1684 DEED – WILLIAM MATLACK

The following two documents are records of the first land purchased by William

Matlack in New Jersey. This land was located on the north branch of the

Pennsauken Creek in what is now Moorestown, Burlington County, New Jersey. The

land was located about one quarter mile north of the Kings Highway bridge over

the north branch. Portions of this land remained in the Matlack family until

the death of Thomas Chalkley Matlack in 1945.

The first document is the deed recorded in the records of the West Jersey

Proprietors. A microfilm copy of the original is on page 131 of West Jersey

Deeds, S & T, located at the New Jersey Archives, Trenton, New Jersey.

Portions are hard to read but have done my best to provide an accurate

transcript.

The second document is a deed or agreement between Tallaca, a Lenni Lenape

Indian Chief and John Roberts, Timothy Hancock, and William Matlack,

recognizing their rights to the land. Harriet Russell Stratton’s transcript

of the original document was printed on page 238 of her book, A Book of

Strattons, Vol. 1, published in 1908 by Grafton Press, New York, New York.

...Curtis Miller

DOCUMENT 1 – 1684 DEED – RECORDS OF WEST JERSEY PROPRIETORS

Thousand Six hundred and Eighty four Between Thomas Olive of
Rancocus Creek Haberdasher of the one part  and William Matlack of Pensauaquin

Carpenter one the other part Witness that the said Thomas Olive for and in

Consideration of the four years service and three pounds current County pay to

him performed and Secured by the said William Matlack Whereof he the said

Thomas Olive Doth acknowledge himself Satisfied and paid and by these presents

Doth Clearly Dequitt and Discharge the said William Matlack his heirs and

Assigns forever Hath Granted bargained Sold Released and Confirmed and by these

presents Doth grant Bargain sell release and Confirm unto the said William

Matlack his heirs and Assigns forever One hundred acres of Land of this Laying

out in the Second Tenth Together with the Mines and Minerals Ways Woods fishing

Hawking Hunting and fording and all and every the Appurtenances privileges

profits and advantages belonging to the said premises To Have and To Hold the

said Hundred Acres of Land with the Appurtenances thereof to the said William

Matlack his heirs and Assigns To the only use and behoof of him the said William

Matlack his heirs and Assigns forever And he the said Thomas Olive Doth for

himself his heirs Executors and Assigns Covenant Promise and Grant to and with

the said William Matlack his heirs and Assigns That he the said Thomas Olive his

heirs and Assigns Shall and will at any time within Seven Years next after the
Date hereof at the required Costs and Charges of the said William Matlack his

heirs and Assigns Doe and Execute all and every Such Lawful Conveyance or

Conveyances as Shall be needful and Necessary for the bettor Securing and Selling

all the Interest and Title of him the said Thomas Olive of in and the above

Granted premises in and to the said William Matlack his heirs and Assigns forever

In Witness whereof the parties first above named to these present Indentures have

intentionally Set their hands and seals the Day and Year first above written 1684.

Tho Olive Sealed and Delivered in the presence of John Watson, John Masson Tho

Eves. Endorsed the 10th of the 10th month 1723 the Thomas Eves One of the witnesses

to the within Deed Came before to reaffirm being one of the Kings Council for the

province of New Jersey and upon his Solemn Affirmation Did Declare that he is one

present and Said the within Named Thomas Olive Sign Seal and Execute The within

Deed unto the within named William Matlack and that he Also Said the above John

Watson and John Masson Sign as Witness to the Same witness my hand and the day and

year above said, John Wills                           Recorded Decm 16th 1762
        ( Unreadable signature)

DOCUMENT 2 – TALLACA DEED

Know all people that I tallaca have had and Received of & from John Roberts with the

consent of the neighborhood at Pimsawquim one match coate one Little Runlit of Rum

and two Bottles of Rum In Consideration whearof I the said taleca doe hearby grant

Bargin & sell unto the said John Roberts Timothy Hancock and William Matlock all

those plantations at pimsaw-quin promising for Ever to defend the said John Roberts

&c from all other Indians Laying any Claime theareto in wittness whearof I the said

talleca have hear unto set my hand and seale the twelfth day of April 1684.
                                                       “the mark of Z talleca.”
 

Updated May 2008