Book of possessions of the town of Boston, ca. 1644-1693

This document, a 154-page manuscript dating largely from ca. 1652, records land transactions and holdings of the residents of Boston. Entries contain the names of owners or parties to the transactions, the properties in question, and the dates of the transactions. The earliest transaction date referenced is 1644 and the latest is 1652. The first four pages are comprised of a manuscript index dated 1827 and signed by Samuel F. McLeary, City Clerk. An earlier index, possibly contemporary to the original text, is present on the last page. The final six pages contain later entries, running from back to front, that primarily describe transactions related to stray livestock. These entries are dated from 1675 to 1693 and are signed by various clerks. One of these later entries, appearing on the bottom of the page labeled 145, bears the name of Governor John Leverett and attests to the sale of seven enslaved Native American men to Lancelott Talbott and Joseph Smith.

Courtesy of Boston Public Library

colonial and revolutionary boston collection of distinction boston public library rare books department land titles registration and transfer public records local government indians treatment of history colonial period ca 1600 1775 massachusetts suffolk county boston bills of sale manuscripts documents english boston mass town clerk ultra high resolution high resolution book of possessions of the town of boston

1644 - 1693

Boston Public Library

https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/

Public Domain