground he already worked in that quarter.

The two annexed plans on this page, one for Sarah Junge's four acres and one implied for the Purling grant that follows, gave each parcel its controlling record of shape and extent. The island's tenures rested on such plans wherever their figures disagreed with the words of the deed, so the outline marked as four acres fixed the boundary of Sarah Junge's ground more surely than the boundary names alone, which shifted as neighbouring holders changed.

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Yearly and every year during the said Term and time of Twenty one years

unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the yearly

rent of one Shilling of Clove in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel

yearly And upon Condition that he the said Matthew Purling his Heirs

Executors Administrators or Assigns shall and do keep and maintain the

fences of the said hereby demised parcel of Land in good Condition and repair

and do not Suffer the same or any part hereof to run to ruin or decay And also shall

Plant keep up and maintain the Quantity of Wood and young trees and Furze

pursuant to the Laws and Customs of this Island and shall not alter the fences

so made they being the bounds or Land Marks to the said Land And shall

dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the Leave or Consent

of the Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof

we the said Governor and Council to the other part hereof hath Set our hands

and Affixed the Honorable Companys Seal the twelfth day of October in the

thirty second year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord George the Second

by the Grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King defender

of the faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred

and fifty Eight and the said Matthew Purling hath hereunto Set his hand and

Seal the day and year above written

Witness Purling

Rich Law

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East

Indies Do hereby grant set and to Farm Let unto Matthew Purling of

the said Island St Helena Gentleman for the use and behalf of Simon

Whaleys Orphans All that piece or parcel of the Honorable Companys Wast

Land Containing by Mensuration ten Acres more or half Situate lying &

being in the East division of the said Island To have and to hold

the said hereby demised parcel of Land with the Appurtenances and every

part and parcel thereof unto him the said Matthew Purling Executor for the

said Simon Whaleys Orphans their Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns

from the day of the date hereof for and during the Space and term of Twenty

one Years from thence next Ensuing Upon Condition that they the

said Simon Whaley Orphans do always bear true faith and Allegiance

do always bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord George the

Second his Heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable

Company and their Successors and shall duly obey all the Laws and Constitutions

of the said Island Yeilding and paying therefore Yearly and

Matthew Purling was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 1 shilling an acre during the term of twenty-one years, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound Matthew Purling, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, to keep up and maintain the fences of the parcel in good condition and repair, and not to let it fall to ruin or decay. He was also bound to plant, keep up and maintain the quantity of wood, young trees and furze required by the law and custom of the island, and not to alter the fences once made, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the land. Neither was he to dispose of the lease or his interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 12 October in the thirty-second year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1758. Matthew Purling set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Purling, with Richard Law witnessing.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Matthew Purling, gentleman of the island, for and on behalf of the orphans of the late Simon Whaley, a piece of the Honourable Company's waste land. It contained, by measurement, two acres and a half, lying in the East Division of the island. The Company granted him the land with its appurtenances, and every part of it, to have and to hold to Matthew Purling, executor for the Simon Whaley orphans, their heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that the Simon Whaley orphans always bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return they were to pay a yearly rent.

Interpretations

The rent of 1 shilling an acre set on Matthew Purling's four acres and a quarter marked the ground as poorer than the parcels drawing the full 5 shillings, following the register's practice of pricing steep or barren land down to what it was worth. The reduced rate here, matching that allowed on other marginal East Division ground, shows the Company adjusting the charge to the quality of the land rather than holding to a flat rate across every holding.

The fresh grant to Matthew Purling as executor for the orphans of the late Simon Whaley renewed the trust he had held since the lease of 15 January 1753, when the same children's ground was first settled on him. The register carried this orphan estate under Purling's hand across some five years, so the Company kept the Whaley children's tenure in the charge of a single reliable trustee who already held neighbouring ground in the same quarter of the East Division.

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every Years during the said term and time of Twenty one Years unto the said

Honorable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly rent of

Five Shillings Per Acre in at or upon the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel

Yearly And upon Condition that they the said Simon Whaleys Orphans their

Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns shall and do keep and maintain

the fences of the said hereby demised parcel of Land in good Condition and

repair and do not Suffer the same or any part thereof to run to ruin or decay

And also shall Plant keep up and maintain the Quantity of Wood and young

Trees and Furze pursuant to the Laws and Custom of this Island and

shall not alter the fences so made they being the bounds or Land marks to

the said Land and shall not dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest

therein without the Leave or Consent of the Governor and Council for the

time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council to

the other part hereof hath set our hands and Affixed the Honorable Company

Seal this thirtieth Day of October in the twenty six seven hundred and fifty two

and the said Matthew Purling for the said Simon Whaleys Orphans hath

hereunto set his hand and Seal the day and Year above written

Witness Purling

Rich Law

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East

Indies Do hereby demise grant Set and to farm Let unto Benjamin

Mason of the said Island St Helena Planter All that piece or parcel

of the Honorable Companys Waste Land Containing by Mensuration Seven

Acres Situate lying and being in the West Division of the said Island butting

and bounding North and East on the Honorable Companys Waste Land

West on the Lands of John Alexander and South on Benjamin Mason

To have and to hold the said hereby demised parcel of Land with the

Appurtenances and every part and parcel thereof unto him the said Benjamin

Mason, his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns from the Day of the

date hereof for and during the Space of Twenty one Years from thence next

Ensuing Upon Condition that he the said Benjamin Mason his Heirs or allowed

Assigns do always bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King

George the Second his Heirs and Successors and true faith to them the

said Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly obey all the

Laws and Constitutions of the said Island Yeilding and paying

therefore yearly and every Year during the said term and time of Twenty one

years

The Simon Whaley orphans were to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre during the term of twenty-one years, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound the Simon Whaley orphans, their heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, to keep up and maintain the fences of the parcel in good condition and repair, and not to let it fall to ruin or decay. They were also bound to plant, keep up and maintain the quantity of wood, young trees and furze required by the law and custom of the island, and not to alter the fences once made, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the land. Neither were they to dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 30 October in the year of our Lord 1752. Matthew Purling, for the Simon Whaley orphans, set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Purling, with Richard Law witnessing.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Benjamin Mawson, planter of the island of St Helena, a piece of the Honourable Company's waste land. It contained, by measurement, seven acres, lying in the West Division of the island, bounded on the north and east by the Honourable Company's waste land, on the west by the land of John Alexander, and on the south by Benjamin Mawson himself. The Company granted him the land with its appurtenances, and every part of it, to have and to hold to Benjamin Mawson, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Benjamin Mawson, his heirs or allowed assigns always bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay a yearly rent during the term of twenty-one years.

Interpretations

The rent of 5 shillings an acre carried on the Simon Whaley orphans' two acres and a half set the ordinary full charge on the trust ground, in contrast to the reduced 1 shilling an acre allowed on Matthew Purling's own poorer parcel sealed the same day. That the same trustee held two parcels at different rates on the one day shows the Company pricing each piece by its own quality rather than by the holder, the orphan trust drawing the standard rate while Purling's marginal ground drew the cut one.

The naming of Benjamin Mawson as his own southern neighbour shows the Company adding to a holding he already worked in the West Division, so the seven acres rounded out his ground rather than settling a newcomer. The land of John Alexander closing the west ties this parcel to the cluster of West Division holdings where the Alexander, Bagley and Mawson names recur as neighbours across the grants of the period.

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time being And do and Shall yearly and every year well and truly

pay unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents

or Assigns during the term hereby granted the sum of five shillings

for every acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel

Yearly In Witness whereof We the said Governor and Council

have to the other part thereof set our hands and affixed the Honorable

Company seal in St Helena this 16 day of April in the thirty second

year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the second by the

Grace of God of Great Brittain France and Ireland King defender

of the faith &c in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred

and fifty Nine And he the said Richard Bagley hath hereunto

set his hand and seal the day and year abovd written

Witness Rich Bagley

Wrangham Junr

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable the

United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do hereby

demise grant sett unto farm let unto Richard Bagley of the said

Island Planter, All and singular that piece or parcel of Gumwood Land

containing by mensuration Seven acres situate lying and being on Thompsons

Wood in the West division of the said Island, butting and bounding North upon

the Honorable Company Waste Land in and near Sextons Wood aforesaid

and towards the South East and West upon the Lands of the said Richard

Bagley To have and to hold the said hereby demised parcel of Land

with the Appurtenances and every part parcel thereof unto him the said Richard

Bagley his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns from the day of the

date hereof for and during the Space and term of Twenty one years from

thence next Ensuing Upon Condition that he the said Richard Bagley

his Heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns do always bear true faith and

allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the second his Heirs and Successors

and

Richard Bagley was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, during the term granted, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal at St Helena on 16 April in the thirty-second year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Richard Bagley set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Richard Bagley, with Wrangham junior witnessing.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Richard Bagley of the island, planter, a piece of gumwood land. It contained, by measurement, ten acres, lying at Thompson's Wood in the West Division of the island, bounded on the north by the Honourable Company's waste land in and near Thompson's Wood, and towards the south, east and west by the land of Richard Bagley himself. The Company granted him the land with its appurtenances, and every part of it, to have and to hold to Richard Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Richard Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns always bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors.

Interpretations

The naming of Richard Bagley as his own southern, eastern and western neighbour shows the Company letting a parcel almost wholly ringed by ground he already held, so the ten acres at Thompson's Wood rounded out a substantial existing holding rather than settling fresh ground on the margin. Only the Company's waste to the north lay outside his own land, marking this as a fill-in grant that closed a pocket within his estate.

Richard Bagley appears across the register as a rising planter of the West Division, taking assignments and Company grants through the 1750s and signing counterparts for others who could not write. The Thompson's Wood ground gathered here sat in the same quarter where Isaac Knipe's lease of 10 October 1752 was closed on the south by Bagley's leasehold, so this grant carries forward a holding Bagley had been building up alongside his neighbours over the preceding years.

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and true faith to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors

and shall duly obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island

Yeilding and paying therefore yearly and every year during the

said term and time of Twenty one years unto the said Honorable Company

their Successors Agents or Assigns the yearly rent of four shillings per

Acres and any Rate viz for duty being in all five shillings in at or upon the

Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel And upon Condition that

he the said Richard Bagley his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns

shall and do keep and maintain the fences of the said hereby demised parcel

of Land in good Condition and repair and do not Suffer the same or any

part thereof to run to ruin or decay And also shall plant keep up and

maintain the Quantity of Gumwood and young Trees and Furze pursuant

to the Laws and Customs of this Island in that Case made and provided

and shall not alter the fences as they now stand they being the bounds

or Land marks of the said Lands And shall not dispose of their

Leave or his or their interest therein without the leave or Consent of the

Governor & Council for the time being In Witness whereof We the said

Governor & Council to the other part hereof hath Set our hands and

affixed the Honorable Companys Seal this Sixteenth of April in the Thirty

second year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the second by the

Grace of God of Great Brittain France & Ireland King defender of

the faith &c and in the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred

and fifty nine And the said Richard Bagley hath hereunto set his hand

and Seal the day and year above written

Witness Rich Bagley

Wrangham Junr

Rich Law

Richard Bagley and his successors were to bear true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, during the term of twenty-one years, a yearly rent of 4 shillings an acre with 1 shilling of duty, five shillings in all, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound Richard Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, to keep up and maintain the fences of the parcel in good condition and repair, and not to let it fall to ruin or decay. He was also bound to plant, keep up and maintain the quantity of wood, young trees and furze required by the law and custom of the island, and not to alter the fences once made, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the land. Neither was he to dispose of the lease or his interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 16 April in the thirty-second year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Richard Bagley set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Richard Bagley, with Wrangham junior and Richard Law witnessing.

Interpretations

The rent stated here as 4 shillings an acre with 1 shilling of duty marks the return of the older two-part rent form, splitting the charge into a ground rent and a separate duty, in place of the flat 5 shillings that the register had folded both figures into across the later 1730s and 1740s. The same five shillings fell due in the end, but the split form named the duty apart from the rent, a reversion to the earlier convention that recurs in the grants from the middle 1750s onward.

The care to record the parcel as taken by measurement, ten acres at Thompson's Wood, tied the rent and the boundary to a checked figure that could be held against the annexed plan. Since three of the four sides ran against Bagley's own ground, the measured extent mattered chiefly to fix how much of his continuous holding fell under this fresh lease and its rent, marking off the new ten acres from the land he already held around it.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable the

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do

hereby Demise Sett and to Farm Lett unto Francis Wrangham the Elder of

the said Island Planter All those two pieces or parcels of Land Situate

lying and being in the South Division of the said Island containing in the

whole twenty Acres Butting and Bounding North and East upon the Honorable

Companys waste Lands, and South and West upon other the Leasehold Lands

of him the said Francis Wrangham To have and to hold the said

hereby Demised pieces or parcels of Land and every part thereof together

with all and Singular the Wood Water Watercourses Houses Buildings

Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls

Fences and all and Singular other the Rights Commodities and appurtenances

to them and each and every of them belonging or appertaining unto him

the said Francis Wrangham his Heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

Assigns from the twelfth day of October last for and during all the space or Term

of Twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and ended

Upon Condition that he the said Francis Wrangham his Heirs

Executors Administrators or allowed Assigns shall and do bear true faith and

Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the second his Heirs and

Successors and true faith to the said Honorable Company and their Successors

and shall duly observe and obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said

Island And also upon Condition that he the said Francis Wrangham

his Heirs Executors Administrators or allowed Assigns shall and do from

time to time and at all times hereafter during the Term of this present

Lease keep up and Maintain in good order and sufficient and Legal repair

All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and

Fences as now are or hereafter shall be made built or erected thereon

and shall moreover plant keep Maintain and preserve in and upon the

the said hereby Demised parcels of Land its full quantity or proportion of

Wood being one tenth part of the said parcels of Land And shall likewise

plant and preserve Furze withinside or without the Fences of the said

parcels of Land And shall plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon

Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are most likely

to grow, and as they shall happen to decay or die shall replant others of the

the

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Francis Wrangham, planter of the island, two pieces of land. They lay in the South Division of the island and contained twenty acres in all, bounded on the north and east by the Honourable Company's waste land, and on the south and west by other leasehold land of Francis Wrangham himself. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Francis Wrangham, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Francis Wrangham, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. A further condition bound Francis Wrangham, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcels, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died.

Interpretations

The parcels lay ringed on the south and west by Francis Wrangham's own leasehold ground, so this twenty acres rounded out a holding he already worked in the South Division rather than settling fresh ground on the margin. The Wrangham name runs through the register as one of the substantial planter families of the island, and the gathering of adjoining parcels under successive leases shows the family consolidating a continuous estate in this quarter.

The duty to keep a tenth part of the ground in wood, to set furze in the fences and to plant named fruit trees, replacing them as they failed, marks the full conservation covenant the Company laid on its country leases. The naming of apple, lemon, mulberry and peach as the trees to be planted fixed a standard orchard for the island's holdings, and the requirement to replant as the trees decayed treated the fruit stock as a continuing asset to be renewed across the whole term rather than a single planting left to dwindle.

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like sorts thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land

as shall be set a part for the sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams Yeilding

and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the Term of this present Lease unto

them the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Sum of

four Shillings of Acre in at or upon the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel

Yearly And upon further Condition that he the said Francis Wrangham his

Heirs Executors Administrators or allowed Assigns shall not alter or remove the

said Fences they being the Limits or Land marks of the parcels of Land

aforesaid and shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest

therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for the Time

being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council have to the other

part hereof set our hands and affixed the Honorable Companys Seal this

Eighth day of Novem in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign

Lord George the second by Grace of God of Great Brittain France and Ireland

King defender of the Faith and So forth and in the Year of our Lord one

thousand seven hundred an fifty Nine And he the said Francis Wrangham

hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the day and Year above Written

Witness Franc Wrangham

Wrangham Junr

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable the

United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do hereby

Demise Set and to Farm Lett unto Francis Wrangham the Elder of the said

Island Planter All that piece or parcel of Land containing two Acres butting

and Bounding North or Northerly on the Lands of Mr Richard Goodwin, and

Mr James Greentree, East upon the Lands of the said Richard Goodwin, and

South upon other the Lands of him the said Francis Wrangham To have

and to hold the said hereby demised parcel of Land with all and Singular

the Wood Water and all other the rights Commodities and appurtenances

thereunto belonging or appertaining onto him the said Francis Wrangham

his Heirs Executors Administrators or allowed Assigns from the twelfth day of

October last

Francis Wrangham was bound to replant fruit trees of the same kind as they decayed, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 4 shillings an acre during the term of this lease, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound Francis Wrangham, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcels, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Francis Wrangham set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Francis Wrangham, with Wrangham junior witnessing.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Francis Wrangham, planter of the island, a piece of land. It contained two acres, bounded on the north by the land of Richard Goodwin and James Greentree, on the east by the land of Richard Goodwin, and on both other sides by other land of Francis Wrangham himself. The Company granted him the land, together with all its wood, water and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Francis Wrangham, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last.

Interpretations

The yam exemption carved out of the general planting duty marks the standing allowance the register made for the island's staple provision crop, letting a tenant keep ground clear of the wood and fruit tree covenants where it was set apart for raising yams. This balanced the Company's concern for timber and fuel against the need to grow the food that fed the garrison and inhabitants, a distinction that recurs through the leases of the period.

The rent of 4 shillings an acre, named here without the separate duty, followed the ground rent form the register used across these grants, tying the yearly charge to the measured extent. The bounds of the two-acre parcel against Richard Goodwin, James Greentree and Wrangham's own ground place it among a tight cluster of planter holdings, the fresh piece fitted into a pocket between named neighbours rather than opened on the margin, so this small grant rounded out the block Wrangham was gathering alongside Goodwin and Greentree.

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October last for and during all the space or Term of Twenty one Years from thence

next ensuing fully to be compleat and ends Upon Condition that he the

said Francis Wrangham his Heirs Executors Administrators and allowed

Assigns shall and do bear True faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord

King George the Second his Heirs and Successors and True faith to the said

Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly obey all the Laws and

Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and paying therefore yearly

and every Year during the whole Term or Time of Twenty one Years as aforesaid

unto them the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Sum

of five shillings of clove in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel

Yearly And upon further Condition that he the said Francis Wrangham his

Heirs Executors Administrators or allowed Assigns shall and do from time to

time during the Term of this present Lease keep up and maintain in good order

and sufficient and Legal repair the Fences of the said hereby demised

Premisses and shall Plant and preserve in and upon the same Premisses the

whole quantity of Wood or as much as it cay conveniently contain And shall

likewise plant and preserve Furze in the Fences of the said Premisses and shall

plant Fruit Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are most likely to grow

And as they shall happen to decay or die replant others of the like sorts thereon

And upon further Condition that he the said Francis Wrangham his Heirs

Executors Administrators or allowed Assigns shall not sell or dispose of their

Lease or his their Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the

Governor and Council for the Time being In Witness whereof we the

said Governor and Council have to the other part hereof set our hands and

and affixed the Honorable Companys Seal this eighth day of Novemr in the

thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by

the grace of God of Great Brittain France and Ireland King defender

of the faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred

and fifty nine and He the said Francis Wrangham hath hereunto set his hand

and Seal the day and year above written

Franc Wrangham

Witness

Wrangham Junr

The Company granted the land from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Francis Wrangham, his heirs, executors, administrators and allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre during the whole term of twenty-one years, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year.

A further condition bound Francis Wrangham, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good and sufficient and legal repair the fences of the ground, and to plant and preserve on it the whole quantity of wood it could conveniently hold, and to plant and preserve furze in the fences, and to plant fruit trees in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died. A final condition barred Francis Wrangham, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns from selling or disposing of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Francis Wrangham set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Francis Wrangham, with Wrangham junior witnessing.

Interpretations

The rent of 5 shillings an acre on this two-acre parcel stood above the 4 shillings an acre named on Francis Wrangham's twenty-acre South Division grant sealed the same day, showing the Company pricing the two holdings apart within a single sitting. The smaller piece drew the full rate while the larger drew the lower, so the charge tracked the ground rather than the holder, each parcel reckoned on its own worth.

The duty to plant the whole quantity of wood the ground could hold, rather than the fixed tenth part named in the larger grant, marks a heavier conservation covenant on this small parcel. Where the twenty acres carried a proportional wood duty, this two-acre piece was to be planted up as fully as it would bear, reflecting the Company's readiness to press timber and fuel growing hardest on the smaller pockets it let between established holdings.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable the United

Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do hereby Demise Sett

and to Farm Lett unto Francis Wrangham the Elder of the said Island planter All

that piece or parcel of Ground lying behind the yard of his House late Charles Stewards

at the Foot or James's Valley containing Sixty one feet in Width at the back of his old yard

Forty two feet in Width next the Watercourse Sixty five feet in Depth adjoyning

to Lieutenant Thomas Kirkpatrick and Eighty feet in Depth adjoyning to the

Yard of the Honorable Companys House wherein the Lieutenant Governor resides

making in the whole two thousand Nine hundred and forty superficial square feet

To have and to hold the said hereby Demised parcel of Ground and every

part thereof with all and singular the Wood Water Watercourses Houses Buildings

Edifices Sheds Tenements Fruit Trees Walls Fences and all and singular other the

rights Commodities and appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining unto

him the said Francis Wrangham his Heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

Assigns from the twelfth day of October last for and During all the space or Term of

twenty one years from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended Upon

Condition that he the said Francis Wrangham his Heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed Assigns shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance

to our Sovereign Lord King George the second his Heirs and Successors and true

faith to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly

observe and Obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And also

upon Condition that he the said Francis Wrangham his Heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed Assigns shall and do from Time to Time during the

Term of this present Lease keep up and Maintain in good order and sufficient

and Legal repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements

Plantations and Fences as now are or hereafter shall be made built or Erected

thereon And also upon further Condition that he the said Francis Wrangham

his Heirs Executors Administrators or allowed Assigns shall not alter or remove the

said Fences they being the Limits or Land marks of the said piece or parcel of Ground

And shall not Sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the

Leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being Yielding and

paying therefore Yearly and every year during the Term of this present Lease unto

them the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Sum of

fourteen Shillings and six pence of Current Money of the said Island without any

deduction

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Francis Wrangham, planter of the island, a piece of ground lying behind the yard of the house of the late Charles Steward in James Valley. It measured sixty-one feet in width at the back of his old yard, forty-two feet in width next the watercourse, sixty-one feet in depth adjoining Lieutenant Thomas Kirkpatrick, and eighty feet in depth adjoining the yard of the Honourable Company's house where the Lieutenant Governor lodged, making in the whole two thousand nine hundred and forty superficial square feet. The Company granted him the ground, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Francis Wrangham, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Francis Wrangham, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. A further condition bound Francis Wrangham, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. A final condition barred him from altering or removing the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the ground, and from selling or disposing of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 14 shillings and 6 pence in current money of the island during the term.

Interpretations

The measurement of the plot by its several sides, given in feet and totalled at two thousand nine hundred and forty superficial square feet, marks this as a James Valley town parcel reckoned by area rather than by the acreage used for country ground. The care to set down each edge separately, against the old yard, the watercourse, Lieutenant Kirkpatrick and the Company's own house, fixed the irregular shape of a plot squeezed among existing buildings where no straight frontage could describe it.

The ground lay behind the yard of the late Charles Steward's house and against the yard of the Company house where the Lieutenant Governor lodged, so this grant fitted Francis Wrangham into the crowded heart of James Valley among the dwellings of the establishment. The rent of 14 shillings and 6 pence in current money of the island, a flat town charge carrying no per-acre reckoning, marks the urban form the register used for such built-up ground, distinct from the country rate and its planting duties.

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deduction whatsoever In Witness whereof we the said Governor and

Council have to the other part hereof set our hands & affixed the Honorable Companys Seal

this Eighth day of November in the thirty third year of the Reign of our

Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great Britain France

and Ireland King defender of the Faith and so forth and in the Year of our

Lord One thousand seven hundred and fifty nine And he the said Francis Wrangham

hath to these presents set his hand and Seal the day and Year

above written

Witness Franc Wrangham

Wrangham Junr

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies

Do hereby Demise Sett and to Farm Lett unto Francis Wrangham the Elder

of the said Island Planter All that piece or parcell of Land containing

two Acres Butting and Bounding North part upon the Lands of him the

said Francis Wrangham and part upon the Honorable Companys Land

East upon the Lands of him the said Francis Wrangham West upon the

Honorable Companys Land and South upon the Lands of James Greentree

Which said two Acres of Land is Situate lying and being in the South

Division of the said Island Together with all and Singular the Wood Water

Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and

Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls Fences and all and Singular other

the rights Commodities and appurtenances thereunto belonging or

appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby Demised parcell

of Land and every part thereof with the Appurtenances unto him the said

Francis Wrangham his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns from

the twelfth day of October last for and during all the Space or Term of twenty one Years

from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding and paying

therefore Yearly and every year during the Term of this present Lease unto them

the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five

Shillings of Acre in at or upon the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without

any deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that he the said Francis

Wrangham his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns shall &

do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the second

his Heirs and Successors and true faith to the said Honorable Company and

their Successors and shall duly observe and obey all the Laws & Constitutions

of the said Island And also upon Condition that he the said Francis

Wrangham his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns shall

do from time to time during the Term of this present Lease keep up and

Maintain in good Order and Sufficient and legal repair all such Buildings

Houses

Francis Wrangham was to pay the rent without any deduction whatever.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Francis Wrangham set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Francis Wrangham, with Wrangham junior witnessing.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Francis Wrangham, planter of the island, a piece of land. It contained two acres, bounded on the north by the land of Francis Wrangham himself, on the east also by the land of Francis Wrangham himself, on the west by the Honourable Company's land, and on the south by the land of James Greentree. The two acres lay in the South Division of the island. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Francis Wrangham, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Francis Wrangham, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel each year, without any deduction whatever. A further condition bound Francis Wrangham, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings and houses standing on the ground.

Interpretations

The stipulation that the rent be paid without any deduction whatever bound the tenant to render the full charge clear of any set-off or abatement he might claim, a clause the register attached to these Wrangham grants to close off any reduction against improvements, repairs or disputed dues. The Company looked to receive the whole rent as reserved, leaving the tenant to bear his own costs of maintaining the ground.

The two-acre parcel ringed on the north and east by Wrangham's own land, with James Greentree closing the south, fitted into the same cluster of South Division holdings the family was steadily gathering. This grant, one of several small pieces let to Francis Wrangham on 8 November 1759, shows the Company filling in pockets between his existing ground and his neighbours, consolidating a continuous estate out of parcels too small to stand alone.

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Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and Fences as now are or

hereafter shall be made Built or Erected thereon And shall moreover plant

keep up maintain and preserve in and upon the said hereby demised parcell

of Land its full quantity or proportion of Wood being one tenth part of the said

parcell of Land And Shall likewise plant and preserve Furze withinside or

without the Fences of the said parcell of Land And Shall plant Fruit Trees such as

Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are most

likely to grow And as they shall happen to decay or die Shall replant others of the

like sorts thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land

Shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams And

also upon further Condition that he the said Francis Wrangham his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed assigns Shall not alter or remove the said Fences they

being the Limits or Landmarks of the aforesaid parcell of Land And shall not sell

or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the leave & consent

of the Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the

said Governor and Council to the other part of this Lease have set our hands

and affixd the Honorable Companys Seal this Eighth Day of Novemr in the

thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the

grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the

faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred

and Fifty Nine And he the said Francis Wrangham hath hereunto set his

hand and Seal the Day and Year above written

Witness Franc Wrangham

Wrangham Junr

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable the

United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do hereby

Demise Sett and to Farm Lett unto Benjamin Seale of the said Island Planter

All that piece or parcell of Land containing Six Acres and a Quarter lying in

Sandy Bay Valley Butting and Bounding North upon the Lands of John

Swaits Orphs East and to West upon the Honorable Companys Waste Land and

South upon the Lands of Francis Greentree Together with all and Singular

the Wood Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements

Yams and Plantations of Yams Fences Walls Fruit Trees and all and

Singular other the rights Commodities and appurtenances thereunto

belonging or appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby Demised

parcell of Land and every part thereof with the Appurtenances unto him

the said Benjamin Seale his heirs Executors Administrators & allowed

assigns from the twelfth day of October last for and during the space or

Term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat

and Ended Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during

the

Francis Wrangham was bound throughout the term to keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound Francis Wrangham, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Francis Wrangham set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Francis Wrangham, with Wrangham junior witnessing.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Benjamin Seale, planter of the island, a piece of land. It contained six acres and a quarter, lying in Sandy Bay Valley, bounded on the north by the land of John Swaite's orphans, on the east and to the west by the Honourable Company's waste land, and on the south by the land of James Greentree. The Company granted him the land, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fences, walls, fruit trees and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Benjamin Seale, his heirs, executors, administrators and allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

Interpretations

The tenth-part wood duty, the furze in the fences and the named fruit trees together made up the full conservation covenant the Company laid on its country leases, while the yam ground was carved out from that duty as the standing exemption for the island's staple food crop. This grant to Francis Wrangham carried the same balance struck across the leases of the period, pressing timber and fuel growing on the general ground while leaving provision planting free of the burden.

The Benjamin Seale grant that follows placed his six acres and a quarter in Sandy Bay Valley against the ground of John Swaite's orphans and James Greentree, tying it to the same cluster of Sandy Bay holdings where the Seale family had long held ground. The register carries the Seale name across the valley through successive generations, and this parcel added to a holding the family worked among its established neighbours there.

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the Term of this present Lease unto them the said Honorable Company their

Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings of Acre in at or upon

the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without any Deduction whatsoever

Upon Condition that he the said Benjamin Seale his heirs Executors or

Administrators or allowed assigns shall and do bear true faith & Allegiance

to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second his heirs and Successors &

true faith to the said Honorable Company and their Successors & shall

duly observe and obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island

And also upon Condition that he the said Benjamin Seale his heirs

Executors Administrators or allowed assigns shall and do from time to

time during the Term of this present Lease keep up and maintain in good

Order and Sufficient and legal repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices

Sheds Tenements Plantations and Fences as now are or hereafter shall

be made Built or Erected thereon And shall moreover Plant keep up Maintain

and preserve in and upon the said hereby Demised parcell of Land its full

quantity or proportion of Wood being one tenth part of the said parcell

of Land And shall likewise plant and preserve Furze inthinside or without

the fences of the said parcell of Land And shall plant Fruit Trees such as

Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein

they are most likely to grow And as they shall happen to decay or die

Shall replant others of the like Sorts thereon without hurt or prejudice

nevertheless to any part of such Land as Shall be set apart for the sole

purpose of Planting and raising of Yams And upon further

Condition that he the said Benjamin Seale his heirs Executors Administrators or

allowed assigns shall not alter or remove the said fences they being the

Limits or Land Marks of the said piece or parcell of Land And shall not

sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the

leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being In Witness

whereof we the said Governor and Council have to the other part of this

Lease Set our hands and affixed the Honorable Companys Seal at St

Helena aforesaid this Eighth day of Novemr in the thirty third

Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of

God of great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the Faith

and so forth And in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred

and Fifty Nine And he the said Benjamin Seale hath hereunto Set

his hand and Seal the day and Year above written

Witness Benj Seale

Wrangham Junr

Benjamin Seale was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, during the term of this lease, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

The grant was made on condition that Benjamin Seale, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. A further condition bound Benjamin Seale, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound Benjamin Seale, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal at St Helena on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Benjamin Seale set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Benjamin Seale, with Wrangham junior witnessing.

Interpretations

The full conservation covenant laid on this Sandy Bay parcel, the tenth part in wood, the furze in the fences and the named fruit trees replanted as they failed, matched the terms set on the neighbouring Wrangham grants of the same day, showing the Company applying a single settled lease form across the holdings let at this sitting. The yam ground carved out from the duty carried the standing exemption for the island's staple crop, the same balance struck between timber growing and food growing throughout the leases of the period.

The Seale family's long presence in Sandy Bay Valley underpins this grant, the six acres and a quarter fitted among the ground of John Swaite's orphans and James Greentree where the family had held land across generations. The register traces the Seale name through the valley from the earlier William and Benjamin Seale, and this parcel added to a holding worked among established neighbours rather than opening fresh ground on the margin.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the

East Indies Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto John Leech of the said

Island Planter All that piece or parcell of Land lying and being in Dogwood

Valley in the said Island containing Eleven Acres Butting and Bounding North

upon Lands in the possession of Elizabeth Desfountain Widow South upon the

Lands of William Seale and part upon the Lands formerly of Henry Multon

and now of him the said John Leech and East part upon the Honorable

Companys Waste Land and part upon the Lands formerly of the said Henry

Multon and now also of him the said John Leech Together with all & Singular

the Wood Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams

and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls Fences and all and singular

other the rights Commodities and appurtenances thereunto belonging or

appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby Demised parcell of

Land and every part thereof with the Appurtenances unto him the said

John Leech his heirs Executors Administrators and allowed assigns from

the day of the date hereof for and during all the Space or Term of twenty one

Years from hence next ensuing Yeilding and paying therefore Yearly

and every Year during the term of this present Lease unto them the said

Honorable Company their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five

Shillings of Clove in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Archangel

without any deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that he the

said John Leech his heirs Executors Administrators and allowed assigns

Shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George

the Second his heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable

Company and their Successors and shall duly observe and obey all the Laws

and Constitutions of the said Island And also upon Condition that he

the said John Leech his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

assigns shall and do from time to time during the Term of this present

Lease keep up and maintain in good Order and Sufficient and legal repair

All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations & Fences

as now are or hereafter shall be made built or Erected thereon And shall

moreover Plant keep up Maintain and preserve in and upon the said

hereby Demised parcell of the said parcell of Land And shall likewise plant

being one tenth part of the said parcell of Land And Shall likewise plant

and preserve Furze withinside or without the fences of the said parcell of Land

And shall preserve Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees

in such parts thereof wherein they are most likely to grow And as they

shall happen to decay or die Shall replant others of the like Sorts thereon

without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as Shall

be set apart for the Sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams And

Margin Notes: This Lease of no Value, it being Included in a Lease of 26 Acres Demised to John Leech as & Counterpart in Page 53.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to John Leech, planter of the island, a piece of land lying in Dogwood Valley. It contained eleven acres, bounded on the north by the land in the possession of Elizabeth Desfountain, widow, on the south by the land formerly of Henry Mutton and now of John Leech himself, on the west by the Honourable Company's waste land and part by the land formerly of Henry Mutton and now also of John Leech, and on the east by the land formerly of Henry Mutton and now of John Leech. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to John Leech, his heirs, executors, administrators and allowed assigns, from the date of this deed for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that John Leech, his heirs, executors, administrators and allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

A further condition bound John Leech, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams.

A note entered against this grant recorded that the lease was of no value, since the ground was included in a lease of twenty-six acres granted to John Leech as a counterpart entered at page 53.

Interpretations

The note marking the lease as of no value because the same ground was already comprised in a twenty-six acre grant to the same man shows the register keeping a record of an instrument that had been superseded rather than striking it out. The Company let the eleven acres stand on the page as a counterpart to the larger lease at page 53, so the two entries could be read together and the overlap traced, a practice that preserved the documentary chain even where one grant was folded into another.

The boundaries fixing three sides of the parcel by land formerly Henry Mutton's and now John Leech's show Leech gathering into his own hands ground that had passed out of an earlier holder's estate, so this Dogwood Valley holding consolidated pieces once separately held. The naming of Elizabeth Desfountain, widow, on the north ties the parcel to the wider cluster of Dogwood Valley holdings, where the Company let and relet ground among a settled group of neighbouring families.

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And upon further Condition that he the said John Leech his

heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns Shall not alter or

remove the said fences they being the Limits or Landmarks of the said

parcell of Land And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their

Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor & Council

for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council

have to the other part of this Lease set our hands and affixed the

Honorable Companys Seal this day of October in the Thirty

third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the

Grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the

faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred

and Fifty Nine And he the said John Leech hath hereunto set his hand &

Seal the day and Year above written

Witness

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East

Indies Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Richard Bagley of

the said Island Planter All that piece or parcell of Land in the West

Division of the said Island containing twenty five Acres Butting and

Bounding North and West upon the Honorable Companys Waste Land and

East and South upon the Lands formerly of Mary Nichols and now of him

the said Richard Bagley Together with all and Singular the Wood Water

Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and

Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls Fences and all and singular other

the Rights Commodities and appurtenances thereunto belonging or

appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby demised parcell of

Land and every part thereof with the Appurtenances unto him the said

Richard Bagley his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns

from the twelfth day of October last for and during all the Space or Term of

twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and ended

Yeilding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the

Term of this present Lease unto them the said Honorable Company their Successors

Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings of Acre in at or upon the Feast of St

Michael the Arch Angel without any deduction whatsoever Upon Condition

that he the said Richard Bagley his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

assigns shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George

the Second his heirs and Successors And true faith to the said Honorable Company

A further condition bound John Leech, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal in October in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. John Leech set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Richard Bagley, planter of the island, a piece of land in the West Division of the island. It contained twenty-five acres, bounded on the north and west by the Honourable Company's land, and on the east and south by the land formerly of Mary Nichols and now of Richard Bagley himself. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Richard Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Richard Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

Interpretations

The day of sealing was left blank in the body of the Leech grant while the month and year stood complete, a lapse in the clerk's engrossing that the regnal year and the annexed date were meant to cover. The register carried several such incomplete grants of this run, the boundaries and dates entered while a detail or two was left to be filled and sometimes never was.

The bounds fixing two sides of Richard Bagley's twenty-five acres by land formerly Mary Nichols's and now his own show him taking into a single lease ground that had passed to him from an earlier holder's estate. Mary Nichols appears in the register as a planter holding in her own right, granted twenty-five acres in her own name at the sitting of 30 September 1738, so this parcel carries her West Division ground forward into Bagley's hands a generation on, consolidating it with the land he already worked in that quarter.

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And their Successors And Shall duly observe and Obey all the Laws & Constitutions

of the said Island And also upon Condition that he the said Richard Bagley his

heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns shall and do from time to time

during the Term of this present Lease keep up and Maintain in good Order and

Sufficient and legal repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements

Plantations and Fences as now are or hereafter shall be made Built or Erected

thereon And Shall Moreover plant keep up Maintain and preserve in and upon

the said hereby Demised parcell of Land its full quantity or proportion of Wood being

One tenth part of the said parcell of Land And shall likewise plant and preserve

Furze withinside or without the fences of the said parcell of Land And shall plant

Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof

wherein they are most likely to grow And as they shall happen to decay or die

Shall replant others of the like Sorts thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless

to any part of such Land as shall be set apart for the Sole purpose of Planting

and raising of Yams And upon further Condition that he the said

Richard Bagley his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns shall

not alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of

the said parcell of Land And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or

their Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor & Council

for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council

have to the other part of this Lease set our hands and affixed the Honorable

Companys Seal this Eighth day of Novem in the thirty third Year of

the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great

Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith and so forth and in

the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And the said

Richard Bagley to these presents hath set his hand and Seal the day and Year

above written

Witness Rich Bagley

Wrangham Junr

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable the

United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do hereby Demise Sett

and to farm Lett unto Jonathan Dowton of the said Island Planter All that piece or

parcell of Land containing four Acres lying at the Head of Chappell Valley Butting and

Bounding North upon the Lands of Mr Francis Wrangham Junr East upon other the

Lands of him the said Jonathan Dowton West upon the Honorable Companys Waste

Lands known by the name of the Church Ground and South upon the Lands of him

the said Jonathan Dowton Together with all and Singular the Wood Water Watercourses

Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams

Fruit Trees Walls Fences and all and Singular other the rights Commodities and

Appurtenances

Richard Bagley and his successors were to observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. A further condition bound Richard Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound Richard Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Richard Bagley set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Richard Bagley, with Wrangham junior witnessing.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Jonathan Doveton, planter of the island, a piece of land. It contained four acres, lying at the head of Chapel Valley, bounded on the north by the land of Francis Wrangham junior, on the east by other land of Jonathan Doveton himself, on the west by the Honourable Company's waste land, and on the south by the land known by the name of the Church Ground and other land of Jonathan Doveton himself. The Company granted him the land, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it.

Interpretations

The bounds fixing this Chapel Valley parcel against Jonathan Doveton's own ground on the east and south show the four acres rounding out a holding he already worked, so the grant closed a pocket within his estate rather than settling fresh ground. The Church Ground named on the south preserved the memory of an earlier ecclesiastical or parish holding as a boundary landmark, the byname carried on long after the ground itself had passed into ordinary tenure.

The land of Francis Wrangham junior closing the north ties this parcel to the wider cluster of head-of-Chapel-Valley holdings where the Doveton and Wrangham families held ground side by side. The register traces the Doveton name across the valley through successive generations, and this grant added to a continuous estate the family gathered in that quarter, the Company filling in a parcel between named neighbours and the Company's own waste.

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Appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and to

hold the said hereby demised parcell of Land and every part thereof with the

Appurtenances unto him the said Jonathan Dowton his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October last for and during

all the Space or Term of Twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to be

compleat and Ended Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year

During the Term of this present Lease unto them the said Honorable Company

their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings of Acre in at or

upon the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without any Deduction whatsoever

Upon Condition that he the said Jonathan Dowton his heirs Executors Administrators

or allowed assigns shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord

King George the Second his heirs and Successors and true faith to the said Honorable

Company and their Successors and Shall duly observe and Obey all the Laws and

Constitutions of the said Island And also upon Condition that he the said Jonathan

Dowton his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns Shall and do from

time to time during the Term of this present Lease keep up and Maintain in good

Order and Sufficient and legal repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds

Tenements Plantations and Fences as now are or hereafter Shall be made

Built or Erected thereon And shall moreover plant keep up Maintain & preserve

in and upon the said hereby demised parcell of Land its full quantity or proportion

of Wood being one tenth part of the said parcell of Land And shall likewise plant

and preserve Furze withinside or without the fences of the said parcell of Land

And shall plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees

in such parts thereof wherein they are most likely to grow And as they shall happen

To decay or die Shall replant others of the like Sorts thereon without hurt or

prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as shall be set apart for the

Sole purpose of planting and Raising of Yams And upon further Condition

that he the said Jonathan Dowton his heirs Executors Administrators or

allowed assigns Shall not alter or remove the said fences they being the

Limits or Landmarks of the said parcell of Land And Shall not sell or dispose of

this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the

Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor

and Council have to the other part of this Lease set our hands and affixed the

Honorable Companys Seal this Eighth day of October in the thirty third Year of

the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great

Britain France and Ireland King defender of the Faith and so forth and in the

Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And the said Jonathan

Dowton hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the day and Year above written

Witness

Wrangham Junr

Jonathan Dowton

The Company granted Jonathan Doveton the land, and every part of it, with its appurtenances, to have and to hold to Jonathan Doveton, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Jonathan Doveton, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre during the term of this lease, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

A further condition bound Jonathan Doveton, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound Jonathan Doveton, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Jonathan Doveton set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Jonathan Doveton, with Wrangham junior witnessing.

Interpretations

The date of sealing carried the same 8 November 1759 as the run of Wrangham, Seale and Bagley grants on the preceding pages, showing this Chapel Valley parcel settled at a single sitting alongside a batch of country leases. The Company drew up a string of grants on one day, each in the same engrossed form with the tenth-part wood duty, the furze, the named fruit trees and the yam exemption, applying one settled lease across the holdings let together.

The commencement dated from 12 October last, some four weeks before the sealing, marks the register's practice of running the term from a fixed quarter point rather than from the day the deed was signed. This let the Company reckon the rent and the term of a batch of leases from one common date, so that grants sealed across several sittings still fell due together at the same Michaelmas, simplifying the collection of rent across many scattered holdings.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable the

United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do hereby

Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto John Leech of the said Island Planter All

those two pieces or parcells of Land lying and being in Dogwood Valley in the said

Island containing by the twenty Six Acres Eleven Acres part thereof Butting

and Bounding North upon Lands in possession of Elizabeth Desfountain Widow

South upon the Lands of William Seale and part upon the other fifteen Acres of

the Land here by demised (which said fifteen Acres were purchased by him the

said John Leech of Henry Multon deceased) And East part upon the Honorable

Companys Waste Land And part upon the said other fifteen Acres And also

the said other fifteen Acres so purchased by him the said John Leech of the said

Henry Multon Together with all and Singular the Wood Water Watercourses

Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams

and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls Fences And all and singular

other the rights Commodities and appurtenances to the said two pieces or

parcells of Land belonging or appertaining To have and to hold the said

hereby Demised two parcells of Land and every part of them and each of

them with the Appurtenances unto him the said John Leech his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October last for during

and untill the full end and Term of twenty one Years from thence next Ensuing

fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and

every Year during the Term of this present Lease unto them the said Honorable

Company their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings of Clove

in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without any deduction

whatsoever Upon Condition that he the said John Leech his heirs Exors

Administrators or allowed assigns Shall and do bear true faith and

Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second his heirs and

Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable Company and their

Successors And shall duly observe and obey all the Laws and Constitutions

of the said Island And also upon Condition that he the said John Leech his

heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns Shall and do during

the term of this present Lease keep up and Maintain in good Order and Suff

& legal repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and

fences as now are or hereafter Shall be made built or Erected thereon And shall also

plant keep up Maintain and preserve in and upon the said hereby demised two

parcells of Land their full quantity or proportion of Wood being one tenth part of

the said Parcells of Land And shall likewise plant and preserve Furze withinside

or without the fences of the said Parcells of Land And shall plant Fruit Trees such

as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are most

likely to grow And as they shall happen to decay or die Shall replant others of the like

like Sorts thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land

as shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams And also

that he or they shall not alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits or

Land Marks of the said parcells of Land And shall not sell or dispose of this

Lease or his or their Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the

Governor

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to John Leech, planter of the island, two pieces of land lying in Dogwood Valley. They contained twenty-six acres, eleven acres part of it bounded on the north by the land in the possession of Elizabeth Desfountain, widow, on the south by the land of William Seale and part by the other fifteen acres now granted, and on the east by the land formerly of Henry Mutton, deceased. The fifteen acres were bounded on the east partly by the Honourable Company's waste land and partly by the other eleven acres, these fifteen acres having been purchased by John Leech from Henry Mutton. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to the two pieces, to have and to hold to John Leech, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that John Leech, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

A further condition bound John Leech, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcels, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound John Leech, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcels, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor.

Interpretations

This is the twenty-six acre lease to John Leech noted at page 53 in the margin of his earlier eleven-acre grant, which was there marked of no value because its ground was taken into this larger demise. The two entries read together show the Company drawing the eleven acres into a single consolidated lease with a further fifteen acres, so the fresh instrument superseded the earlier one while the register kept both to preserve the chain of title.

The recital that the fifteen acres had been purchased by John Leech from Henry Mutton, deceased, shows the Company folding privately bought ground into a Company leasehold, joining land Leech had acquired by purchase with land held of the Company under one term and one rent. The parcels lay in Dogwood Valley against Elizabeth Desfountain, William Seale and the former Mutton ground, marking a holding Leech built up from separate pieces into a continuous twenty-six acre estate among his neighbours.

55

50

Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor

and Council have to the other part of this Lease set our hands and affixed

the Honorable Companys Seal this Eighth day of Novem in the thirty

third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the grace of

God of great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the faith and so

forth And in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine

And he the said John Leech to these presents hath set his hand and Seal

the day and Year above written

The

Mark of

John Leech

Witness

Wrangham Junr

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading

to the East Indies Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto

Benjamin Mason of the said Island Planter All that piece or

parcell of Land in the West division of the said Island containing

Nine Acres and an half Butting and Bounding North upon the Lands

of John Alexander South and West upon the Lands of Martin Harpers

Orph or and East upon the Lands of Francis Wrangham Senior Together

with all and Singular the Wood Water Watercourses Houses Buildings

Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees

Walls Fences and all and Singular other the rights Commodities and

appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and

to hold the said hereby demised parcell of Land and every part thereof

with the Appurtenances unto him the said Benjamin Mason his heirs

Executors Administrators or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October

last for during and untill the full end and term of twenty one Years

from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding

and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the term of this

present Lease unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents

or assigns the Sum of five Shillings of Acre in at or upon the Feast of

St Michael the Arch Angel without any deduction whatsoever Upon

Condition that he the said Benjamin Mason his heirs Executors Admins

or allowed assigns shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our

Sovereign Lord King George the Second his heirs and Successors and true

faith to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors And

shall duly observe and obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said

Island And also upon Condition that he or they shall and do from

time to time during the Term of this present Lease keep up and

maintain

Margin Notes: Wt Nt Et 11 Acres Wt Woodland for these Acres St

John Leech was bound not to sell or dispose of the lease or his interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. John Leech set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above, making his mark. Wrangham junior witnessed.

A plan drawn below marks part of the ground as eleven acres.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Benjamin Mawson, planter of the island, a piece of land in the West Division of the island. It contained nine acres and a half, bounded on the north by the land of John Alexander, on the south and west by the land of Martin Harper's orphans, and on the east by the land of Francis Wrangham senior. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, walls, fences, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Benjamin Mawson, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Benjamin Mawson, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

Interpretations

The annexed plan drawn into the page gave John Leech's Dogwood Valley ground its controlling record of shape and extent, the outline marked as eleven acres fixing one of the two pieces gathered into his twenty-six acre lease. Since Leech signed by mark and could not read the words of his own deed, the plan served him and any later reader as the surer guide to the ground, the island's tenures resting on such outlines wherever their figures disagreed with the body of the lease.

The Benjamin Mawson grant that follows tied his nine acres and a half to the same West Division cluster as his earlier seven-acre lease, the ground of John Alexander, Martin Harper's orphans and Francis Wrangham senior closing its sides. The Company let Mawson a parcel ringed by named neighbours rather than open waste, fitting him into a settled block of holdings where the Alexander, Harper and Wrangham families held ground alongside him.

56

51

Maintain in good Order and sufficient and legal repair all such

Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now

are or hereafter shall be made Built or Erected thereon And shall also plant

keep up Maintain and preserve in and upon the said hereby demised piece or

parcell of Land its full quantity or proportion of Wood being one tenth part

of the said parcell of Land And shall also plant and preserve Furze within

side or without the fences of the said parcell of Land And shall plant Fruit Trees

such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein

they are most likely to grow And as they shall happen to decay or die shall

replant others of the like Sorts thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to

any part of such Land as shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting &

raising of Yams And also upon further Condition that he they or any of them

Shall not alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks

of the said parcell of Land And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his

or their Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor and

Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and

Council to the other part of this Lease have set our hands and affixed the

Honorable Companys Seal this Eighth day of Novemr in the thirty third Year

of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great

Britain France and Ireland King defender of the faith and so forth And in the

Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And he the said

Benjamin Mason to these presents hath set his hand and Seal the day and

Year above written

Witness Benj Mason

Wrangham Junr

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do

hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Benjamin Mason of the said

Island Planter All that piece or parcell of Land in Swans Valley in the said

Island containing thirteen Acres and three quarters Butting and Bounding

North upon his own Land West upon the Lands of John Alexander and South

and East upon the Lands of Richard Bagley Together with all and Singular the

Wood Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams

and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls Fences And all and Singular

other the rights Commodities and Appurtenances thereunto belonging or

appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby demised premisses

and every part thereof with the Appurtenances unto him the said Benjamin

Mason his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns from the

Twelfth

Benjamin Mawson was bound throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound Benjamin Mawson, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Benjamin Mawson set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Benjamin Mawson, with Wrangham junior witnessing.

Start of crossed out section

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Benjamin Mawson, planter of the island, a piece of land in Swanes Valley. It contained thirteen acres and three quarters, bounded on the north by Benjamin Mawson's own land, on the west by the land of Richard Bagley, and on the east by the land of Richard Bagley. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Benjamin Mawson, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October.

End of crossed out section

Interpretations

The full conservation covenant on Benjamin Mawson's West Division parcel, the tenth part in wood, the furze in the fences and the named fruit trees replanted as they failed, with the yam ground carved out from the duty, matched the terms set on the neighbouring grants of the same day. The Company applied one settled lease form across the batch of holdings sealed at this sitting, pressing timber and fuel growing on the general ground while leaving provision planting free of the burden.

The struck-out grant that follows shows the clerk beginning to engross a further Mawson lease in Swanes Valley, its ground fixed against his own land and Richard Bagley's, before the whole was cancelled. The register kept such abandoned entries by striking them through rather than removing the leaf, so a grant begun and then given up left its trace on the page, perhaps because the terms were reconsidered or the parcel drawn instead into another instrument.

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52

Twelfth day of October last for during and untill the full end and term of

twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended

Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the Term of

this present Lease unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or

assigns the Sum of five Shillings of Acre in at or upon the Feast of St Michael

the Arch Angel without any Deduction Whatsoever Upon Condition that

he the said Benjamin Mason his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

assigns shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King

George the Second his heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable

Company and their Successors And shall duly observe and obey all the Laws and

Constitutions of the said Island And also that he or they shall and do from time

to time during the Term of this present Lease keep up and Maintain in good order

and sufficient and legal repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds

Tenements plantations and fences as now are or hereafter shall be made

built or Erected thereon And shall also plant keep up maintain and

preserve in and upon the said hereby demised piece or parcell of Land its

full quantity or proportion of Wood being one tenth part of the said

parcell of Land And shall also plant and preserve Furze withinside or

without the fences of the said piece or parcell of Land And shall plant

Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts

thereof wherein they are most likely to grow And as they shall happen to

decay or die shall replant others of the like Sorts thereon without hurt or

prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as shall be set apart for

the sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams And also upon

further Condition that he they or any of them shall not alter or remove

the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of the said parcell of

Land And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest

therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for

the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council

have to the other part hereof set our hands and affixed the Honorable

Companys Seal this Day of in the thirty third Year

of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God

of great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the faith and

so forth And in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and

Fifty Nine And he the said Benjamin Mason hath to these presents

set his hand and Seal the day and Year above written

Witness

Margin Notes: 13 3/4 Acres Nt Wt Et St

The Company granted the land to Benjamin Mawson from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Benjamin Mawson, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre during the term of this lease, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

A further condition bound Benjamin Mawson, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound Benjamin Mawson, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Benjamin Mawson set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above.

A plan drawn below marks the parcel as thirteen acres and three quarters.

Interpretations

The day of sealing was left blank in the body of this grant while the year stood complete, a lapse in the clerk's engrossing that the regnal year and the annexed date were meant to cover. This is the Swanes Valley parcel of thirteen acres and three quarters begun and struck out on the preceding page, here written out afresh and completed, so the register carried the abandoned first attempt and the finished grant on facing pages.

The annexed plan gave the parcel its controlling record of shape and extent, the irregular outline marked as thirteen acres and three quarters fixing the ground more surely than the boundary names alone. Since the piece ran against Benjamin Mawson's own land and Richard Bagley's on its several sides, the plan showed how the fresh parcel sat within the block of West Division holdings the two men worked side by side, the Company filling in ground between established neighbours.

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53

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable the

United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do hereby Demise

Sett and to farm Lett unto William Wrangham of the said Island Gentleman All that

piece or parcell of Land containing twenty one Acres and an half in the South division of

the said Island Butting and Bounding North upon the Main Ridge South upon other the

Lands of him the said William Wrangham and East and West upon the Lands of Richard

Beale Senior Together with all and Singular the Wood Water Watercourses Houses

Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls

fences And all and Singular other the rights Commodities and appurtenances

thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby

Demised piece or parcell of Land and every part thereof with the appurtenances

unto him the said William Wrangham his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

assigns from the twelfth day of October last for during and untill the full end and term of

twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding

and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the Term of this present

Lease unto them the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or

assigns the Sum of five Shillings of Acre in at or upon the Feast of St Michael

the Arch Angel without any deduction whatsoever Upon Condition

that he the said William Wrangham his heirs Executors Administrators or

allowed assigns Shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord

King George the Second his heirs and Successors And true faith to them the said

Honorable Company and their Successors And shall duly observe and obey all

the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And also upon Condition that he or

they Shall and do from time to time during the term of this present Lease keep up

and Maintain in good Order and Sufficient and legal repair All such

Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now

are or hereafter shall be made built or erected thereon And shall also

keep up maintain and preserve in and upon the said hereby demised parcell

of Land its full quantity or proportion of Wood being one tenth part of the said

parcell of Land And shall plant and preserve Furze withinside or without the

fences of the said parcell of Land And shall plant Fruit Trees such as Apple

Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are most

likely to grow And as they shall happen to decay or die shall replant others

of the like Sorts thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part

of such Land as shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting and

raising of Yams And also upon further Condition that he the said William

Wrangham his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns Shall

not alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits or Landmarks of the said

parcell of Land And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their

Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for

the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council have to

the other part hereof set our hands and affixed the Honorable Companys

Seal this Eighth day of Novemr in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our

Sovereign Lord George the Second by the grace of God of great Britain France

And

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to William Wrangham, gentleman of the island, a piece of land. It contained twenty-one acres and a half, lying in the South Division, bounded on the north by the Main Ridge, on the south by other land of William Wrangham himself, and on the east and west by the land of Richard Beale senior. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to William Wrangham, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that William Wrangham, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

A further condition bound William Wrangham, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound William Wrangham, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France.

Interpretations

The style of gentleman attached to William Wrangham marks his standing above the planters who took the neighbouring grants, and he appears in the register as a son of Francis Wrangham senior, named among the lives in his father's grants of 17 November 1755. This twenty-one acre and a half parcel in the South Division added to the ground the Wrangham family was gathering across that quarter, the next generation taking a substantial holding of his own alongside his father's.

The bounds fixing the parcel by the Main Ridge on the north, William Wrangham's own land on the south and Richard Beale senior's on the east and west place it among the settled block of South Division holdings where the Wrangham and Beale families held ground side by side. The Company let a parcel ringed by named neighbours rather than open waste, fitting the grant into a continuous estate the family worked below the ridge.

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54

And Ireland King defender of the faith and so forth And in the Year of our

Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And he the said William

Wrangham to these presents hath set his hand and Seal the day and

Year above written

Witness Wm Wrangham

Rich Law

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Island Do

hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Isaac Knipe of the said Island

planter All that piece or parcell of Land lying and being in

the West Division of the said Island containing Four Acres and a Quarter

comonly called or known by the Name of Knipes Dwelling and Bounding on

All sides on the Honorable Companys Wast Land Together with all and

Singular the Appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining To have

and to hold the said hereby Demised piece or parcell of Land and every

part thereof with the Appurtenances unto him the said Isaac Knipe his

heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns from the Twelfth day of

October last for during and untill the full end and term of twenty one Years

from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding and

paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the term of this present

Lease unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or

assigns the Sum of two Shillings of Clove in at or upon the feast of St

Michael the Arch Angel without any deduction whatsoever Upon Condition

that he the said Isaac Knipe his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

assigns Shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord

King George the Second his heirs and Successors and true faith to them

the said Honorable Company and their Successors And shall duly observe

and obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And also

upon Condition that he the said Isaac Knipe his heirs Executors Admins or

allowed

Margin Notes: 20 1/2 Acres Leasehold Nt 15 Acres freehold 5 Acres Wt Et St

This grant was sealed in the year of our Lord 1759, King George the Second being king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth. William Wrangham set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by William Wrangham, with Richard Law witnessing.

A plan drawn below marks the ground as twenty-one acres and a half of leasehold and fifteen acres of freehold, with a further parcel of five acres.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Isaac Knipe, planter of the island, a piece of land in the West Division of the island. It contained four acres and a quarter, commonly called or known by the name of Bridley's Dwelling, bounded on all sides by the Honourable Company's waste land. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its appurtenances, to have and to hold to Isaac Knipe, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Isaac Knipe, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 2 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

Interpretations

The plan drawn into this page set out William Wrangham's holding as both freehold and leasehold on a single outline, marking fifteen acres of freehold and a five-acre piece against the twenty-one acres and a half of leasehold granted here. Drawing the two tenures together on one plan let a later reader see how his held-in-fee and his rented ground lay side by side, the island's records leaning on such combined outlines to fix a holding that ran across more than one kind of title.

The rent of 2 shillings an acre on Isaac Knipe's four acres and a quarter stood below the standard 5 shillings, marking the ground as poorer, the byname Bridley's Dwelling preserving the memory of an earlier occupant on a parcel now ringed wholly by Company waste. Isaac Knipe appears in the register as a substantial planter of the West Division, and this parcel added to the Thompson's Wood ground he had held since the lease of 10 October 1752, fitting a further pocket of waste into his gathering estate.

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allowed assigns Shall and do immediately set about to fence and enclose the

said piece or parcell of Ground with a good and Sufficient fence And when the same

Shall be so fenced and enclosed the whole and every part thereof with the

Outbuildings and Edifices that may hereafter be thereon Erected Shall be kept in

good order and repair And not suffered to go to ruin or decay And shall also

plant keep up Maintain and preserve upon the said hereby Demised parcell

of Land its full quantity or proportion of Wood being one tenth part of the said

parcell of Land And Shall likewise plant and preserve Furze withinside or

without the fences of the said parcell of Land And shall plant Fruit Trees such

as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are

most likely to grow And as they shall happen to decay or die shall replant others

of the like sorts thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of

such Land as Shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising of

Yams And also that he or they Shall not alter or remove the said fences they

being the Limits or Land Marks of the said parcell of Land And shall not sell or

dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the leave and Consent

of the Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof We the said

Governor and Council have to the other part hereof set our hands and affixed

the Honorable Companys Seal this Eighth day of Novem in the thirty third

Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great

Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith and so forth And in the Year

of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And he the said Isaac

Knipe to these presents have set his hand and Seal the Day and Year above

written

Witness Isaac Knipe

Wrangham Junr

Margin Notes: 4 1/4 Acres

Isaac Knipe, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, were bound at once to set about fencing and enclosing the ground with a good and sufficient fence, and once it was so fenced and enclosed, to keep the whole and every part of it, with the outbuildings and structures afterwards erected on it, in good order and repair, and not to let it fall to ruin or decay. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound Isaac Knipe, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Isaac Knipe set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Isaac Knipe, with Wrangham junior witnessing.

A plan drawn below marks the parcel as four acres and a quarter.

Interpretations

The duty to set about fencing and enclosing the ground at once marks this as a grant of raw waste to be brought in from the common, in contrast to the parcels of the same run that already lay enclosed and worked. Since Isaac Knipe's four acres and a quarter at Bridley's Dwelling stood ringed on every side by Company waste, the covenant to enclose fell wholly on him, the whole fencing burden carried by the single tenant who took the isolated pocket.

The annexed plan gave the parcel its controlling record of shape and extent, the outline marked as four acres and a quarter fixing the ground more surely than the byname alone. Where a parcel stood surrounded by Company waste with no neighbour's land to close a boundary, the plan did the work a neighbour's holding usually did, giving the isolated piece an identity that could be traced on the ground and held against the words of the deed.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do

hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Richard Bagley of the said Island

Planter All those pieces or parcells of Land situate in Sandy Bay containing

Seventeen Acres that is to say Thirteen Acres thereof Butting and Bounding

North upon other the Lands of him the said Richard Bagley East upon the Lands

of Matthew Purling South and West upon the Honorable Companys Wast Land

Also One Acre and three Quarters more Butting and Bounding North & West

upon the Lands of John Worrall East and South upon other the Lands of him the

said Richard Bagley And the other two Acres and one Quarter Butting and

Bounding North East and West upon other the Lands of him the said Richard

Bagley and South upon the Lands of the said John Worrall according to the

several Plans hereunto annexed Together with all and Singular the

Wood Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams

and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls fences And all Singular

other the Rights Commodities and appurtenances thereunto belonging or

appertaining To have and to hold all and Singular the said hereby demised

parcells of Land and premisses with the Appurtenances unto him the

said Richard Bagley his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

assigns from the twelfth day of October last for during and untill the full end

and term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to be

compleat and Ended Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every

Year during the Term of this present Lease unto the said Honorable Company

their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings of Acre in at or

upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without any deduction

whatsoever Upon Condition that he the said Richard Bagley his heirs

Executors Administrators or allowed assigns Shall and do bear true

faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second his heirs

and Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable Company & their

Successors And shall duly observe and obey all the Laws & Constitutions

of the said Island And also upon Condition that he the said Richard Bagley

his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns Shall and do from

time to time during the Term of this present Lease keep up & maintain in

good Order and Sufficient and legal repair All such Buildings Houses

Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now are or hereafter

Shall be made built or Erected thereon And shall also plant keep up

Maintain and preserve in and upon the said hereby Demised parcells of

Land their full quantity or proportion of Wood being one tenth part of

the said parcells of Land And Shall likewise plant and preserve Furze

withinside or without the fences of the said parcells of Land And Shall

plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in

Such parts thereof wherein they are most likely to grow And as they Shall

happen to decay or die Shall replant others of the like sorts thereon

without

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Richard Bagley, planter of the island, three pieces of land lying in Sandy Bay. They contained seventeen acres in all. Thirteen acres of it were bounded on the north by other land of Richard Bagley himself, on the east by the land of Matthew Purling, and on the south and west by the Honourable Company's waste land. One acre and three quarters more was bounded on the north and west by the land of John Worrall, and on the south by the land of Richard Bagley himself. The other two acres and one quarter were bounded on the north, east and west by other land of Richard Bagley himself, and on the south by the land of John Worrall, according to the several plans annexed. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Richard Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Richard Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

A further condition bound Richard Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcels, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died.

Interpretations

The grant gathered three separate pieces in Sandy Bay, thirteen acres, one acre and three quarters and two acres and one quarter, into a single lease reckoned at seventeen acres, each parcel fixed by its own boundaries and its own annexed plan. Letting the scattered pieces under one instrument let the Company settle a spread of ground on one tenant with a single term and rent rather than drawing separate deeds for each, the several plans keeping each piece distinct on the record.

The bounds fixing much of the ground against Richard Bagley's own land show him consolidating a Sandy Bay holding out of pieces that ran up against what he already held, so this grant rounded out an estate rather than settling fresh ground. The land of Matthew Purling and John Worrall closing the other sides ties the parcels to the cluster of Sandy Bay holdings where the Bagley, Purling and Worrall families held ground side by side, the Company filling in pockets among established neighbours.

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without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as Shall

be set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams And also

upon further Condition that he the said Richard Bagley his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed assigns shall not alter or remove the said Fences

they being the Limits or Land Marks of the said parcells of Land And Shall not

sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the leave and

Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we

the said Governor and Council have to the other part hereof set our hands and

affixed the Honorable Companys Seal this Eighth day of Novemr in the

thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace

of God of great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the faith and

so forth And in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty

Nine And he the said Richard Bagley hath hereunto set his hand and

Seal the day and Year above written

Witness Rich Bagley

Wrangham Junr

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the

East Indies Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Richard Bagley

of the said Island Planter All that piece or parcell of Land containing

twelve Acres lying and being in Sandy Bay Valley Butting and Bounding

North upon other the Lands of him the said Richard Bagley South upon the

Lands of Isaac Knipe East upon other the Lands of him the said Richard

Bagley and West upon the Honorable Companys Waste Land Together with

all and Singular the Wood Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices

Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls

fences and all and Singular other the rights Commodities and appurtenances

thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining To have & to hold

the said hereby Demised twelve Acres of Land with the Appurtenances unto

him the said Richard Bagley his heirs Executors Administrators or

allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October last for during and untill the

full end and term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully

to

Margin Notes: 13 Acres 1 3/4 Acres Nt Et St Wt 2 1/4 Acres St

Richard Bagley was bound to replant fruit trees of the same kind as they decayed, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound Richard Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcels, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Richard Bagley set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Richard Bagley, with Wrangham junior witnessing.

A plan drawn below marks the three pieces as thirteen acres, one acre and three quarters and two acres and a quarter.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Richard Bagley, planter of the island, a piece of land. It contained twelve acres, lying in Swanley Wood, bounded on the north by other land of Richard Bagley himself, on the south by the land of Isaac Knipe, on the east by other land of Richard Bagley himself, and on the west by the Honourable Company's waste land. The Company granted him the land, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Richard Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

Interpretations

The annexed plan drew the three Sandy Bay pieces together on one page, marking each by its extent so that the thirteen acres, the acre and three quarters and the two acres and a quarter could be told apart on the record. The several outlines fixed the scattered ground more surely than the boundary names alone, the island's tenures resting on such plans wherever their figures disagreed with the words of the deed, so a later reader could trace each piece of Richard Bagley's gathered holding.

The Swanley Wood grant that follows added twelve acres to Richard Bagley's ground, fixed against his own land on the north and east and Isaac Knipe's on the south. This ties the parcel to the same West Division cluster where Bagley and Knipe held ground side by side, the Company letting a piece ringed by named neighbours and its own waste, so Bagley rounded out a continuous holding alongside the men who worked the ground about him.

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To be compleat and Ended Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and

every Year during the term of this present Lease unto them the said Honorable

Company their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings of

Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without any

Deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that he the said Richard

Bagley his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns Shall &

do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the

Second his heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable

Company and their Successors And shall duly observe and obey all the

Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And also upon Condition

that he the said Richard Bagley his heirs Executors Administrators or

allowed assigns Shall and do from time to time during the Term of this

present Lease keep up and Maintain in good Order and Sufficient and

legal repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements

Plantations and fences as now are or hereafter Shall be made built or

Erected thereon And also Shall plant keep up Maintain and preserve

in and upon the said hereby Demised parcell of Land its full quantity

or proportion of Wood being one tenth part of the said parcell of Land And

Shall likewise plant and preserve Furze withinside or without the fences

of the said parcell of Land And also Shall plant Fruit Trees such as

Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein they

are most likely to grow And as they shall happen to die or decay Shall

replant others of the like Sorts thereon with hurt or prejudice nevertheless

to any part of such Land as shall be Set apart for the sole purpose

of planting and raising of Yams And also upon further Condition

that he the said Richard Bagley his heirs Executors Administrators or

allowed assigns Shall not alter or remove the said fences they being

the Limits or Land Marks of the said parcell of Land And Shall not Sell

or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the Consent

of the Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof

we the said Governor and Council have to the other part hereof set our

hands and affixed the Honorable Companys Seal this Eighth day of

Novemr in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George

the Second by the Grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King

defender of the faith and so forth And in the Year of our Lord One

thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And he the said Richard

Bagley hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the day and Year above

written

Witness Rich Bagley

Wrangham Junr

The Company granted the land to Richard Bagley from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

Richard Bagley was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, during the term of this lease, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

The grant was made on condition that Richard Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. A further condition bound Richard Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they died or decayed, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound Richard Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Richard Bagley set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Richard Bagley, with Wrangham junior witnessing.

Interpretations

The rent of 5 shillings an acre on the twelve acres at Swanley Wood carried the standard full rate the register applied across the sound country ground let at this sitting, in contrast to the reduced rates reserved for parcels marked steep or barren. Richard Bagley took this parcel at the ordinary charge, so the Company reckoned the Swanley Wood ground worth full cultivation once held and worked.

The commencement dated from 12 October last, some four weeks before the sealing, shared the fixed quarter point set on the whole batch of grants sealed on 8 November 1759, so this Bagley lease fell due at the same Michaelmas as the run of Wrangham, Seale, Leech, Doveton and Mawson holdings let alongside it. Running the term of many scattered leases from one common date let the Company reckon the rent of a whole sitting together, simplifying its collection across the island's dispersed holdings.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of the said Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do

hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto John Alexander of the said Island

Planter All that piece or parcell of Land containing five Acres lying and

being in broad Bottom Butting and bounding North upon the Lands of James

Greentree West upon the Lands of James Powell South and East upon other the

Lands of him the said John Alexander Together with all and Singular the Wood

Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and

Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls fences and all and Singular other the

rights Commodities and appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining

To have and to hold the said hereby demised parcell of Land with the

Appurtenances unto him the said John Alexander his heirs Executors Admins

or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October last for during and untill the

full end and term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to

be compleat and Ended Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year

during the term of this present Lease unto the said Honorable Company their

Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings of Acre in at or upon

the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without any deduction whatsoever

Upon Condition that he the said John Alexander his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed assigns Shall and do bear true faith and

Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second his heirs and Successors

and true faith to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors

And shall duly observe and obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island

And also upon Condition that he the said John Alexander his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed assigns Shall and do from time to time during the Term

of this present Lease keep up and Maintain in good order and Sufficient &

legal repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations

and fences as now are or hereafter Shall be made built or Erected thereon And

Shall also plant keep up Maintain and preserve in and upon the said hereby

Demised piece or parcell of Land its full quantity or proportion of Wood being one

tenth part of the said parcell of Land And Shall also plant and preserve Furze

withinside or without the fences of the said piece or parcell of Land And Shall

plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such

parts thereof wherein they are most likely to grow And as they shall happen to

decay or die shall replant others of the like Sorts thereon without hurt or

prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as Shall be Set apart for the

sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams And also upon further

Condition that he the said John Alexander his heirs Executors Administrators

or allowed assigns Shall not alter or remove the said fences they being the

Limits or Land Marks of the said parcell of Land And Shall not sell or

dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the leave and

Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being In Witness

whereof we the said Governor and Council to the other part hereof

have

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to John Alexander, planter of the island, a piece of land lying in Broad Bottom. It contained five acres, bounded on the north by the land of James Greentree, on the west by the land of James Dowell, and on the south and east by other land of John Alexander himself. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to John Alexander, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that John Alexander, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

A further condition bound John Alexander, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound John Alexander, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

Interpretations

The bounds fixing this Broad Bottom parcel against John Alexander's own ground on the south and east show the five acres rounding out a holding he already worked, so the grant closed a pocket within his estate rather than settling fresh ground. The land of James Greentree and James Dowell closing the north and west ties the parcel to the cluster of Broad Bottom holdings where the Alexander, Greentree and Dowell families held ground side by side.

The name John Alexander runs through the register across generations, and this planter appears among the West Division holders whose ground marked the bounds of the Mawson, Swaite and Bagley grants of the same period. The five-acre lease at Broad Bottom added to a scattered estate the Alexander family gathered across the island, the Company filling in a parcel between named neighbours to consolidate ground the holder already possessed.

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Have set our hands and affixed the Honorable Companys Seal this

Eighth day of November in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our

Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great Britain

France and Ireland King defender of the faith and so forth And in the Year

of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And he the said

John Alexander hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the Day and Year

above written

Witness John Alexander

Wrangham Junr

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies

Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Samuel Knipe of the said

Island Planter All that piece or parcell of Land containing fifteen Acres

more or less lying and being in Swans Valley in the said Island Butting and

Bounding North and West on the Lands of Mr Matthew Purling And South

and East upon the Freehold Land of him the said Samuel Knipe Together

with all and Singular the Wood Water Watercourses Houses Buildings

Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees

Walls fences and all and singular other the rights Commodities and

appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and

to hold the said hereby demised parcell of Land and every part thereof

with the Appurtenances unto him the said Samuel Knipe his heirs

Executors Administrators or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of

October last for during and untill the full end and term of twenty one

Years from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended

Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the term

of this present Lease unto the said Honorable Company their Successors

Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings of Acre in at or upon the

feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without any deduction whatsoever

Upon Condition that he the said Samuel Knipe his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed assigns Shall and do bear true faith and

Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second his heirs &

Successors And true faith to them the said Honorable Company and

their

Margin Notes: Nt Wt Et 5 Acres St

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. John Alexander set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by John Alexander, with Wrangham junior witnessing.

A plan drawn below marks the parcel as five acres.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Samuel Knipe, planter of the island, a piece of land. It contained fifteen acres, lying in Stick's Valley, bounded on the north and west by the land of Matthew Purling, and on the south and east by the freehold land of Samuel Knipe himself. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Samuel Knipe, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Samuel Knipe, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

Interpretations

The annexed plan gave John Alexander's Broad Bottom parcel its controlling record of shape and extent, the outline marked as five acres fixing the ground more surely than the boundary names alone, which shifted as neighbouring holders changed. The island's tenures rested on such plans wherever their figures disagreed with the words of the deed, so the drawn figure held the ground for the whole term.

The Samuel Knipe grant that follows placed his fifteen acres in Stick's Valley against Matthew Purling's land and his own freehold, marking the leasehold rounding out ground he already held in fee. The Knipe name runs through the register across the East Division, where Samuel Knipe appears earlier as a boundary holder to Susanna Pledger's ground on the hillside above Youngs Valley, and this grant added to a holding the family gathered among its established neighbours there.

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their Successors And Shall duly observe and obey all the Laws & Constitutions

of the said Island And also upon Condition that he or they Shall and do from

time to time during the Term of this present Lease keep up and Maintain in good

Order and Sufficient and legal repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds

Tenements Plantations and fences as now are or hereafter shall be made

built or Erected thereon And Shall also plant Maintain keep up and preserve

in and upon the said hereby demised parcell of Land its full quantity or proportion

of Wood being one tenth part of the said parcell of Land And Shall likewise

plant and preserve Furze withinside or without the fences of the said parcell of

Land And Shall plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach

Trees in such parts thereon wherein they are most likely to grow And as

they shall happen to decay or die Shall replant others of the like Sorts thereon

without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as Shall be

Set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams And also upon

further Condition that he they or any of them shall not alter or remove the said

fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of the said parcell of Land And

Shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without

the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being In

Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council have to the other part

hereof set our hands and affixed the Honorable Companys Seal this

Eighth day of Novemr in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our

Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great Britain

France and Ireland King defender of the faith and so forth And in the

Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And he the said

Samuel Knipe to these presents have set his hand and Seal the day & year

above written

Witness Samuel Knipe

Wrangham Junr

Samuel Knipe and his successors were to observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. A further condition bound Samuel Knipe, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound Samuel Knipe, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Samuel Knipe set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Samuel Knipe, with Wrangham junior witnessing.

Interpretations

The full conservation covenant on Samuel Knipe's Stick's Valley parcel, the tenth part in wood, the furze in the fences and the named fruit trees replanted as they failed, with the yam ground carved out from the duty, matched the terms set on the whole batch of grants sealed on 8 November 1759. The Company applied one settled lease form across the many holdings let at this single sitting, pressing timber and fuel growing on the general ground while leaving provision planting free of the burden.

The parcel fixed against Samuel Knipe's own freehold on the south and east shows the leasehold rounding out ground he already held in fee, so this grant joined rented land to his existing estate in Stick's Valley. The register traces the Knipe name across the East Division, where the family gathered ground among neighbours such as Matthew Purling, and this fifteen-acre lease added to a continuous holding worked alongside them.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do

hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Thomas Cotgrave of the said Island

Planter All that piece or parcell of Land containing thirteen Acres lying and

being in Sandy Bay under the Main Ridge Butting and Bounding North

East upon the said Main Ridge and South and West upon the Lands of John Alexander

Together with all and Singular the Wood Water Watercourses Houses Buildings

Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls

fences and all and singular other the Rights Commodities and appurtenances

thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby

Demised piece or parcell of Land and every part thereof with the Appurtenances

unto him the said Thomas Cotgrave his heirs Executors Administrators

or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October last for during and untill the

full End and term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to be

compleat and Ended Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year

during the Term of this present Lease unto them the said Honorable Company

their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings of Acre in at or

upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without any Deduction whatsoever

Upon Condition that he the said Thomas Cotgrave his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed assigns Shall and do bear true faith and

Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second his heirs and

Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable Company and Shall

duly observe and obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And

also upon Condition that he or they Shall and do from time to time during the

Term of this present Lease keep up and Maintain in good Order and

Sufficient and legal repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds

Tenements Plantations and fences as now are or hereafter Shall be made

built or erected thereon And shall also plant keep up Maintain and

preserve in and upon the said hereby demised parcell of Land its full

quantity or proportion of Wood being one tenth part of the said parcell of Land

And Shall likewise plant and preserve Furze withinside or without the

fences of the said parcell of Land And Shall plant Fruit Trees such as

Apple Lemon Mulberry and Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein

they are most likely to grow And as they Shall happen to decay or die shall

replant others of the like Sorts thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless

to any part of such Land as Shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting

and raising of Yams And also upon further Condition that he they or any of

them shall not alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits or

Land Marks of the said parcell of Land And Shall not sell or dispose of this

Lease or his or their Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the

Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the said

Governor and Council have to the other part hereof set our hands & affixed the

Honorable Companys Seal this Eighth day of Novem in the

Thirty third

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Thomas Cotgrave, planter of the island, a piece of land. It contained thirteen acres, lying in Sandy Bay under the Main Ridge, bounded on the east by the Main Ridge, and on the south and west by the land of John Alexander. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Thomas Cotgrave, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Thomas Cotgrave, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

A further condition bound Thomas Cotgrave, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound Thomas Cotgrave, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second.

Interpretations

The bounds fixing this Sandy Bay parcel by the Main Ridge on the east and John Alexander's land on the south and west place it among the same block of ground below the ridge where the Cotgrave and Alexander families held land side by side. Thomas Cotgrave appears elsewhere in the register as a boundary holder to the neighbouring grants of this run, his ground closing the south of Onesiphorus Beale's parcel and named against Joshua Worrall's, so this thirteen-acre lease added to a holding he worked among established neighbours.

The Cotgrave name runs through the register across generations, from the earlier John and Gilbert Cotgrave who held ground at Youngs Valley and Sharks Valley to this Thomas Cotgrave of the Sandy Bay holdings. The grant carries the family's tenure forward under the standard lease form of the 8 November 1759 sitting, the ground let at the full rate and under the full conservation covenant applied across the batch.

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thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the

Grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the faith and

so forth And in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine

And he the said Thomas Cotgrave hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the day

and Year above written

Witness Rich Law

Tho Cotgrave

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do

hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Thomas Cotgrave of the said

Island Planter All those two pieces or parcells of Land containing in the

whole two Acres and three Quarters of an Acre lying and being in the East

Division of the said Island Butting and Bounding as hereafter mentioned

that is to say One piece or parcell thereof containing two Acres and the other

piece three Quarters of an Acre nearly adjoining to each Other and Butting &

bounding North and South upon the Honorable Companys Waste Land and

East and West upon other the Lands of him the said Thomas Cotgrave Together

with all and Singular the Wood Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices

Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls fences

and all and Singular other the Rights Commodities and Appurtenances

thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby

Demised two pieces or parcells of Land and every part thereof with the

appurtenances unto him the said Thomas Cotgrave his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October last for during

and untill the full end and term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing

fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every

Year during the Term of this present Lease unto the said Honorable Company

their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings of Acre in at or upon

the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without any deduction whatsoever

Upon Condition that he the said Thomas Cotgrave his heirs Executors Admins

or allowed assigns Shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign

Lord King George the Second his heirs and Successors and true faith to them the

said Honorable Company and their Successors And shall duly observe and obey

all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And also upon Condition that

he

Margin Notes: Nt Et Wt St 13 Acres

This grant was sealed in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Thomas Cotgrave set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Thomas Cotgrave, with Richard Law witnessing.

A plan drawn below marks the parcel as thirteen acres.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Thomas Cotgrave, planter of the island, two pieces of land. They contained two acres and three quarters in all, lying in the East Division of the island. One piece contained two acres, and the other three quarters of an acre nearly adjoining it. Both were bounded on the north and south by the Honourable Company's waste land, and on the east and west by other land of Thomas Cotgrave himself. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Thomas Cotgrave, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Thomas Cotgrave, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

Interpretations

The annexed plan gave Thomas Cotgrave's Sandy Bay parcel its controlling record of shape and extent, the outline marked as thirteen acres fixing the ground more surely than the boundary names alone, which shifted as neighbouring holders changed. The island's tenures rested on such plans wherever their figures disagreed with the words of the deed.

The two small East Division pieces gathered into the second grant, two acres and three quarters of an acre nearly adjoining, both ringed on their outer sides by Company waste and fixed against Cotgrave's own ground, show the Company letting fragments to the neighbour who could reach and fence them. This follows the recurring practice by which small or awkward parcels went to whoever already worked the adjoining land, so the pieces rounded out a holding rather than standing as separate grants on the margin.

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He or they Shall and do from time to time during the Term of this present Lease

keep up and maintain in good order and Sufficient and legal repair All

such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences

as now are or hereafter Shall be made built or Erected thereon And shall also

plant keep up Maintain and preserve in and upon the said hereby demised

parcells of Land their full quantity or proportion of Wood being one tenth

part of the said parcells of Land And shall also plant and preserve Furze

withinside or without the fences of the said parcells of Land And shall

plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such

parts thereof wherein they are most likely to grow And as they Shall

happen to decay or die Shall replant others of the like Sorts thereon

without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as Shall

be set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams And

also upon further Condition that he they or any of them shall not alter

or remove the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of the said

parcells of Land And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or

their Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor &

Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor &

Council have to the other part hereof set our hands and affixed the Honorable

Companys Seal this Eighth day of Novem in the thirty third Year of the

Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the grace of God of great

Britain France and Ireland King defender of the faith and so forth And in

the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And he the

said Thomas Cotgrave hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the Day and

Year above written

Witness Rich Law

Tho Cotgrave

Margin Notes: Nt Two Acres 3/4 of an Acre Wt Et St

A further condition bound Thomas Cotgrave, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcels, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound Thomas Cotgrave, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcels, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Thomas Cotgrave set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Thomas Cotgrave, with Richard Law witnessing.

Two plans drawn below mark the parcels as two acres and three quarters of an acre.

Interpretations

The two annexed plans set out each of the small East Division pieces separately, one marked two acres and the other three quarters of an acre, so that the scattered ground could be told apart on the record. Drawing the pieces apart let a later reader trace each fragment of the holding, the island's tenures resting on such outlines wherever their figures disagreed with the words of the deed.

The narrow tapering shape of the three-quarter-acre piece, set beside the fuller outline of the two acres, marks the kind of awkward sliver the Company let only to the neighbour who already worked the adjoining ground. Since both pieces ran against Thomas Cotgrave's own land, the grant fitted these odd corners into his existing holding rather than leaving them as unusable margins of Company waste, consolidating the ground under a single tenant who could fence and work it with the rest.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable the

United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do hereby

Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Thomas Cotgrave of the said Island Planter All

that piece or parcell of Land containing One Acre comonly called or known by

the Name of the Bulls Chamber Butting and bounding on all sides upon the Honorable

Companys Waste Land Together with all and singular the Wood Water Watercourses

Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit

Trees Walls fences and all and Singular other the rights Commodities & Appurtan ces

thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby demised

piece or parcell of Land and every part thereof with the Appurtenances unto him

the said Thomas Cotgrave his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns

from the twelfth day of October last for during and untill the full End and Term of

Twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended

Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the Term of this

present Lease unto them the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or

assigns the Sum of five Shillings of Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael

the Arch Angel without any deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that he the

said Thomas Cotgrave his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns

Shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the

Second his heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable Company

and their Successors and Shall duly observe and obey all the Laws & Constitutions

of the said Island And also upon Condition that he or they Shall and do from

time to time during the Term of this present Lease keep up and maintain in good

Order and Sufficient and legal Repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices

Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now are or hereafter Shall be made

built or Erected thereon And Shall also plant keep up Maintain and

preserve in and upon the said hereby demised piece or parcell of Land its full

quantity or proportion of Wood being one tenth part of the said parcell of Land

And shall likewise Plant and preserve Furze withinside or without the fences

of the said parcell of Land And Shall plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon

Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are most likely to

grow And as they Shall happen to decay or die Shall replant others of the like

Sorts thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land

as Shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams

And also upon further Condition that he or they Shall not alter or remove the

said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of the said parcell of Land And

Shall not Sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the

leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being In Witness

whereof we the said Governor and Council to the other part hereof set our hands

and affixed the Honorable Companys Seal this Eighth day of Novemr in the thirty third

Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the grace of God of great

Britain France and Ireland King defender of the faith and so forth And in the Year our

Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And he the said Thomas Cotgrave hath

hereunto Set his hand and Seal the day and Year above written

Witness Rich Law

Tho Cotgrave

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Thomas Cotgrave, planter of the island, a piece of land. It contained one acre, commonly called or known by the name of the Brick Chamber, bounded on all sides by the Honourable Company's waste land. The Company granted him the land, together with all its houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, wood, water, watercourses, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Thomas Cotgrave, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Thomas Cotgrave, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

A further condition bound Thomas Cotgrave, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound Thomas Cotgrave, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Thomas Cotgrave set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Thomas Cotgrave, with Richard Law witnessing.

Interpretations

The byname the Brick Chamber marks a building of brick, an uncommon material on an island where most structures rose in stone or timber, the name carried on the ground long after the chamber that gave it lay behind. The register records the same single acre known as the Brick Chamber let earlier to a John Cotgrave, soldier, on a term running from 25 December 1726, so this grant carries the same distinctive parcel forward within the Cotgrave family a generation on.

The parcel ringed wholly by Company waste, with no neighbour's land to close a boundary, relied on its byname to fix its place on the ground, the named feature doing the work a neighbour's holding usually did. This grant completed the run of Thomas Cotgrave's leases sealed on 8 November 1759, adding the Brick Chamber acre to his Sandy Bay and East Division holdings under the single lease form applied across the whole sitting.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do

hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Matthew Purling Thomas Greentree

Matthew Bazett Senior and Richard Goodwin Executors of the last Will and

Testament of Richard Goodwin deceased and Guardians and Trustees to and for

John Goodwin a Minor Son of the said Richard Goodwin deceased for the use and

benefit of him the said John Goodwin All that piece or parcell of Land in the West

Division of the said Island containing Nineteen Acres Butting and Bounding

North upon the Honorable Companys Wast Land West also on the said Honorable

Companys Wast Land and South and East on the Lands of him the said Richard

Goodwin Together with all and Singular the Wood Water Watercourses Houses

Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees

Walls fences and all and Singular other the Rights Commodities and Appurties

thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby

Demised parcell of Land and every part thereof with the Appurtenances unto them

the said Executors and Trustees and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the

Executors and Administrators of such Survivor In Trust nevertheless for

the said John Goodwin his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns

from the twelfth day of October last for during and untill the full end and Term of

Twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended

Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the Term of this

present Lease unto them the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or

assigns the Sum of five Shillings of Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael

the Arch Angel without any deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that

they the said Executors and Trustees and the Survivors and Survivor of them

and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor as well as the said

John Goodwin his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns Shall and

do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second his

heirs and Successors and true faith to the said Honorable Company and their

Successors and Shall duly observe and Obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the

said Island And also upon Condition that they the said Executors and Trustees or

the Survivors or Survivor of them or the Executors or Administrators of such

Survivor or the said John Goodwin his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

assigns Shall and do from time to time during the Term of this present Lease keep

up and maintain in good Order and Sufficient and legal repair All such

Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now

are or hereafter Shall be made built or Erected thereon And Shall also plant

keep up Maintain and preserve in and upon the said hereby demised parcell

of Land its full quantity or proportion of Wood being one tenth part of the

said parcell of Land And shall likewise plant and preserve Furze

withinside or without the fences of the said parcell of Land And Shall plant

Fruit Trees Such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts

thereof wherein they are most likely to grow And as they Shall happen to decay

or die shall replant others of the like Sorts thereon without hurt or prejudice

nevertheless to any part of such Land as shall be Set apart for the sole purpose

of

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Matthew Purling, Thomas Greentree, Matthew Bazett senior and Richard Goodwin, executors of the last will and testament of the late Richard Goodwin, deceased, and guardians and trustees for and on behalf of John Goodwin, a minor and son of the late Richard Goodwin, for the use and benefit of John Goodwin, a piece of land in the West Division of the island. It contained nineteen acres, bounded on the north by the Honourable Company's waste land, on the west by other land of Richard Goodwin himself, and on the south and east by the land of Richard Goodwin himself. The Company granted them the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to the executors and trustees, and the survivors and survivor of them, and the executors and administrators of such survivor, in trust nevertheless for John Goodwin, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that the executors and trustees, and the survivors and survivor of them, and the executors and administrators of such survivor, as well as John Goodwin, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return they were to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

A further condition bound the executors and trustees, and the survivors and survivor of them, and the executors and administrators of such survivor, or John Goodwin, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. They were also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams.

Interpretations

The grant vested a minor's inheritance in four executors as joint trustees with an express survivorship, the tenure passing to the survivors and the survivor of them so that the death of one or more trustees would not break the trust or leave the ground without a legal holder. This careful provision for succession among the trustees kept John Goodwin's estate whole and continuously held through his minority, guarding a child's ground against any gap in its management.

The choice of Matthew Purling, Thomas Greentree, Matthew Bazett senior and Richard Goodwin as trustees drew on men who held ground and acted as executors across the register, Purling and Bazett already serving as trustees for the Whaley and other orphan estates in the same period. Setting the trust in the hands of established holders, one of them Richard Goodwin whose own land closed three sides of the parcel, kept the minor's ground under the eye of men with a working interest in its fences and boundaries.

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of Planting and raising of Yams And also that they or any of them Shall not

alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of the

parcell of Land And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or their or any

Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for the

time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council have to the

other part hereof set our hands and affixed the Honorable Company Seal this

Eighth day of Novemr in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord

George the Second by the Grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland

defender of the faith and so forth And in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven

hundred and Fifty Nine And the said Executors and Trustees have hereunto

set their hands and Seals the day and Year above written

Witness Purling

Wrangham Junr

Tho Greentree

Bazett

Rich Goodwin

19 Acres

Wt Nt

St Et

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do

hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Matthew Purling Thomas Greentree

Matthew Bazett Senior and Richard Goodwin Executors of the last Will & Testament

Matthew Bazett Senior and Richard Goodwin Executors to and for John Goodwin

of Richard Goodwin deceased and Guardians and Trustees to and for John Goodwin

a Minor Son of the said Richard Goodwin deceased for the use and benefit of him the

said John Goodwin All that piece or parcell of Ground lying behind a dwelling

House of him the said John Goodwin in James's Valley wherein Lieutenant

Samuel Price now lives containing twenty one Acres and an half in Width and One

hundred Feet in Depth making in the whole One thousand and Seventy five

Superficial Square feet being One Moiety or half part of the Land demised to Francis

Wrangham Widow by a Lease dated the Nineteenth day of September which was in the

Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and thirty Eight Together with

all and Singular the Outbuildings and Appurtenances thereunto belonging

or appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby demised parcell of

Ground

A final condition bound the executors and trustees not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. The executors and trustees set their hands and seals to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Purling, Thomas Greentree, Bazett and Richard Goodwin, with Wrangham junior witnessing.

A plan drawn below marks the parcel as nineteen acres.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Matthew Purling, Thomas Greentree, Matthew Bazett senior and Richard Goodwin, executors of the last will and testament of the late Richard Goodwin, deceased, and guardians and trustees for John Goodwin, a minor and son of the late Richard Goodwin, for the use and benefit of John Goodwin, a piece of ground lying behind a dwelling house of John Goodwin in James Valley, where Lieutenant Samuel Price now lived. It measured twenty-one feet and a half in width and one hundred and seventy-five feet in depth, making in the whole three thousand six hundred and seventy-five superficial square feet, being one moiety or half part of the land granted to Frances Price, widow, by a lease dated 19 September in the year of our Lord 1738. The Company granted them the ground, together with all its outbuildings and appurtenances, to have and to hold.

Interpretations

The annexed plan gave the nineteen-acre West Division parcel its controlling record of shape and extent, the outline fixing the ground held in trust for the minor John Goodwin more surely than the boundary names alone. The four seals set against the four trustees' names show each executor sealing in his own person, marking the joint tenure by which the whole body held the ground together for the child.

The James Valley grant that follows carried the same trust to a town parcel, a half share of ground once let to Frances Price, widow, in 1738, measured by frontage and depth as a moiety of the earlier holding. The naming of Lieutenant Samuel Price as the present occupier ties the ground to the garrison households of the valley, while the reckoning of the plot as one half of an earlier grant shows the Company dividing a town holding between successors, the trustees taking the minor's share into the same settlement that held his country ground.

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Ground and premisses with the Appurtenances unto them the said Executors

and Trustees and the Survivors & Survivor of them and the Executors & Admins

of such Survivor In Trust nevertheless for the said John Goodwin his heirs

Executors Administrators or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October last for

During and untill the full End and Term of twenty one Years from thence next

Ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding and paying therefore Yearly

and every Year during the Term of this present Lease unto them the said Honorable

Company their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings & three pence

of Current Money of the said Island without any deduction whatsoever Upon

Condition that they the said Executors and Trustees and the Survivors and

Survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor as

well as the said John Goodwin his heirs Executors Administrators or

allowed assigns Shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign

Lord King George the Second his heirs and Successors and true faith to the

said Honorable Company and their Successors and Shall duly observe and

Obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And also upon Condition

that they the said Executors and Trustees or the Survivors or Survivor of them or the

Executors or Administrators of such Survivor or the said John Goodwin his heirs

Executors Administrators or allowed assigns Shall and do from time to time during

the Term of this present Lease keep up and Maintain in good order and Sufficient

and legal repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations

and fences as now are or hereafter Shall be made built or Erected thereon And

also upon Condition that they or any of them shall not alter or remove the said

fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of the said piece or parcell of Land

And shall not dispose of this Lease or their or any of their Interest therein

without the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being

In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council to the other part

hereof have set our hands and affixed the Honorable Companys Seal this

Eighth day of Novemr in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign

Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great Britain France and

King defender of the faith and so forth And in the Year of our Lord One thousand

Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And they the said Executors and Trustees

hereunto set their hands and Seals the day and Year above written

Witness Purling

Wrangham Junr

Tho Greentree

Bazett

Rich Goodwin

The Company granted the executors and trustees, and the survivors and survivor of them, and the executors and administrators of such survivor, the ground and premises with their appurtenances, in trust nevertheless for John Goodwin, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that the executors and trustees, and the survivors and survivor of them, and the executors and administrators of such survivor, as well as John Goodwin, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return they were to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings in current money of the island, without any deduction whatever.

A further condition bound the executors and trustees, and the survivors and survivor of them, and the executors and administrators of such survivor, or John Goodwin, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. A final condition bound them not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the piece, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. The executors and trustees set their hands and seals to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Purling, Thomas Greentree, Bazett and Richard Goodwin, with Wrangham junior witnessing.

Interpretations

The rent of 5 shillings in current money of the island, a flat charge carrying no per-acre reckoning, marks this as the town-plot form the register used for James Valley ground, distinct from the country rate tied to acreage. The James Valley half plot held in trust for the minor John Goodwin drew the urban charge fixed to the built ground rather than the planting duties laid on country leases, so the trustees answered only for the rent and the repair of the buildings.

The four seals set against the four trustees' names, matching those on the companion country grant of the same day, show each executor sealing in his own person for both the West Division land and this town parcel. Carrying the same trust across the minor's country ground and his James Valley plot kept John Goodwin's whole inheritance, rural and urban alike, under one body of trustees with a single survivorship, so no part of his estate would fall out of settled hands during his minority.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable the

United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do hereby

Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Richard Goodwin of the said Island Planter All

those two pieces or parcells of Land in the West division of the said Island containing

together twenty Seven Acres Butting and Bounding North upon the Land of John

Goodwin an Orphan West part upon the Honorable Companys Waste Land and part

upon Mr James Greentree East part upon other Lands of him the said Richard Goodwin

and part upon the lands of the said John Goodwin Orphan and South upon the Lands of

Mr Francis Wrangham Junr Together with all and Singular the Wood Water

Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations

of Yams Fruit Trees Walls fences and all and singular other the rights Comodities

and appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and to hold

the said hereby Demised two pieces or parcells of Land and every part thereof with

the Appurtenances unto him the said Richard Goodwin his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of Octber last for during and

untill the full end and Term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to

be compleat and Ended Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year

during the Term of this present Lease unto the said Honorable Company their

Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings of Acre in at or upon the feast of

St Michael the Arch Angel without any deduction whatsoever Upon Condition

that he the said Richard Goodwin his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

assigns Shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George

the Second his heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable

Company and their Successors And shall duly observe and obey all the Laws and

Constitutions of the said Island And also upon Condition that he or they Shall and

do from time to time during the Term of this present Lease keep up & maintain

in good Order and sufficient and legal repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices

Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now are or hereafter Shall be made

built or Erected thereon And shall also plant keep up Maintain and preserve in

and upon the said hereby Demised parcells of Land their full quantity or proportion

of Wood being one tenth part of the said parcells of Land And Shall likewise

plant and preserve Furze withinside or without the Fences of the said parcells of

Land And Shall also plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach

Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are most likely to grow And as they

Shall happen to decay or die Shall replant others of the like Sorts thereon

without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as Shall be

set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams And upon

further Condition that he the said Richard Goodwin his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed assigns Shall not alter or remove the said fences

they being the Limits or Land Marks of the said parcells of Land And shall

not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the

leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being In Witness

whereof we the said Governor and Council have to the other part hereof set

our hands and affixed the Honorable Companys Seal this Eighth day

of

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Richard Goodwin, planter of the island, two pieces of land in the West Division of the island. They contained twenty-seven acres in all, bounded on the north by the land of John Goodwin, an orphan, on the west partly by the Honourable Company's waste land and part by James Greentree, on the east partly by other land of Richard Goodwin himself and part by the land of John Goodwin, the orphan, and on the south by the land of Francis Wrangham junior. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Richard Goodwin, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Richard Goodwin, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

A further condition bound Richard Goodwin, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcels, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound Richard Goodwin, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcels, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

Interpretations

The bounds fixing this parcel against the land of John Goodwin, the orphan, on the north and east tie Richard Goodwin's own holding directly to the ground held in trust for the minor under the grants of the same day. Richard Goodwin stood among the four trustees of that orphan estate while here taking his own adjoining land, so the register records the same man holding ground both in trust for the child and in his own right alongside it, the two estates lying together in the West Division.

The land of James Greentree and Francis Wrangham junior closing the west and south places this twenty-seven acre holding among the settled block of West Division ground where the Goodwin, Greentree and Wrangham families held land side by side. The Company let a parcel ringed by named neighbours rather than open waste, fitting Richard Goodwin's grant into a continuous estate the families gathered across that quarter, the minor's trust ground and the adult holdings interlocking at their bounds.

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of November in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the

Second by the Grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King defender of

the faith and so forth And in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred

and Fifty Nine And he the said Richard Goodwin to these Presents

hath set his hand and Seal the day and Year above written

Witness Rich Goodwin

Wrangham Junr

Nt

Wt Et

16 Acres St

11 Acres

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East

Indies Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto James Greentree

and John Worrall both of the said Island Planters Executors of the last

Will and Testament of John Swaits Planter deceased and Guardians and

Trustees of and for his Orphans for the use and benefit of them the said

Orphans All that piece or parcell of Land in Sandy Bay containing

Seventeen Acres Butting and Bounding North or Northerly on the Lands of

Margaret Harper Widow of Martin Harper East part upon the Lands of

Thomas Greentree and part upon the Lands of Lieutenant Clark West upon

other Lands of the said Orphans and South upon the Lands of James Cotgrave

which said Seventeen Acres with Eight Acres more which by a Lease of

equal Date herewith are demised to Thomas Greentree were demised to

the Executors of James Greentree deceased by a Lease dated the Thirtieth day

of September in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and

Thirty Eight Together with all and Singular the Wood Water Watercourses

Yams Fruit Trees Walls fences and all and Singular other the Rights

Commodities and Appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining

To have and to hold the said hereby demised parcell of Land and

every part thereof with the Appurtenances unto their the said Executors and

Trustees and the Survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators

of such Survivor In trust nevertheless for the Orphans of the said

John

This grant was sealed on 8 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Richard Goodwin set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Richard Goodwin, with Wrangham junior witnessing.

Two plans drawn below mark the two pieces as sixteen acres and eleven acres.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to James Greentree and John Worrall, both of the island, planters, executors of the last will and testament of the late John Swaite, planter, deceased, and guardians and trustees for and on behalf of his orphans, for the use and benefit of the orphans, a piece of land in Sandy Bay. It contained seventeen acres, bounded on the north by the land of Margaret Harper, widow of Martin Harper, on the east partly by the land of Thomas Greentree and part by other land of the orphans, on the west by the land of Lieutenant Clark, and on the south by the land of James Clough. These seventeen acres, together with eight acres more, which by leave of the executors of James Greentree, deceased, were granted to Thomas Greentree by a lease dated 30 September in the year of our Lord 1738, made up the holding. The Company granted them the land, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to James Greentree and John Worrall and the survivor of them, and the executors and administrators of such survivor, in trust nevertheless for the orphans of the late John Swaite.

Interpretations

The two annexed plans set out Richard Goodwin's twenty-seven acre holding as two distinct pieces, one marked sixteen acres and the other eleven, so the scattered ground could be told apart on the record. Drawing the pieces separately let a later reader trace each part of the holding against the annexed figure, the island's tenures resting on such plans wherever they disagreed with the words of the deed.

The John Swaite orphan grant that follows set a dead planter's Sandy Bay ground on James Greentree and John Worrall as trustees, the same device the register used across this run to keep an orphan estate whole during minority. The recital tying the seventeen acres to a further eight granted to Thomas Greentree in 1738 shows the Company binding the present trust to an older grant, so the whole holding could be traced back through the earlier lease, the ground gathered among the Harper, Greentree, Clark and Clough holdings where these families held land side by side in Sandy Bay.

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John Swait deceased their heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns

from the twelfth day of October last for during and untill the full end and Term of twenty

one Year from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding &

paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the Term of this present Lease unto

the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five

Shillings per Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without

any Deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that they the said Executors and

Trustees and the Survivor of them And the Executors and Administrators of such

Survivor shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King

George the Second his heirs and Successors and true faith to the said Honorable Company

and their Successors And shall duly observe and obey all the Laws and Constitutions of

the said Island And also that they or some of them shall and do from time to time

during the Term of this present Lease keep up and Maintain in good Order and Sufficient

and legal repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations &

fences as now are or hereafter Shall be made built or Erected thereon And also Shall

plant keep up maintain and preserve in and upon the said hereby demised piece or

parcell of Land its full quantity or proportion of Wood being one tenth part of the said

parcell of Land And Shall likewise plant and preserve Furze withinside or without

the fences of the said parcell of Land And Shall also plant Fruit Trees such as

Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are most

likely to grow And as they Shall happen to decay or die Shall replant others of the

like Sorts thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as

Shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams And also

that they or any of them shall not alter or remove the fences of the said premisses they

being the Limits or Land Marks of the said parcell of Land And shall not sell or dispose

of this Lease or their or any of their Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the

Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor &

Council to the other part hereof have set our hands and affixed the Honorable

Companys Seal this Twelfth day of Novemr in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our

Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland

King defender of the faith And so forth And in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven

hundred and Fifty Nine And they the said Executors and Trustees have hereunto set their

hands and Seals the day and Year above written

Witness James Greentree

Rich Law

John Worrall

Margin Notes: 8 Acres demised to Mr Tho Greentree

25 Acres Nt Wt Et St

The Company granted the trustees the land in trust for the orphans of the late John Swaite, their heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that James Greentree and John Worrall, and the survivor of them, and the executors and administrators of such survivor, bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return they were to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

A further condition bound the trustees, or any of them, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. They were also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound the trustees not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 12 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. The executors and trustees set their hands and seals to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by James Greentree and John Worrall, with Richard Law witnessing.

A plan drawn below marks the ground as twenty-five acres, with a note that eight acres of it were granted to Thomas Greentree.

Interpretations

The plan reckoned the whole holding at twenty-five acres, joining the seventeen acres now settled on the trustees to the eight acres earlier granted to Thomas Greentree, the note on the plan recording that the two parts made up a single continuous ground. Drawing the older and the newer grant together on one outline let the register show how the orphan estate stood as a whole even though its parts came under separate leases across two decades.

The sealing dated 12 November 1759, four days after the run of grants sealed on 8 November, marks this trust as settled at a slightly later sitting than the batch of Wrangham, Bagley and Goodwin leases. The Company drew up the orphan grants of the Swaite and Goodwin children across these November sittings, each in the same engrossed form with the tenth-part wood duty and the yam exemption, keeping the several family estates under trustees drawn from the same circle of established Sandy Bay and West Division holders.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do

hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Orlando Bagley of the said Island

Planter All those two pieces or parcells of Land in Oak Gut containing

ten Acres and an half Butting and Bounding North and East upon the Honorable

Companys Waste Land and South and West upon the Lands of Martin Harpers

Orphans Together with all and Singular the Wood Water Watercourses

Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams

Fruit Trees Walls fences And all and Singular other the rights Commodities

and appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and to

hold all and Singular the said two pieces or parcells of Land and premisses

with the Appurtenances unto him the said Orlando Bagley his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October last for during

and untill the full end and Term of twenty one Years from thence next

ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding and paying therefore Yearly

and every Year during the Term of this present Lease unto the said Honorable

Company their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings

of Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without any

Deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that he the said Orlando Bagley

his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns Shall and do bear

true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second his

heirs and Successors And true faith to them the said Honorable Company and

shall duly observe and obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island

And also upon Condition that he or they Shall and do from time during the

Term of this present Lease keep up and Maintain in good Order and Sufficient

and legal repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements

Plantations and fences as now are or hereafter Shall be made built or

Erected thereon And shall also plant keep up Maintain and preserve

in and upon the said hereby Demised parcells of Land their full quantity

or proportion of Wood being one tenth part of the said parcells of Land And

Shall also plant and preserve Furze withinside or without the fences of the said two

parcells of Land And Shall plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry

or Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are most likely to grow And

as they Shall happen to decay or die shall replant others of the like Sorts thereon

without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as Shall be

set apart for the sole purpose of planting and Raising of Yams And also

upon further Condition that he they or any of them shall not alter or

remove the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of the said

parcells of Land And Shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their

Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council

for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council

have to the other part hereof set our hands and affixed the Honorable

Companys Seal this Twelfth day of Novemr in the thirty third Year

of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the grace of

God of great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the

faith

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Orlando Bagley, planter of the island, two pieces of land in Oak Gut. They contained ten acres and a half in all, bounded on the north and east by the Honourable Company's waste land, and on the south and west by the land of Martin Harper's orphans. The Company granted them the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Orlando Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Orlando Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

A further condition bound Orlando Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcels, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound Orlando Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcels, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 12 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith.

Interpretations

The bounds fixing this Oak Gut parcel against the land of Martin Harper's orphans on the south and west tie Orlando Bagley's holding to the same cluster of ground where the Harper orphan estate lay, its bounds fixing the neighbouring grant much as a living holder's would. The register carries the Bagley and Harper names as neighbours across the West Division, and this ten acres and a half added to a holding worked among established families.

The sealing dated 12 November 1759 places this grant in the same short sitting as the John Swaite orphan trust, four days after the larger batch of 8 November leases. The Company drew up these later grants in the same engrossed form, each carrying the tenth-part wood duty, the furze, the named fruit trees and the yam exemption, so a settled lease ran across the holdings let together, whether to a single planter like Orlando Bagley or to trustees holding for orphans.

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faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred

and Fifty Nine And he the said Orlando Bagley to these presents hath set his

hand and Seal the Day and Year above written

Witness Rich Law

Orlando Bagley

St

Et 6 Acres Wt

Nt

Nt

Wt 4 1/2 Acres Et

St

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East

Indies Do hereby demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Orlando Bagley Senior

of the said Island Planter All that piece or parcell of Land in the South division

of the said Island containing twelve Acres Butting and Bounding North East &

West upon the Honorable Companys Waste Land West upon the Lands heretofore

of Thomas Harper deceased and now of him the said Orlando Bagley Together

with all and Singular the Wood Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds

Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls fences And all and

Singular other the rights Commodities and appurtenances thereunto belonging or

appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby demised piece or parcell of

Land and premisses and every part thereof with the Appurtenances unto him the

said Orlando Bagley his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns

from the twelfth day of October last for during and untill the full end and Term of

Twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended

Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the Term of this

present Lease unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or

assigns the Sum of five Shillings of Acre in at or upon the Feast of St Michael

the Arch Angel without any deduction whatsoever Upon Condition

that he the said Orlando Bagley his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

assigns Shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King

George the Second his heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said

Honorable Company and their Successors and Shall duly observe and Obey

all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And also upon

Condition that he the said Orlando Bagley his heirs Executors Administrators

or allowed assigns shall and do from time to time during the Term of this

present Lease keep up and maintain in good Order and Sufficient and

legal

Margin Notes: St Et 6 Acres Wt Nt

Nt Wt 4 1/2 Acres Et St

This grant was sealed in the year of our Lord 1759, King George the Second being king, defender of the faith and so forth. Orlando Bagley set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Orlando Bagley, with Richard Law witnessing.

Two plans drawn below mark the two pieces as six acres and four acres and a half.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Orlando Bagley senior, planter of the island, a piece of land in the South Division of the island. It contained twelve acres, bounded on the north and east by the Honourable Company's waste land, and on the west by the land formerly of Thomas Harper, deceased, and now of Orlando Bagley himself. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Orlando Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Orlando Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

A further condition bound Orlando Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences.

Interpretations

The two annexed plans set out Orlando Bagley's Oak Gut holding as two distinct pieces, one marked six acres and the other four acres and a half, so the scattered ground could be told apart on the record. Drawing the pieces separately let a later reader trace each part against its own figure, the island's tenures resting on such outlines wherever they disagreed with the words of the deed.

The South Division grant that follows fixed Orlando Bagley senior's twelve acres against ground formerly Thomas Harper's, deceased, and now his own, showing him gathering into a single lease land that had passed to him from an earlier holder's estate. The recital of the former Harper ownership carried the memory of the earlier holder as a boundary landmark, the byname of a dead man fixing the western line long after the ground itself had passed into Bagley's hands.

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legal repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements

Plantations and fences as now are or hereafter Shall be made built or

Erected thereon And Shall also plant keep up Maintain and preserve in and

upon the said hereby Demised parcell of Land its full quantity or proportion

of Wood being one tenth part of the said piece or parcell of Land And Shall

likewise plant and preserve Furze withinside or without the fences of the

said parcell of Land And Shall also plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon

Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are most likely

to grow And as they Shall happen to decay or die Shall replant others of the

like Sorts thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of

such Land as Shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting and

raising of Yams And also that he or they shall not alter or remove the

said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of the said piece or parcell

of Land And Shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest

therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for the

time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council have

to the other part hereof set our hands and affixed the Honorable Company

Seal this Twelfth day of November in the thirty third Year of the Reign

of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great

Britain France and Ireland King defender of the faith and so forth

And in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine

And he the said Orlando Bagley hath hereunto set his hand and Seal

the day and Year above written

Orlando Bagley

Witness

Rich Law

Nt

Wt Et

St

Twelve Acres

Orlando Bagley was bound throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound Orlando Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 12 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Orlando Bagley set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Orlando Bagley, with Richard Law witnessing.

A plan drawn below marks the parcel as twelve acres.

Interpretations

The full conservation covenant on Orlando Bagley's South Division parcel, the tenth part in wood, the furze in the fences and the named fruit trees replanted as they failed, with the yam ground carved out from the duty, matched the terms set on the whole run of grants sealed across the November 1759 sittings. The Company applied one settled lease form to the holdings let together, whether at Oak Gut or in the South Division, pressing timber and fuel growing on the general ground while leaving provision planting free of the burden.

The annexed plan gave the twelve-acre parcel its controlling record of shape and extent, the outline fixing the ground more surely than the boundary names alone, which shifted as neighbouring holders changed. Since the western side ran against ground formerly Thomas Harper's and now Bagley's own, the plan showed how the fresh parcel joined the land he already worked, the drawn figure holding the boundary for the whole term against the words of the deed.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable the

United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do hereby

Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Matthew Purling of the said Island Gentleman

All that piece or parcell of Land lying and being at or near a place called the Walls

in the said Island containing three Quarters of an Acre Butting and bounding

North East and West upon other the Lands of him the said Matthew Purling and

South upon the Lands of Samuel Knipe And also all that piece or parcell of Cabbage

Tree Land containing two Acres and an half Butting and Bounding North East &

West upon other the Lands of him the said Matthew Purling and South upon the Main

Ridge Together with all and Singular the Wood Water Watercourses Houses Buildings

Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls

fences and all and Singular other the Rights Commodities and Appurtenances

whatsoever to the said two pieces or parcells of Land or any part of them or either of

them belonging or in any wise appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby

Demised two pieces or parcells of Land and premisses with the Appurtenances

unto him the said Matthew Purling his heirs Executors Administrators or

allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October last for during and untill the full

End and Term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat

and Ended Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the

Term of this present Lease unto them the said Honorable Company their Successors

Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings of Acre at in or upon the feast of

St Michael the Arch Angel without any deduction whatsoever Upon Condition

that he the said Matthew Purling his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

assigns shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King

George the Second his heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said

Honorable Company and their Successors and Shall duly observe and Obey all the

Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And also upon Condition that he

or they Shall and do from time to time during the Term of this present Lease

keep up and Maintain in good Order and Sufficient and legal Repair All such

Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now

are or hereafter Shall be made built or Erected thereon And Shall also plant

keep up Maintain and preserve in and upon the said hereby Demised parcells

of Land their full quantity or proportion of Wood being one tenth part of the said

parcells of Land And Shall also plant and preserve Furze withinside or without

the fences of the said parcells of Land And Shall plant Fruit trees such as

Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are

most likely to grow And as they Shall happen to decay or die Shall replant

others of the like Sorts thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any

part of such Land as Shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting

and raising of Yams And also upon further Condition that he the said

Matthew Purling his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns

Shall

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Matthew Purling, gentleman of the island, two pieces of land. The first lay at or near a place called the Walls and contained three quarters of an acre, bounded on the north, east and west by other land of Matthew Purling himself, and on the south by the land of Samuel Knipe. The second was a piece of cabbage tree land containing two acres and a half, bounded on the north, east and south by other land of Matthew Purling himself, and on the south also by the Main Ridge. The Company granted them the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Matthew Purling, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Matthew Purling, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

A further condition bound Matthew Purling, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcels, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams.

Interpretations

The two small pieces, three quarters of an acre at the Walls and two acres and a half of cabbage tree land under the Main Ridge, both ringed on their inner sides by Matthew Purling's own ground, show the Company letting fragments to the neighbour who already worked the adjoining land. This follows the recurring practice by which small or awkward parcels went to whoever could most readily reach and fence them, so the pieces rounded out an existing holding rather than standing as separate grants on the margin.

The style of gentleman attached to Matthew Purling marks his standing above the planters who took the neighbouring grants, and he appears across the register as an executor and trustee for the Bazett, Whaley and Goodwin orphan estates in the same period. The byname the Walls preserved a local landmark fixing one parcel where no neighbour's land closed a boundary, the named feature doing the work a neighbour's holding usually did on ground Purling was gathering piece by piece in this quarter.

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Shall not alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks

of the said parcells of Land And Shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his

or their Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor and

Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council

have to the other part hereof set our hands and affixed the Honorable

Companys Seal this Twelfth day of November in the thirty third Year of the

Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great

Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith And so forth And in

the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And he the

said Matthew Purling hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the Day and

Year above written

Witness Purling

Rich Law

Nt

Et

St

2 1/2 Acres

Wt

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the

East Indies Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Lieutenant

Oneisiphorus Beale All that piece or parcell of Ground lying behind

his Dwelling House in James's Valley containing twenty one foot &

an half in Width and one hundred Feet in Depth making in the whole

One thousand and Seventy five Superficial Square feet being one Moiety

or half part of the Land demised to Frances Corris Widow by a Lease dated

the Nineteenth day of September which was in the Year of our Lord One

thousand Seven hundred and thirty Eight Together with all & Singular

the Outbuildings and appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining

To have and to hold the said hereby Demised parcell of Ground and

premisses with the Appurtenances unto him the said Oneisiphorus Beale his

heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October

last for during and untill the full End and term of twenty one Years from

thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding & paying

therefore Yearly and every Year during the Term of this present Lease

unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or assigns the

Sum of five Shillings and three pence of Current Money of the said Island

without any deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that he the

said

Margin Notes: Nt Et St 2 1/2 Acres Wt

Matthew Purling was bound not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcels, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 12 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Matthew Purling set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Purling, with Richard Law witnessing.

A plan drawn below marks the parcel as two acres and a half.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Lieutenant Onesiphorus Beale a piece of ground lying behind his dwelling house in James Valley. It measured twenty-one feet and a half in width and one hundred feet in depth, making in the whole two thousand and seventy-five superficial square feet, being one moiety or half part of the land granted to Frances Carne, widow, by a lease dated 19 September in the year of our Lord 1738. The Company granted him the ground, together with all its outbuildings and appurtenances, to have and to hold to Onesiphorus Beale, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

Onesiphorus Beale was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings and 3 pence in current money of the island, without any deduction whatever.

Interpretations

The annexed plan gave Matthew Purling's cabbage tree parcel its controlling record of shape and extent, the narrow triangular outline marked as two acres and a half fixing the ground more surely than the boundary names alone. The drawn figure held the boundary for the whole term, the island's tenures resting on such plans wherever they disagreed with the words of the deed.

The James Valley grant to Lieutenant Onesiphorus Beale reckoned his plot as one half of ground once let to Frances Carne, widow, in 1738, measured by frontage and depth as a moiety of the earlier holding. This division of an older town grant between successors, the same device that split the neighbouring Price ground held in trust for the minor John Goodwin, shows the Company parcelling out James Valley holdings a generation on, the garrison officer taking his half share into the crowded heart of the valley behind his own dwelling.

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said Oneisiphorus Beale his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns

shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the

Second his heirs and Successors And true faith to & & the said Honorable

Company and their Successors And shall duly observe and obey all the Laws

and Constitutions of the said Island And also upon Condition that he the

said Oneisiphorus Beale his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns

shall and do from time to time during the Term of this present Lease keep up &

maintain in good Order and sufficient and legal repair All such Buildings

Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now are or

hereafter Shall be made built or Erected thereon And upon further

Condition that he the said Oneisiphorus Beale his heirs Executors Administrators

or allowed assigns shall not alter or remove the said fences they being the

Limits or Land Marks of the said Junior parcell of Ground And shall not sell or

Dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the leave and

Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof

we the said Governor and Council have to the other part hereof set our

hands and affixed the Honorable Companys Seal this Twelfth day of

November in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord

George the Second by the grace of God of great Britain France & Ireland

King Defender of the Faith And so forth And in the Year of our Lord One

thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And he the said Oneisiphorus

Beale hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the day and Year

above written

Witness Ones Beale

Rich Law

The grant was made on condition that Onesiphorus Beale, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. A further condition bound Onesiphorus Beale, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. A final condition bound him not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 12 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Onesiphorus Beale set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Onesiphorus Beale, with Richard Law witnessing.

Interpretations

The reckoning of the plot as one moiety or half part of ground once let to Frances Carne, widow, in 1738 shows the Company dividing an older James Valley holding between two successors a generation on. The same 1738 Carne grant supplied the half plot held in trust for the minor John Goodwin behind Lieutenant Samuel Price's dwelling, so the register records the earlier holding split into two moieties settled on separate takers, the town ground parcelled out as the valley filled.

The rent of 5 shillings and 3 pence in current money of the island, a flat town charge carrying no per-acre reckoning, marks this as the urban form the register used for James Valley ground, distinct from the country rate tied to acreage. Lieutenant Onesiphorus Beale appears across the register as a garrison officer dealing in James Valley and South Division ground, and this half plot behind his own dwelling added a further town holding to his interests in the valley.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies

Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto John Desfountain of the said

Island Planter All that piece or parcell of Land containing two Acres

in the East division of the said Island Butting and Bounding on all

sides on other the Land of him the said John Desfountain Together with

all and Singular the Wood Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices

Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls

fences and all and Singular other the Rights Commodities & appurtenances

thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and to hold the said

hereby Demised parcell of Land and every part thereof with the Appurtenances

unto him the said John Desfountain his heirs Executors Administrators

or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October last for during and untill

the full end and Term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully

to be compleat and Ended Yielding and paying therefore Yearly & every

Year during the Term of this present Lease unto them the said Honorable

Company their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings

of Acre in at or upon the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without

any Deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that he the said John

Desfountain his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns

Shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King

George the Second his heirs and Successors and true faith to them the

said Honorable Company and their Successors And Shall duly observe

and obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And also

upon Condition that he or they Shall and do from time to time during

the Term of this present Lease keep up and maintain in good Order

and Sufficient and legal repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices

Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now are or hereafter Shall

be made built or Erected thereon And Shall also plant keep up maintain

and preserve in and upon the said hereby demised parcell of Land its

full quantity or proportion of Wood being one tenth part of the said

parcell of Land And Shall also plant and preserve Furze withinside or

without the fences of the said parcell of Land And Shall plant Fruit Trees

such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof

wherein they are most likely to grow And as they Shall happen to

Decay or die Shall replant others of the like Sorts thereon without hurt

or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as Shall be set apart

for the sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams And also

upon further Condition that he they or any of them Shall not alter or

remove the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of the said

parcell

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to John Desfountain, planter of the island, a piece of land. It contained two acres, lying in the East Division of the island, bounded on all sides by other land of John Desfountain himself. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to John Desfountain, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that John Desfountain, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

A further condition bound John Desfountain, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A further condition bound him not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel.

Interpretations

The two-acre parcel ringed on every side by John Desfountain's own ground marks the Company letting a pocket wholly enclosed within an existing holding, so the grant closed a gap in his estate rather than settling fresh ground on the margin. With no neighbour's land or Company waste touching any side, the parcel served only to bring a small interior piece under the same lease and rent as the ground about it, the tenant already working all the land that hemmed it in.

The Desfountain name runs through the register across generations, from the earlier Samuel and Thomas Desfountain of Youngs Valley and Fishers Valley to this John Desfountain of the East Division, who appears in the grants of the period as a trustee for the Isaac family and as a boundary holder to the neighbouring town and country parcels. This two-acre lease added an interior piece to the continuous East Division estate the family gathered, held under the standard lease form of the November 1759 sittings.

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parcell of Land And Shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their

Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor & Council

for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and

Council have to the other part hereof set our hands and affixed the

Honorable Companys Seal this Twelfth day of November in the thirty

third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the grace

of God of great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the faith

And so forth And in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred

and Fifty Nine And he the said John Desfountain hath hereunto set

his hand and Seal the Day and Year above written

Witness

Rich Law

John Desfountain

Nt

2 Acres Et Wt

St

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to

the East Indies Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto John

Desfountain of the said Island Planter All that piece or parcell of

Land containing Fifteen Acres lying and being in the East division

of the said Island Butting and Bounding North and West on the freehold

Land of him the said John Desfountain and East and South on the Lands

of Benjamin Pledgers Orphans Together with all and Singular the

Wood Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements

Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls fences And all &

Singular other the rights Commodities and appurtenances thereunto

belonging or appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby

Demised piece or parcell of Land and every part thereof with the

Appurtenances unto him the said John Desfountain his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed Assigns from the twelfth day of October last

for during and untill the full end and term of twenty one Years

from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding

and paying therefore Yearly and every Year unto the said Honorable

Company

Margin Notes: Nt 2 Acres Et Wt St

John Desfountain was bound not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 12 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. John Desfountain set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by John Desfountain, with Richard Law witnessing.

A plan drawn below marks the parcel as two acres.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to John Desfountain, planter of the island, a piece of land. It contained fifteen acres, lying in the East Division of the island, bounded on the north and west by the freehold land of John Desfountain himself, and on the east and south by the land of Benjamin Pledger's orphans. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to John Desfountain, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that John Desfountain and his successors bear the usual obligations, and in return he was to pay the Honourable Company a yearly rent.

Interpretations

The annexed plan gave John Desfountain's two-acre parcel its controlling record of shape and extent, the outline fixing the interior piece more surely than the words of the deed, which named only his own ground on every side. Where a parcel lay wholly enclosed within a holder's estate with no neighbour to fix a boundary, the plan carried the whole weight of identifying the ground.

The fifteen-acre grant that follows fixed John Desfountain's leasehold against his own freehold on the north and west and the ground of Benjamin Pledger's orphans on the east and south, showing the leasehold rounding out land he already held in fee. The naming of the Pledger orphan estate ties this parcel to the same East Division quarter where the Desfountain and Pledger families held ground side by side, the Company letting a piece ringed by named neighbours to consolidate a continuous holding around the land Desfountain already worked.

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Company their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings

of Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without

any Deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that he the said

John Desfountain his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

assigns Shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign

Lord King George the Second his heirs and Successors And true faith to

them the said Honorable Company and their Successors And Shall duly

observe and obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island

And also upon Condition that he or they Shall and do from time to

time during the Term of this present Lease keep up and Maintain in

good Order and Sufficient and legal repair All such Buildings

Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now

are or hereafter Shall be made built or Erected thereon And Shall

also keep up maintain and preserve in and upon the said hereby

Demised parcell of Land its full quantity or proportion of Wood being

one tenth part of the said parcell of Land And Shall likewise plant

preserve Furze withinside or without the fences of the said parcell of

Land And Shall plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or

Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are most likely to grow

And as they Shall happen to decay or die Shall replant others of the

like Sorts thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part

of such Land as shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting

and raising of Yams And also upon further Condition that he they

or any of them shall not alter or remove the fences of the said parcell

of Land they being the Limits or Land Marks thereof And shall not

sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without

the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being

In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council have to the other

part hereof set our hands and affixed the Honorable Companys Seal

this Twelfth day of November in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our

Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great Britain

France and Ireland King defender of the faith and so forth And in the

Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And he the

said John Desfountain hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the day

and Year above written

Witness John Desfountain

Rich Law

Nt

Wt Et

15 Acres St

John Desfountain was to pay the Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

The grant was made on condition that John Desfountain, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. A further condition bound John Desfountain, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound John Desfountain, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 12 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. John Desfountain set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by John Desfountain, with Richard Law witnessing.

A plan drawn below marks the parcel as fifteen acres.

Interpretations

The full conservation covenant on John Desfountain's fifteen-acre East Division parcel, the tenth part in wood, the furze in the fences and the named fruit trees replanted as they failed, with the yam ground carved out from the duty, matched the terms set on the whole run of grants sealed across the November 1759 sittings. The Company applied one settled lease form to the holdings let together, so a single covenant ran across the East Division and West Division ground alike.

The annexed plan gave the fifteen-acre parcel its controlling record of shape and extent, the outline fixing the ground more surely than the boundary names alone. Since the parcel ran against John Desfountain's own freehold on two sides and Benjamin Pledger's orphans on the others, the plan showed how the leasehold joined the land he already held in fee, the drawn figure holding the boundary for the whole term against any later shift in the neighbouring holdings.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do

hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Thomas Harper Junior of the

said Island Planter All that piece or parcell of Land in the South division

of the said Island containing twenty Six Acres and a Quarter Butting and

Bounding East on the Lands of George Alexander South and West on the Honorable

Companys Waste Land and North on the Freehold Land of him the said Thomas

Harper Together with all and Singular the Wood Water Watercourses Houses

Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit

Trees Walls fences and all and Singular other the Rights Commodities and

appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and to

hold the said hereby Demised piece or parcell of Land and every part thereof

with the Appurtenances unto him the said Thomas Harper his heirs Exors

Administrators or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October last for during

and untill the full End and Term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing

fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and

every Year during the Term of this present Lease unto the said Honorable

Company their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings of Acre

in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel

Upon Condition that he the said Thomas Harper his heirs

Executors Administrators or allowed assigns Shall and do bear true faith and

Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second his heirs and Successors

and true faith to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors And

shall duly observe and obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island

And also upon Condition that he or they Shall and do from time to time and

at all times hereafter during the Term of this present Lease keep up & maintain

in good order and sufficient and legal Repair All such Buildings Houses

Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now are or hereafter

Shall be made built or Erected thereon And shall also plant keep up maintain

and preserve in and upon the said hereby demised parcell of Land its full

quantity or proportion of Wood being one tenth part of the said parcell of

Land And shall likewise plant and preserve Furze withinside or without

the fences of the said parcell of Land And Shall plant fruit Trees such

as Apple Lemon Mulberry and Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein

they are most likely to grow And as they Shall happen to decay or die Shall

replant others of the like Sorts thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless

to any part of such Land as Shall be set apart for the sole purpose of

planting and raising of Yams And also upon further Condition that he the

said Thomas Harper his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

assigns Shall not alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits or

Land Marks of the said parcell of Land And Shall not sell or dispose of this

Lease or his or their Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the

Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the said

Governor and Council have to the other part hereof set our hands & affixed

the Honorable Companys Seal this Twelfth day of Novemr in the

thirty third

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Thomas Harper junior, planter of the island, a piece of land in the South Division of the island. It contained twenty-six acres and a quarter, bounded on the east by the land of George Alexander, on the south and west by the Honourable Company's waste land, and on the north by the freehold land of Thomas Harper himself. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Thomas Harper, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Thomas Harper, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

A further condition bound Thomas Harper, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound Thomas Harper, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

Interpretations

The bounds fixing this parcel by Thomas Harper's own freehold on the north show the twenty-six acres and a quarter of leasehold rounding out land he already held in fee, so the grant joined rented ground to his existing South Division estate. The land of George Alexander closing the east ties the holding to the cluster where the Harper and Alexander families held ground side by side, the Company letting a substantial parcel against a named neighbour and its own waste.

The Harper name runs through the register across generations, and this Thomas Harper junior appears among the trustees who held the late Martin Harper's children's ground under the grant of 3 November 1755, while here taking a large holding in his own right. The twenty-six acres and a quarter added to the ground the family gathered across the South Division, held under the standard lease form of the November 1759 sittings at the full rate.

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thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second

by the Grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King defender of

the faith and so forth And in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred

and Fifty Nine And he the said Thomas Harper hath hereunto set his hand

and Seal the day and Year above written

Tho Harper Junior

Witness

Rich Law

26 1/4 Acres

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do

hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Thomas Harper Junior of the

said Island Planter All that piece or parcell of Land in the South division

of the said Island containing five Acres Butting and Bounding East on the

Lands of Benjamin Mason West on the Lands of John Alexander North

on the Lands of the late Joseph Whaleys Orphans and South on other the

Leasehold Land of him the said Thomas Harper Together with all and

Singular the Wood Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices

Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees

Walls

Margin Notes: 26 1/4 Acres

This grant was sealed in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Thomas Harper junior set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Thomas Harper junior, with Richard Law witnessing.

A plan drawn below marks the parcel as twenty-six acres and a quarter.

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Thomas Harper junior, planter of the island, a piece of land in the South Division of the island. It contained five acres, bounded on the east by the land of Benjamin Mawson, on the west by the land of John Alexander, on the north by the land of the late Joseph Whaley's orphans, and on the south by other freehold land of Thomas Harper himself. The Company granted him the land, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it.

Interpretations

The annexed plan gave Thomas Harper junior's large South Division parcel its controlling record of shape and extent, the irregular outline marked as twenty-six acres and a quarter fixing the ground more surely than the boundary names alone, which shifted as neighbouring holders changed. The island's tenures rested on such plans wherever their figures disagreed with the words of the deed, so the drawn figure held the boundary of this substantial holding for the whole term.

The five-acre grant that follows fixed Thomas Harper junior's parcel among a tight cluster of South Division holdings, the ground of Benjamin Mawson, John Alexander and the late Joseph Whaley's orphans closing three sides while his own freehold closed the south. The Company let a small piece ringed by named neighbours rather than open waste, fitting it into the block where the Harper, Mawson, Alexander and Whaley families held ground side by side, the leasehold rounding out land Harper already worked in fee.

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Walls fences and all and singular other the Rights Commodities & Appurtan ces

thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby

Demised piece or parcell of Land and every part thereof with the Appurtenances

unto him the said Thomas Harper his heirs Executors Administrators or

allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October last for during and untill the

full end and Term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to be

compleat and Ended Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every

Year during the Term of this present Lease unto the said Honorable Company

their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings of Acre in at

or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without any deduction

whatsoever Upon Condition that he the said Thomas Harper his heirs

Executors Administrators or allowed assigns Shall and do bear true faith and

Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second his heirs and Successors

and true faith to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors &

Shall duly observe and obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island

And also upon Condition that he or they Shall and do from time to time

during the term of this present Lease keep up and maintain in good Order

and sufficient and legal repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds

Tenements Plantations and fences as now are or hereafter Shall be made built

or Erected thereon And Shall also plant keep up Maintain and preserve in

and upon the said hereby Demised parcell of Land its full quantity or proportion

of Wood being one tenth part of the said parcell of Land And Shall likewise

plant and preserve Furze withinside or without the fences of the said parcell

of Land And Shall plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach

Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are most likely to grow And as they

Shall happen to decay or die Shall replant others of the like Sorts thereon

without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as Shall

be set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams And also

upon further Condition that he the said Thomas Harper his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed assigns Shall not alter or remove the said fences

they being the Limits or Land Marks of the said parcell of Land And shall

not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without

the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being

In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council have to the other

part hereof Set our hand and affixed the Honorable Companys Seal this

Twelfth day of November in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign

Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great Britain France and

Ireland King defender of the faith and so forth And in the Year of our

Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And he the said Thomas

Harper hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the day and Year above written

Witness Tho Harper Junior

Rich Law

Nt

Et 5 Acres Wt

St

The Company granted Thomas Harper the land, and every part of it, with its appurtenances, to have and to hold to Thomas Harper, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

Thomas Harper was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

The grant was made on condition that Thomas Harper, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. A further condition bound Thomas Harper, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound Thomas Harper, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the parcel, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 12 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Thomas Harper set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Thomas Harper junior, with Richard Law witnessing.

A plan drawn below marks the parcel as five acres.

Interpretations

The rent of 5 shillings an acre on this five-acre parcel carried the standard full rate the register applied across the sound country ground let at the November 1759 sittings, in contrast to the reduced rates reserved for parcels marked steep or barren. Thomas Harper took both his large twenty-six acre holding and this smaller piece at the ordinary charge, so the Company reckoned his South Division ground worth full cultivation.

The annexed plan gave the five-acre parcel its controlling record of shape and extent, the outline fixing the ground more surely than the boundary names alone. Since the piece ran against Harper's own freehold on the south and the holdings of Mawson, Alexander and the Whaley orphans on the other sides, the plan showed how the leasehold fitted among the cluster of South Division holdings, the drawn figure holding the boundary for the whole term against any later shift in the neighbouring ground.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to

the East Indies Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Thomas

Harper Junior of the said Island Planter All those three pieces or

parcells of Land in the South Division of the said Island containing

together fifteen Acres and Butting and Bounding as hereafter

Mentioned that is to say One piece or parcell thereof containing

Eleven Acres Butting and Bounding South and West on his the said

Thomas Harpers own free Land East on the Lands of George Alexander

and North on the Lands of John Bagley and Samuel Alexander

One other piece or parcell thereof containing two Acres Butting and

Bounding South on the Lands of Mr Francis Wrangham Senior West

and North on the Lands of the said John Bagley and East on the Lands

of him the said Thomas Harper And the other piece or parcell thereof

also containing two Acres Butting and Bounding South on the Lands

of Mrs Bagley North under the Main Ridge East on his the said

Thomas Harpers own free Land And West on the Lands of John

Alexander Together with all and Singular the Wood Water

Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams

and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls fences and all and

Singular other the rights Commodities and Appurtenances thereunto

belonging or appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby

Demised three pieces or parcells and every part thereof with the

appurtenances unto him the said Thomas Harper his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October

last for during and untill the full end and term of twenty one

Years from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat & Ended

Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during

the Term of this present Lease unto the said Honorable Company

their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings of

Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without

any deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that he the said

Thomas Harper his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns

Shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord

King George the Second his heirs and Successors And true faith to

them the said Honorable Company and their Successors And shall

Duly observe and Obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said

Island And also upon Condition that he or they Shall and do

from time to time during the Term of this present Lease keep up

and Maintain in good Order and Sufficient and legal repair All

such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations

and fences as now are or hereafter Shall be made built or Erected

thereon And shall also plant keep up Maintain and preserve in

and upon the said hereby Demised three parcells of Land their full

quantity

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Thomas Harper junior, planter of the island, three pieces of land in the South Division of the island. They contained fifteen acres in all. One piece contained eleven acres, bounded on the south and west by other land of Thomas Harper himself, on the east by the land of George Alexander, and on the north by the land of John Bagley and Samuel Alexander. Another piece contained two acres, bounded on the south by the land of Francis Wrangham senior, on the west and north by the land of John Bagley, and on the east by other land of Thomas Harper himself. The third piece also contained two acres, bounded on the south by the land of Margaret Bagley, on the north under the Main Ridge, on the east by other freehold land of Thomas Harper himself, and on the west by the land of John Alexander. The Company granted him the land, and every part of it, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to Thomas Harper, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that Thomas Harper, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return he was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

A further condition bound Thomas Harper, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. He was also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood.

Interpretations

The grant gathered three scattered pieces in the South Division, eleven acres and two pairs of two acres, into a single lease reckoned at fifteen acres, each parcel fixed by its own boundaries against a web of named neighbours. Letting the pieces under one instrument let the Company settle a spread of ground on one tenant with a single term and rent rather than drawing separate deeds for each, so the fragments came together as one holding on the record.

The dense boundary description ties Thomas Harper junior's ground to a crowded cluster of South Division holdings, the parcels running against George Alexander, John Bagley, Samuel Alexander, Francis Wrangham senior, Margaret Bagley, John Alexander and Harper's own freehold. This close packing of named estates shows how thoroughly the South Division had been parcelled among a settled group of families by 1759, the Company filling in pockets between established holders so that each fresh grant fitted among the ground its neighbours already worked.

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Quantity or proportion of Wood being one tenth part of the said parcells

of Land And Shall likewise plant and preserve Furze withinside or

without the Fences of the said three parcells of Land And Shall plant

Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such

parts thereof whereas they are most likely to grow And as they Shall

happen to decay or die Shall replant others of the like Sorts thereon

without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as

Shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting and Raising of Yams

And also upon further Condition that he the said Thomas Harper his

heirs Executors Administrators or allowed Assigns Shall not alter or

remove the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of the said

three parcells of Land And Shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or

his or their Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the

Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the

said Governor and Council have to the other part hereof set our hands

and affixed the Honorable Companys Seal this Twelfth day of November

in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the

Second by the Grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland

King defender of the faith And so forth And in the Year of our

Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And he the said

Thomas Harper hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the day and

Year above written

Witness Tho Harper Junior

Rich Law

Thomas Harper was bound to keep the full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcels, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences of the three parcels, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. A final condition bound Thomas Harper, his heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, not to alter or remove the fences, since these formed the bounds and landmarks of the three parcels, and not to sell or dispose of the lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being.

In witness of this the Governor and Council set their hands to their part and affixed the Honourable Company's seal on 12 November in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign lord King George the Second, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1759. Thomas Harper set his hand and seal to this deed on the day and year written above. It was signed by Thomas Harper junior, with Richard Law witnessing.

Interpretations

The full conservation covenant carried on these three scattered pieces, the tenth part in wood, the furze in the fences and the named fruit trees replanted as they failed, with the yam ground carved out from the duty, matched the terms set on the whole run of Harper grants and the wider batch sealed on 12 November 1759. The Company applied one settled lease form across a tenant's several holdings, so a single covenant governed the eleven acres and the two smaller pieces alike, whatever their separate bounds.

The three Harper leases of this sitting, the twenty-six acre parcel, the five acres and these three pieces making fifteen, show the Company settling a substantial and dispersed South Division estate on one man across a single day through separate instruments. Drawing each holding as its own lease while running them all from the common commencement of 12 October let Thomas Harper junior gather a large body of ground under uniform terms, the register recording the scattered parcels apart yet binding them to one date and one rate.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do

hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Margaret Harper Widow Executrix

of the last Will and Testament of Martin Harper Planter her late Husband

Deceased Thomas Harper Son of the said Martin Harper deceased and Samuel

Alexander of the said Island Planter the other Executors of the said Will of the

said Martin Harper deceased and who with the said Margaret are Joint Guardians

of and for his Orphans for the use and benefit of the said Orphans All that

piece or parcell of Land in the West division of the said Island containing

Nine Acres and an half Butting and Bounding North upon the Lands of

Benjamin Mason South upon other the Lands of the said Orphans East upon

the Lands of Lieutenant John Clark and West upon the Lands of Mr Thomas

Greentree Together with all and Singular the Wood Water Watercourses

Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams

Fruit Trees Walls fences and all and Singular other the Rights Commodities

and appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and to

hold the said hereby Demised piece or parcell of Land and premisses with the

Appurtenances unto them the said Executors and Trustees and the Survivors

and Survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor

In Trust nevertheless for the said Orphans of the said Martin Harper deceased

their heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of

October last for during and untill the full end and Term of twenty one Years from

thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding and paying

therefore Yearly and every Year during the Term of this present Lease unto

the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five

Shillings of Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without

any deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that they the said Executors and

Trustees and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Executors & Administrators

of such Survivor as well as the said Orphans their heirs Executors Administrators

or allowed assigns Shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign

Lord King George the Second his heirs and Successors and true faith to them

the said Honorable Company and their Successors And shall duly observe and

obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And also upon Condition

that they or some of them shall and do from time to time during the Term of this

present Lease keep up and Maintain in good Order and Sufficient and legal repair

All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences

as now are or hereafter Shall be made built or Erected thereon And Shall also

plant keep up Maintain and preserve in and upon the said hereby demised

piece or parcell of Land its full quantity or proportion of Wood being one tenth

part of the said parcell of Land And Shall likewise plant and preserve Furze

withinside or without the fences of the said parcell of Land And Shall plant

Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts

thereof wherein they are most likely to Grow And as they Shall happen to

Decay or die Shall replant others of the like Sorts thereon without hurt or

prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as Shall be set apart for the

Sole

The Lords Proprietors of this island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, sold and let to farm to Margaret Harper, widow, executrix of the last will and testament of her late husband Martin Harper, deceased, and to Thomas Harper, son of the late Martin Harper, and Samuel Alexander of the island, planter, the other executors of the will of the late Martin Harper, who together with Margaret were joint guardians of and for his orphans, for the use and benefit of the orphans, a piece of land in the West Division of the island. It contained nine acres and a half, bounded on the north by the land of Benjamin Mawson, on the south by other land of the orphans, on the east by the land of Lieutenant John Clark, and on the west by the land of Thomas Greentree. The Company granted them the land, together with all its wood, water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, dwellings, tenements, yams and plantations of yams, fruit trees, walls, fences and all other rights, privileges and appurtenances belonging to it, to have and to hold to the executors and trustees, and the survivors and survivor of them, and the executors and administrators of such survivor, in trust nevertheless for the orphans of the late Martin Harper, their heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, from 12 October last for the full term of twenty-one years from the next following.

The grant was made on condition that the executors and trustees, and the survivors and survivor of them, and the executors and administrators of such survivor, as well as the orphans, their heirs, executors, administrators or allowed assigns, bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign lord King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly observe and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. In return they were to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of 5 shillings an acre, due at the feast of St Michael the Archangel, without any deduction whatever.

A further condition bound the executors and trustees, or some of them, throughout the term to keep up and maintain in good order and sufficient and legal repair all buildings, houses, structures, dwellings, tenements, plantations and fences then standing on the ground or built or erected on it during the term. They were also bound to plant, keep up, maintain and preserve on the ground its full proportion of wood, being a tenth part of the parcel, and to plant and preserve furze inside or outside the fences, and to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry or peach in the parts most likely to grow them, replanting others of the same kind as they decayed or died, without hurt or prejudice to any part of the ground set apart.

Interpretations

The grant set the late Martin Harper's ground on three executors as joint trustees, his widow Margaret, his son Thomas Harper and Samuel Alexander, holding for the orphans with an express survivorship so the death of one would not break the trust. This mixed a widow's own standing as executrix with the guardianship of the children, keeping the estate whole through the minority under a body of trustees drawn from within the family and its close circle.

The bounds fixing this West Division parcel against Benjamin Mawson, Lieutenant John Clark, Thomas Greentree and the orphans' own ground tie the trust land to the same cluster where the neighbouring grants of the November 1759 sittings were let. Thomas Harper stood among the trustees here while taking substantial holdings of his own in the South Division on the same run, so the register records the same man holding ground both for the Harper orphans and in his own right, the family estate spread across two divisions of the island.

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Sole purpose of Planting and Raising of Yams And also upon further

Condition that they the said Executors and Trustees or the Survivors or Survivor

of them or the Executors or Administrators of such Survivor or the said Orphans

their heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns shall not alter or

remove the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of the said parcell

of Land And shall not sell or Dispose of this Lease or their or any of their

Interest therein without the Leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for

the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council have

to the other part hereof set our hands and affixed the Honorable Company's

Seal this Twelfth day of November in the twenty third Year of the Reign of our

Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great Britain France &

Ireland King Defender of the faith and so forth And in the Year of our Lord

One thousand Seven hundred and fifty Nine And they the said Executors and

Trustees have hereunto set their hands and Seals the day and Year above written

Witness

Rich Law

Tho Harper Junior

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies

Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Samuel Alexander of the said

Island Planter All that piece or parcell of Land containing Nineteen Acres

abutting and Standing North upon the Lands of him the said Samuel Alexander

East upon the Lands of George Alexander South upon the Lands of Thomas

Harper and West upon the Lands of the said Island Together with all and Singular the

Lands Water Water courses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements

Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit trees Wells fences And all and

Singular other the rights Commodities and appurtenances whatsoever

thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby

Demised Piece or parcell of Land and every part thereof with the Appurties

unto him the said Samuel Alexander his heirs Executors Administrators

or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October last for during and untill

the full End and term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing

fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding and paying therefore

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to Samuel Alexander, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of land holding nineteen acres. It stood bounded north upon the lands of Samuel Alexander himself, east upon the lands of George Alexander, south upon the lands of John Bagley, and west upon the island itself, lying within the south division of the island. The grant carried all the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. Samuel Alexander, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the twelfth day of October last for the full term and end of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying accordingly.

Interpretations

The Company let this ground rather than selling it, holding the freehold in the island itself while granting the planter a term of years, the standard tenure of the register through which the Lords Proprietors kept ultimate ownership while putting land into working hands. The formal recital of the Company's full style, trading to the East Indies, marked the grant as issuing from the corporate proprietor in London rather than from any private holder.

The parcel sat wedged among Alexander and Bagley ground, with Samuel Alexander's own land closing the north and George Alexander's the east, so the grant rounded out a family block already largely in Alexander hands. The Company preferred to let fragments to the neighbour who could most easily reach and fence them. The Alexander presence in the record runs back to the John Alexander who served as register from at least 1686 and gathered ground across several valleys.

Naming the yams and yam plantations separately reflected their worth as the island's staple provision and the principal victual supplied to shipping lying in the road, a standing crop representing months of labour and a harvest close at hand.

The twenty-one year term ran from the twelfth day of October before the sealing, which was routine, the register commonly commencing a term from an earlier measuring day while the instrument itself was engrossed and sealed once the ground had been measured and its bounds settled.

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Yearly and every Year during the Term of this present Lease unto

the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or assigns the sum of

five Shillings p Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Archangel

without any deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that he the said

Samuel Alexander his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns

shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King

George the Second his heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said

Honorable Company and their Successors And shall duly observe and

obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And also upon

Condition that he or they shall and do from time to time and at all times

hereafter during the Term of this present Lease keep of and Maintain in

good Order and Sufficient and legal repair All such Buildings Houses

Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now are or

hereafter shall be made built or Erected thereon And shall also plant

keep up Maintain and preserve in and upon the said hereby demised

parcell of Land Its full quantity or proportion of Wodd being one tenth

part of the said parcell of Land And shall likewise plant & preserve

Furze within doe or without the fence of the said parcell of Land And

shall plant Fruit trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in

such parts thereof whereon they are most likely to grow And as they shall

happen to decay or die shall replant others of the like Sort thereon

without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as

shall be set apart for the sole purpose of Planting and raising of Yams

And also upon further Condition that he the said Samuel Alexander

his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns shall not alter or

remove the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of the said

parcell of Land And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their

Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor and

Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and

Council have to the other part hereof set our hands and affixed the Honorable

Company's Seal this Twelfth day of November in the thirty third Year of the

Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great

Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith And so forth And

in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and fifty Nine And

he the said Samuel Alexander hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the

Day and Year above written

Witness Rich Law

Saml Alexander

19 Acres

Samuel Alexander, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. He held the ground on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly kept and obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. He was also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcel its full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. He was to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon and mulberry, and oak trees, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, Samuel Alexander and his successors were not to alter the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcel, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or any part of their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this twelfth day of November in the twenty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty. Samuel Alexander had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Richard Law witnessed the instrument, which Samuel Alexander sealed. An annexed plan marked the parcel as nineteen acres.

Interpretations

The rent of five shillings an acre stated in one figure marked the later form of the register, which by the 1750s commonly folded into a single charge the older two parts of four shillings an acre with a further shilling of duty. Fixing the payment to the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel on 29 September tied the annual due to the standard quarter day, the point at which agricultural rents customarily fell across the year.

The conservation covenants ran to the heart of Company policy on the island. Binding the tenant to keep a tenth of the ground in wood, to plant furze along the fences and to set and replace apple, lemon, mulberry and oak trees answered the long shortage of timber and fuel on a small and windswept island, where a leaseholder's ground was expected to yield building material and firing as well as provision. The saving clause exempting any part kept for yams protected the staple crop from the planting duties, the island's principal food and the chief victual supplied to shipping in the road.

The oath of allegiance written into a land grant bound tenure to loyalty, so that holding Company ground carried an obligation of faith both to the Crown and to the corporate proprietor, and any breach of the laws and constitutions of the island could be set against the tenant's title.

The bar on moving the boundary fences and on assigning the lease without the Council's leave were standing conditions of Company leasehold, the first protecting the recorded limits of every neighbouring parcel and the second keeping the Company's control over who held its ground.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable the

United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do hereby

Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Thomas Colgrave of the said Island Planter

All that piece or parcell of Land in the said division of the said Island

containing thirty acres Butting and Bounding East upon the Honorable

Company's Wast Land and upon the freehold Land of him the said Thomas Colgrave

West upon other the freehold Land of him the said Thomas Colgrave South

upon the Leasehold Land of the said Thomas Colgrave and North upon the

Leasehold Land of William Seale Together with all and Singular the Wodd

Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and

Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Wells fences And all and Singular other the

rights Commodities and Appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining

To have and to hold the said hereby Demised piece or parcell of Land and every

part thereof with the Appurtenances unto him the said Thomas Colgrave his

heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October

last for during and untill the full End and Term of twenty one Years from

thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding and paying

therefore Yearly and every Year during the Term of this present Lease unto

the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Sum of

five Shillings p Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Archangel

without any deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that he the said

Thomas Colgrave his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns

shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George

the Second his heirs and Successors And true faith to them the said Honorable

Company and their Successors And shall duly observe and Obey all the Laws

and Constitutions of the said Island And also upon Condition that he or they

shall and do from time to time during the Term of this present Lease keep up

and Maintain in good Order and Sufficient and legal repair All such Buildings

Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now are or

hereafter shall be made built or Erected thereon And shall also plant keep

up Maintain and preserve in and upon the said hereby demised parcell of

Land its full quantity or proportion of Wodd being one tenth part of the said

parcell of Land And shall likewise plant and preserve Furze within doe or

without the fences of the said Parcell of Land And shall plant Fruit Trees

such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof whereon

they are most likely to grow And as they shall happen to decay or die shall

replant others of the like Sort thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless

any part of such Land as shall be set apart for the sole purpose of Planting

and Raising of Yams And also upon further Condition that he the said

Thomas Colgrave his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns

shall not alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits or

Land Marks of the said parcell of Land And shall not sell or dispose

of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the leave and Consent

of the Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the

said Governor and Council have to the other part hereof set our hands

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to Thomas Colgrave, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of land holding thirty acres. It lay within the east division of the island, bounded east upon the Honourable Company's waste land and upon the freehold land of Thomas Colgrave himself, west upon his freehold land also, south upon his leasehold land, and north upon the leasehold land of William Seale. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. Thomas Colgrave, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the twelfth day of October last for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying accordingly. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly kept and obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. He was also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcel its full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. He was to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, Thomas Colgrave and his successors were not to alter the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcel, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument.

Interpretations

The parcel was hemmed almost wholly by Colgrave's own ground, his freehold closing the east and west and his leasehold the south, with only William Seale's leasehold on the north, so the grant rounded out a block the tenant already largely held. The Company preferred to let a fragment to the neighbour who could most easily reach and fence it, and here the neighbour on three sides was the grantee himself.

Naming the fruit trees for this parcel as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, where the adjoining Alexander grant of the same sitting named apple, lemon, mulberry and oak, shows the standard covenant adjusted to the trees each holding could best carry, the clerk drawing on a common form while fitting the species to the ground. The exemption of any part kept for yams protected the island's staple provision from the planting duties.

The Colgrave name attaches to the Cotgrave family of the record, whose ground ran back through the John Cotgrave confirmed in his Youngs Valley lot and the several John Cotgraves who dealt in Chapel Valley property across earlier decades, the Colgrave and Cotgrave renderings falling on the same family.

William Seale on the northern boundary held leasehold ground here in the east division, matching his known parcels in Sharks Valley and Stick's Valley and confirming his standing presence among the leaseholders of that quarter.

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And affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this twelfth day of November

in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the

Second by the Grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King

Defender of the faith And so forth And in the Year of our Lord One thousand

Seven hundred and fifty Nine And he the said Thomas Colgrave hath

hereunto set his hand and Seal the Day and Year above written

Witness Rich Law

Tho Colgrave

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the

East Indies Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Thomas

Greentree of the said Island Planter All that piece or parcell of Land

in Sandy Bay containing Eight Acres Butting and Bounding North

and East on the said Thomas Greentrees own Land South upon the Lands

of James Easthope and West on Lands of the Orphans of John Swaile

Deceased Together with all and Singular the Wodd Water Watercourses

Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of

Yams Fruit Trees Wells fences And all and singular other the rights

Commodities and Appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining

To have and to hold the said hereby Demised piece or parcell of

Land and every part thereof with the Appurtenances unto him the said

Thomas Greentree his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns

from the twelfth day of October last for during and untill the full End and

Term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat

and Ended Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during

the Term of this present Lease unto the said Honorable Company their

Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings p Acre in at or

upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without any deduction

whatsoever Upon Condition that he the said Thomas Greentree his

heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns shall and do bear

true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the

Second his heirs and Successors And true faith to them the said

Honorable Company and their Successors And shall duly observe &

obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And also

upon Condition that he or they shall and do from time to time and

at all times hereafter during the Term of this present Lease keep of and

Maintain in good Order and Sufficient and legal repair All

The Governor and Council had fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this twelfth day of November in the twenty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty. Thomas Colgrave had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Richard Law witnessed the instrument, which Thomas Colgrave sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to Thomas Greentree, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of land holding eight acres in Sandy Bay. It lay bounded north and east upon Thomas Greentree's own land, south upon the land of the orphans of the deceased James Easthope, and west upon the land of the orphans of the deceased. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. Thomas Greentree, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the twelfth day of October last for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying accordingly. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly kept and obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings and other structures then standing or afterwards built on the ground.

Interpretations

The parcel sat almost wholly within Greentree ground, his own land closing the north and east, so the grant rounded out a block he already held, the Company letting a fragment to the neighbour best placed to reach and fence it. The orphans of the deceased James Easthope held the ground to the south and west, their inherited land fixing two of the boundaries.

James Easthope on the boundary connects to the James Eastings or Easthope of the earlier record, the deceased original lot holder whose ground in Peak Gut and Fisher Valley circulated under the several scribal renderings of Easthope, Eastop, Eastings and Eastrop, his name still fixing a boundary here through his orphans a generation after his death.

The Greentree name attaches to the substantial Sandy Bay family of the record, running back through the James Greentree confirmed in sixty acres across three parcels at the sitting of 4 August 1713 and the Thomas Greentree who acted repeatedly as executor of the Ryder estates through the 1750s, the family long established among the accumulators of that quarter.

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Such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and

fences as now are or hereafter shall be made built or Erected thereon

And shall also plant keep up Maintain and preserve in and upon the

said hereby demised parcell of Land its full quantity or proportion

of Wood being one tenth part of the said parcell of Land And shall likewise

plant and preserve Furze within doe or without the fences of the said parcell

of Land And shall plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or

Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are most likely to grow

And as they shall happen to Decay or die shall replant others of the like

Sort thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such

Land as shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising

of Yams And also upon further Condition that he the said Thomas

Greentree his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns shall

not alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks

of the said piece or parcell of Land And shall not sell or dispose of

this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the leave and Consent

of the Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we

the said Governor and Council have to the other part hereof set our

hands and affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this Twelfth day of

October November in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord

George the Second by the Grace of God of great Britain France and

Ireland King Defender of the faith and so forth And in the Year of our

Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And he the said

Thomas Greentree hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the Day and Year

above written

Witness

Rich Law

Tho Greentree

Thomas Greentree was bound to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. He was also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcel its full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. He was to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, Thomas Greentree and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcel, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this twelfth day of November in the twenty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty. Thomas Greentree had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Richard Law witnessed the instrument, which Thomas Greentree sealed.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies

Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto John Benjamin and

Elisha Isaacke both of the said Island Planters Executors of the last Will

and Testament of Joseph Whaley late of the said Island Planter deceased

and Guardians and Trustees for his Children being Minors for the use and

benefit of the said Minors All those four several pieces or parcells of

Land [being] nearly adjoyning and only seperated by passages Lett for during

tying and being in the Land division of the said Island containing in the

whole five Acres and three Quarters abutting Butting and Bounding on all

sides upon the Honorable Company's Wast Land Together with all and

Singular the Wodd Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds

Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Wells fences

and all and singular other the rights Commodities and appurtenances

whatsoever to the said three parcells of Land or any of them or any part of them

or any of them belonging or appertaining To have and to hold the said

hereby Demised parcells of Land and every part thereof with the

Appurtenances unto them the said Executors and Trustees and the

Survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor

In trust near the life for the Orphans of the said Joseph Whaley deceased

their heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns from the twelfth

day of October last for during and untill the full End and Term of twenty one Years

from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding and

paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the Term of this present

Lease unto them the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or

assigns the Sum of five Shillings p Acre in at or upon the feast of Saint

Michael the Arch Angel without any deduction whatsoever Upon

Condition that they the said Executors and Trustees and the Survivor

of them and the Executors or Administrators of such Survivor And also

they the said Orphans their heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

assigns shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign

Lord King George the Second his heirs and Successors And true faith

to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors And shall

duly observe and obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island

And also upon Condition that they or some or one of them shall and

do from time to time during the Term of this present Lease keep up and

Maintain in good Order and Sufficient and legal Repair All such Buildings

Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now are or

hereafter shall be made built or Erected thereon And shall likewise plant

keep up Maintain and preserve in and upon the said hereby demised

parcells of Land their full quantity or proportion of Wodd being one

tenth part of the said four parcells of Land And shall also plant &

preserve Furze within doe or without the fences of the said parcells

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to John Desfountain and Elisha Isaacke, both planters of the island, as executors of the last will and testament of Joseph Whaley, late of the island, planter, deceased, and as guardians and trustees for his children, being minors, for the use and benefit of those minors, the whole of four several pieces or parcels of land. The parcels lay near one another and were only separated by fences, and stood within the land division of the island, holding in all five acres and three quarters, bounded on all sides upon the Honourable Company's waste land. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the three parcels or any of them. The executors and trustees, the survivor of them and the executors and administrators of that survivor, were to hold the whole of the ground in trust for the life of the orphans of the deceased Joseph Whaley, together with their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, from the twelfth day of October last for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying accordingly. They were to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. They held on condition that they and the executors and administrators of the survivor, and the orphans and their successors, bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly kept and obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. They were further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. They were also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcels their full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole four parcels, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences.

Interpretations

The grant vested land in two men acting as executors and trustees rather than as owners, holding the ground for the benefit of the minor children of the deceased Joseph Whaley. This was the standard family-trust device of the register, by which the Company let ground to trusted fiduciaries so that a dead holder's children could take the profit during their minority while the tenure and its covenants rested in adult hands, matching the several widow-and-children trusts sealed at the great sittings of the 1730s and 1740s.

Holding the four parcels in trust for the life of the orphans, rather than settling the freehold on them directly, kept the Company's ultimate ownership intact and the leasehold covenants enforceable against the trustees, while the survivorship clause carrying the estate to the survivor and to that survivor's executors and administrators secured an unbroken line of management should one trustee die during the term.

The four parcels lay close together, separated only by fences, so the grant gathered scattered fragments of the same neighbourhood into a single tenure, with Company waste closing every outer side. The Company let such ground to the holder who could best reach and fence it, here the trust standing in for the family whose ground it rounded out.

Joseph Whaley connects to the Whaley family of the record, running back through the Joseph Whaley sergeant who sold a James Valley house to John Young in 1722 and rose to the courtesy title of esquire, and the Joseph Whaley junior who took several Company parcels ringed by waste through the 1740s, the family long established among the leaseholders and town holders of the island.

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of Land And shall plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry

or Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are most likely to grow

And as they shall happen to decay or die shall replant others of the like Sort

thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as

shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting and Raising of Yams

And also upon further Condition that they or any of them shall not alter

or remove the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of the said

parcells of Land And shall not Sell or dispose of this Lease or their or

any of their Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor &

Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and

Council have to the other part hereof set our hands and affixed the

Honorable Company's Seal this Twelfth day of November in the thirty

third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the

Grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the

faith and so forth And in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven

hundred and Fifty Nine And they the said Executors and Trustees

have hereunto set their hands and Seals the Day and Year above

written

Witness

Rich Law

John Benfountain

Elisha Isaacke

1 Acre

One Acre

2 Acres

The trustees were to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, the trustees or any of them were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcels, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this twelfth day of November in the twenty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty. The executors and trustees had set their hands and seals on the same day and year.

Richard Law witnessed the instrument, which John Desfountain and Elisha Isaacke sealed. An annexed plan marked the four parcels, one of them running as a long narrow strip and the others as smaller pieces, holding severally about three acres and a half, one acre, one acre and two acres.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading

to the East Indies Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Mary

Doveton Widow and Administratrix of all and Singular the goods

Chattels rights and Credits of John Doveton of the said Island

Planter her late Husband deceased All that piece or parcell of

Land lying and being in the East Division of the said Island

containing Seven Acres Butting and Bounding North and East

upon the Lands of Isaac Doveton and South and West upon other

the Lands late of him the said John Doveton deceased Together

with all and Singular the Wodd Water Watercourses Houses Buildings

Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees

Walls fences and all and Singular other the rights Commodities and

Appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and

to hold the said hereby Demised piece or parcell of Land and every

part thereof with the Appurtenances unto her the said Mary Doveton

her heirs Executors Administrators or allowed Assigns from the twelfth

day of October last for during and untill the full End and Term of twenty

one Years from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended

In trust for the said John Dovetons Orpts Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and

every Year unto them the said Honorable Company their Successors

Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings p Acre in at or upon the

feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without any deduction whatsoever

Upon Condition that she the said Mary Doveton Widow and also the

Orphans of the said John Doveton deceased their heirs Executors Administrators

or allowed Assigns shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our

Sovereign Lord King George the Second his heirs and Successors And true

faith to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors And shall

duly observe and Obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island

And also upon Condition that she or they shall and do from time to

time during the Term of this present Lease keep up and Maintain in good

Order and Sufficient and legal repair All such Buildings Houses

Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now are or

hereafter shall be made built or Erected thereon And also shall plant

keep up Maintain and preserve in and upon the said hereby demised piece

or parcell of Land its full quantity or proportion of Wodd being one tenth

part of the said parcell of Land And shall also plant and preserve Furze

within doe or without the fences of the said parcell of Land And shall plant

Fruit trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof

whereon they are most likely to Grow And as they shall happen to decay or die shall

replant others of the like Sort thereon Without hurt or prejudice nevertheless

any part of such Land as shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting and

raising of Yams And also upon Condition that she they or any of them shall

not alter or Remove the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of the

said parcell of Land And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or her their

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to Mary Doveton, widow and administratrix of all the goods, chattels, rights and credits of John Doveton, planter of the island, her late husband deceased, the whole piece or parcel of land holding seven acres. It lay within the east division of the island, bounded north and east upon the lands of Isaac Doveton, and south and west upon other lands of John Doveton, her late husband deceased. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. Mary Doveton, her heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the twelfth day of October last for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, in trust for the orphans of John Doveton, yielding and paying accordingly. She was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. She held on condition that she and the orphans of the deceased John Doveton, and their successors, bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly kept and obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. She was further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. She was also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcel its full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. She was to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, she was not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcel, and was not to sell or dispose of her lease.

Interpretations

The Company let this ground to Mary Doveton in her capacity as widow and administratrix of her late husband John Doveton, holding it in trust for the couple's orphaned children rather than as her own property. This matched the family-trust pattern of the register, by which a widow took the tenure and its covenants into her own hands while the profit of the ground ran to the minor children, securing their inheritance during their minority without vesting the land in them directly.

Where a man died leaving no will, his estate passed to an administrator appointed to settle it, and here the widow held that office over all her husband's goods, chattels, rights and credits, the standard route by which a wife took charge of an intestate husband's affairs. The lease made her the working tenant of the Company for the family's benefit, with the covenants of repair, wood, furze and fruit trees resting on her.

The parcel sat wholly among Doveton ground, bounded by Isaac Doveton on the north and east and by other land of the deceased John Doveton on the south and west, so the grant rounded out a family block, the Company letting the fragment to the widow whose household already held the surrounding fields.

The Doveton name attaches to the substantial family of the record, running back through the Jonathan Doveton confirmed in ground under Halley's Mount at the sittings of 1711 and 1713 and the Samuel Doveton who accumulated West Division and town ground through the 1730s and 1740s, the family long established among the leaseholders and freeholders of the east and west divisions.

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or any of their Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor

and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and

Council to the other part hereof have set our hands and affixed the Honorable

Company's Seal this Nineteenth day of November in the thirty third Year of the Reign

of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great Britain France

and Ireland King Defender of the faith And so forth And in the Year of our Lord

One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And she the said Mary Doveton

hath on the behalf of herself and the said Orphans of the said John Doveton deceased

set her hand and Seal the day and Year above written

Witness Rich Law

Mary Doveton

7 Acres

Mary Doveton was not to sell or dispose of her lease or her interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this nineteenth day of November in the twenty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty. Mary Doveton, on behalf of herself and the orphans of the deceased John Doveton, had set her hand and seal on the same day and year.

Richard Law witnessed the instrument, which Mary Doveton sealed. An annexed plan marked the parcel as seven acres, bounded north, east, south and west.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to

the East Indies Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Henry

Easthope of the said Island Planter All that piece or parcell of Land

containing twenty Eight Acres lying and being in Sandy Bay Butting and

Bounding North and East upon the Lands of James Easthope and South &

West upon other the Lands of him the said Henry Easthope Together with all

and Singular the Wodd Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices

Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls

fences and all and Singular other the rights Commodities & appurtenances

thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and to hold the said

hereby Demised piece or parcell of Land and every part thereof with

the Appurtenances unto him the said Henry Easthope his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October last for

During and untill the full End and Term of twenty one Years from

thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding and

paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the Term of this present

Lease unto them the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents

or assigns the Sum of five Shillings p Acre in at or upon the feast of

St Michael the Arch Angel without any Deduction whatsoever Upon

Condition that he the said Henry Easthope his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed assigns shall and do bear true faith and

Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second his heirs and

Successors And true faith to them the said Honorable Company and

their Successors And shall duly observe and obey all the Laws and

Constitutions of the said Island And also upon Condition that he

or they shall and do from time to time during the Term of this present

Lease keep up and Maintain in good Order and Sufficient and legal

repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations

and fences as now are or hereafter shall be made built or Erected thereon

And shall also plant keep up Maintain and preserve in and upon the

said hereby demised parcell of Land its full quantity or proportion of

Wodd being one tenth part of the said parcell of Land And shall

likewise plant and preserve Furze within doe or without the fences

of the said parcell of Land And shall plant Fruit Trees such as

Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof

whereon they are most likely to grow And as they shall happen to

Decay or die shall replant others of the like Sort thereon without

hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as shall

be set apart for the sole purpose of planting and Raising of Yams

And also upon further Condition that he the said Henry Easthope

his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns shall

not alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits or

Land Marks of the said parcell of Land And shall not sell or

Dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the leave

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to Henry Easthope, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of land holding twenty-eight acres in Sandy Bay. It lay bounded north and east upon the lands of James Easthope, and south and west upon other lands of Henry Easthope himself. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. Henry Easthope, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the twelfth day of October last for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying accordingly. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly kept and obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. He was also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcel its full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. He was to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, Henry Easthope and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcel, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council.

Interpretations

The parcel sat wholly among Easthope ground, bounded by James Easthope on the north and east and by other land of Henry Easthope himself on the south and west, so the grant rounded out a family block already in Easthope hands, the Company letting the fragment to the neighbour whose fields surrounded it on every side.

The Easthope name attaches to the family of the record whose ground ran under the several scribal renderings of Easthope, Eastings, Eastop and Eastrop, back to the James Easthope who dealt in Fisher Valley and Peak Gut ground in the earlier decades. The same James Easthope, or the family name preserved in a living holder, appears here fixing two boundaries, and had fixed the southern and western boundaries of the eight acres let Thomas Greentree in Sandy Bay under the grant of the same sitting of 12 November 1750, the two grants locking together across the shared Easthope ground.

The twenty-eight acres placed Henry Easthope among the more substantial leaseholders of the Sandy Bay quarter, his combined block considerable once the leasehold joined the freehold and other ground his household already held.

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And Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being In

Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council have to the other part

hereof set our hands and affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this

Nineteenth day of November in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign

Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great Britain France and

Ireland King Defender of the faith And so forth And in the Year of our Lord

One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And he the said Henry

Easthope hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the day and Year above

written

Witness Rich Law

Henry Easthope

28 Acres

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies

Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Richard Beale the Elder of

the said Island Gentleman All that piece or parcell of Land in Sandy Bay

in the said Island containing ten Acres Butting and Bounding North to

the Main Ridge South and West upon the free Land of him the said Richard

Beale and East upon the Lands of Mr William Wrangham And also

all that other piece or parcell of Land in Sandy Bay aforesaid containing

One Acre and an half Butting and Bounding towards the North and

East upon other the Lands of him the said Richard Beale towards the South

East upon other the Lands of Samuel Alexander and towards the West upon the

upon the Lands of Mr Matthew Bowling Together with all and Singular the Wodd

Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams

and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls fences And all singular

other the rights Commodities and appurtenances thereunto belonging or

appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby demised pieces

or parcells of Land and every part thereof with the Appurtenances

unto him the said Richard Beale his heirs Executors Administrators

or

The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this nineteenth day of November in the twenty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty. Henry Easthope had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Richard Law witnessed the instrument, which Henry Easthope sealed. An annexed plan marked the parcel as twenty-eight acres, bounded north, east, south and west.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to Richard Beale the elder, gentleman of the island, the whole piece or parcel of land holding ten acres in Sandy Bay. It lay bounded north upon the Main Ridge, south and west upon the free land of Richard Beale himself, and east upon the lands of William Wrangham. The grant also carried another piece or parcel of land in Sandy Bay holding one acre and a half, bounded north and east upon the lands of Richard Beale himself, south-east upon other lands of Samuel Alexander, and west upon the lands of Matthew Dowling. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. Richard Beale, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole of both pieces of land and every part of them.

Interpretations

The grant combined two separate parcels in Sandy Bay into a single instrument, a larger ten acres and a smaller acre and a half, both rounding out ground Richard Beale already held, his own free land closing the south and west of the first and the north and east of the second. The Company let such fragments to the neighbour whose fields adjoined them, and here the grantee held ground on more than one side of each piece.

Bounding the ten acres north upon the Main Ridge fixed one edge on the island's central spine, the high ground running the length of St Helena that repeatedly served as a natural boundary in the grants, sparing the holder that stretch of fencing where the ridge itself divided the ground.

The courtesy title of gentleman set Richard Beale among the upper civilian rank of the island, the Beale name running back through the several Beale holders of the record, from the deceased Anthony and Jonathan Beale of the foundational allotments to the Richard Beale who acted as executor of the Ryder estates through the 1750s. William Wrangham on the eastern boundary and Samuel Alexander and Matthew Dowling on the boundaries of the smaller piece place the parcels among the Wrangham, Alexander and Dowling ground of the Sandy Bay quarter, the same holders recurring across the grants of this period.

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Or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October last for during and untill

the full End and Term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing

fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding and paying therefore

Yearly and every Year during the Term of this present Lease unto

the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or assigns the

Sum of five Shillings p Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael

the Arch Angel without any Deduction whatsoever Upon Condition

that he the said Richard Beale his heirs Executors Administrators or

allowed assigns shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our

Sovereign Lord King George the Second his heirs and Successors and

true faith to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors And shall duly observe

and obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And also

upon Condition that he or they shall and do from time to time during the

Term of this present Lease keep up and Maintain in good Order and

sufficient and legal Repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds

Tenements Plantations and fences as now are or hereafter shall be

made built or Erected thereon And shall also plant keep up

Maintain and preserve in and upon the said hereby demised pieces

or parcells of Land their full quantity or proportion of Wodd being

one tenth part of the said parcells of Land And shall likewise plant &

preserve Furze within doe or without the fences of the said parcells

of Land And shall plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry

or Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are most likely to

Grow And as they shall happen to decay or die shall replant others of

the like Sort thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any

part of such Land as shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting

and Raising of Yams And also upon further Condition that he the

said Richard Beale his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

assigns shall not alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits

or Land Marks of the said pieces or parcells of Land And shall not

sell or Dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without

the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being

In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council to the other part

hereof have set our hands and affixed the Honorable Company's Seal

this Nineteenth day of November in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our

Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great Britain

France and Ireland King Defender of the faith and so forth And in the

Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And he the

said Richard Beale hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the day and

Year above written

Witness Rich Law

Rich Beale

10 Acres

Richard Beale, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold both pieces from the twelfth day of October last for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying accordingly. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly kept and obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. He was also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcels their full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. He was to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, Richard Beale and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcels, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this nineteenth day of November in the twenty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty. Richard Beale had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Richard Law witnessed the instrument, which Richard Beale sealed. An annexed plan marked the larger parcel as ten acres, bounded north, east and south.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of the said Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies

Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Mr Matthew Bazett the Elder of the

said Island Gentleman All that piece or parcell of Land containing two

Acres lying and being in the East division of the said Island Butting and

Bounding North and East upon the Lands of Mary Seales Widow

common and moor West and South upon other the Lands of him the said

Matthew Bazett Together with all and Singular the Wodd Water Watercourses

Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams

Fruit Trees Walls fences And all and Singular other the rights Commodities

and Appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and

to hold the said hereby demised piece or parcell of Land and every part

thereof with the Appurtenances unto him the said Matthew Bazett his

heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of

October last for during and untill the full End and Term of twenty one Years

from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding

and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the term of this

present Lease unto them the said Honorable Company their Successors

Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings p Acre in at or upon the

feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without any deduction whatsoever

Upon Condition that he the said Matthew Bazett his heirs

Executors Administrators or allowed assigns shall and do bear true

faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second

his heirs and Successors And true faith to them them the said Honorable

Company and their Successors And shall duly observe and obey all the

Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And also upon Condition

that he or they shall and do from time to time during the Term of this

present Lease keep up and Maintain in good Order and Sufficient

and legal repair All such Buildings Houses Sheds Tenements

Plantations and fences as now are or hereafter shall be made

built or Erected thereon And shall also keep up Maintain & preserve

in and upon the said hereby demised piece or parcell of Land its full

quantity or proportion of Wodd being one tenth part of the said

parcell of Land And shall likewise plant and preserve furze

within doe or without the fences of the said parcell of Land And shall

plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees

in such parts thereof whereon they are most likely to Grow And as

they shall happen to decay or die shall replant others of the like Sort thereon

without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as shall be set

apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams And also upon

further Condition that he the said Matthew Bazett his heirs Executors Administrators

or allowed assigns shall not alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits

or Land Marks of the said parcell of Land And shall not sell or dispose of this

Lease or his or their Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the

Governor

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to Matthew Bazett, gentleman of the island, the whole piece or parcel of land holding two acres. It lay within the east division of the island, bounded north and east upon the lands of Mary Seale, widow, and west and south upon other lands of Matthew Bazett himself. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. Matthew Bazett, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the twelfth day of October last for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying accordingly. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly kept and obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. He was also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcel its full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. He was to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, Matthew Bazett and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcel, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council.

Interpretations

The two acres sat wedged between Bazett and Seale ground, Mary Seale's land closing the north and east and Matthew Bazett's own the west and south, so the grant rounded out a block he already largely held, the Company letting the small fragment to the neighbour whose fields surrounded it on two sides.

The courtesy title of gentleman marked Matthew Bazett among the upper civilian rank of the island. The Bazett name attaches to the substantial family of the record, running back through the Matthew Bazett who served as surveyor and council member across the sittings of 1711 and 1713 and forward to the Matthew Bazett who became secretary to the Company on the island by 1761 and paid the highest recorded prices for James Valley property, the family long established among the fiduciaries and accumulators of the east division.

Mary Seale, widow, on the northern and eastern boundary connects to the Seale family of the record, her late husband's ground fixing this edge. She held the land whose eventual sale to Matthew Bazett of the later generation, at £120 down and £120 more payable on her death, appears in the register for 1761, so the two holdings adjoined and later fell into the same hands.

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100

Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we

the said Governor and Council have to the other part hereof set our hands and

affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this Nineteenth day of November in the

Thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the

Grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the

faith and so forth And in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred

and Fifty Nine And he the said Matthew Bazett hath hereunto set his

hand and Seal the Day and Year above written

Witness Rich Law

Bazett

2 Acres

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the

East Indies Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Lieutenant

John Clark Guardian and Trustee of and for Isaac Doveton a Minor Son of

Jonathan Doveton late of the said Island Planter deceased for the use and

benefit of the said Minor All that piece or parcell of Land lying and being

in the East Division of the said Island containing two Acres Butting and

Bounding North upon the Honorable Company's Lands East and West upon

other Lands of him the said Isaac Doveton and South also upon the said

Honorable Company's Land Together with all and Singular the Wodd Water

Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams Plantations

of Yams Fruit Trees Walls fences and all and Singular other the rights

Commodities and Appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining To

have and to hold the said hereby demised piece or parcell of Land and

every part thereof with the Appurtenances unto him the said John Clark

his Executors Administrators and assigns In trust nevertheless for the

said Minor his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns from

the twelfth day of October last for during and untill the full End and Term of

twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended

Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the term

of this present Lease unto the said Honorable Company their Successors

Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings p Acre in at or upon the

feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without any deduction whatsoever

Upon Condition that he the said John Clark his Executors Administrators

and

Matthew Bazett was not to sell or dispose of his lease or his interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this nineteenth day of November in the twenty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty. Matthew Bazett had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Richard Law witnessed the instrument, which Matthew Bazett sealed. An annexed plan marked the parcel as two acres, bounded north, east, west and south.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to John Clark, guardian and trustee for and on behalf of a minor child of Jonathan Doveton, late of the island, planter, deceased, for the use and benefit of that minor, the whole piece or parcel of land holding two acres. It lay within the east division of the island, bounded north upon the Honourable Company's lands, east and west upon other lands of Isaac Doveton, and south also upon the Honourable Company's land. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. John Clark, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it in trust for the minor and the minor's heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, from the twelfth day of October last for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying accordingly. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. He held on condition that John Clark and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second.

Interpretations

The Company let this ground to John Clark as guardian and trustee for a minor child of the deceased Jonathan Doveton, holding it for the child's benefit rather than as his own. This matched the family-trust device of the register, by which land was let to a trusted adult so that a dead holder's minor children took the profit during their minority while the tenure and its covenants rested in responsible hands, the same arrangement used in the Whaley and Doveton trusts of the same sitting.

The two acres sat wholly among Company and Doveton ground, with the Company's own waste closing the north and south and Isaac Doveton's land the east and west, so the grant let a small fragment to the trust that held the surrounding family fields, the Company keeping its ultimate ownership on three faces of the parcel.

John Clark connects to the Captain John Clark of the record who held Sandy Bay ground and to whom the Governor and Council sold the intestate Vaughans estate in 1754, a figure of standing on the island fit to be trusted with a child's inheritance. Jonathan Doveton and Isaac Doveton place the ground among the Doveton family holdings of the east division, the same family whose widow Mary Doveton took a seven-acre trust at this sitting, the several Doveton parcels lying close together in that quarter.

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101

And assigns And also the said Minor his heirs Executors Administrators

or allowed assigns shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance our Sovereign

Lord King George the Second his heirs and Successors And true faith to them

the said Honorable Company and their Successors And shall duly observe

and obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And also upon

Condition that he they or some of them shall and do from time to time during the

Term of this present Lease keep up and Maintain in good Order and Sufficient

and legal Repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements

Plantations and fences as now are or hereafter shall be made built or Erected

thereon And shall also plant keep up Maintain and preserve in and upon

the said hereby demised parcell of Land its full quantity or proportion of

Wodd being one tenth part of the said parcell of Land And shall also plant

and preserve Furze within doe or without the fences of the said parcell of

Land And shall plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or

Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are most likely to Grow

And as they shall happen to Decay or die shall replant others of the like

Sort thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such

Land as shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising of

Yams And also upon further Condition that he the said John Clark his

Executors Administrators or assigns or the said Minor his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed assigns shall not alter or remove the said fences

they being the Limits or Land Marks of the said parcell of Land And shall

not sell or dispose of this Lease or their or any of their Interest therein without

the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being In

Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council to the other part hereof have

set our hands and affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this Nineteenth day

of November in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the

Second by the Grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of

the faith and so forth And in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred

and Fifty Nine And he the said Guardian of the said Isaac Doveton hath

hereunto set his hand and Seal the day and Year above written

Witness

Rich Law

John Clark

John Clark and his successors, and the minor and the minor's successors, were to bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly keep and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. He was also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcel its full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. He was to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, John Clark and his successors, and the minor and the minor's successors, were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcel, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this nineteenth day of November in the twenty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty. John Clark, as guardian of the minor child of the deceased Jonathan Doveton, had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Richard Law witnessed the instrument, which John Clark sealed.

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102

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the

East Indies Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Samuel

Alexander of the said Island Planter All that piece or parcell of Land in

the South division of the said Island Butting and Bounding West on the

Lands of Mr Matthew Bowling North on the Lands of Mr Richard Beale

Senior and East and South on other the Lands of him the said Samuel

Alexander And which said piece or parcell of Land contains by Measure

Eighteen Acres and an half Together with all and Singular the Wodd

Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and

Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls fences And all and Singular other

the rights Commodities and appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining

To have and to hold the said hereby demised piece or parcell of Land and

every part thereof with the Appurtenances unto him the said Samuel Alexander

his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns from the twelfth day

of October last for during and untill the full End and term of twenty one Years

from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding and

paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the term of this present Lease

unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or assigns the sum

of five Shillings p Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel

without any deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that he the said Samuel

Alexander his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns shall &

do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the

Second his heirs and Successors And true faith to them the said Honorable Company

and their Successors And shall duly observe and obey all the Laws & Constitutions

of the said Island And also upon Condition that he or they shall and do from

time to time and at all times hereafter during the Term of this present Lease

keep up and Maintain in good order and Sufficient and legal repair All such

Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now

are or hereafter shall be made built or Erected thereon And shall also plant

keep up Maintain and preserve in and upon the said hereby demised parcell

of Land its full quantity or proportion of Wodd being one tenth part of the

said parcell of Land And shall likewise plant and preserve furze within doe

or without the fences of the said parcell of Land And shall plant Fruit Trees

such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof whereon

they are most likely to grow And as they shall happen to decay or die shall

replant others of the like Sort thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless

to any part of such Land as shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting

and raising of Yams And also upon further Condition that he the said

Samuel Alexander his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns

shall not alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks

of the said parcell of Land And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or

his or their Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor

and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor

and

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to Samuel Alexander, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of land. It lay within the south division of the island, bounded west upon the lands of Matthew Purling, north upon the lands of Richard Beale senior, and east and south upon other lands of Samuel Alexander himself, holding in all eighteen acres and a half. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. Samuel Alexander, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the twelfth day of October last for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying accordingly. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly kept and obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. He was also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcel its full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. He was to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, Samuel Alexander and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcel, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time.

Interpretations

This was the second grant of the sitting to Samuel Alexander, following his nineteen acres in the south division sealed earlier, and the two parcels together added a substantial block to his holding in that quarter. The Company let both fragments to the neighbour whose fields surrounded them, his own land here closing the east and south of the eighteen acres and a half.

The parcel sat wedged among Alexander, Purling and Beale ground, with Matthew Purling's land on the west and Richard Beale senior's on the north, so the grant rounded out ground Alexander already largely held while its boundaries locked against the neighbouring holdings. Richard Beale senior on the northern edge is the same Richard Beale the elder who took ten acres and an acre and a half in Sandy Bay at this sitting, the shared boundary tying the two men's grants together.

The Alexander name attaches to the long-established family of the record, running back through the John Alexander who served as register from at least 1686 and gathered ground across several valleys, the family holding widely across the south and east divisions by the middle of the century.

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103

And Council have to the other part of this Lease set our hands and affixed

the Honorable Company's Seal this Nineteenth day of November in the thirty third

Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of

great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith And so forth And

in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And he the

said Samuel Alexander hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the Day and Year

above written

Witness Rich Law

Saml Alexander

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do

hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Elisha Isaacke of the said Island Planter

All that piece or parcell of Land in the East division of the said Island containing

five Acres Butting and Bounding North upon the Leasehold Lands of Mr Matthew

Bowling East upon the freehold Lands of him the said Elisha Isaacke and South

and West upon the Lands of Samuel Knipe Together with all and Singular the

Wodd Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams

and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls fences and all and Singular

other the rights Commodities and Appurtenances thereunto belonging or

appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby demised piece or parcell

of Land and every part thereof with the Appurtenances unto him the said

Elisha Isaacke his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns from

the twelfth day of October last for during and untill the full End and term of

twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended

Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the Term of this

present Lease unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or

assigns the Sum of five Shillings p Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael

the Arch Angel without any deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that he

the said Elisha Isaacke his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns

shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King

George the Second his heirs and Successors And true faith to them the said

Honorable

The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this nineteenth day of November in the twenty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty. Samuel Alexander had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Richard Law witnessed the instrument, which Samuel Alexander sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to Elisha Isaacke, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of land holding five acres. It lay within the east division of the island, bounded north upon the leasehold lands of Matthew Purling, east upon the freehold lands of Elisha Isaacke himself, and south and west upon the lands of Samuel Knipe. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. Elisha Isaacke, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the twelfth day of October last for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying accordingly. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company.

Interpretations

The parcel joined leasehold to Isaacke's own freehold, his free land closing the east, so the grant rounded out a block he already held in part, the Company letting the fragment to the neighbour best placed to reach and fence it. Naming the neighbouring ground by its tenure, Matthew Purling's leasehold on the north against Isaacke's own freehold on the east, shows the register distinguishing the two kinds of holding where they met at a boundary.

Elisha Isaacke connects to the Isaacke or Isaac family of the record, running back through the Sutton Isaack of the earlier decades and forward to the Elisha Isaacke who conveyed small parcels in the east division through the 1750s, and who took the four-parcel Whaley trust jointly with John Desfountain at this same sitting. Samuel Knipe on the southern and western boundary attaches to the Knipe family long established in the Pleasant Valley and Sandy Bay quarters, the John Knipe of the earlier record having held ground at the bottom of Pleasant Valley, the family name still fixing boundaries a generation on.

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104

Honorable Company and their Successors And shall duly observe and

obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And also upon Condition

that he or they shall and do from time to time during the Term of this present

Lease keep up and Maintain in good Order and Sufficient and legal repair All

such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as

now are or hereafter shall be made built or Erected thereon And shall also

plant keep up Maintain and preserve in and upon the said hereby demised

parcell of Land its full quantity or proportion of Wodd being one tenth part of

the said parcell of Land And shall also plant and preserve Furze within doe or

without the fences of the said parcell of Land And shall plant Fruit Trees

such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein

they are most likely to grow And as they shall happen to decay or die shall

replant others of the like Sort thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless

to any part of such Land as shall be set apart for the sole purpose of

Planting and raising of Yams And also upon further Condition that he the

said Elisha Isaacke his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns shall

not alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of the

said parcell of Land And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their

Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council

for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council

have to the other part of this Lease set our hands and affixed the Honorable

Company's Seal this Nineteenth day of November in the thirty third Year

of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of

great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith And so forth

And in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine

And he the said Elisha Isaacke hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the day

and Year above written

Witness Rich Law

Elisha Isaacke

5 Acres

Elisha Isaacke and his successors were to bear true faith and allegiance to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly keep and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. He was also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcel its full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. He was to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, Elisha Isaacke and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcel, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this nineteenth day of November in the twenty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty. Elisha Isaacke had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Richard Law witnessed the instrument, which Elisha Isaacke sealed. An annexed plan marked the parcel as five acres, bounded north, east, south and west.

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105

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies

Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Richard Goodain Lieutenant

Henry Bazett and Jonathan Doveton Guardians and Trustees to and for Thomas

Harper a Minor Son of Gabriel Harper deceased for the use and benefit of him

the said Minor All those two pieces or parcells of Leasehold Land lying and being

in the said Island adjoining to each other containing together forty two Acres

Butting and bounding East upon the Lands of Thomas Colgrave West upon

the Lands of George Alexander North upon eleven Acres of the freehold Land

of him the said Minor And South upon the Honorable Company's Wast Land

Together with all and Singular the Wodd Water Watercourses Houses

Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams

Fruit Trees Walls fences and all and Singular other the rights Commodities

and appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and

to hold the said two pieces or parcells of Leasehold Land and every part

thereof with the Appurtenances unto them the said Guardians and Trustees

and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators

of such Survivor from the twelfth day of October last for during and untill the

full End and term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to

be compleat and Ended In trust nevertheless for the use and benefit of the

said Minor his heirs Executors Administrators and allowed Assigns for

his and their own use and benefit Yielding and paying therefore Yearly

and every Year during the Term of this present Lease unto the said

Honorable Company their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five

Shillings p Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel

without any Deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that they the

said Guardians and Trustees and the Survivors and Survivor of them and

the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor And also the said

Minor his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns shall and

do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the

Second his heirs and Successors and true faith to the said Honorable

Company and their Successors and shall duly observe and obey all the

Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And also upon Condition that they or some

of them shall and do from time to time during the Term of this present Lease keep up and

Maintain in good Order and Sufficient and legal Repair All such Buildings Houses

Edifices Tenements Plantations and fences as now are or hereafter shall be made

built or Erected thereon And shall moreover plant keep up maintain and preserve

in and upon the said hereby demised parcells of Land their full quantity or proportion of

Wodd being one tenth part of the said Parcells of Land And shall likewise plant and

preserve Furze within doe or without the fences of the said parcells of Land And shall

plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof

wherein they are most likely to grow And as they shall happen to decay or die

shall replant others of the like Sort thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to

any part of such Land as shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting and

raising

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to Richard Goodwin, lieutenant, together with Henry Bazett and Jonathan Doveton, as guardians and trustees for and on behalf of Thomas Harper, a minor, son of Gabriel Harper deceased, for the use and benefit of that minor, the whole of two pieces or parcels of freehold land. The parcels lay near one another and adjoined each other. The first held forty-two acres, bounded east upon the lands of Thomas Colgrave, west upon the lands of George Alexander, north upon eleven acres of the freehold land of the minor himself, and south upon the Honourable Company's waste land. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the two parcels. The guardians and trustees, the survivors and the survivor of them, and the executors and administrators of that survivor, were to hold the whole of the ground in trust for the minor, and for his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, from the twelfth day of October last for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, for the minor's own use and benefit, yielding and paying accordingly. They were to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. They held on condition that the guardians and trustees, the survivors and the survivor of them, the executors and administrators of that survivor, and the minor and his successors, bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly kept and obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. They were further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. They were also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcels their full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole two parcels, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. They were to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams.

Interpretations

The Company let this ground to three men acting as guardians and trustees for the minor Thomas Harper, son of the deceased Gabriel Harper, holding it for the child's benefit rather than as their own. This matched the family-trust device that runs through the sitting, by which land was let to trusted adults so that a dead holder's children took the profit during their minority while the tenure and its covenants rested in responsible hands, the same arrangement seen in the Whaley, Doveton and Clark trusts of the same day.

The three trustees stood at different stations on the island, Richard Goodwin a lieutenant of the garrison, Henry Bazett and Jonathan Doveton substantial holders of the record, so the trust drew on both the military and the planting sides of island society, spreading the responsibility for the child's inheritance across men whose standing secured it. The survivorship clause carrying the estate to the survivors and the survivor's executors kept an unbroken line of management should the trustees die during the long term.

The parcel bounded north upon eleven acres of the minor's own freehold, so the leasehold rounded out ground the child already held in fee, joining leasehold to freehold in a single working block. Thomas Colgrave and George Alexander on the east and west place the ground among the Colgrave and Alexander holdings, the same Thomas Colgrave who took thirty acres in the east division and the George Alexander who fixed boundaries on the Samuel Alexander grants at this sitting, the neighbouring parcels locking together.

Gabriel Harper, the minor's deceased father, connects to the Harper family of the record, the name running back through the several Thomas Harpers of the earlier decades, and his orphans appear again in the register fixing a James Valley boundary in 1753, the family's ground and children recurring across the middle of the century.

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[Physical loss: a hole in the paper affects the middle left of the lower block, in the lines describing the parcell of Land, its boundaries and the Wodd Water.]

Raising of Yams And upon further Condition that they the said Guardians Trustees

or the Survivors or Survivor of them or the Executors or Administrators of such Survivor

or the said Minor his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed Assigns shall not alter

or remove the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of the said Parcells of

Land And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or their or any of their Interest therein

without the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being In Witness

whereof we the said Governor and Council to the other part hereof have set our hands

and affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this Nineteenth day of November in the

thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King George the Second by the Grace

of God of great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the faith and so forth And in

the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And they the said

Guardians and Trustees have hereunto set their hands and Seals the day and

Year above written

Witness

Rich Law

Rich Goodwin

Henry Bazett

Jonathan Doveton

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do

hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto George Alexander of the said Island

Planter All that piece or parcell of Land containing Sixteen Acres lying near the

head of Powells Valley [...] and Bounding North and West upon the freehold

Land of him the said [...] Alexander and South and East upon the Lands of

Gabriel Harper's Orphans Together with all and Singular the Wodd Water

Watercourses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams

Fruit Trees Walls fences and all and Singular other the rights Commodities and

Appurtenances [...] thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and

to hold the said hereby demised piece or parcell of Land and every part thereof

with the Appurtenances unto him the said George Alexander his heirs

Executors Administrators or allowed Assigns from the twelfth day of October

last for during and untill the full End and term of twenty one Years from

thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding and paying

therefore Yearly and every Year during the term of this present Lease unto the

said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five

Shillings p Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without

any deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that he the said George Alexander

his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns shall and do bear

true

On a further condition, the guardians and trustees, the survivors and the survivor of them, the executors and administrators of that survivor, and the minor and his successors, were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcels, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this nineteenth day of November in the twenty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty. The guardians and trustees had set their hands and seals on the same day and year.

Richard Law witnessed the instrument, which Richard Goodwin, Henry Bazett and Jonathan Doveton sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to George Alexander, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of land holding sixteen acres. It lay near the head of Powells Valley, bounded north upon the freehold land of George Alexander himself, and south and east upon the lands of the orphans of Gabriel Harper. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. George Alexander, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the twelfth day of October last for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying accordingly. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second.

Interpretations

The parcel sat wedged between George Alexander's own freehold on the north and the Harper orphans' ground on the south and east, so the grant rounded out a block he already held in part, the Company letting the fragment to the neighbour whose fields adjoined it. The same Harper orphans held the ground let in trust to Richard Goodwin and his fellow trustees at this sitting, so the two grants bounded one another, the Company settling the neighbouring parcels of the one family and its neighbours in a single run.

Naming the ground near the head of Powells Valley fixes the parcel in a quarter long associated with the Bagley and Alexander families, the byname running back through the earlier record where Orlando Bagley and Margaret Bagley held ground at the head of that valley, the George Alexander here holding freehold and now leasehold in the same district.

The George Alexander of this grant is the same man who fixed the eastern boundary of Samuel Alexander's nineteen acres and the western boundary of the Harper minor's forty-two acres at this sitting, so his ground touched several of the day's parcels, marking him among the settled Alexander holders of the south division and the Powells Valley head.

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True faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second his

heirs and Successors and true faith to the said Honorable Company and their Successors

and shall duly observe and obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And

also upon Condition that he or they shall and do from time to time during the Term of

this present Lease keep up and Maintain in good Order and Sufficient and legal Repair

All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now

are or hereafter shall be made built or Erected on the said hereby Demised piece or

parcell of Land And shall also plant keep up Maintain and preserve in and upon

the said parcell of Land its full quantity or proportion of Wodd being one tenth part of

the said parcell of Land And shall likewise plant and preserve furze within doe or

without the fences of the said parcell of Land And shall plant Fruit Trees such as

Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are most

likely to Grow And as they shall happen to decay or die shall replant others of the like

Sort thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as shall

be set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams And also upon

further Condition that he the said George Alexander his heirs Executors Administrators

or allowed assigns shall not alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits or

Land Marks of the said parcell of Land And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or

his or their Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council

for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council have

to the other part hereof set our hands and affixed the Honorable Company's Seal

this Nineteenth day of November in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our

Sovereign Lord George the Second by the grace of God of great Britain France and

Ireland King defender of the faith and so forth And in the Year of our Lord

One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And he the said George Alexander

hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the day and Year above Written

Witness Rich Law

George Alexander

George Alexander and his successors were to bear true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly keep and obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. He was also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcel its full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. He was to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, George Alexander and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcel, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this nineteenth day of November in the twenty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty. George Alexander had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Richard Law witnessed the instrument, which George Alexander sealed.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do hereby

Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Lieutenant John Clark in the Service of the

said Honorable Company All that piece or parcell of Land containing Nine

Acres and an half in the West Division of the said Island Butting and bounding

North upon the Lands of Benjamin Marvin East upon the Lands of Francis

Wrangham Senior West upon the Lands of the Widow and Orphans of Martin Kalp

Deceased and South upon other the Lands of him the said John Clark Together

with all and Singular the Wodd Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices

Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls fences

And all and singular other the rights Commodities and Appurtenances

whatsoever thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and to hold the

said hereby Demised piece or parcell of Land and every part thereof with the

Appurtenances unto him the said John Clark his heirs Executors Administrators

and allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October last for during and untill

the full End and term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to be

compleat and Ended Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every

Year during the Term of this present Lease unto the said Honorable Company

their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings p Acre in at or

upon the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without any deduction whatsoever

Upon Condition that he the said John Clark his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed assigns shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance

to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second And true faith to them the said

Honorable Company and their Successors And shall duly observe and obey all

the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And also upon Condition

that he or they shall and do during the Term of this present Lease keep up and

Maintain in good Order and Sufficient and legal Repair All such Buildings

Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now are or hereafter

shall or may be made built or Erected on the said hereby demised piece or parcell

of Land And shall also plant keep up Maintain and preserve in and upon

the said hereby Demised parcell of Land the full quantity or proportion of Wodd

being one forth part [...] parcell of Land And shall likewise plant and

preserve furze within doe or without the fences of the said parcell of Land And shall

plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts

thereof wherein they are most likely to grow And as they shall happen to decay die

shall replant others of the like Sort thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless

to any part of such Land as shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting

raising of Yams And also upon further Condition that he the said John Clark

his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns shall not alter or

remove the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of the said

Parcell of Land And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their

Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council

for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council

have to the other part hereof set our hands and affixed the Honorable Company's

Seal this Nineteenth day of November in the thirty third Year of the Reign of

our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great Britain France

and Ireland King defender of the faith And so forth And in the Year of our

Lord

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to Lieutenant John Clark, in the service of the Honourable Company, the whole piece or parcel of land holding nine acres and a half. It lay within the west division of the island, bounded north upon the lands of Benjamin Mason, east upon the lands of Francis Wrangham senior, west upon the lands of the widow and orphans of Martin Harper deceased, and south upon other lands of John Clark himself. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. John Clark, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the twelfth day of October last for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying accordingly. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly kept and obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. He was also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcel its full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. He was to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, John Clark and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcel, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this nineteenth day of November in the twenty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord.

Interpretations

The parcel sat among the ground of several West Division holders, Benjamin Mason on the north, Francis Wrangham senior on the east and the widow and orphans of the deceased Martin Harper on the west, with John Clark's own land closing the south, so the grant rounded out a block he already held in part while its boundaries locked against the neighbouring holdings.

Lieutenant John Clark held this ground in his own name as a Company officer, distinct from the John Clark who took a two-acre trust for the Doveton minor at this sitting, though the two may be the same man acting in two capacities, as private tenant here and as guardian there. His rank and Company service marked him among the garrison figures who also held island land, the pattern that recurs across the leaseholders of the period.

The widow and orphans of Martin Harper on the western boundary connect to the Harper family of the record, the Martin Harper who took ground in the West Division and Swanley Valley in the earlier decades and acted as executor alongside Charles Steward, his death now leaving a widow and children whose land fixed this edge. Francis Wrangham senior on the east and Benjamin Mason on the north place the parcel among the substantial Wrangham and Mason holdings, the Benjamin Mason who bought twenty acres called Bisley from Francis Wrangham in 1761 holding ground here a decade earlier.

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Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And he the said John Clark

to these presents set his hand and Seal the Day and Year above written

Witness

John Clark

9 1/2 Acres

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable the

United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do hereby

Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Lieutenant John Clark in the Service of the

said Honorable Company All that piece or parcell of Land in the West division

of the said Island containing Six Acres Butting and Bounding North and East

upon the Honorable Company's Wast Land South upon the Lands of him the said

John Clark and West upon the Lands of John Goodwin a Minor Together with all &

Singular the Wodd Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements

Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls fences And all & singular

other the rights Commodities and Appurtenances thereunto belonging or

appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby demised piece or parcell

of Land and every part thereof with the Appurtenances unto the said John

Clark his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed Assigns from the twelfth

day of October last for during and untill the full End and term of twenty one

Years from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended Yielding &

paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the Term of this present

Lease unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or assigns

the Sum of five Shillings p Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael the

Arch Angel without any deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that

he the said John Clark his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns

shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the

Second his heirs and Successors And true faith to them the said Honorable

Company and their Successors And shall duly observe and obey all the Laws and

Constitutions of the said Island And also upon Condition that he or they shall

and do from time to time during the Term of this present Lease keep up and

Maintain in good Order and Sufficient and legal Repair All such Buildings

Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now are

or hereafter shall be made built or Erected on the said hereby demised piece

or parcell of Land And shall also plant keep up Maintain and preserve in &

upon the said hereby demised piece or parcell of Land its full quantity or

proportion of Wodd being one tenth part of the said parcell of Land And shall

likewise plant and preserve Furze within doe or without the fences of the said

parcell of Land And shall plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry

or

The year was one thousand seven hundred and fifty. John Clark had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Richard Law witnessed the instrument, which John Clark sealed. An annexed plan marked the parcel as nine acres and a half, bounded west, south and north.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to Lieutenant John Clark, in the service of the Honourable Company, the whole piece or parcel of land holding six acres. It lay within the west division of the island, bounded north and east upon the Honourable Company's waste land, south upon the lands of John Clark himself, and west upon the lands of John Goodwin. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. John Clark, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the twelfth day of October last for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying accordingly. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly kept and obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. He was also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcel its full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. He was to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach.

Interpretations

This was the second grant of the sitting to Lieutenant John Clark in his own name, following his nine acres and a half in the same division, the two parcels together adding to his West Division holding. His own land closed the south of both, so the Company let each fragment to the ground he already held, joining the new leaseholds to his existing block.

The six acres sat against Company waste on the north and east and John Goodwin's land on the west, with Clark's own ground on the south, so the parcel rounded out his holding while the Company kept its waste on two faces. John Goodwin on the western boundary places the ground beside the extensive Goodwin holdings of the West Division, the family long established across that quarter through Governor John Goodwin and the several Goodwin holders of the record.

Letting two separate parcels to the same officer at one sitting, each fixed against his own ground, shows the Company's steady practice of granting land to the neighbour best placed to work and fence it, the lieutenant consolidating a West Division estate through Company leasehold in the same way the planters of the record built their holdings.

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Or Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are most likely to grow And as

they shall happen to decay or die shall replant others of the like Sort thereon without

hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as shall be set apart for the

sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams And also upon further

Condition that he the said John Clark his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

assigns shall not alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks

of the said parcell of Land And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or

their Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council

for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council to the

other part hereof have set our hands and affixed the Honorable Company's Seal

this Nineteenth day of November in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our

Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of great Britain France and

Ireland King defender of the faith And so forth And in the Year of our Lord

One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And he the said John Clark to the other

part hereof hath set his hand and Seal the day and Year above written

Witness Rich Law

John Clark

6 Acres

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable the

United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do

hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Mary Mason Executrix and Benjamin

Marvin and Isaac Hunye Executors of the last Will and Testament of Richard

Marvin late of the said Island Planter deceased for the use and benefit of the

said Deceased's Orphans All that piece or parcell of

Land in Swans Valley in the said Island containing thirteen Acres and

three Quarters Butting and bounding North upon the Lands of him the said

Benjamin Marvin West upon the Lands of John Alexander and South and

East upon the Lands of Richard Kingley Together with all and Singular the

Wodd Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements

Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls fences and all and

Singular other the rights Commodities and Appurtenances thereunto

belonging or Appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby demised

piece or parcell of Land and every part thereof with the Appurtenances

unto them the said Executrix and Executors and the Survivors and Survivor

of them and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor from the

twelfth day of October last for during and untill the full End and Term of

Twenty

John Clark was to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, John Clark and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcel, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this nineteenth day of November in the twenty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty. John Clark had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Richard Law witnessed the instrument, which John Clark sealed. An annexed plan marked the parcel, bounded north, east, south and west.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to Mary Mason, executrix, together with Benjamin Mason and Isaac Hope, as executors of the last will and testament of Richard Mason, late of the island, planter, deceased, for the use and benefit of the deceased's orphans, the whole piece or parcel of land holding thirteen acres and three quarters. It lay in Swanley Valley within the island, bounded north upon the lands of Benjamin Mason, west upon the lands of John Alexander, and south and east upon the lands of Richard Kingley. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. The executrix and executors, the survivors and survivor of them, and the executors and administrators of that survivor, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the twelfth day of October last for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following.

Interpretations

The Company let this ground to Mary Mason and two fellow executors of the deceased Richard Mason, holding it for the benefit of his orphaned children rather than as their own. This matched the family-trust device that runs through the sitting, by which land was let to trusted adults so that a dead holder's children took the profit during their minority while the tenure rested in responsible hands, the same arrangement seen in the Whaley, Doveton, Clark and Harper trusts of the same day.

Vesting the land in a widow-executrix alongside two male executors, with the survivorship clause carrying the estate to the survivors and the survivor's executors, secured an unbroken line of management should any of the three die during the long term, the standard safeguard where a trust had to run twenty-one years for children still in their minority.

Richard Mason, the deceased, connects to the Richard Mason of the record who dealt in Southwark Street and James Valley houses and took gumwood leases in Fryer Valley and Sandy Bay Valley through the 1720s and later, his estate now settled on his children through this trust. Benjamin Mason, both a co-executor and the holder of the northern boundary, and John Alexander on the west place the ground among the Mason and Alexander holdings of the Swanley Valley quarter, the Benjamin Mason who bought Bisley from Francis Wrangham in 1761 already established here a decade before.

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Twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and Ended

In trust nevertheless for the use and benefit above Expressed Yielding and

paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the term of this present Lease

unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of

five Shillings p Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without

any Deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that they the said Executors and the

Survivors and Survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of such

Survivor And also such other person or persons as shall come into possession of

the said hereby Demised piece or parcell of Land shall and do bear true faith and

Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second his heirs and Successors

And true faith to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors and shall

duly observe and obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And also

upon Condition that they some or one of them shall and do from time to time during the

Term of this present Lease keep up and Maintain in good Order & Sufficient and

legal Repair All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements & Plantations

and fences as now are or hereafter shall be made built or Erected on the said hereby

Demised piece or parcell of Land And shall also plant keep up Maintain and

preserve in and upon the said parcell of Land its full quantity or proportion

of Wodd being one tenth part of the said parcell of Land And shall also plant and preserve

Furze within doe or without the fences of the said parcell of Land And shall

plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts

thereof wherein they are most likely to Grow And as they shall happen to decay or

die shall replant others of the like Sorts thereon Without hurt or prejudice

nevertheless to any part of such Land as shall be set apart for the sole purpose

of planting and raising of Yams And also upon further Condition that they the

said Executors or the Survivors or Survivors of them or the Executors or

Administrators of such Survivor or such other person or persons as shall

be in the possession of the said parcell of Land by Vertue of the said Will shall

not alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of the

said parcell of Land And shall not sell or [...] Lease of this Lease or their or any

of their Interest therein without the leave and [...] of the Governor and Council

for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council to the other

part hereof have set our hands and affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this

Nineteenth day of November in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our

Sovereign Lord George the Second by the grace of God of great Britain France and

Ireland King defender of the faith and so forth And in the Year of our Lord

One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Nine And they the said Executors have

hereunto set their hands and Seals the Day and Year above written

Witness Rich Law

Benj Mason

Isaac Hunye

The executrix and executors held the ground for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, in trust for the use and benefit of the orphans, yielding and paying accordingly. They were to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. They held on condition that the executors, the survivors and survivor of them, the executors and administrators of that survivor, and any other person coming into possession of the ground, bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly kept and obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. They were further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. They were also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcel its full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. They were to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, the executors, the survivors or survivor of them, the executors and administrators of that survivor, and any other person coming into possession of the parcel under the will, were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the ground, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this nineteenth day of November in the twenty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty. The executors had set their hands and seals on the same day and year.

Richard Law witnessed the instrument, which Benjamin Mason and Isaac Hope sealed.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do

hereby demise Sett and to farm Lett unto John Disfountain and Elisha Isaacke both of the

said Island Planters Executors of the last Will and Testament of Joseph Whaley late of the

said Island also Planter deceased for the use and benefit of the Orphans of him the said Joseph

Whaley All that piece or parcell of Cabbage Tree Land in the said Island Containing four

Acres Butting and Bounding North East and South upon the Lands of Lieutenant Clark

and West upon the Main Ridge Together with all and Singular the Wodd Water Watercourses

Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees

Wells fences and all and Singular Other the rights Commodities and Appurtenances

whatsoever thereunto belonging and appertaining To have and to hold the said

hereby Demised piece or parcell of Land and every part thereof with the Appurtenances

unto them the said Executors and the Survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators

of such Survivor from the twelfth day of October last for during and untill the full End and Term

of twenty three Years from thence next Ensuing fully to be Compleat and Ended In trust

nevertheless for the Orphans of the said Joseph Whaley deceased their Heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed Assigns Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every

Year during the Term of this present Lease unto the said Honorable Company their

Successors Agents or Assigns the Sum of five Shillings p Acre in at or upon the feast of

St Michael the Arch Angel without any Deduction Whatsoever Upon Condition that

they the said Executors and the Survivor of them And the Executors and Administrators of

such Survivor And also the said Orphans their Heirs Executors and Administrators or

allowed assigns shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King

George the Second his Heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable

Company and their Successors and shall duly observe and Obey all the Laws and Constitutions

of the said Island And also upon Condition that they some or one of them shall and

do from time to time during the term of this present Lease keep up and maintain in good

Order and sufficient and legal [...] such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds

Tenements Plantations and [...] as now are or hereafter shall be made built or Erected

on the said hereby demised piece or parcell of Land And shall also plant keep up and

preserve in and upon the said parcel of Land its full quantity or proportion of Wodd

being one tenth part of the said parcel of Land And shall likewise plant and preserve

Furze within doe or without the fences of the said parcel of Land And shall plant

Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof

wherein they are most likely to grow and as they shall happen to decay or die shall

replant others of the like Sort thereon without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part

of such Land as shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams

And also upon further Condition that they the said Executors or the Survivors

or Survivor of them or the Executors or Administrators of such Survivor or the said

Orphans or any of them their or any of their Heirs Executors Administrators or

allowed assigns shall not alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits

or Landmarks of the said parcel of Land And shall not Sell or dispose of

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to John Desfountain and Elisha Isaacke, both planters of the island, as executors of the last will and testament of Joseph Whaley, late of the island, planter, deceased, for the use and benefit of the orphans of Joseph Whaley, the whole piece or parcel of cabbage tree land holding four acres. It lay bounded north, east and south upon the lands of Lieutenant Clark, and west upon the Main Ridge. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. The executors, the survivor of them, and the executors and administrators of that survivor, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the twelfth day of October last for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, in trust for the orphans of the deceased Joseph Whaley, and for their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, yielding and paying accordingly. They were to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. They held on condition that the executors, the survivor of them, the executors and administrators of that survivor, and the orphans and their successors, bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly kept and obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. They were further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. They were also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcel its full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. They were to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, the executors, the survivor of them, the executors and administrators of that survivor, and the orphans and their successors, were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcel, and were not to sell or dispose of the lease.

Interpretations

This was a second Whaley trust of the sitting to the same two executors, John Desfountain and Elisha Isaacke, following their four-parcel grant of five acres and three quarters, so the two instruments together settled the whole of the Whaley orphans' Company leasehold. The Company let both to the executors holding for the children's benefit, the standard trust device by which a dead holder's minor children took the profit while the tenure rested in responsible hands.

Naming this parcel cabbage tree land marks the ground by its native timber, the endemic cabbage tree of St Helena whose stands the Company valued and whose ground the leases repeatedly identify by that cover. The four acres lay ringed almost wholly by Lieutenant Clark's land on three sides, with the Main Ridge closing the west, so the parcel sat wedged in the Clark holding while the island's central ridge served as a natural boundary, sparing the trust that stretch of fencing.

Lieutenant Clark on three sides is the same John Clark who took several West Division parcels at this sitting, his ground here surrounding the Whaley fragment, so the Company let the enclosed piece to the trust while the neighbouring officer held the land around it, the two sets of grants locking together across the same quarter.

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this Lease or their or any of their Interest therein without the Leave and Consent of the

Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof We the said Governor and

Council to the Other part hereof have set our hands & affixed the Honorable Company's Seal

this Seventh day of January in the thirty third year of the Reign of our Sovereign

Lord George the Second by the grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King

Defender of the faith And so forth And in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven

hundred and Sixty And they the said Executors have hereunto set their hands and

seals on behalf of the said Orphans the day and Year above written

Witness

Wrangham Junior

John Disfountain

Elisha Isaacke

10 Acres

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies

Do hereby demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Lieutenant John Clark in the Service of

the said Honorable Company All that piece or parcell of Land Containing Six Acres

Butting and Bounding North upon the Honorable Company's Waste Land South upon

the Freehold Land of the Orphans of the late John Doverton deceased East also upon

the Honorable Company's Waste Land and West partly upon the Honorable Company's

Waste Land and partly upon the Lands of William Young Together with all and

singular the Wood Water Water Courses Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements

Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Wall fences and all and Singular other

the rights Commodities and Appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging or

Appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby demised piece or parcell

of Land and every part thereof with the appurtenances unto him the said John Clark

his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October

last for during and untill the full End and Term of Twenty One Years from thence

next ensuing fully to be Compleat and Ended Yielding and paying therefore

yearly and every year during the Term of this present Lease unto the said Honorable

The executors were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this seventh day of January in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty. The executors had set their hands and seals on behalf of the orphans on the same day and year.

Francis Wrangham junior witnessed the instrument, which John Desfountain and Elisha Isaacke sealed. An annexed plan marked the parcel as ten acres, bounded north, west and south.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to Lieutenant John Clark, in the service of the Honourable Company, the whole piece or parcel of land holding six acres. It lay bounded north upon the Honourable Company's waste land, south upon the freehold land of the orphans of the deceased John Doveton, east also upon the Honourable Company's waste land, and west partly upon the Honourable Company's waste land and partly upon the lands of William Young. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. John Clark, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the twelfth day of October last for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying accordingly.

Interpretations

The sealing date carries the register forward to 7 January 1760, so this grant and the Whaley cabbage tree parcel above it belong to a later sitting than the run of grants dated 19 November 1750, the term in each still reckoned from the twelfth day of October last as the standing form of the leases.

The six acres sat ringed largely by Company waste, on the north, east and part of the west, with the Doveton orphans' freehold on the south and William Young's land closing part of the west, so the Company let a fragment hemmed by its own unlet ground to the neighbour best placed to enclose it. The freehold of the deceased John Doveton's orphans on the southern boundary connects to the Doveton family whose widow Mary Doveton and whose minor child, through the trustee John Clark, took ground at the earlier sitting, the family's several parcels lying close together in that quarter.

Lieutenant John Clark, holding this parcel in his own name as a Company officer, appears once more as an accumulator of island ground alongside his service, the same figure who took two West Division parcels at the 1750 sitting and stood as guardian for the Doveton minor, his holdings gathering across the divisions through Company leasehold.

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Company their Successors Agents or assigns the Sum of five Shillings p Acre in at or upon

the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without any deduction Whatsoever Upon

Condition that he the said John Clark his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

assigns shall and do bear true faith & Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George

the Second his heirs and Successors And true faith to them the said Honorable Company

and their Successors and shall duly observe and obey all the Laws and Constitutions of

the said Island And also upon Condition that he or they shall and do from time

to time and at all times hereafter during the term of this present Lease keep up and

Maintain in good Order and sufficient and Legal repair All such Buildings

Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now are or hereafter

shall be made built or Erected on the said hereby demised premises And shall also

plant keep up and maintain and preserve in and upon the said parcell of Land

its full Quantity or proportion of Wood being one tenth part of the said parcell of

Land And shall likewise plant and preserve Furze within doe or without the

fences of the said parcell of Land And shall plant Fruit Trees such as Apple

Lemon Mullery or Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are most likely

to grow and as they shall happen to decay or die shall replant others of the like Sorts

thereon without hurt or prejudice Nevertheless to any part of such Land as shall

be set apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams And also

upon further Condition that he the said John Clark his heirs Executors Administrators

or allowed assigns shall not alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits or

Landmarks of the said parcell of Land And shall not sell or Dispose of this Lease

or his or their Interest therein without the Leave and Consent of the Governor and

Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council

have to the other part hereof set our hands and affixed the Honorable Company's

Seal this Eleventh day of January in the thirty third Year of the reign of our

Sovereign Lord George the Second by the grace of God of Great Britain France and

Ireland King Defender of the faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord One

Thousand Seven hundred and Sixty And he the said John Clark hath

hereunto set his hand and Seal the day and Year above Written

Witness

Wrangham Junior

John Clark

6 Acre

John Clark was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly kept and obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. He was also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcel its full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. He was to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, John Clark and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcel, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this seventh day of January in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty. John Clark had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Francis Wrangham junior witnessed the instrument, which John Clark sealed. An annexed plan marked the parcel as six acres, bounded north, east and south.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the united Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies

Do hereby demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Lieutenant John Clark in the Service of

the said Honorable Company All that piece or parcell of Land in Fryers Valley in the

said Island containing two Acres Butting and Bounding on all sides upon the Honorable

Company's Waste Land Together with all and singular the Wood Water Watercourses

Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit

Trees Walls fences and all and singular other the Rights Commodities and

Appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and to

hold the said hereby demised piece or parcell of Land and every Part thereof with the

Appurtenances unto him the said John Clark his heirs Executors Administrators or

allowed assigns from the twelfth day of October last for during and untill the full

end and Term of Seventy One Years from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat

and ended Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the

Term of this present Lease unto the said Honorable Company their Successors

Agents or Assigns the Sum of five Shillings p Acre in at or upon the Feast of

St Michael the Arch Angel without any Deduction whatsoever Upon Condition

that he the said John Clark his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns

shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the

Second his heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable Company

and their Successors and shall duly observe and obey all the Laws and Constitutions

of the said Island And also upon further Condition that he or they shall

and do from time to time and at all times hereafter during the Term of this

present Lease keep up and maintain in good Order and sufficient and legal Repair

All such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Plantations and fences as now are or

hereafter shall be made built or erected on the said hereby demised piece or

parcel of Land And shall also plant keep up Maintain and preserve in and

upon the said parcel of Land its full Quantity or proportion of Wood being

one tenth part of the said parcell of Land And shall likewise plant and preserve

Furze within doe or without the fences of the said piece or parcel of Land And

shall plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or Peach Trees in such

parts thereof wherein they are most likely to grow, and as they shall happen to

decay or die shall replant others of the like Sorts thereon without hurt or prejudice

nevertheless to any part of such Land as shall be set apart for the sole purpose of planting

and raising of Yams And also upon further Condition that he the said John

Clark his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns shall not alter or

remove the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of the said piece

or parcel of Land And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their

Interest therein without the Leave and consent of the Governor and Council

for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council

have to the other part hereof set our hands and affixed the Honorable Company's

Seal this Seventh day of January in the thirty third Year of the Reign

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to Lieutenant John Clark, in the service of the Honourable Company, the whole piece or parcel of land holding two acres in Fryer Valley. It lay bounded on all sides upon the Honourable Company's waste land. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. John Clark, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the twelfth day of October last for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying accordingly. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly kept and obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. He was also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcel its full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. He was to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, John Clark and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcel, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this seventh day of January in the thirty-third year of the reign.

Interpretations

The two acres lay ringed wholly by Company waste on every side, so the whole fencing burden fell on the tenant alone, the pattern that recurs throughout the leases where the Company let an isolated fragment of its unlet ground and left the holder to enclose it against the surrounding waste. Letting such a piece to a single neighbour saved the Company the cost of fencing ground it kept in hand while putting an idle parcel to use.

This was a further grant to Lieutenant John Clark in Fryer Valley, adding to the six acres sealed at the same sitting of 7 January 1760 and to the West Division parcels he had taken in November 1750, so the officer continued to build a scattered island holding through Company leasehold across successive sittings. Fryer Valley had long been a quarter of Company grants, the ground running back through the Keeling, Carne and Gurling holdings of the earlier record, Clark now taking fresh waste there under the standing lease form.

The term reckoned from the twelfth day of October last, though the instrument was sealed the following January, held to the settled practice of the register, which commonly commenced a lease from an earlier measuring day while the deed itself was engrossed and sealed once the ground had been surveyed and its bounds fixed.

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of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the grace of God of great Britain France

and Ireland King Defender of the faith and so forth And in the Year of our Lord

One thousand seven hundred and Sixty And he the said John Clark hath

hereunto set his Hand and Seal the Day and Year above Written

Witness

Wrangham Junior

John Clark

2 Acres

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East

Indies Do hereby demise Lett and to farm Lett unto Lieutenant John Clark in

the Service of the said Honorable Company All that piece or parcell of

Cabbage Tree Land in the said Island containing five Acres Butting and

Bounding North [...] upon other the Lands of him the said John Clark

South partly upon the Lands of Joseph Whaley's Orphans and partly upon the

Lands of him the said John Clark and West upon the Main Ridge Together

with all and singular the Wood Water Watercourses Houses Buildings Edifices

Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls fences and

thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and to hold the said hereby

demised Piece or parcell of Land and every part thereof with the Appurtenances

unto him the said John Clark his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns

from the twelfth day of October last for during and untill the full end and Term of

Twenty one Years from thence next ensuing fully to be compleat and ended

Yielding and paying therefore yearly and every Year during the Term of this

present Lease unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or

assigns the Sum of five Shillings p Acre in at or upon the Feast of St Michael the

Arch Angel without any Deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that he the

The reign was that of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and the year of our Lord was one thousand seven hundred and sixty. John Clark had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Francis Wrangham junior witnessed the instrument, which John Clark sealed. An annexed plan marked the parcel as two acres.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to Lieutenant John Clark, in the service of the Honourable Company, the whole piece or parcel of cabbage tree land holding five acres. It lay bounded south partly upon other lands of John Clark himself and partly upon the lands of the orphans of Joseph Whaley, and west upon the Main Ridge, with the further sides upon other lands of John Clark himself. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. John Clark, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the twelfth day of October last for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying accordingly. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction.

Interpretations

Naming this parcel cabbage tree land marks the ground by its native timber, the endemic cabbage tree of St Helena that the leases repeatedly identify as a distinct ground cover, its stands valued and its ground noted apart from gumwood and open land.

The five acres sat among Clark's own ground on most sides, with the Whaley orphans' land closing part of the south and the Main Ridge the west, so the grant rounded out a block the officer already held while the island's central ridge served as a natural boundary, sparing him that stretch of fencing. The Whaley orphans' land on the southern edge is the same ground let in trust to John Desfountain and Elisha Isaacke at this sitting, the Whaley and Clark parcels lying against one another along the ridge.

This was another in the run of grants to Lieutenant John Clark sealed on 7 January 1760, adding to the six acres and the two acres in Fryer Valley of the same sitting, so the officer took several adjoining and scattered parcels together, consolidating a substantial holding through Company leasehold in a single day's business, the cabbage tree ground beneath the Main Ridge joining his other West Division land.

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said John Clark his heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns shall and do

bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second his heirs

and Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors

and shall duly observe and Obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And

also upon Condition that he or they shall and do from time to time during the Term of

this present Lease keep up and Maintain in good Order and sufficient and legal

Repair all such Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements & Plantations and fences

as now are or hereafter shall be made built or erected on the said hereby demised

piece or parcell of Land And shall also plant keep up maintain and preserve

in and upon the said hereby demised piece or parcell of Land its full Quantity

or proportion of Wood being one tenth part of the said piece or parcell of Land And

shall also plant and preserve Furze within doe or without the fences of the said

parcell of Land And shall plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry

or Peach Trees in such parts thereof whereon they are most likely to grow and as

they shall happen to decay or die shall replant others of the like sorts thereon

without hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as shall be set

apart for the sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams And also upon

further Condition that he the said John Clark his heirs Executors Administrators

or allowed assigns shall not alter or remove the said fences they being the Limits

or Land Marks of the said piece or parcell of Land And shall not sell or

dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the Leave and

Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we

the said Governor and Council have to the other part hereof set our hands and

affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this Seventh day of January

in the thirty third Year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second

by the grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the

faith and so forth And in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and

Sixty And he the said John Clark hath hereunto set his hand and Seal

the Day and Year above Written

Witness

Wrangham Junior

John Clark

10 Acres

John Clark held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly kept and obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. He was also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcel its full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. He was to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, John Clark and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcel, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this seventh day of January in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty. John Clark had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Francis Wrangham junior witnessed the instrument, which John Clark sealed. An annexed plan marked the parcel as ten acres.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island

the Honorable the united Company of Merchants of England trading to the East

Indies Do hereby demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Orlando Bagley Junior of

the said Island Planter All that piece or parcel of Land in the East division

of the said Island containing Nineteen Acres Butting and Bounding East

and West upon the Honorable Company's Waste Land North upon the Lands

of Thomas Colgrave and South upon the Lands of him the said Orlando Bagley

Together with all and singular the Wood Water Watercourses Houses Buildings

Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees Walls fences

and all and singular other the Rights Commodities and Appurtenances

thereunto belonging or appertaining To have and to hold the said

hereby demised piece or parcel of Land and every part thereof with the

Appurtenances unto him the said Orlando Bagley his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed Assigns from the day of the date hereof for during

and untill the full end and Term of Twenty one Years from thence next

ensuing fully to be compleat and endexed Yielding and paying therefore

Yearly and every Year during the term of this present Lease unto the said

Honorable Company their Successors Agents or assigns the sum of one

Shilling and sixpence p Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch

Angel without any deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that he the

said Orlando Bagley his heirs Executors Administrators or Allowed

Assigns shall and do bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord

King George the Second his heirs and Successors and true faith to them the

said Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly observe and

obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island And also upon

Condition that he or they shall and do from time to time and all times

hereafter during the term of this present Lease keep up and maintain in

good Order and Sufficient and legal Repair all such Buildings Houses

Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations and fences as now are or hereafter

shall be made built or erected thereon and shall also plant keep up Maintain

and preserve in and upon the said parcel of Land its full Quantity or proportion

of Wood being one tenth part of the said parcel of Land and shall likewise

plant and preserve Furze within doe or without the fences of the said parcel

of Land and shall plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon Mulberry or

Peach Trees in such parts thereof whereon they are most likely to grow and

as they shall decay or die shall replant others of the like Sorts thereon without

hurt or prejudice nevertheless to any part of such Land as shall be set apart

for the Sole purpose of planting and raising of Yams And also upon

further Condition that he the said Orlando Bagley his heirs Executors

Administrators or allowed Assigns shall not alter or remove the said fences

they being the Limits or Landmarks of the said piece or parcel of Land

And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein

without the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to Orlando Bagley junior, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of land holding nineteen acres. It lay within the east division of the island, bounded east and west upon the Honourable Company's waste land, north upon the lands of Thomas Colgrave, and south upon other lands of Orlando Bagley himself. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. Orlando Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying accordingly. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of one shilling and sixpence an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly kept and obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. He was also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcel its full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. He was to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, Orlando Bagley and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcel, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time.

Interpretations

The rent of one shilling and sixpence an acre stood far below the five shillings an acre charged across the run of grants dated 19 November 1750, marking this parcel as reduced-rate ground of the kind the Company let where the land was poor or barren. The register records the same cut allowed George Gabriel Powell at Peak Hill in February 1743, the lower charge fixing precisely which ground the Company reckoned worth less than the standard rate.

The nineteen acres sat against Company waste on the east and west and Colgrave and Bagley ground on the north and south, so the grant rounded out a block Orlando Bagley already held in part while the Company kept its waste on two faces. Thomas Colgrave on the northern boundary is the same holder who took thirty acres in the east division at the 1750 sitting, the neighbouring parcels lying together in that quarter.

The commencement from the day of the date of the instrument, rather than from the twelfth day of October last used across the 1750 grants, marks this as a fresh allocation reckoned from its own sealing. Orlando Bagley junior connects to the long-established Bagley family of the record, running back through the Orlando Bagley senior and junior who held ground at the head of Powells Valley across the earlier decades, the family name still fixing holdings in the east division a generation on.

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In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council have to the other

part hereof set our hands and Affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this

Seventh day of January in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign

Lord George the Second by the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King

Defender of the faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven

hundred and Sixty And he the said Orlando Bagley hath hereunto set his

hand and Seal the Day and Year above Written

Witness

Wrangham Junior

Orlando Bagley Junior

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honble

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East

Indies Do hereby Demise Sett & to farm Lett unto Benjamin Seale

of the said Island Planter all that piece or parcel of Land containing

three Acres lying & being in the South Division of the said Island butting

& bounding North & East upon the Honble Company's Wast Land

South & West upon the Leasehold Lands of him the said Benjamin

Seale Together with all & singular the Wood Water Watercourses

Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams & Plantations

of Yams Fruit Trees Walls fences & all & singular other the

Rights Commodities & Appurtenances thereunto belonging or

appertaining To have & to hold the said hereby Demised piece

or parcel of Land & every part thereof with the appurtenances unto

him the said Benjamin Seale his Heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

Assigns from the Day of the date hereof for & during the space

& Term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing Yielding

& paying therefore Yearly & every Year during the term of this

present Lease unto them the said Honble Company their Successors

Agents

The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this seventh day of January in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty. Orlando Bagley junior had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Francis Wrangham junior witnessed the instrument, which Orlando Bagley junior sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to Benjamin Seale, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of land holding three acres. It lay within the south division of the island, bounded north and east upon the Honourable Company's waste land, and south and west upon the leasehold lands of Benjamin Seale himself. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. Benjamin Seale, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, yielding and paying accordingly.

Interpretations

The parcel joined fresh Company waste to Seale's own leasehold, his existing leased ground closing the south and west and Company waste the north and east, so the grant rounded out a block he already held under lease. The Company let the fragment to the neighbour whose ground adjoined it, the standing practice of granting land to the holder best placed to reach and enclose it, and named the neighbouring ground as leasehold to mark the tenure where the two parcels met.

The commencement from the day of the date of the instrument, rather than from the twelfth day of October last used across the November 1750 grants, marks this as a fresh allocation reckoned from its own sealing, matching the Orlando Bagley junior grant of the same 7 January 1760 sitting.

Benjamin Seale connects to the Seale family of the record, running back through the several Beer, William and Benjamin Seales who held ground in Sharks Valley, Stocks Valley, Coles Valley and the surrounding quarters across the earlier decades, the family long established among the leaseholders of the island. The Benjamin Seale who took sixteen acres and a quarter in the East Division in 1745 holds south division ground here fifteen years on, the family's leasehold spread across more than one division of the island.

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Agents or Assigns the Sum of five Shillings p Acre in at or

upon the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without any

deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that he the said Benj

Seale his Heirs Executors Administrators or allowed Assigns shall & do bear true

faith & Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Second

his Heirs & Successors & true faith to them the said Honble

Company & their Successors & shall duly Heirs & obey all the Laws

Constitutions of the said Island And also upon Condition

that he or they shall & do from time to time during the term of

this present Lease keep up & maintain in good order & sufficient

& legal repair all such Buildings Houses Sheds Tenements

Plantations & fences as now are or hereafter shall be made

Built or Erected thereon And shall also keep up maintain

& preserve in & upon the said hereby Demised piece or parcel

of Land its full quantity or proportion of Wood being one tenth

part of the said parcel of Land And shall likewise plant and

preserve furze within & without the fences of the said parcel

Land And shall plant Fruit Trees such as Apple Lemon

Mulberry or Peach Trees in such parts thereof wherein they are

most likely to grow & as they shall happen to decay or die

shall replant others of the like sorts thereon without hurt or prejudice

nevertheless to any part of such Lands as shall be set apart

for the Sole purpose planting & raising of Yams And also

upon further Condition that he the said Benjamin Seale his

Heirs Executors Administrators or allowed Assigns shall not alter or remove

the said fences they being the Limits or Land Marks of the said

parcel of Land And shall not Sell or Dispose of this Lease

or his or their Interest therein without the leave & Consent of

the Governor & Council for the time being In Witness whereof

we the said Governor & Council have to the other part hereof set

their Hands & Affixed the Honble Company's Seal this 24

day of March in the thirty third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign

Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France

Benjamin Seale was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of five shillings an acre yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly kept and obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. He was also to plant, keep and preserve on the parcel its full share of wood, being a tenth part of the whole, and to plant and keep furze within or along the fences. He was to plant fruit trees such as apple, lemon, mulberry and peach, in whichever parts of the ground they were most likely to grow, and to replace with others of the same kind any that happened to decay or die, without harm to any part of the land set aside for the sole purpose of planting and raising yams. On a further condition, Benjamin Seale and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the parcel, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this twenty-fourth day of March in the thirty-third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland.

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and Ireland King Defender of the faith & so forth And in the Year

of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & sixty And he the said

Benjamin Seale hath hereunto set his Hand & seal the Day and

Year abovewritten

Witness

Branca

Benj Seale

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honble the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East

Indies Do hereby Demise Sett and to farm Lett unto Capt Thos Kirkpatrick

All that piece or parcel of Ground lying behind & adjoining to his

Dwelling House in James's Valley containing seventy feet in front

twenty two feet at the end next to the Bridge one hundred & seventy

five feet next to the Water course & twenty five feet next to the yard

of Mr Fras Wrangham Senior Together with all & singular the

Outbuildings & appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining

To have and to hold the said hereby Demised parcel of Ground

& Premises with the appurtenances unto him the said Thos Kirkpatrick

his Heirs Executors Administrators or allowed assigns from the Day of the

date hereof for & during the space & term of twenty one years from

thence next ensuing Yielding & paying therefore Yearly & every year

during the term of this present Lease unto them the said Honble Company

their Successors Agents or Assigns the Sum of nineteen Shillings in

at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel without any

deduction whatsoever Upon Condition that he the said Thomas

Kirkpatrick his Heirs Executors Administrators or allowed Assigns shall &

do bear true faith & Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George

the Second his Heirs & Successors & true faith to them the said Honble

Company & their Successors & shall duly observe & obey all the Laws and

Constitutions of the said Island And also upon Condition that he the

said

The reign was that of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and the year of our Lord was one thousand seven hundred and sixty. Benjamin Seale had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Francis Wrangham junior witnessed the instrument, which Benjamin Seale sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick the whole piece or parcel of ground lying behind and adjoining his dwelling house in James Valley. It measured seventy feet in front, one hundred and seventy-five feet at the end nearest the bridge, and twenty-five feet at the end nearest the water course, and a further twenty-five feet next to the land of Francis Wrangham senior. The grant carried the outbuildings and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. Thomas Kirkpatrick, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of ground and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following, yielding and paying accordingly. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, the sum of nineteen shillings yearly throughout the term, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, without any deduction. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly kept and obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island.

Interpretations

This was a town grant of James Valley ground measured by frontage and depth rather than by acreage, the form the register kept for urban plots as distinct from the country leases reckoned in acres. The measurements record an irregular plot far wider at one end than the other, seventy feet across the front and one hundred and seventy-five at the end towards the bridge but only twenty-five at the other two edges, the shape reflecting the pressure on ground in James Valley where the town lay squeezed between steep hillsides.

The rent of nineteen shillings was charged as a flat yearly sum with no planting duties of the kind the country leases carried, matching the town grants of the record where position rather than area governed the charge and the tenant's only continuing burden was to keep the buildings in repair. The parcel lay behind and adjoined Kirkpatrick's own dwelling house, so the grant secured the back ground of his existing town property, the urban equivalent of the rural practice of letting a fragment to the neighbour it rounded out.

Fixing two edges by the bridge and the water course places the plot beside the James Valley stream, the ground whose channel the Company repeatedly protected in its town grants, barring building near the water run. Francis Wrangham senior on the fourth edge connects to the substantial Wrangham family of the record, long established across the island and holding town and country ground into the middle of the century.

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said Thomas Kirkpatrick his Heirs Executors Administrators or allowed

Assigns shall & do from Time to Time & during the Term of this present

Lease keep up & maintain in good order & sufficient & legal repair All such

Buildings Houses Edifices Sheds Tenements Plantations & fences as now

are or hereafter shall be made built or erected thereon And upon further

Condition that he the said Thomas Kirkpatrick his Heirs Executors Administrators

or allowed Assigns shall not alter or remove the said fences they

being the Limits or Landmarks of the said piece or parcel of Ground

And shall not sell or Dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest

therein without the leave & consents of the Governor & Council for the

Time being In Witness whereof We the said Governor & Council have

to the other part hereof set our Hands & affixed the Honble Company's

Seal this 11 Day of August in the thirty fourth Year of the Reign

of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of

Great Britain France & Ireland King Defender of the faith & so

forth And in the Year of our Lord 1760 And he the said Thomas

Kirkpatrick have hereunto set his Hand and Seal the Day and

Year beforewritten

Witness

Bazett

Thos Kirkpatrick

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island

the Honorable the united Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies

Do hereby demise grant Sett and to farm Lett unto Elizabeth Disfountain

Widow of the said Island All that piece or parcel of Land containing fourteen

Acres situate lying and being in the East part of the said Island butting and

bounding North and West upon the Lands of Joseph Disfountain's Orphans

South and East upon the Honorable Company's Waste Lands To have

And to hold the said hereby demised piece of Land with the

Appurtenances and every part and parcel thereof unto her the said Elizabeth

Disfountain

Thomas Kirkpatrick was further bound, throughout the term, to keep and maintain in good order and sufficient repair all the buildings, houses, structures, sheds, tenements, plantations and fences then standing or afterwards built on the ground. On a further condition, Thomas Kirkpatrick and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the ground, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this eleventh day of August in the thirty-fourth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty. Thomas Kirkpatrick had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which Thomas Kirkpatrick sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted, let and set to farm to Elizabeth Desfountain, widow of the island, the whole piece or parcel of land holding fourteen acres. It lay in the outer part of the island, bounded north and west partly upon the lands of Joseph Desfountain deceased, and south and east upon the Honourable Company's waste land. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. Elizabeth Desfountain was to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it.

Interpretations

The sealing carries the register to 11 August 1760, so this Kirkpatrick town grant belongs to the same year as the run of January and March 1760 grants above, the thirty-fourth regnal year fixing the date within the reign of King George the Second.

The plot lay behind Kirkpatrick's own dwelling and its irregular shape fitted the ground the town left over between the houses and the water run, so the grant regularised the residual back ground that completed his frontage, the urban equivalent of the rural consolidations that recur across the register, where the Company let odd fragments to the holder whose property they adjoined.

Elizabeth Desfountain, widow, taking fourteen acres in her own name, joins the several widows of the record who held Company ground on the same terms set for men, from Mary Doveton and Elizabeth Greentree to Mary Seale. The land of the deceased Joseph Desfountain on two boundaries connects her holding to the Desfountain family long established in the Pleasant Valley and east division quarters, the ground of the dead holder fixing the bounds of the widow's grant.

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Disfountain her Heirs Executors Administrators and assigns from the day of

the date hereof for and during all the space and Term of Twenty one Years from thence

next Ensuing Upon Condition that she the said Elizabeth Disfountain

her Heirs or allowed assigns do always bear true faith and allegiance to our

Sovereign Lord King George the Second his Heirs and Successors and true faith to

them the said Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly obey all

the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and paying therefore

Yearly and every Year during the said Term and Time of Twenty one Years unto

the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or assigns the Yearly Rent

of five shillings p Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel

Yearly And upon Condition that she the said Elizabeth Disfountain her

Heirs Executors Administrators or assigns do and shall well and sufficiently keep

up and Maintain the fences to the said Land and full Quantity of Wood therein

and do not nor shall sell or dispose of this Lease or her or their Interest therein

without the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being

In Witness whereof We the said Governor and Council have to the other part

hereof set our hands and affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this Seventh day

of February in the thirty fourth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by

the Grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the

faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred Sixty

and she the said Elizabeth Disfountain hath hereunto set her Hand & Seal the

Day and year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

Elizabeth Disfountain

14 Acres

Elizabeth Desfountain, her heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. She held on condition that she and her successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Second, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. She was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of five shillings an acre, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. She was further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair the fences to the ground and its full share of wood, and was not to sell or dispose of her lease or her interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this seventh day of February in the thirty-fourth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty. Elizabeth Desfountain had set her hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which Elizabeth Desfountain sealed. An annexed plan marked the parcel as fourteen acres, bounded north, east, south and west.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading

to the East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Leave & to farm

Lett unto John Robinson Carpenter All that piece or parcel

of Ground containing seventeen feet in length & eleven

feet in Breadth situate lying & being in James's Valley on

the back part of the said John Robinson's dwelling House

adjoining to the East corner of his back yard next to the

Watercourse To have and to hold the said hereby

Demised parcel of Ground with the appurtenances & every

part & parcel thereof unto him the said John Robinson his

Heirs Executors Administrators & Assigns from the Day of the date

thereof for & during all the space & term of twenty one Years

from thence next ensuing Upon condition that he the

said John Robinson his Heirs or allowed Assigns do always

bear true faith & allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King

George the Third his Heirs & Successors & true faith to them

the said Honble Company & their Successors & shall duly

Obey all the Laws & Constitutions of the said Island Yielding

& paying therefore yearly & every year during the said

Term & Time of twenty one years unto the said Honorable

Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent

of five Shillings p Annum in at or upon the Feast of

St Michael the Arch Angel yearly And upon condition

that he the said John Robinson his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns

do & shall well & sufficiently keep up & maintain in good

repair all the Buildings that are already or may be hereafter

Built or Erected on the said Ground or any part thereof And

upon further condition that he the said John Robinson his

Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns shall not alter or remove the

said fences they being the Limits or Land marks of the said

piece or parcel of Ground And shall not sell or Dispose

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to John Robinson, carpenter, the whole piece or parcel of ground measuring seventeen feet in length and eleven feet in breadth. It lay in James Valley on the back part of John Robinson's own dwelling house, adjoining the east corner of his back yard and next to the water course. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. John Robinson, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of ground and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of five shillings, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good repair all the buildings then standing or afterwards built on the ground. On a further condition, John Robinson and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the ground.

Interpretations

This grant names King George the Third as sovereign, the first of the run to carry the new king, so the register has passed from the reign of the second George to the third, King George the Second having died in October 1760 and the news reaching the island by the date of this instrument. The change of the royal name in the standing oath of allegiance marks the accession within the ordinary business of the leases.

The plot was a small strip of back ground of the kind that filled the space behind a row of James Valley dwellings, measuring only seventeen feet by eleven, so the grant settled the residual yard behind John Robinson's own house rather than transferring ground of any extent, the urban counterpart of the rural practice of letting a fragment to the holder it adjoined. Fixing the plot next to the water course places it beside the James Valley stream whose channel the Company repeatedly protected in its town grants.

John Robinson, carpenter, connects to the John Robinson master mason to the Company of the record, who bought a James Valley house from John Bland in 1756, the Robinson name recurring among the Company's craftsmen who held town ground in James Valley, their trades paid from the establishment giving them a settled urban footing.

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of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the Leave &

consent of the Governor & Council for the time being In Witness

whereof We the said Governor & Council hath to the other part set

our Hands & affixed the Honble Company's Seal this 12 Day

of October in the first year of the Reign of our said Sovereign

Lord King George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain

France & Ireland Defender of the faith & so forth & in the

Year of our Lord 1761 & He the said John Robinson hath

hereunto set his Hand & Seal the Day & Year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

John Robinson

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East

Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Leave and to farm Lett unto Jonathan

Doveton of the said Island Planter All that piece or parcel of Ground

containing fifteen feet in length and thirteen feet in breadth situate lying

and being in James's Valley on the back part of the House of James Pritchard

an Orphan To have and to hold the said hereby Demised parcel of

Ground with the appurtenances and every part and parcel thereof unto

him the said Jonathan Doveton his Heirs Executors Administrators and

Assigns from the day of the date hereof for and during all the space

and term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing Upon condition

that he the said Jonathan Doveton his Heirs or allowed Assigns do always

bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the

Third his Heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable

Company and their Successors and shall duly obey all the Laws and

Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and paying therefore Yearly

and every Year during the said Term and Time of Twenty one Years unto

the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the

Yearly Rent of three Shillings p Annum in at or upon the Feast of St Michael the

Arch Angel yearly And upon condition that he the said Jonathan Doveton

his

John Robinson and his successors were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this first day of October in the first year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-one. John Robinson had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which John Robinson sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Jonathan Doveton, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of ground measuring fifteen feet in length and thirteen feet in breadth. It lay in James Valley on the back part of the house of James Pritchard, an orphan. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. Jonathan Doveton, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of ground and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of three shillings, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel.

Interpretations

This grant carries a firm date within the new reign, sealed on 1 October 1761 in the first regnal year of King George the Third, so the register is now settled under the third George, the earlier Robinson grant above having marked the change of sovereign and this one fixing the year precisely a twelvemonth on.

The plot was another small strip of James Valley back ground, measuring fifteen feet by thirteen, on the back part of the house of the orphan James Pritchard, so the grant let a residual yard behind an existing town dwelling in the same manner as the Robinson and Kirkpatrick town grants of the period, the Company regularising the odd fragments that filled the space behind the houses. James Pritchard connects to the James Pritchard who took a Southwark side town plot on 2 December 1746, his house now standing as a boundary and himself, or a namesake, recorded here as an orphan.

Jonathan Doveton connects to the long-established Doveton family of the record, the Jonathan Doveton active through the 1750s and 1760s who dealt in freehold and made over fractions of parcels to Thomas Greentree, the family holding town and country ground across the divisions into the reign of the third George.

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his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns do and shall well and

sufficiently keep up and maintain in Good repair all the buildings that

are already or may be hereafter built or erected on the said Ground or any

part thereof and upon further condition that he the said Jonathan Doveton

his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns shall not alter or remove

the said fences they being the limits or land marks of the said piece of Ground

And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein

without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the Time

being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council &

hath to the other part set our Hands and Affixed the Honorable

Company's Seal this twenty second Day of November in the first Year

of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord George the Third by the Grace

of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of

the faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven

hundred and Sixty two and he the said Jonathan Doveton hath

hereunto set his Hand and Seal the day and Year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

Jonathan Doveton

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of

this Island the Honorable the United Company of Merchants of

England trading to the East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant

Leave and to Farm Lett unto John Skottley of the said Island

All that piece or parcel of Ground containing eighteen feet in

length and fifteen feet in breadth situate lying and being

in James's Valley on the back part of the House of him the said

John Skottley To have and to hold the said hereby Demised

parcel of Ground with the appurtenances and every part and

parcel thereof unto him the said John Skottley his Heirs

Executors Administrators and Assigns from the day of the date

hereof for and during all the space and Term of Twenty one

Years

Jonathan Doveton was further bound to keep and maintain in good repair all the buildings then standing or afterwards built on the ground. On a further condition, Jonathan Doveton and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the ground, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this twenty-second day of November in the second year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-two. Jonathan Doveton had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which Jonathan Doveton sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to John Shirley of the island the whole piece or parcel of ground measuring eighteen feet in length and fifteen feet in breadth. It lay in James Valley on the back part of John Shirley's own house. John Shirley, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of ground and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following.

Interpretations

The sealing date carries the register to 22 November 1762 in the second regnal year of King George the Third, so this grant and the John Shirley grant that follows fall a full year beyond the run of James Valley town plots of 1760 and 1761, the business of letting small back grounds continuing steadily under the new reign.

The plot was a further strip of James Valley back ground, measuring eighteen feet by fifteen, on the back part of John Shirley's own house, so the grant settled the residual yard behind his existing town dwelling in the same manner as the Robinson, Kirkpatrick and Doveton town grants of the period. This run of grants shows the Company steadily regularising the odd fragments of ground behind the houses of James Valley, each let to the holder whose dwelling it adjoined, the urban counterpart of the rural practice of granting a fragment to the neighbour it rounded out.

The recurrence of Matthew Bazett as the witness across this whole run of 1760 to 1762 town and country grants marks his settled place in the island's administration, the same Matthew Bazett who became secretary to the Company on the island by 1761 and stood among the substantial holders and fiduciaries of the record, attesting the Company's grants as a matter of office.

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Years from thence next ensuing Upon condition that he the said

John Skottley his Heirs or Allowed Assigns do always bear true

faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Third

his Heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable

Company and their Successors and shall duly obey all the Laws and

Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and paying therefore

Yearly and every Year during the said Term and Time of twenty one

Years unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns

the Yearly Rent of three Shillings p Annum in at or upon the Feast of

St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And upon condition that he the

said John Skottley his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns do and

shall well and sufficiently keep up and Maintain in good repair all the

buildings that are already or may be hereafter built or erected on the

said Ground or any part thereof And upon further Condition that he the

said John Skottley his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns

shall not alter or remove the said fences they being the limits or

Land marks of the said piece of Ground And shall not sell or dispose

of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the leave and

consent of the Governor and Council for the time being In Witness

whereof We the said Governor and Council hath to the other part set our

hands and affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this sixth Day

of December in the third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord

George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and

Ireland King Defender of the faith and so forth and in the Year of

our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Sixty two and he the said

John Skottley hath hereunto set his Hand and Seal the Day and

Year above Written

Witness

Bazett

John Skottley

John Shirley held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of three shillings, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good repair all the buildings then standing or afterwards built on the ground. On a further condition, John Shirley and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the ground, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this sixth day of December in the third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-two. John Shirley had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which John Shirley sealed.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honble

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East

Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Lease and to farm Lett unto Captain

Henry Bazett of the said Island All that piece or parcel of Land containing

four Acres and an Half situate lying and being in the South Division

of the said Island butting and bounding South upon the Honorable

Company's Waste Land West upon the Land of Isaiah Hunye & North

and East upon the said Henry Bazett's own Land To have and

to hold the said hereby parcel of Land with the appurtenances and

every part and parcel thereof unto him the said Henry Bazett his

Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns from the Day of the

Date hereof for and during all the space and term of Twenty one Years

from thence next ensuing Upon condition that he the said

Henry Bazett his Heirs or allowed assigns do always bear true

faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Third

his Heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable

Company and their Successors and shall duly obey all the Laws and

Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and paying therefore

Yearly and every year during the said term and time of Twenty

one Years unto the said Honorable Company their Successors

Agents or Assigns the Yearly rent of two Shillings and Sixpence

p Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel

Yearly And upon Condition that he the said Henry Bazett

his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns do and shall

well and sufficiently keep up and Maintain the fences to the said

Land and the full quantity of Wood thereon and do not nor shall

Sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without

the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for the time

being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council hath

to the other part set our hands and Affixed the Honorable Company's

Seal this thirtenth Day of December in the Third Year of the Reign

of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the Grace of God of

great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith

and so forth and in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred

and sixty two and he the said Henry Bazett hath hereunto set his hand

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Captain Henry Bazett of the island the whole piece or parcel of land holding four acres and a half. It lay within the south division of the island, bounded south upon the Honourable Company's waste land, west upon the land of Israel Junge, and north and east upon Henry Bazett's own land. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. Henry Bazett, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of two shillings and sixpence an acre, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair the fences to the ground and its full share of wood, and was not to sell or dispose of his lease or his interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this thirteenth day of December in the third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-two. Henry Bazett had set his hand to the instrument.

Interpretations

The rent of two shillings and sixpence an acre stood at half the five shillings charged across the standard leases, marking this parcel as reduced-rate ground of the kind the Company let where the land was poor, matching the cut allowed on the Orlando Bagley junior grant of January 1760 and the earlier reductions the register records for barren ground.

The four acres and a half sat against Company waste on the south and Junge land on the west, with Henry Bazett's own ground closing the north and east, so the grant rounded out a block he already held while the Company kept its waste on one face. Israel Junge on the western boundary connects to the Junge family of the record, running back through the Francis Junge who took ground in the West Division across the earlier decades, the family name still fixing boundaries in the south division a generation on.

The courtesy title of captain and the abbreviation of the standing lease form, which folds the covenants of repair, fencing and wood into a single short clause rather than setting them out at length, mark Henry Bazett among the substantial holders of the record. He is the same Lieutenant Henry Bazett, now raised to captain, who bought thirty and a quarter acres of Steward freehold in 1758 and sold Woody Ridge ground to Matthew Bazett, the family holding widely across the divisions into the reign of the third George.

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and Seal the Day and Year abovewritten

Witness

Bent Wright

Henry Bazett

4 1/2 Acres

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honble the united Company of Merchants of England trading to

the East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Lease & to farm Lett

unto Rd Bagley of the said Island Planter All that piece or

parcel of Land containing twelve Acres & three Quarters situate

lying & being in the West Division of the said Island butting

& bounding East upon the said Rd Bagley's own Land West

partly upon the Honble Company's Waste Land & partly upon

the said Rd Bagley's own Land North upon the Honble

Company's Waste Land & South partly upon the Honble

Company's Waste Land & partly upon the said Rd Bagley's

own Land To have and to hold the said hereby parcel

of Land with the appurtenances & every part & parcel thereof

unto him the said Rd Bagley his Heirs Executors Administrators and

Assigns from the Day of the Date hereof for & during all

the space & term of 21 Years from thence next ensuing

Upon condition that he the said Rd Bagley his Heirs

or allowed Assigns do always bear true faith & Allegiance

to our Sovereign Lord King George the Third his Heirs and

Successors

Henry Bazett had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Bratton Wright witnessed the instrument, which Henry Bazett sealed. An annexed plan marked the parcel as four acres and a half, bounded north, east, south and west.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Richard Bagley, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of land holding twelve acres and three quarters. It lay within the west division of the island, bounded east upon Richard Bagley's own land, west partly upon the Honourable Company's waste land and partly upon Richard Bagley's own land, north upon the Honourable Company's waste land, and south partly upon the Honourable Company's waste land and partly upon Richard Bagley's own land. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. Richard Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors.

Interpretations

The parcel sat surrounded on almost every side by Richard Bagley's own land and Company waste, his ground closing the east and part of the west and south, so the grant rounded out a block he already largely held while the Company kept its waste on the remaining faces. The Company let the fragment to the neighbour whose fields enclosed it, the standing practice of granting ground to the holder best placed to reach and fence it.

The detailed boundary description, tracing where Bagley's own land met Company waste along each of the four sides, reflects the care the register took where a new parcel had to be fitted precisely against a tenant's existing ground, so the leasehold and the surrounding freehold could be told apart on the record and the fences set on the true line.

Richard Bagley connects to the substantial Bagley family of the record, the Richard Bagley active through the 1750s and 1760s who bought freehold and leasehold across the divisions from the Steward, Ryder and Knipe estates and to whom Isaac Knipe made over sixteen acres in 1761, the family holding widely into the reign of the third George. This west division parcel adds to his accumulation, the ground gathered piece by piece through purchase and Company lease.

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Successors & true faith to them the said Honble Company and

their Successors & shall duly Obey all the Laws & Constitutions of

the said Island Yielding & paying therefore Yearly & every

Year during the said Term & Time of 21 Years unto the said

Honble Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly

Rent of 5 p Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael the

Arch Angel Yearly And upon condition that he the said

Rd Bagley his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns do & shall well

& sufficiently keep up & maintain the fences to the said

Land & the full quantity of Wood thereon & do not nor shall

sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein

without the leave & consent of the Governor & Council for the

Time being In Witness whereof we the Governor & Council

hath to the other part set our Hands & Affixed the

Honble Company's Seal this 16 Day of May in the Third

Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord George the Third

by the Grace of God of Great Britain France & Ireland

King Defender of the faith & so forth & in the Year of our

Lord 1763 & he the said Rd Bagley hath hereunto set his

Hand & Seal the Day & Year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

Rich Bagley

12 3/4 Acres

Richard Bagley and his successors were to bear true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of five shillings an acre, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair the fences to the ground and its full share of wood, and was not to sell or dispose of his lease or his interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this sixteenth day of May in the third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-three. Richard Bagley had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which Richard Bagley sealed. An annexed plan marked the parcel as twelve acres and three quarters.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading

to the East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Lease and to Farm

Lett unto Orlando Bagley Senior of the said Island Planter All

that piece or parcel of Land containing twenty one Acres situate

lying and being in the South Division of the said Island butting

and bounding East West & South upon the Honorable Company's

Waste Land and North upon the said Orlando Bagley's own Land

to have and to hold the said hereby parcel of Land with the

except the Wood thereon standing which is to by all reserved for the Honble Company's use & Order

appurtenances and every part and parcel thereof unto him the said

Orlando Bagley Senior his Heirs Executors Administrators and

Assigns from the Day of the Date hereof for and during all the

space and term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing

Upon condition that he the said Orlando Bagley Senior his Heirs

or allowed Assigns do always bear true faith and Allegiance to

our Sovereign Lord King George the Third his Heirs and Successors

and true faith to them the said Honorable Company and their

Successors and shall duly obey all the Laws and Constitutions of

the said Island Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and

every Year during the said term and time of twenty one Years

unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or

Assigns the Yearly Rent of two Shillings and Six Pence p Acre in

at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And

upon condition that he the said Orlando Bagley Senior his Heirs

Executors Administrators or Assigns do and shall well and

sufficiently keep up and maintain the fences to the said Land

and the full quantity of Wood thereon and do not nor shall sell

or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without

the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for the time

being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council

hath to the other part set our Hands and affixed the Honble

Company's Seal this 27 Day of June in third Year of the

Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the grace of God

of

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Orlando Bagley senior, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of land holding twenty-one acres. It lay within the south division of the island, bounded east, west and south upon the Honourable Company's waste land, and north upon Orlando Bagley's own land. The grant carried the ground, except the wood then standing on it, which was to be kept by all persons for the replanting of the ground, together with every right and commodity belonging to it. Orlando Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of two shillings and sixpence an acre, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair the fences to the ground and its full share of wood, and was not to sell or dispose of his lease or his interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this twenty-seventh day of June in the third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God.

Interpretations

The rent of two shillings and sixpence an acre stood at half the standard five shillings, marking this as reduced-rate ground of the kind the Company let where the land was poor or reserved for timber, matching the same rate allowed Captain Henry Bazett in December 1762 and the earlier reductions the register records for barren or planted ground.

The reservation of the standing wood set this grant apart from the ordinary lease form. Where the common covenant merely bound the tenant to keep a tenth of the ground in wood and to replant fruit trees, this instrument held back the timber already growing, to be preserved by everyone for the replanting of the ground, so the Company kept the existing stand out of the tenant's hands entirely. This matched the Company's intensified timber-conservation regime, which from the late 1720s charged reduced rents on ground reserved for planting and barred the destruction of standing wood.

The twenty-one acres sat against Company waste on three sides with Orlando Bagley's own land closing the north, so the grant rounded out a block he already held while the Company kept its waste around it. This Orlando Bagley senior connects to the long-established Bagley family of the record, the senior designation distinguishing him from the Orlando Bagley junior who took nineteen acres in the east division in January 1760, the two men holding ground in different divisions of the island under the same family name.

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of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defended of the

faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord one thousand

seven hundred and Sixty three and he the said Orlando

Bagley Senior hath hereunto set his Hand and Seal the Day

and Year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

Orlando Bagley

21 Acres

The reign was that of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and the year of our Lord was one thousand seven hundred and sixty-three. Orlando Bagley senior had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which Orlando Bagley senior sealed. An annexed plan marked the parcel as twenty-one acres.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England

trading to the East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Sett and to farm

Lett unto Thomas Harper and Henry Harper Executors to the last Will

and Testament of Richard Harper Deceased All that piece or

Parcel of Ground lying in James's Valley Situate between the

Houses of John Skottley and Elizabeth Kennedy containing

fifty feet in the Front and Sixty feet in length or depth Together

with all and singular that Messuage or Tenement now built and

erected upon the said piece of Ground with the appurtenances and

every part and parcel thereof To have and to hold the

said hereby Demised piece of Ground aforesaid with the appurtenances

thereunto belonging unto them the said Thomas Harper and

Henry Harper their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns

In trust nevertheless and to the use of the Children of the said

Richard Harper Deceased from the Day of the date hereof for and

during all the space and term of Twenty one Years from thence

next ensuing Upon condition that they the said Children

of the said Richard Harper their Heirs Executors Administrators

and Assigns do and shall bear true faith and Allegiance to our

Sovereign Lord King George the Third his Heirs and

Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable

Company and their Successors and shall duly obey all the

Laws and Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and

paying therefore Yearly and every Year unto the Honorable

Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent

of two Shillings and Six Pence in at or upon the Feast

of St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And upon further

condition that they the said Thomas Harper and Henry

Harper Executors aforesaid shall well and sufficiently keep

up and maintain in good repair all the buildings that are

already or may hereafter be built or erected on the said piece

of Ground or any part thereof And upon condition

that they the said Thomas Harper and Henry Harper their Heirs

Executors

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Thomas Harper and Henry Harper, as executors of the last will and testament of Richard Harper deceased, the whole piece or parcel of ground lying in James Valley between the houses of John Shirley and Elizabeth Kennedy. It measured fifty feet in front and sixty feet in length or depth. The grant carried the messuage or tenement then built and erected on the ground, together with every right and commodity belonging to it. Thomas Harper and Henry Harper, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of ground and every part of it in trust for the use of the children of the deceased Richard Harper, from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. They held on condition that the children of the deceased Richard Harper and their successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. They were to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of two shillings and sixpence, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. They were further bound to keep and maintain in good repair all the buildings then standing or afterwards built on the ground.

Interpretations

The Company let this town ground to Thomas and Henry Harper as executors of the deceased Richard Harper, holding it in trust for his children rather than as their own. This matched the family-trust device that runs through the register, by which land was let to trusted adults so that a dead holder's children took the profit while the tenure rested in responsible hands, here applied to an urban plot with its dwelling rather than to country ground.

This was a town grant measured by frontage and depth, fifty feet in front and sixty in length, the form the register kept for James Valley plots as distinct from the country leases reckoned in acres. It carried a messuage already built on the ground and a flat yearly rent of two shillings and sixpence with no planting duties, the tenant's only continuing burden being to keep the building in repair, matching the other town grants of the period.

The plot lay between the houses of John Shirley and Elizabeth Kennedy, so the register fixes its position by the neighbouring dwellings rather than by any survey, the usual way of placing a James Valley plot. John Shirley on one side is the same holder who took a back ground plot in December 1762, and Elizabeth Kennedy connects to the record for 1761, where Mary Mason's James Valley ground had passed to an Elizabeth Kennedy, the same neighbour now fixing this boundary. The Harper name attaches to the long-established family of the record, the children of Richard Harper joining the several Harper orphans whose ground and trusts recur across the middle of the century.

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Executors Administrators or Assigns shall not alter or remove

the said fences they being the limits or land marks of the said

piece or parcel of Ground And shall not sell or dispose of

this Lease or their Interest therein without the leave and

consent of the Governor and Council for the time being In

Witness whereof We the said Governor and Council hath to the

other part set our hands and affixed the Honorable Company's

Seal this nineteenth Day of September in the Third Year

of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the

Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King

Defender of the faith and so forth and in the Year of our

Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty three and they

the said Thomas Harper and Henry Harper hath hereunto

set their Hands and Seals the Day and Year above written

Witness

Bazett

Thos Harper

Henry Harper

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island

the Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England

trading to the East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Sett

and to farm Lett unto Matthew Purling of the said Island Gentleman

All that piece or parcel of Land containing Nine Acres Situate

lying and being in the East Division of the said Island near the

head of James's Valley butting and bounding North and West

upon the Lands of him the said Matthew Purling South and

East upon the Lands of John Doveton's Orphans To have and

to hold the said hereby Demised parcel of Land and every

part and parcel thereof together with all and singular the

Rights Commodities and appurtenances thereunto belonging unto

him the said Matthew Purling his Heirs Executors Administrators

and Assigns from the Day of the date hereof for and during

all the space and term of twenty one Years from thence next

ensuing

On a further condition, Thomas Harper and Henry Harper and their successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the ground, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this nineteenth day of September in the third year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-three. Thomas Harper and Henry Harper had set their hands and seals on the same day and year.

Thomas Harper witnessed the instrument, which Thomas Harper and Henry Harper sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Matthew Purling, gentleman of the island, the whole piece or parcel of land holding nine acres. It lay within the east division of the island, near the head of James Valley, bounded north and west upon Matthew Purling's own land, and south and east upon the lands of the orphans of John Doveton. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. Matthew Purling, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following.

Interpretations

Matthew Bazett appears again as the witness to the Governor and Council's side of the Harper grant, and Thomas Harper attested his own and Henry Harper's execution, the two executors both sealing while one witnessed, the overlap routine on a small island where the same men filled several roles in a single instrument.

The nine acres sat wedged between Purling's own ground on the north and west and the Doveton orphans' land on the south and east, so the grant rounded out a block Matthew Purling already held while its boundaries locked against the neighbouring holding. The orphans of John Doveton on two sides connect to the Doveton family whose widow Mary Doveton and whose minor child, through the trustee John Clark, took ground at the sitting of 1750, the family's several parcels lying close together near the head of James Valley.

Matthew Purling, styled gentleman, connects to the Purling family of the record, running back through the Matthew Purling who witnessed conveyances in the earlier decades and the John Burling or Purling whose orphans held ground in trust, the family established among the substantial holders of the east division, Matthew Purling here holding freehold and now leasehold near the head of the valley.

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ensuing Upon condition that he the said Matthew Purling

his Heirs or Allowed Assigns do always bear true faith and Allegiance

to our Sovereign Lord King George the Third his Heirs and Successors

and true faith to them the said Honorable Company and their

Successors and shall duly Obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the

Island Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during

the said term and time of twenty one Years unto the said Honorable

Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent

five Shillings p Acre in at or upon the Feast of St Michael the

Arch Angel Yearly And upon condition that he the said

Matthew Purling his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns

do and shall well and sufficiently keep up and maintain the fences

the said Land and the full quantity of Wood thereon and do not nor

shall Sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein

without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time

being In Witness whereof We the said Governor and Council hath to

the other part set our hands and Affixed the Honorable Company's

Seal this 14 Day of November in the fourth Year of the Reign of

our said Sovereign Lord George the Third by the Grace of God of

Great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the faith

and so forth and in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven

hundred and sixty three and he the said Matthew Purling hath

hereunto set his hand and seal the day and Year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

Purling

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island

the Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading

to the East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Lease and to Farm Lett

unto William Moore of the said Island All that piece or parcel of

Land containing ten Acres Situate Lying and being in the East

branch of Sandy Bay Valley in the South Division of the said

Island butting and bounding North East and West upon the

Honorable Company's Wask Land and South upon the Lands of

Thomas Greentree Planter To have and to hold the said

hereby Demised parcel of Land and every part and parcel

thereof

Matthew Purling held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of five shillings an acre, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair the fences to the ground and its full share of wood, and was not to sell or dispose of his lease or his interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this fourteenth day of November in the fourth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-three. Matthew Purling had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which Matthew Purling sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to William Moore of the island the whole piece or parcel of land holding ten acres. It lay in the east branch of Sandy Bay Valley within the south division of the island, bounded north, east and west upon the Honourable Company's waste land, and south upon the lands of Thomas Greentree, planter. William Moore was to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it.

Interpretations

The rent of five shillings an acre placed the Purling grant at the standard rate, distinct from the reduced two shillings and sixpence of the Bazett and Bagley grants of the same period, so the ground here was reckoned of ordinary worth rather than poor or reserved for timber.

The ten acres let to William Moore sat against Company waste on three sides with Thomas Greentree's land closing the south, so the Company let a fragment hemmed by its own unlet ground to the neighbour best placed to enclose it, the standing practice of granting land to the holder whose fields adjoined it. Thomas Greentree on the southern boundary connects to the substantial Greentree family of the record, the Thomas Greentree active through the 1750s and 1760s who acted as executor of the Ryder estates and gathered ground across the divisions, his land here fixing the boundary of the new grant.

Naming the parcel in the east branch of Sandy Bay Valley places it in a quarter long associated with Company grants, the ground running back through the many Sandy Bay leases of the earlier record. William Moore appears as a fresh holder taking Company waste under the standing lease form, the ten acres launching or adding to his island holding in that valley.

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thereof together with all and singular the Wood Water Watercourses

Houses Buildings Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations

of Yams Fruit Trees Walls fences and all other the Rights

Commodities and appurtenances thereunto belonging unto him

the said William Moore his Heirs Executors Administrators and

Assigns from the Day of the date hereof for and during all the

Space and Term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing

Upon condition that he said William Moore his Heirs or

Allowed Assigns do always bear true faith and Allegiance to

our Sovereign Lord King George the Third his Heirs and Successors

and true faith to them the said Honorable Company and their

Successors and shall duly Obey all the Laws and Constitutions of

the said Island Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and

every Year during the said Term and Time of twenty one Years unto

the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the

Yearly Rent of five Shillings p Acre in at or upon the Feast of

St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And upon condition that

he the said William Moore his Heirs Executors Administrators or

Assigns do and shall well and sufficiently keep up and Maintain

the fences to the said Land and the full quantity of Wood thereon

and do not nor shall sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest

therein without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for

the Time being In Witness whereof We the said Governor and

Council hath to the other part set our Hands and affixed the Honorable

Company's Seal this 21 Day of November in the fourth Year of

the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord George the Third by the

Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King

defender of the faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord one

thousand seven hundred and sixty three and he the said William

Moore hath hereunto set his Hand and Seal the Day and Year

abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

Wm Moore

The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. William Moore, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of five shillings an acre, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair the fences to the ground and its full share of wood, and was not to sell or dispose of his lease or his interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this twenty-first day of November in the fourth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-three. William Moore had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which William Moore sealed.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East

Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Lease and to Farm Lett unto Susanna

Worrall Executrix and Samuel Alexander Benjamin Seale and Gabriel

Alexander Harper Executors to the last Will and Testament of John Worrall

Deceased All that piece or parcel of Land containing forty two Acres and an half

situate lying and being in Sandy Bay in the South Division of the said

Island butting and bounding East upon the Lands of Mr Matthew

Bowling South upon the Lands of Mr Richard Bagley North and West

upon the Lands of Mr James Greentree To have and to hold the

hereby Demised parcel of Land and every part and parcel thereof together

with all and Singular the Wood Water Watercourses Houses Buildings

Edifices Sheds Tenements Yams and Plantations of Yams Fruit Trees

Walls fences and all other the Rights Commodities and appurtenances

thereunto belonging unto them the said Susannah Worrall Samuel

Alexander Benjamin Seale and Gabriel Alexander Harper their

Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns In trust nevertheless

and to the use of the Children of the said John Worrall Deceased from the day

of the date hereof for and during all the space and Term of twenty one Years

from thence next ensuing Upon condition that they the said Children

of the said John Worrall their Heirs Executors Administrators and

Assigns do and shall bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign

Lord King George the Third his Heirs and Successors and true faith to

them the said Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly

obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and

paying therefore Yearly and every Year unto the said Honorable

Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent of five

Shillings p Acre in at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel

Yearly And upon condition that they the said Susannah

Worrall Samuel Alexander Benjamin Seale and Gabriel

Alexander Harper Executrix and Executors aforesaid their Heirs

Executors Administrators or Assigns do and shall well and sufficiently

keep up and maintain the fences to the said Land and the full quantity

of Wood thereon and do not nor shall sell or dispose of this Lease

or their Interest therein without the leave and consent of the Governor

and Council for the time being In Witness whereof We the

said Governor and Council hath to the other part set our Hands

and affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this 9 day of

January in the fourth Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Susannah Worrall, executrix, together with Samuel Alexander, Benjamin Seale and Gabriel Alexander Harper, as executors of the last will and testament of John Worrall deceased, the whole piece or parcel of land holding forty-two acres. It lay in Sandy Bay within the south division of the island, bounded east upon the lands of Matthew Purling, south upon the lands of Richard Bagley, and north and west upon the lands of James Greentree. The grant carried the water, watercourses, houses, buildings, structures, sheds, tenements, yams and yam plantations, the fruit trees, walls and fences, and every other right and commodity belonging to the ground. The executrix and executors, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it in trust for the use of the children of the deceased John Worrall, from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. They held on condition that the children of the deceased John Worrall and their successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. They were to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of five shillings an acre, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. They were further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair the fences to the ground and its full share of wood, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this ninth day of January in the fourth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third.

Interpretations

The Company let this ground to a widow-executrix and three fellow executors of the deceased John Worrall, holding it in trust for his children rather than as their own. This matched the family-trust device that runs through the register, by which land was let to trusted adults so that a dead holder's children took the profit while the tenure rested in responsible hands, the four fiduciaries here securing the estate for the Worrall children through the twenty-one year term.

Vesting the land in Susannah Worrall alongside three male executors spread the responsibility for the children's inheritance across several trusted holders, so no single death would leave the trust without management, the standard safeguard where a term had to run its full length for children in their minority. Samuel Alexander and Gabriel Alexander Harper among the executors connect the Worrall trust to the Alexander and Harper families who held widely in the Sandy Bay and south division quarters, and Benjamin Seale to the Seale family established among the leaseholders there.

The Worrall name attaches to the family long tied to the record through the East Indies service, the William Worrall of the earlier decades who held mortgage security over island ground while posted at Bombay, and the several Worralls whose land recurs across the divisions. John Worrall, whose children now took this Sandy Bay ground in trust, connects to that family, the forty-two acres set among the Purling, Bagley and Greentree holdings that fixed its boundaries, the same neighbours recurring across the grants of this period.

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George the Third by the Grace of God of great Britain France and

Ireland King defender of the faith and so forth and in the Year of our

Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty four and they the said

Susannah Worrall Samuel Alexander Benjamin Seale and Gabriel

Alexander Harper have hereunto set their Hands and Seals

the Day and Year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

The Mark of Susan Worrall

Saml Alexander

Benj Seale

Gab Alexr Harper

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island

the Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England

trading to the East Indies Do hereby demise grant Lease and to

farm Lett unto James Powell of the said Island Gentleman All

that piece or parcel of Ground situate lying and being in James's

Valley butting and bounding East and West upon the Honorable

Company's Waste Land North upon the Land of Capt Henry

Bazett and South upon the said James Powell's own Land

containing in Depth next to the Land of the said Henry Bazett

twenty three feet and in Depth next to the Honorable Company's

Waste Lands eighteen feet and in length next to the said James

Powells own Land sixty two feet To have and hold

the said hereby demised piece of Ground with the appurtenances and

every part and thereof unto him the said James Powell his Heirs

Executors Administrators and Assigns from the day of the date

hereof for and during all the space and term of twenty one Years

from thence next ensuing Upon condition that he the said

James Powell his Heirs or allowed Assigns do always bear

true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the

Third his Heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said

Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly obey

The reign was that of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and the year of our Lord was one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four. Susannah Worrall, Samuel Alexander, Benjamin Seale and Gabriel Alexander Harper had set their hands and seals on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument. Susannah Worrall sealed by her mark, and Samuel Alexander, Benjamin Seale and Gabriel Alexander Harper each sealed the instrument.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to James Powell, gentleman of the island, the whole piece or parcel of ground in James Valley. It lay bounded east and west upon the Honourable Company's waste land, north upon the land of Captain Henry Bazett, and south upon James Powell's own land. It measured in depth next to the land of Henry Bazett twenty-three feet, in depth next to the Honourable Company's waste land eighteen feet, and in length next to James Powell's own land sixty-two feet. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. James Powell, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of ground and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island.

Interpretations

This was a town grant of James Valley ground measured by depth and length rather than by acreage, the form the register kept for urban plots as distinct from the country leases reckoned in acres. The measurements record an irregular plot, twenty-three feet deep along one edge and eighteen along another with a length of sixty-two feet, the uneven shape reflecting the pressure on ground in James Valley where the town lay squeezed between steep hillsides.

The plot lay against James Powell's own land on the south, so the grant rounded out his existing town property, the urban equivalent of the rural practice of letting a fragment to the neighbour it adjoined. Captain Henry Bazett on the north connects to the same Henry Bazett who took four acres and a half in the south division in December 1762, his town ground here fixing the northern edge of Powell's plot.

James Powell, styled gentleman, connects to the Powell family long established in the record, running back through the Gabriel Powell and George Gabriel Powell who held widely across the divisions and rose through the Council to the governorship, the family name carried on among the substantial holders of the island. His James Valley plot adds urban ground to the Powell holdings, taken under the standing town-grant form with its flat rent and no planting duties.

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all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island Yielding

and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the said

and time of twenty one Years unto the said Honorable Company

Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent of three Shillings p

Annum in at or upon the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel

Yearly And upon Condition that he the said James Powell his

Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns do and shall well and

sufficiently keep up and maintain in good repair all the Walls

Buildings and Edifices that are or may be hereafter Erected or Built

on the said Grounds or any part thereof and do not nor shall sell

or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest without the leave

and Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being

In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council have to the

other part set our Hands and Affixed the Honorable Company's

Seal this 27 Day of February in the fourth Year of the Reign of

our said Sovereign Lord George the Third by the Grace of God of

great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the faith

and so forth and in the Year of our Lord 1764 and he the said

James Powell hath hereunto set his Hand and Seal the day and

Year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

J Powell

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable the

United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do hereby

Demise Grant Lease and to farm Lett unto Richard Bagley of the said

Island Planter All that piece or parcel of Ground containing eighty feet in length

and sixteen feet in breadth situate lying and being in James's Valley on the

East side of the Road near the Wall Gowns To have and to hold the said hereby

Demised parcel of Ground with the appurtenances and every part and parcel

thereof unto him the said Richard Bagley his Heirs Executors Administrators

and Assigns from the day of the date hereof for and during all the space and

Term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing Upon condition that

the said Richard Bagley his Heirs or Allowed Assigns do always bear true

faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Third his Heirs

and Successors and true faith to them the said Honorably Company and

their Successors and shall duly obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the

said

James Powell was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of three shillings, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good repair all the walls, buildings and structures then standing or afterwards built on the ground. On a further condition, James Powell and his successors were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this twenty-seventh day of February in the fourth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four. James Powell had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which James Powell sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Richard Bagley, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of ground measuring one hundred feet in length and sixteen feet in breadth. It lay in James Valley on the great side of the road near the water crane. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. Richard Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of ground and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island.

Interpretations

This was a town grant of a long narrow strip of James Valley ground, measuring one hundred feet by sixteen, on the great side of the road near the water crane. Fixing the plot by the water crane places it beside the channel that carried water down to the landing for supplying shipping in the road, the feature the Company repeatedly protected in its town grants, barring building near the crane channel to keep the water supply clear.

The elongated shape, a hundred feet long and only sixteen wide, reflects the ground the town left over along the roadside, so the grant let a narrow verge fit for a wall or outbuilding rather than a full dwelling plot, the kind of residual strip the Company regularised across its James Valley grants of the period.

Richard Bagley connects to the substantial Bagley family of the record, the same Richard Bagley who took twelve acres and three quarters in the west division in May 1763 and who bought freehold and leasehold across the divisions from the Steward, Ryder and Knipe estates through the 1750s and 1760s. This town strip adds urban ground to his accumulation, the holding gathered piece by piece through purchase and Company lease into the reign of the third George.

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said Island Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year

during the said term and time of twenty one Years unto the said Honorable

Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent of six Shillings

p Annum in at or upon the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly

And upon condition that he the said Richard Bagley his Heirs Executors

Administrators or Assigns do and shall well and sufficiently keep up and

maintain in good repair all the Buildings that are already or may be

hereafter built or erected on the said Ground or any part thereof And upon

further condition that he the said Richard Bagley his Heirs Executors

Administrators or Assigns shall not alter or remove the said fences they being

the limits or Landmarks of the said piece of Ground And shall not sell or

dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the leave and consent

of the Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the

said Governor and Council have to the other part set our Hands and affixed

the Honorable Company's Seal this 15 Day of June in the fourth Year

of the reign of our said Sovereign Lord George the Third by the Grace of God of

great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the faith and so

forth and in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty

four and he the said Richard Bagley hereunto set his hand and seal the day

and Year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

Rich Bagley

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island

the Honorable the United Company of Merchants of

England trading to the East Indies Do hereby Demise

Grant Lease and to Farm Lett unto Orlando Bagley Senior

of the said Island Planter All that piece or parcel of

Land containing nine Acres situate lying and being in

the West Division of the said Island butting and bounding

West upon the Lands of John Alexander North

upon the Lands of Benjamin Mason East upon the

said Orlando Bagley's own Land and South upon

the Lands of Thomas Greentree To have and to hold

the said hereby parcel of Land with the appurtenances

and

Richard Bagley was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of six shillings, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good repair all the buildings then standing or afterwards built on the ground. On a further condition, Richard Bagley and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the ground, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this fifteenth day of June in the fourth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four. Richard Bagley had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which Richard Bagley sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Orlando Bagley senior, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of land holding nine acres. It lay within the west division of the island, bounded west upon the lands of John Alexander, north upon the lands of Benjamin Mason, east upon Orlando Bagley's own land, and south upon the lands of Thomas Greentree. The grant carried the land with its appurtenances.

Interpretations

The nine acres sat among the ground of several West Division holders, John Alexander on the west, Benjamin Mason on the north and Thomas Greentree on the south, with Orlando Bagley's own land closing the east, so the grant rounded out a block he already held while its boundaries locked against the neighbouring holdings. The Company let the fragment to the neighbour best placed to reach and fence it, the standing practice across the register.

This West Division parcel adds to the ground Orlando Bagley senior already held, distinct from the twenty-one acres in the south division he took in June 1763, so the same holder gathered land in more than one division through Company lease. The senior designation distinguishes him from Orlando Bagley junior, who took nineteen acres in the east division in January 1760, the two men of the same family name holding across separate quarters of the island.

The neighbouring holders on this boundary, John Alexander, Benjamin Mason and Thomas Greentree, recur across the West Division grants of the period, the same substantial families whose ground fixed the bounds of the Clark and Mason parcels of the earlier sittings, the settled holders of that quarter appearing again and again as the Company let its remaining ground among them.

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and every part and parcel thereof unto him the said Orlando Bagley

Senior his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns from the Day

of the date hereof for and during all the space and term of twenty

one Years from thence next ensuing Upon condition that he the

said Orlando Bagley Senior his Heirs or Allowed Assigns do

always bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord

King George the Third his Heirs and Successors and true faith

to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors

and shall duly obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said

Island Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every

Year during the said term and time of twenty one Years unto the

said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns

the Yearly Rent of five Shillings p Acre in at or upon

the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And

upon condition that he the said Orlando Bagley his Heirs

Executors Administrators or Assigns do and shall well and

sufficiently keep up and maintain the fences to the said

Land and the full quantity of Wood thereon and do not nor

shall sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein

without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for

the time being In Witness whereof We the said Governor and

Council have to the other part set our Hands and Affixed the Honorable

Company's Seal this 24 Day of September in the fourth

Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord George the Third

by the grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland

King Defender of the faith and so forth and in the Year of our

Lord one thousand seven hundred and Sixty four and he the

said Orlando Bagley Senior hath hereunto set his Hand and

Seal the Day and year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

John Bagley for Orlo Bagley Senior

Orlando Bagley senior, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of five shillings an acre, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair the fences to the ground and its full share of wood, and was not to sell or dispose of his lease or his interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this twenty-fourth day of September in the fourth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four. Orlando Bagley senior had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which John Bagley sealed on behalf of Orlando Bagley senior.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the

East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Lease and to Farm

Lett unto Benjamin Mason of the said Island Planter All

that piece or parcel of Land containing four Acres situate lying

and being in the South Division of the said Island butting and

bounding North on the Lands of Matthew Bazett South on the

Lands of Samuel Alexander and East and West on the said

Benjamin Mason's own Lands To have and to hold the

said hereby parcel of Land with the appurtenances and every part and

parcel thereof unto him the said Benjamin Mason his Heirs Executors

Administrators and Assigns from the Day of the date hereof for and

during all the space and term of twenty one Years from thence next

ensuing Upon condition that he the said Benjamin Mason

his Heirs or Allowed Assigns do always bear true faith and

Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the Third His

Heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable Company

and their Successors and shall duly obey all the Laws and Constitutions

of the said Island Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and

every Year during the said term and time of twenty one Years unto

the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns

the Yearly Rent of five Shillings p Acre in at or upon the

Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And upon condition

that he the said Benjamin Mason his Heirs Executors

Administrators or Assigns do and shall well and sufficiently

keep up and maintain the fences to the said Land and the

full quantity of Wood thereon and not nor shall sell or dispose

of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the leave and

Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being In

Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council have to the other part set our

Hands and Affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this

Day of September in the fourth Year of the Reign

of our said Sovereign Lord George the Third by the

grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King

defender of the faith and so forth and in the year one thousand

seven hundred and Sixty four and he the said Benjamin

Mason hath hereunto set his Hand and Seal the

Day and Year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

Benj Mason

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Benjamin Mason, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of land holding four acres. It lay within the south division of the island, bounded north upon the lands of Matthew Bazett, south upon the lands of Samuel Alexander, and east and west upon Benjamin Mason's own land. The grant carried the land with its appurtenances. Benjamin Mason, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of five shillings an acre, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair the fences to the ground and its full share of wood, and was not to sell or dispose of his lease or his interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this fourth day of September in the fourth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four. Benjamin Mason had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which Benjamin Mason sealed.

Interpretations

The four acres sat wedged between Bazett and Alexander ground on the north and south, with Benjamin Mason's own land closing the east and west, so the grant rounded out a block he already largely held, the Company letting the small fragment to the neighbour whose fields surrounded it on two sides. Matthew Bazett on the northern boundary is the same holder and Company secretary who witnessed this whole run of grants, his own ground here fixing the edge of the Mason parcel, and Samuel Alexander on the south connects to the Alexander family holding widely across the south division.

Benjamin Mason connects to the Mason family of the record, the same Benjamin Mason who fixed boundaries on the West Division grants of Lieutenant John Clark and Orlando Bagley senior and who bought twenty acres called Bisley from Francis Wrangham in 1761. This south division parcel adds to his accumulation, the ground gathered through purchase and Company lease across more than one division into the reign of the third George.

The recurrence of the same small circle of neighbours across these grants, Mason, Alexander, Bazett and Bagley fixing one another's boundaries in the south and west divisions, reflects how far the island's cultivable ground had by this date settled into the hands of a few established families, the Company letting its remaining fragments among holders whose parcels already adjoined on every side.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England

trading to the East Indies Do hereby Demise grant Lease

and to Farm Lett unto Joseph Chamberlain of the said Island

Carpenter All that piece or parcel of Ground containing sixty feet

in front and seventy nine feet in depth situate lying and being

in James's Valley on the East side of the Road tending up

towards the Maldavia Garden To have and to hold

the said hereby Demised parcel of Ground with the appurtenances

and every part and parcel thereof unto him the said Joseph Chamberlain

his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns from the day of the

date hereof for and during all the space and term of twenty one

Years from thence next ensuing Upon condition that he the said

said Joseph Chamberlain his Heirs or Allowed Assigns do

always bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord

King George the Third his Heirs and Successors and true

faith to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors

and shall duly Obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said

Island Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during

the said term and time of twenty one Years unto the said

Honorable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the

Yearly Rent of fifteen Shillings p Annum in at or upon the

Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And upon

condition that he the said Joseph Chamberlain his Heirs

Executors Administrators or Assigns do and shall well

and Sufficiently keep up and maintain in good repair all the

Walls Buildings and Edifices that are or may be hereafter

Built or Erected on the said piece of Ground or any part thereof

And upon further condition that he the said Joseph Chamberlain

his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns shall not alter

or remove the fences they being the limits or landmarks of

the said piece of Ground And shall not sell or dispose

of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the leave

and Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being

In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council have to

the other part set our Hands and Affixed the Honorable

Company's Seal this Day of October in the fourth Year of the

Reign

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Joseph Chamberlain, carpenter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of ground measuring sixty feet in front and seventy-nine feet in depth. It lay in James Valley on the east side of the road leading up towards the Moldavia garden. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. Joseph Chamberlain, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of ground and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of fifteen shillings, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good repair all the walls, buildings and structures then standing or afterwards built on the ground. On a further condition, Joseph Chamberlain and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the ground, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this sixth day of October in the fourth year of the reign.

Interpretations

This was a town grant of James Valley ground measured by frontage and depth, sixty feet in front and seventy-nine in depth, the form the register kept for urban plots as distinct from the country leases reckoned in acres. The rent of fifteen shillings was charged as a flat yearly sum with no planting duties, the tenant's only continuing burden being to keep the walls and buildings in repair, matching the other town grants of the period where position rather than area governed the charge.

Fixing the plot on the east side of the road leading up towards the Moldavia garden places it along one of the routes climbing out of James Valley, the byname preserving a local landmark of the town, the garden fixing the plot's position as the neighbouring houses fixed others. This is the manner in which the register consistently located James Valley ground, by the road, the water run or the adjoining property rather than by any survey.

Joseph Chamberlain, carpenter, connects to the Company's craftsmen who held town ground in James Valley, joining the John Robinson carpenter and the several tradesmen whose work was paid from the establishment and who took urban plots under the standing town-grant form. This grant adds a substantial plot with its buildings to that layer of the record, the ground let to a craftsman settled in the town rather than to a planter of the country divisions.

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of our said Sovereign Lord George the Third by the

Grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King

defender of the faith and so forth and in the Year of our

Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty four and he the said

Joseph Chamberlain hath hereunto set his Hand and

seal the day and Year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

the mark of Joseph Chamberlain

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading

to the East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Lease and to

Farm Lett unto Thomas Townsend of the said Island Mason

All that piece or parcel of Ground containing sixty feet in front

and sixty seven feet in depth situate lying and being in James's

Valley on the East side of the Road tending up towards the

Maldavia Garden To have and to hold the said hereby

demised parcel of Ground with the appurtenances and every part

and parcel thereof unto him the said Thomas Townsend his Heirs

Executors Administrators and Assigns from the day of the

date hereof for and during all the space and term of twenty one

Years from thence next ensuing Upon condition that he the

said Thomas Townsend his Heirs or Allowed Assigns do always

bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King

George the Third His Heirs and Successors and true faith to

them the said Honorable Company and their Successors and shall

Duly obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island

Yielding and paying Yearly and every Year during the said term

and time of twenty one Years unto the said Honorable Company their

Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent of fifteen Shillings

p Annum in at or upon the Feast of St Michael the Arch

Angel Yearly And upon condition that he the said Thomas Townsend his heirs

Executors or Assigns do and shall well and sufficiently keep up & maintain in good repair

all the Walls Buildings & Edifices that are or may be hereafter Built or Erected on the

said piece of Ground or any part thereof And upon further condition that he the said Thomas Townsend his

Heirs Executors or Assigns shall not alter or remove the fences they being the limits

or Landmarks of the said piece of Ground And shall not sell

The reign was that of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and the year of our Lord was one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four. Joseph Chamberlain had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument. Joseph Chamberlain sealed by his mark.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Thomas Townsend, mason of the island, the whole piece or parcel of ground measuring sixty feet in front and sixty-seven feet in depth. It lay in James Valley on the east side of the road leading up towards the Moldavia garden. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. Thomas Townsend, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of ground and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of fifteen shillings, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair all the walls, buildings and structures then standing or afterwards built on the ground. On a further condition, Thomas Townsend and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the ground.

Interpretations

This was another town grant on the east side of the road leading up towards the Moldavia garden, sealed alongside the Joseph Chamberlain plot and measured in the same way by frontage and depth, sixty feet in front and sixty-seven in depth, at the same flat yearly rent of fifteen shillings. The two grants together let neighbouring plots along the same road to two craftsmen, so the Company was settling that stretch of James Valley ground in a single run of business.

Letting adjoining plots of nearly equal frontage to Joseph Chamberlain the carpenter and Thomas Townsend the mason marks this ground as a quarter taken up by the Company's tradesmen, whose work on the island's building and stonework was paid from the establishment and who took urban plots under the standing town-grant form. The mason's trade in particular tied Townsend to the stone construction the Company maintained about the town and fort.

The recurrence of the Moldavia garden as the landmark fixing both plots preserves a local byname of James Valley, the garden serving to locate the ground where no survey was used, the same practice by which the register placed town plots by the road, the water crane or the neighbouring house throughout the grants of this period.

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or his or their Interest therein

or dispose of this Lease without the leave and Consent of the

Governor & Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the

said Governor and Council have to the other part set our Hands and

Affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this 8 Day of October

in the fourth Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord

George the Third by the grace of God of great Britain

France and Ireland King defender of the faith and so forth

and in the Year of our Lord 1764 and he the said Thomas

Townsend hath hereunto set his Hand and seal the Day and

Year abovewritten

Thos Townsend

Witness

Bazett

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading

to the East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Lease and to farm Lett unto

John Alexander Planter All that piece or parcel of Land containing fifteen

Acres situate lying and being in the West Division of the said Island butting

and bounding North and West upon the Honorable Company's Waste Land

and East and South upon the Land of Benjamin Mason Planter

To have and to hold the said hereby Demised parcel of Land

and every part and parcel thereof together with all and Singular the

Rights Commodities and appurtenances thereunto belonging unto him the

said John Alexander his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns

from the day of the date hereof for and during all the space and term of

twenty one Years from thence next ensuing Upon condition that he the

said John Alexander his Heirs or Allowed Assigns Do always

bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George

the Third his Heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said Honorable

Company and their Successors and shall duly Obey all the Laws and

Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and

every Year during the said term and time of twenty one Years unto the said

Honorable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent of

St Michael the Arch

Thomas Townsend and his successors were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this sixth day of October in the fourth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four. Thomas Townsend had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which Thomas Townsend sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to John Alexander, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of land holding fifteen acres. It lay within the west division of the island, bounded north and west upon the Honourable Company's waste land, and east and south upon the lands of Benjamin Mason, planter. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. John Alexander, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel.

Interpretations

The fifteen acres sat against Company waste on the north and west and Benjamin Mason's land on the east and south, so the Company let a fragment hemmed partly by its own unlet ground to the neighbour best placed to enclose it, the standing practice of granting land to the holder whose fields adjoined it. Benjamin Mason on two boundaries connects to the same Benjamin Mason who took a four-acre south division parcel in September 1764 and held ground across the West Division, his land fixing the bounds of this Alexander grant.

John Alexander connects to the long-established Alexander family of the record, running back through the John Alexander who served as register from at least 1686 and forward through the several John Alexanders who held and dealt in ground across the divisions, the family name still fixing boundaries and taking Company leaseholds a lifetime on. This West Division parcel adds to the Alexander holding, the same John Alexander whose land bounded the Orlando Bagley senior and Mason parcels of the surrounding grants.

The close interlocking of the Alexander, Mason and Bagley holdings across these West Division grants, each family's ground fixing the boundaries of the others, shows how far the cultivable land of that quarter had settled into a few established hands by the middle of the 1760s, the Company letting its remaining fragments among neighbours whose parcels already met on every side.

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Angel Yearly And upon condition that he the said John Alexander

his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns do and shall well and Sufficiently

keep up and maintain the fences to the said Land and the full quantity of Wood

thereon and not nor shall well or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein

without the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for the time being

In Witness whereof We the said Governor and Council have to the other part set

our Hands and Affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this 12 Day of November

in the fifth Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord George the Third by the

grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith

and so forth and in the Year of our Lord 1764 and he the said John Alexander

hath hereunto set his Hand and Seal the Day and Year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

John Alexander

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies

Do hereby Demise Grant Lease and to Farm Lett unto Matthew Purling

Junior All that piece or parcel of Ground Containing thirty seven feet in

breadth and one hundred and eight feet in Depth situate lying and being in

James's Valley behind the dwelling House of him the said Matthew Purling

To have and to hold the said hereby Demised parcel of Ground with the

appurtenances and every part and parcel thereof unto him the said Matthew

Purling his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns from the day of the

date hereof for and during all the space and term of twenty one Years from thence

next ensuing Upon condition that he the said Matthew Purling his Heirs

or Allowed Assigns do Always bear true faith and Allegiance to our

Sovereign Lord King George the Third His Heirs and Successors and true faith

to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly Obey all the

Laws and Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and

and every Year during the said term and time of twenty one Years unto the said Honorable

Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent of twenty four Shillings

and two Pence p Annum in at upon the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel

Yearly And upon condition that he the said Matthew Purling His Heirs

Executors Administrators or Assigns do and shall well and Sufficiently keep up and

John Alexander was further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair the fences to the ground and its full share of wood, and was not to sell or dispose of his lease or his interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this twelfth day of November in the fifth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four. John Alexander had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which John Alexander sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Matthew Purling the whole piece or parcel of ground measuring thirty-seven feet in breadth and one hundred and eight feet in depth. It lay in James Valley behind Matthew Purling's own dwelling house. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. Matthew Purling, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of ground and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of twenty shillings and twopence, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel.

Interpretations

This was a town grant of James Valley ground measured by breadth and depth, thirty-seven feet across and one hundred and eight deep, the form the register kept for urban plots as distinct from the country leases reckoned in acres. The plot lay behind Matthew Purling's own dwelling house, so the grant secured the back ground of his existing town property, the urban equivalent of the rural practice of letting a fragment to the neighbour it adjoined.

The rent of twenty shillings and twopence was charged as a flat yearly sum, one of the higher town rents in the run and bearing no fixed relation to the plot's area, so position and the value of the ground behind an established dwelling governed the charge rather than any survey measure, matching the pattern across the James Valley grants where the sum reflected the standing of the ground rather than its extent.

Matthew Purling, who took nine acres near the head of James Valley in the east division in November 1763, appears here again securing the back ground of his town house, so the same holder gathered both country and urban ground through Company lease. The Purling family, established among the substantial holders of the record and tied through the Burling or Purling orphans' trusts of the earlier decades, held property on both the country and town sides of the island into the reign of the third George.

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maintain in good repair all the Walls and buildings that are or may be

hereafter built or Erected on the said piece of Ground or any part thereof And upon

further condition that he the said Matthew Purling his Heirs Executors Administrators

or Assigns shall not alter or remove the fences they being the limits or Landmarks of the

said piece of Ground And shall not sell or Dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest

therein without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being

In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council have to the other part set our

Hands and Affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this 19 Day of November

in the fifth Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord King George the

Third by the grace of God of great Britain France & Ireland King defender

of the faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord 1764 and he the said

Matthew Purling hath hereunto set his Hand & Seal the Day and Year

abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

Purling

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading

to the East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Lease and to Farm Lett

unto Francis Wrangham of the said Island Gentleman All that piece

or parcel of Ground containing twenty two feet in breadth one hundred and one

feet in depth situate lying and being in James's Valley behind the

Dwelling House of him the said Francis Wrangham To have and to

hold the said hereby Demised parcel of Ground with the appurtenances and

every part and parcel thereof unto him the said Francis Wrangham his Heirs

Executors Administrators and Assigns from the day of the date hereof for &

during all the space and term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing

Upon condition that he the said Francis Wrangham his Heirs or allowed

Assigns do always bear true faith and allegiance to Our Sovereign Lord

King George the Third his Heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said

Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly Obey all the Laws

and Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and paying therefore Yearly

and every Year during the said term and time of twenty one Years unto the said

Honorable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent of

fourteen Shillings and four Pence p Annum in at or upon the Feast of St

Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And upon condition that he the

Matthew Purling was further bound to keep and maintain in good repair all the walls and buildings then standing or afterwards built on the ground. On a further condition, Matthew Purling and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the ground, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this nineteenth day of November in the fifth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four. Matthew Purling had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which Matthew Purling sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Francis Wrangham, gentleman of the island, the whole piece or parcel of ground measuring twenty-two feet in breadth and one hundred and one feet in depth. It lay in James Valley behind Francis Wrangham's own dwelling house. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. Francis Wrangham, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of ground and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of fourteen shillings and fourpence, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel.

Interpretations

This was another town grant of back ground behind a dwelling, sealed alongside the Matthew Purling plot and measured in the same way by breadth and depth, twenty-two feet across and one hundred and one deep. The plot lay behind Francis Wrangham's own house, so the grant secured the residual ground behind his existing town property, the urban equivalent of the rural practice of letting a fragment to the holder it adjoined.

The rent of fourteen shillings and fourpence, an odd sum bearing no round relation to the plot's area, marks the town charges of this run as fixed to the particular ground rather than reckoned by any uniform measure, so the sum reflected the position and worth of each back plot rather than its extent, the pattern that runs across the James Valley grants where no survey rate governed the rent.

Francis Wrangham, styled gentleman, connects to the substantial Wrangham family of the record, running back through the several Francis Wranghams, senior and junior, who held widely across the country divisions and appeared as boundary holders and witnesses through the middle of the century, the Francis Wrangham junior who witnessed the 1760 grants among them. His James Valley back plot adds urban ground to the Wrangham holdings, the family established on both the country and town sides of the island into the reign of the third George.

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Francis Wrangham his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns do

and shall well and Sufficiently keep up and maintain in good repair

all the Walls and Buildings that are or may be hereafter Built or Erected

on the said piece of Ground or any part thereof And upon further condition

that he the said Francis Wrangham his Heirs Executors Administrators

or Assigns shall not alter or remove the fences they being the limits or Landmarks

of the said piece of Ground And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease

or his or their Interest therein without the leave and consent of the Governor and

Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor

and Council have to the other part set our Hands and Affixed the Honorable

Company's Seal this 19 Day of November in the fifth Year of the Reign

of our said Sovereign Lord George the Third by the grace of God of great

Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith and so forth and in the

Year of our Lord 1764 and he the said Francis Wrangham hath here

set his hand and seal the Day and Year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

F Wrangham

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading

to the East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Lease and to Farm

Lett unto Martha Scott of the said Island All that piece or parcel

of Ground containing nineteen feet in breadth and one hundred and ten feet

in Depth situate lying and being in James's Valley behind the Dwelling

House of her the said Martha Scott To have and to hold the

said hereby Demised parcel of Ground with the appurtenances and every part

and parcel thereof unto her the said Martha Scott her Heirs Executors

Administrators and Assigns from the day of the date hereof for and during

all the space and term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing

Upon condition that she the said Martha Scott her Heirs or

Allowed Assigns do always bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign

Lord King George the Third his Heirs and Successors and true faith

to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors and duly Obey all

the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and paying

therefore Yearly and every Year during the said term and time of twenty one

Years unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns

Francis Wrangham was further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair all the walls and buildings then standing or afterwards built on the ground. On a further condition, Francis Wrangham and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the ground, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this nineteenth day of November in the fifth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four. Francis Wrangham had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which Francis Wrangham sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Martha Scott of the island the whole piece or parcel of ground measuring nineteen feet in breadth and one hundred and ten feet in depth. It lay in James Valley behind Martha Scott's own dwelling house. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. Martha Scott, her heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of ground and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. She held on condition that she and her successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island.

Interpretations

This was a further town grant of back ground, sealed alongside the Purling and Wrangham plots and measured in the same way, nineteen feet across and one hundred and ten deep, behind Martha Scott's own dwelling house. The three grants together let the residual ground behind a row of James Valley houses to their several holders in a single run, so the Company was settling the back plots of that part of the town at one sitting.

Martha Scott, taking a back plot in her own name, joins the several women of the record who held Company ground on the same terms set for men, from Mary Doveton and Elizabeth Greentree to Elizabeth Desfountain and Mary Seale. The Scott name connects to the John Scott who took a Southwark side town plot in October 1746 and to the orphan Elizabeth Scott whose James Valley house passed among guardians in 1761, the family holding town ground across the middle of the century.

Securing the back ground behind an existing dwelling was the settled purpose of these James Valley grants, each let to the holder whose house it adjoined, so a householder could hold with certain title the yard, outbuildings and strip of ground that completed the property, the urban counterpart of the country consolidations by which the Company let a fragment to the neighbour it rounded out.

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the Yearly Rent of twelve Shillings and five Pence p Annum in at or

upon the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And upon

Condition that she the said Martha Scott her Heirs Executors Administrators

or Assigns do and shall well and Sufficiently keep up and maintain in good repair

all the Walls and Buildings that are or may be hereafter Built or Erected on the

said piece of Ground or any part thereof And upon further Condition that she

the said Martha Scott her Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns shall not

alter or remove the fences they being the limits or Landmarks of the said piece

of Ground And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest

therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council for the time

being In Witness whereof We the said Governor and Council have to

the other part set our Hands and Affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this 19 Day

of November in the fifth Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord

George the Third by the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland

King Defender of the faith and so forth in the Year of our Lord 1764

and she the said Martha Scott hath hereunto set her hand and Seal the Day

and Year abovewritten

Witness

Rich Powell

Rich Law

Martha Scott

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading unto the East

Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Lease and to Farm Lett unto Jonathan

Doveton of the said Island Planter All that piece or parcel of Ground containing twenty four

feet in breadth and one hundred and nine feet in depth situate lying and being in

James's Valley behind the Dwelling House of him the said Jonathan Doveton

To have and to hold the said hereby Demised parcel of Ground

with the appurtenances and every part and parcel thereof unto him the said

Jonathan Doveton his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns

from the day of the date hereof for and during all the space

and term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing Upon

Condition that he the said Jonathan Doveton his Heirs or allowed

Assigns do always bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign

Lord King George the Third his Heirs and Successors and true faith

to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly

Obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and

Martha Scott was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of twelve shillings and fivepence, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. She was further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair all the walls and buildings then standing or afterwards built on the ground. On a further condition, Martha Scott and her successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the ground, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this nineteenth day of November in the fifth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four. Martha Scott had set her hand and seal on the same day and year.

Richard Powell and Richard Law witnessed the instrument, which Martha Scott sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Jonathan Doveton, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of ground measuring twenty-four feet in breadth and one hundred and nine feet in depth. It lay in James Valley behind Jonathan Doveton's own dwelling house. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. Jonathan Doveton, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of ground and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island.

Interpretations

This was another town grant of back ground behind a dwelling, measured by breadth and depth, twenty-four feet across and one hundred and nine deep, behind Jonathan Doveton's own house. It continues the run of James Valley back plots sealed in November 1764, each securing the residual ground behind an existing town property for the householder it adjoined.

The appearance of Richard Powell alongside Richard Law as witnesses to the Martha Scott grant marks a change in the witness panel from the long run attested by Matthew Bazett, the register drawing on other hands of the island's administration as the business of the sitting continued. Richard Law recurs as a witness from the earlier grants of 1750, his name running across more than a decade of the register's instruments.

Jonathan Doveton connects to the long-established Doveton family of the record, the same Jonathan Doveton who took a small James Valley back plot behind the orphan James Pritchard's house in November 1762 and who dealt in freehold and made over fractions of parcels to Thomas Greentree through the period. This further back plot behind his own dwelling adds to the Doveton holdings on the town side, the family established across both the country divisions and James Valley into the reign of the third George.

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and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the said term and time

of twenty one Years unto the said Honorable Company their Successors

Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent of fifteen Shillings and eight

Pence p Annum in at or upon the Feast of St Michael the Arch

Angel Yearly And upon condition that he the said Jonathan Doveton

his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns do and shall well

and sufficiently keep up and maintain in good repair all the Walls and

Buildings that are or may be hereafter built or Erected on the said piece

of Ground or any part thereof And upon further condition that he

the said Jonathan Doveton his Heirs Executors Administrators or

Assigns shall not alter or remove the fences they being the limits or Landmarks

of the said piece of Ground And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease

or his or their Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the

Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof

we the said Governor and Council have to the other part set our Hands

and Affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this 19 Day of November

in the fifth Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord

George the Third by the grace of God of great Britain France and

Ireland King defender of the faith and so forth and in the Year

of our Lord 1764 and he the said Jonathan Doveton hath hereunto

set his hand and Seal the day and Year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

Jona Doveton

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island

the Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to

the East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Lease and to Farm Lett

unto Richard Bagley of the said Island Planter All that piece

or parcel of Ground containing twenty feet in breadth and one hundred and ten

feet in Depth situate lying and being in James's Valley behind the Dwelling

House of him the said Richard Bagley To have and to hold the

said hereby Demised parcel of Ground with the appurtenances and every

part and parcel thereof unto him the said Richard Bagley his Heirs

Executors Administrators and Assigns from the day of the date hereof

for and during all the space and term of twenty one Years from thence next

ensuing Upon condition that he the said Richard Bagley his Heirs

or Allowed Assigns do always bear true faith and Allegiance

Jonathan Doveton was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of fifteen shillings and eightpence, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair all the walls and buildings then standing or afterwards built on the ground. On a further condition, Jonathan Doveton and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the ground, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this nineteenth day of November in the fifth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four. Jonathan Doveton had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which Jonathan Doveton sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Richard Bagley, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of ground measuring twenty feet in breadth and one hundred and ten feet in depth. It lay in James Valley behind Richard Bagley's own dwelling house. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. Richard Bagley, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of ground and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors.

Interpretations

This was another town grant of back ground behind a dwelling, measured by breadth and depth, twenty feet across and one hundred and ten deep, behind Richard Bagley's own house. It belongs to the same November 1764 run of James Valley back plots as the Purling, Wrangham, Scott and Doveton grants, the Company settling in a single sitting the residual ground behind a whole row of town dwellings, each let to its own householder.

The near-uniform depth across these back plots, close to one hundred and ten feet in several of them, suggests the ground behind this row of James Valley houses ran back a consistent distance to a common rear line, the Company letting each householder the strip behind his own frontage so that the widths varied with the houses while the depth held steady, the plots together filling the space between the dwellings and the rising ground behind.

Richard Bagley connects to the substantial Bagley family of the record, the same Richard Bagley who took the roadside strip near the water crane in June 1764 and twelve acres and three quarters in the west division in May 1763, and who bought freehold and leasehold across the divisions through the 1750s and 1760s. This back plot behind his own dwelling adds urban ground to his wide accumulation, the holding gathered piece by piece through purchase and Company lease into the reign of the third George.

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to our Sovereign Lord King George the Third his Heirs and Successors and true

faith to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly Obey

all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and paying therefore

Yearly and every Year during the said term and Time of twenty one Years

unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly

Rent of thirteen Shillings and two Pence p Annum in at or upon the Feast of St

Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And upon condition that he the said Richard

Bagley his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns do and shall well keep up and sufficiently

maintain in Good repair all the Walls Buildings that are or may hereafter keep Built or Erected on the

said piece of Ground or any part thereof And upon further condition that he the said Richard

Bagley his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns shall not alter or remove the

fences they being the limits or landmarks of the said piece of Ground And shall not

sell or dispose of this Lease without the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council

for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council have to the

set our Hands and Affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this 19 Day of November

in the fifth Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord George the Third by the grace of

God of great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith and so forth and

in the Year of our Lord 1764 and he the said Richard Bagley hath hereunto set his

Hand and Seal the Day and Year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

Rich Bagley

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable the United

Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do hereby Demise

Grant Lease and to Farm Lett unto James Greentree of the said Island Planter All that piece or

parcel of Ground containing thirty one feet in breadth and ninety five feet in depth situate

lying and being in James's Valley behind the dwelling House of him the said James Greentree

To have and to hold the said hereby demised parcel of Ground with the appurtenances

and every part and parcel thereof unto him the said James Greentree his Heirs Executors

Administrators and Assigns from the day of the date hereof for and during all the space

and term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing Upon condition that he the said

James Greentree his Heirs or Allowed Assigns do always bear true faith and Allegiance

to our Sovereign Lord King George the Third his Heirs and Successors and true Faith to

them the said Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly Obey all the

Laws and Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and paying therefore yearly and

Richard Bagley and his successors were to bear true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obey all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of thirteen shillings and twopence, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair all the walls and buildings then standing or afterwards built on the ground. On a further condition, Richard Bagley and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the ground, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this nineteenth day of November in the fifth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four. Richard Bagley had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which Richard Bagley sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to James Greentree, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of ground measuring thirty-one feet in breadth and ninety-five feet in depth. It lay in James Valley behind James Greentree's own dwelling house. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. James Greentree, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of ground and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island.

Interpretations

This was another town grant of back ground behind a dwelling, measured by breadth and depth, thirty-one feet across and ninety-five deep, behind James Greentree's own house. It continues the November 1764 run of James Valley back plots, the Company letting the residual ground behind a row of town dwellings to their several householders, each securing the strip behind his own frontage.

The depth here of ninety-five feet, shorter than the hundred and ten of several neighbouring plots, shows the common rear line behind the row was not perfectly even, the ground behind each house running back as far as the rising hillside allowed, so the plots varied in depth as well as width while together filling the space behind the frontages. This reflects the pressure on ground in James Valley, where the town lay squeezed between steep hillsides and the back plots reached only as far as the slope permitted.

James Greentree connects to the substantial Greentree family of the record, running back through the several James and Thomas Greentrees who held widely across the country divisions and dealt in James Valley property, the James Greentree who sold a house to Samuel Falconer in 1751 among them. This back plot behind his own dwelling adds urban ground to the Greentree holdings, the family established on both the country and town sides of the island into the reign of the third George.

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Year during the said term & time of twenty one Years unto the said Honorable Company

their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent of twenty Shillings & three p

Annum in at or upon the Feast St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And

upon condition that he the said James Greentree his Heirs Executors Administrators or

Assigns do and shall well and Sufficiently keep up and maintain in good repair all

the Walls and Buildings that are or may be hereafter Erected on the said piece of Ground

or any part thereof And upon further condition that he the said James Greentree his Heirs

Executors Administrators or Assigns shall not alter or remove the fences they being

the limits or Landmarks of the said piece of Ground And shall not sell or dispose

of this Lease or his or their Interest therein without the leave and consent of the

Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the said

Governor and Council have to the other set our hands and Affixed the Honorable

Company's Seal this 19 Day of November in the fifth Year of the Reign

of our said Sovereign Lord George the Third by the grace of God of Great

Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith and so forth and in the

Year our Lord 1764 and he the said James Greentree hath hereunto set his hand and

Seal the Day and Year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

James Greentree

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading

to the East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Lease and to Farm

Lett unto Lieutenant Solomon St Maurice All that piece or parcel of

Ground containing sixty feet in Front and ninety five feet in Depth

situate lying and being in James's Valley on the East side of the Road

leading up towards the Maldavia Garden To have and to hold

the said hereby Demised parcel of Ground with the appurtenances and every

part and parcel thereof unto him the said Solomon St Maurice his Heirs

James Greentree was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of twenty shillings and threepence, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair all the walls and buildings then standing or afterwards built on the ground. On a further condition, James Greentree and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the ground, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this nineteenth day of November in the fifth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four. James Greentree had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which James Greentree sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Lieutenant Solomon Saint Maurice the whole piece or parcel of ground measuring sixty feet in front and ninety-five feet in depth. It lay in James Valley on the east side of the road leading up towards the Moldavia garden. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. Solomon Saint Maurice, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of ground and every part of it.

Interpretations

This was a town grant on the east side of the road leading up towards the Moldavia garden, measured by frontage and depth, sixty feet in front and ninety-five deep, the same road along which the Chamberlain and Townsend plots had been let earlier in 1764. The grant continues the Company's settling of that stretch of James Valley ground, letting a further plot of substantial frontage along the route climbing out of the valley.

Where the November 1764 grants let back ground behind existing dwellings, this plot lay along the road towards the Moldavia garden like the earlier Chamberlain and Townsend grants, so the road frontage there was being taken up plot by plot alongside the settling of the back ground elsewhere in the town, the Company disposing of James Valley ground on several fronts in the same period.

Lieutenant Solomon Saint Maurice held this plot as a Company officer of the garrison, joining the Lieutenant John Clark of the earlier grants among the military men who took island ground alongside their service. The distinctive Saint Maurice name marks a holder of continental or Huguenot origin within the garrison, paralleling the earlier appearances of such names as Desfountain, Junge and Audouart among the Company's personnel across the record.

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Executors Administrators and Assigns from the day of the date hereof for and

during all the space and term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing

Upon condition that he the said Solomon St Maurice his Heirs or Allowed

Assigns do always bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord

King George the Third his Heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said

Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly Obey the Laws and

Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every

Year during the said term and time of twenty one Years unto the said Honorable

Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the Yearly Rent of fifteen Shillings

p Annum in at or upon the Feast of St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly

And upon condition that he the said Solomon St Maurice his Heirs Executors

Administrators or Assigns do and shall well and Sufficiently keep up and maintain

in good repair all the Walls and Buildings that are or may be hereafter Built or

Erected on the said piece of Ground or any part thereof And upon further Condition

that he the said Solomon St Maurice his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns

shall not alter or remove the fences they being the Limits or Landmarks of the said piece

of Ground And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein

therein without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time

being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council have to the

other part set our hands and Affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this 26

Day of November in the fifth Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord

George the Third by the grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King

Defender of the faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord 1764 and he the said

Solomon St Maurice hath hereunto set his Hand and Seal the Day and Year above

written

Witness

Bazett

Sol St Maurice

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies

Do hereby Demise Grant Lease and to Farm Lett unto Isaac Knipe

of the said Island Planter All those two pieces or parcels of Land

Solomon Saint Maurice, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of ground and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of fifteen shillings, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good repair all the walls and buildings then standing or afterwards built on the ground. On a further condition, Solomon Saint Maurice and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the ground, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this twenty-sixth day of November in the fifth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four. Solomon Saint Maurice had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which Solomon Saint Maurice sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Isaac Knipe, planter of the island, the whole of two pieces or parcels of land.

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containing in the whole twenty one and an half Acres situate lying

and being in the West division of the said Island fifteen Acres whereof

known by the name of Horse Pasture butting and bounding North

and West upon the Honorable Company's Waste Land East upon

the Land of John Alexander Planter and South upon the said

Isaac Knipes own Land the other six Acres and an half

lying in Lemon Valley butting and bounding every way on the

Honorable Company's Waste Land To have and to hold

the said hereby Demised parcels of Land and every part and

part and parcel thereof together with all and singular the Rights

Commodities and appurtenances thereunto belonging unto him the said

Isaac Knipe his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns

from the day of the date hereof for and during all the space and

term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing Upon condition

that he the said Isaac Knipe his Heirs or Allowed Assigns

do always bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King

George the Third his Heirs and Successors and true faith to them the

said Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly Obey all

the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and paying

therefore Yearly and every Year during the said term and time of twenty one

Years unto the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or

Assigns the Rent of five Shillings p Acre in at or upon the Feast

of St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And upon condition

that he the said Isaac Knipe his Heirs Executors Administrators

or Assigns do and shall well and Sufficiently keep up and maintain

the fences to the said Land and the full quantity of Wood thereon and

do not nor shall dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein

without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time

Being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council

have to the other part set our Hands and Affixed the Honorable

Company's Seal this 19 Day of December in the fifth Year of

the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord King George the Third

by the grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King

Defender of the faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord

1764 And he the said Isaac Knipe hath hereunto set his hand

and Seal the Day and Year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

Isaac Knipe

The two parcels held in all twenty-one acres and a half within the west division of the island. The first, fifteen acres carrying the byname of the Horse Pasture, lay bounded north and west upon the Honourable Company's waste land, east upon the land of John Alexander, planter, and south upon Isaac Knipe's own land. The second, six acres and a half lying in Lemon Valley, lay bounded on every side upon the Honourable Company's waste land. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the two parcels. Isaac Knipe, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole of both parcels and every part of them from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of five shillings an acre, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair the fences to the ground and its full share of wood, and was not to sell or dispose of his lease or his interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this first day of December in the fifth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four. Isaac Knipe had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which Isaac Knipe sealed.

Interpretations

The grant combined two separate parcels into a single instrument at the standard rate of five shillings an acre, the fifteen acres of the Horse Pasture rounding out Knipe's own adjoining ground and the six acres and a half in Lemon Valley ringed wholly by Company waste, so the Company let one block against the tenant's existing land and the other as an isolated fragment for him to enclose entire.

The byname of the Horse Pasture preserved a working use of the ground, land kept for grazing the island's horses, the kind of descriptive local name the register repeatedly carried down with a parcel across the decades. John Alexander on the eastern boundary of that parcel connects to the Alexander family holding widely across the West Division, the same John Alexander whose own grants and boundaries recur through the ground of this quarter.

Isaac Knipe connects to the Knipe family of the record, the same Isaac Knipe who acted as a guardian selling the orphan Elizabeth Scott's James Valley house in 1761 and who made over sixteen acres of leasehold to Richard Bagley in the same year, the family running back through the John Knipe of the earlier decades who held ground at the bottom of Pleasant Valley. This West Division grant adds twenty-one acres and a half to his holding, the ground gathered through Company lease into the reign of the third George.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the

East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Lease and to Farm Lett unto Captain

Henry Bazett of the said Island All that piece or parcel of Cabbage tree Land

containing nineteen Acres Situate lying and being under the Main Ridge next

to Sandy Bay butting and bounding towards the North and East upon the

Lands of him the said Henry Bazett South upon the Lands of Matthew Purling

Esqr and West upon the Lands of John Worralls Orphans To have and

to hold the said hereby parcel of Land with the appurtenances and every

part and parcel thereof unto him the said Henry Bazett his Heirs

Executors Administrators and Assigns from the Day of the date hereof for

and during all the space and term of twenty one Years from thence next

ensuing Upon condition that he the said Henry Bazett his Heirs

or allowed Assigns do always bear true faith and Allegiance to our

Sovereign Lord King George the Third his Heirs and Successors and

true faith to them the said Honorable Company and their Successors and

shall duly obey all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island

Yielding and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the said

term and time of twenty one Years unto the said Honorable Company

their Successors Agents or Assigns the Rent of five Shillings p Acre in at or

upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And upon condition

that he the said Henry Bazett his Heirs Executors Administrators or

Assigns do and shall well and sufficiently keep up and maintain the

fences to the said Land and the full quantity of Wood thereon and do not

nor shall sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest therein

without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council for the time being

In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council have to the other

part set our Hands and Affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this 21

Day of May in the fifth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George

the Third by the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King

Defender of the faith and so forth and in the Year our Lord 1765

and he the said Henry Bazett hath hereunto set his hand and seal

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Captain Henry Bazett of the island the whole piece or parcel of cabbage tree land holding nineteen acres. It lay under the Main Ridge next to Sandy Bay, bounded north and east upon the lands of Henry Bazett himself, south upon the lands of Matthew Purling, and west upon the lands of the orphans of John Worrall. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. Henry Bazett, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of five shillings an acre, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair the fences to the ground and its full share of wood, and was not to sell or dispose of his lease or his interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this twenty-seventh day of May in the fifth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-five. Henry Bazett had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Interpretations

Naming this parcel cabbage tree land marks the ground by its native timber, the endemic cabbage tree of St Helena that the leases repeatedly identify as a distinct cover, its stands valued and its ground noted apart from gumwood and open land. The nineteen acres, let at the standard five shillings an acre, sat against Bazett's own ground on the north and east, so the grant rounded out a block he already held under the Main Ridge next to Sandy Bay.

Bounding the ground north and east on Henry Bazett's own land, south on Matthew Purling's and west on the Worrall orphans' land locks this grant to the neighbouring holdings of the same Sandy Bay quarter. The orphans of John Worrall on the western boundary held the forty-two acres let in trust to Susannah Worrall and her fellow executors in January 1764, so this parcel adjoined that trust ground, the two grants lying together under the ridge.

Captain Henry Bazett, formerly a lieutenant and now raised in rank, connects to the substantial Bazett family of the record, the same Henry Bazett who took four acres and a half in the south division in December 1762 and bought Steward freehold and Woody Ridge ground through the 1750s. This nineteen-acre cabbage tree parcel adds to his wide Sandy Bay holding, the family gathering ground across the divisions and up the ridge into the reign of the third George.

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the Day and Year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

Henry Bazett

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the

Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to

the East Indies Do hereby Demise Grant Lease and to Farm Lett

unto Lieutenant Solomon St Maurice All that piece or parcel of Ground

containing fifteen feet in Front and ninety five feet in Depth situate

lying and being in James's Valley adjoining to the House of him the

said Solomon St Maurice To have and to hold the said hereby

Demised parcel of Ground with the appurtenances and every part and

parcel thereof unto him the said Solomon St Maurice his Heirs

Executors Administrators and Assigns from the Day of the date

hereof for and during all the space and term of twenty one Years

from thence next ensuing Upon condition that he the said

Solomon St Maurice his Heirs or allowed Assigns do always bear

true faith and allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King George the

Third his Heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said

Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly Obey

all the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island Yielding

and paying therefore Yearly and every Year during the said term

and time of twenty one Years unto the said Honorable Company

their Successors Agents or Assigns the Rent of fifteen

Shillings p Annum in at or upon the feast of St Michael

the Arch Angel Yearly And upon condition that he the said

Henry Bazett had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which Henry Bazett sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Lieutenant Solomon Saint Maurice the whole piece or parcel of ground measuring fifteen feet in front and ninety-five feet in depth. It lay in James Valley adjoining Solomon Saint Maurice's own house. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. Solomon Saint Maurice, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of ground and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of fifteen shillings, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel.

Interpretations

This was a further town grant to Lieutenant Solomon Saint Maurice, a narrow strip of James Valley ground measuring fifteen feet in front and ninety-five deep, adjoining his own house. It followed his sixty-foot plot on the road towards the Moldavia garden of November 1764, so the officer was gathering the ground about his James Valley property piece by piece, the narrow strip rounding out the frontage he already held.

The flat rent of fifteen shillings for this small strip, the same sum charged on his much larger sixty-foot plot, shows again that the town rents bore no fixed relation to the area of the ground, position and the value of a plot adjoining an established house governing the charge rather than any survey measure, the pattern that runs across the James Valley grants of the period.

The Saint Maurice name marks a holder of continental or Huguenot origin within the garrison, and his accumulation of James Valley ground across two grants places him among the Company officers who built a settled town footing alongside their service, joining the Lieutenant John Clark and the several other military men who took island ground through the record. The distinctive surname parallels the earlier Desfountain, Junge and Audouart among the Company's personnel of foreign extraction.

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Solomon St Maurice his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns

do and shall well and sufficiently keep up and maintain in good

repair all the Walls and Buildings that are or may be hereafter

Built or Erected on the said piece of Ground or any part thereof And upon

further condition that he the said Solomon St Maurice his Heirs

Executors Administrators or Assigns shall not alter or remove the

fences they being the limits or landmarks of the said piece of Ground

And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their Interest

therein without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council

for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and

Council have to the other part set our Hands and Affixed the

Honorable Company's Seal this 26 Day of August in the fifth

Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord George the Third by the

Grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King defender

of the faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord 1765 And

he the said Solomon St Maurice hath hereunto set his Hand and

Seal the Day and Year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

Sol St Maurice

Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island

the Honorable the United Company of Merchants of England trading to

the East Indies Do hereby demise Grant Lease and to Farm Lett unto

Benjamin Maven of the said Island Planter All that piece or parcel

of Land containing thirty nine one Acres situate lying and being in the

West Division of the said Island butting and bounding North and West

upon the Honorable Company's Waste Land South upon the Land of

Richard

Solomon Saint Maurice was further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair all the walls and buildings then standing or afterwards built on the ground. On a further condition, Solomon Saint Maurice and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the ground, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this twenty-sixth day of August in the fifth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-five. Solomon Saint Maurice had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which Solomon Saint Maurice sealed.

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to Benjamin Mason, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of land holding thirty-one acres. It lay within the west division of the island, bounded north and west upon the Honourable Company's waste land, and south upon the land of Richard Bagley.

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Richard Bagley and East upon the said Benjamin Masons own Land

to have and to hold the said hereby parcel of Land with the

appurtenances and every part and parcel thereof unto him the said

Benjamin Mason his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns

from the Day of the Date hereof for and during all the space and term

of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing Upon condition that

he the said Benjamin Mason his Heirs or allowed Assigns do

always bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord George

the Third his Heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said

Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly Obey all the

Laws and Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and paying

therefore Yearly and every Year during the said term and time of

twenty one Years unto the said Honorable Company their Successors

Agents or Assigns the Rent of one Shilling and six Pence p Acre in at

or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And upon

condition that he the said Benjamin Mason his Heirs Executors

Administrators or Assigns do and shall well and sufficiently keep up

and maintain the fences to the said Land and the full quantity of

Wood thereon and do not nor shall sell or dispose of this Lease or his or

their Interest therein without the leave and consent of the Governor and

Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor

and Council have to the other part set our Hands and affixed the

Honorable Company's Seal this 9 Day of September in the fifth

Year of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord George the Third by

the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King

Defender of the faith and so forth and in the Year of our Lord

1765 And he the said Benjamin Mason hath hereunto set his

Hand and Seal the Day and Year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

Benj Mason

The parcel lay bounded south upon the land of Richard Bagley, and east upon Benjamin Mason's own land. The grant carried the land with its appurtenances. Benjamin Mason, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of one shilling and sixpence an acre, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair the fences to the ground and its full share of wood, and was not to sell or dispose of his lease or his interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this ninth day of September in the fifth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-five. Benjamin Mason had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which Benjamin Mason sealed.

Interpretations

The rent of one shilling and sixpence an acre stood far below the standard five shillings, marking this parcel as reduced-rate ground of the kind the Company let where the land was poor or barren, the same rate allowed on the Orlando Bagley junior grant of January 1760 and the earlier reductions the register records for worthless ground. The lower charge fixed which ground the Company reckoned of little worth, distinct from the full-rate parcels of the same run.

The thirty-one acres sat against Company waste on the north and west and Bagley ground on the south, with Benjamin Mason's own land closing the east, so the grant rounded out a block he already held while the Company kept its waste on two faces. Richard Bagley on the southern boundary connects to the same Richard Bagley whose West Division and James Valley ground recurs across the grants of this period, the neighbouring holdings of the two families locking together.

This thirty-one-acre parcel adds substantially to Benjamin Mason's West Division holding, following his four-acre south division grant of September 1764, so the same holder gathered ground across more than one division through Company lease. The Mason name, tied through the Benjamin Mason who bought Bisley from Francis Wrangham in 1761, stood among the established families of the West Division whose interlocking parcels fixed one another's boundaries into the reign of the third George.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honorable

the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies

Do hereby Demise Grant Lease and to Farm Lett unto John Robinson

of the said Island Planter All that Piece or Parcel of Land containing

twenty eight Acres and an half situate lying and being in the East Division

of the said Island butting and bounding North and West upon the

Honorable Company's Waste Land and East and South upon the said

John Robinson's own Land To have and to hold the said hereby

parcel of Land with the appurtenances and every part and parcel thereof

unto him the said John Robinson his Heirs Executors Administrators

and Assigns from the Day of the date hereof for and during all the space

and term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing Upon condition

that he the said John Robinson his Heirs or allowed Assigns do

always bear true faith and allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King

George the Third his Heirs and Successors and true faith to them the

said Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly Obey all

the Laws and Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and paying

therefore Yearly and every Year during the said term and time of

twenty one Years unto the said Honorable Company their Successors

Agents or Assigns the Rent of one Shilling and six Pence p Acre in

at or upon the feast of St Michael the Arch Angel Yearly And upon

condition that he the said John Robinson his Heirs Executors

Administrators or Assigns do and shall well and sufficiently keep

up and maintain the fences to the said Land and the full quantity

of Wood thereon and do not nor shall sell or dispose of this Lease or

his or their Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the

Governor and Council for the time being In Witness whereof we the

said

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to John Robinson, planter of the island, the whole piece or parcel of land holding twenty-eight acres and a half. It lay within the east division of the island, bounded north and west upon the Honourable Company's waste land, and east and south upon John Robinson's own land. The grant carried the land with its appurtenances. John Robinson, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of land and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of one shilling and sixpence an acre, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good and sufficient repair the fences to the ground and its full share of wood, and was not to sell or dispose of his lease or his interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time.

Interpretations

The rent of one shilling and sixpence an acre stood far below the standard five shillings, marking this parcel as reduced-rate ground of the kind the Company let where the land was poor or barren, the same rate allowed on the Benjamin Mason grant of the same month and the earlier reductions the register records. The lower charge distinguished this worthless ground from the full-rate parcels of the period.

The twenty-eight acres and a half sat against Company waste on the north and west and John Robinson's own land on the east and south, so the grant rounded out a substantial block he already held while the Company kept its waste on two faces, the standing practice of letting a fragment to the neighbour whose fields adjoined it. The considerable size of the parcel added materially to his east division holding.

John Robinson connects to the Robinson family of the record, running back through the John Robinson master mason to the Company who bought a James Valley house in 1756 and the John Robinson carpenter who took a small back plot in October 1761, the name recurring among both the Company's craftsmen and the country planters. This John Robinson, styled planter, holds twenty-eight acres and a half in the east division, the family established on both the town and country sides of the island into the reign of the third George.

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said Governor and Council have to the other part set our Hands and

affixed the Honorable Company's Seal this 9 Day of September

in the fifth Year of the reign of our said Sovereign Lord George the

Third by the grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland

King Defender of the faith and so forth And in the Year of our

Lord 1765 And he the said John Robinson hath hereunto set

his Hand and Seal the Day and Year abovewritten

Witness

Bazett

John Robinson

28 1/2 Acres

The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument and fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this ninth day of September in the fifth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-five. John Robinson had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which John Robinson sealed. An annexed plan marked the parcel as twenty-eight acres and a half.

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Island St Helena

The Lords Proprietors of this Island the Honble the

United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies Do

hereby Demise Grant Lease and to Farm Lett unto Wm Holbrook

Mason All that piece or parcel of Ground containing forty feet in front

forty eight feet in Depth adjoining to the Dwelling House of James Ford

Cooper and forty four feet in Depth towards the Slaughter Ground situate

lying and being in James's Valley To have and to hold the said

hereby Demised parcel of Ground with the appurtenances and every part

and parcel thereof unto him the said Wm Holbrook his Heirs Executors

Administrators and Assigns from the day of the date hereof for and during all the

space and term of twenty one Years from thence next ensuing upon

condition that he the said Wm Holbrook His Heirs or allowed Assigns

do always bear true faith and Allegiance to our Sovereign Lord King

George the Third his Heirs and Successors and true faith to them the said

Honorable Company and their Successors and shall duly obey all the Laws and

Constitutions of the said Island Yielding and paying therefore Yearly

and every Year during the said term and time of twenty one Years unto

the said Honorable Company their Successors Agents or Assigns the

rent of fifteen Shillings p Annum in at or upon the feast of St Michael

the Arch Angel Yearly And upon condition that he the said Wm

Holbrook his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns do and shall well and

sufficiently keep up and maintain in good repair all the Walls and Buildings

that are or may be hereafter built or Erected on the said piece of Ground

or any part thereof And upon further condition that he the said

Wm Holbrook his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns shall not alter

or remove the fences they being the limits or land marks of the said piece

of Ground And shall not sell or dispose of this Lease or his or their

Interest therein without the leave and Consent of the Governor and Council

for the time being In Witness whereof we the said Governor and Council

have to the other part set our hands and Affixed the Honorable

The Lords Proprietors of the island, the Honourable United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, granted leave and let to farm to William Holbrook, mason of the island, the whole piece or parcel of ground measuring forty feet in front and forty-eight feet in depth adjoining the dwelling house of James Fort, cooper, and forty-four feet in depth towards the slaughter ground. It lay in James Valley. The grant carried every right and commodity belonging to the ground. William Holbrook, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, were to hold the whole piece of ground and every part of it from the day of the date of the instrument for the full term of twenty-one years from then next following. He held on condition that he and his successors bore true faith and allegiance to the sovereign King George the Third, his heirs and successors, and true faith to the Honourable Company and its successors, and duly obeyed all the laws and constitutions of the island. He was to pay the Honourable Company, its successors, agents or assigns, a yearly rent of fifteen shillings, due at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. He was further bound to keep and maintain in good repair all the walls and buildings then standing or afterwards built on the ground. On a further condition, William Holbrook and his successors were not to alter or move the fences marking the limits and boundaries of the ground, and were not to sell or dispose of their lease or their interest in it without the leave and consent of the Governor and Council in office at the time. The Governor and Council had set their hands to the other part of the instrument.

Interpretations

This was a town grant of James Valley ground measured by frontage and depth, forty feet in front with sides of forty-eight and forty-four feet, the two unequal depths recording an irregular plot of the kind the pressure on ground in the town repeatedly produced, where the ground lay squeezed between the dwellings and the rising hillside. The flat rent of fifteen shillings with no planting duties matched the other town grants of the period.

Fixing the plot by the dwelling house of James Fort the cooper on one side and by the slaughter ground on the other places it precisely within the working fabric of James Valley, the slaughter ground being the enclosure where the town's animals were killed for meat, a feature the register names to locate the plot as it named the water crane, the bridge and the Moldavia garden elsewhere.

William Holbrook, mason, connects to the Company's craftsmen who held town ground in James Valley, joining the Thomas Townsend mason and the several tradesmen whose work on the island's stonework and building was paid from the establishment and who took urban plots under the standing town-grant form. The mason's trade tied Holbrook to the stone construction the Company maintained about the town and fort, his plot adding to the craftsman layer of the record.

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Seal this 23 day of September in the fifth Year of the Reign of our said

Sovereign Lord George the Third by the grace of God of great Britain

France and Ireland King defender of the faith and so forth And in the

Year of our Lord 1765 and he the said Wm Holbrook hath hereunto

set his Hand and seal the day and Year abovewritten

William Holbrook

Witness

Bazett

The Governor and Council had fixed the Honourable Company's seal on this twenty-third day of September in the fifth year of the reign of the sovereign King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-five. William Holbrook had set his hand and seal on the same day and year.

Matthew Bazett witnessed the instrument, which William Holbrook sealed.

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EAP 1364 St Helena

Document Name and Date

Register of Leases 1749-65

Dimensions

(height x width x depth) (cm)

(h) 49 cm x (w) 35 cm x (D) 4 cm

No. written pages:

162

No. blank pages:

3

Spine and cover

good Condition

Inside pages

good Condition

foxing Present

pages are numbered in bottom corners

Additional comments

Time taken to photograph

(hours)

4 hours