1752 Colonial New Hampshire Land Deed Signed by Meshech Weare & Benjamin Hilyard For Sale

Original 1752 Colonial New Hampshire Land Deed

Signed and witnessed by Meshech Weare, later New Hampshire’s first governor and Revolutionary War-era Chief Justice, this rare manuscript documents a 120-acre land transaction between Benjamin Hilyard of Exeter Falls and John Goffe Jr. of Londonderry, with references to Ichabod Robie and Tufton Mason, key players in New Hampshire’s early land history.

Beautifully preserved, this deed is rich with historical associations and early American legal language. It is not only an authentic colonial document, but also a window into the tangled legacy of the Masonian Proprietors and the foundational years of New England settlement.

• Dated December 6, 1752, in the 26th year of King George II’s reign.

• Concerns the twelfth lot of a 120-acre tract originally granted as part of Tufton Mason\'s proprietary claims.

• Signed and acknowledged by Meshech Weare, then a Justice of the Peace and later the first \"President\" (Governor) of New Hampshire.

• Witnessed by Mehetable Weare, Meshech’s wife.

• Recorded December 6, 1753, in Book 13, Folio 87 of New Hampshire’s provincial land records.

🌟 Meshech Weare (1713–1786)
A towering figure in New Hampshire history. Weare served simultaneously as the first President (Governor), Chief Justice, and Speaker of the House, leading the state through the Revolutionary War. His autograph is highly collectible, especially on legal documents.

🖋 Mehetable Weare
Wife of Meshech Weare. She served as a witness to many of his legal proceedings and land dealings. Her name appears frequently in New Hampshire records from this period.

🏡 Benjamin Hilyard
A yeoman from Exeter Falls, NH, and the original grantee of the land. Little is known about him, but this document shows he received and sold land from the Masonian tract.

🛍 John Goffe Jr.
Son of Col. John Goffe, a key military figure in colonial New Hampshire. The Goffes were among the earliest settlers in the region, and John Jr. likely engaged in land trading and development.

📜 Ichabod Robie, Esq.
Prominent New Hampshire figure involved in the Masonian Proprietors, the group that purchased proprietary rights from Tufton Mason. His name appears in early land and civic records.

👑 Tufton Mason, Esq.
Grandson of Capt. John Mason, the original grantee of New Hampshire in the early 1600s. His contested land rights were sold to New England settlers, setting off a century of legal battles and re-parceling.

📑 Rich’d Wibird, Reg’r
Richard Wibird served as the Provincial Register who recorded this deed into the land records in 1753.

Know all Men by these Presents that I Benjamin Hilyard of Exeter Falls in the Province of New Hampshire in New England Yeoman, for the Consideration of the Sum of forty Pounds old Tenor Bills of the Publik Credit to me in hand paid before the Delivery hereof by John Goffe jun’r of Londonderry in the Province aforesaid Trader, and for Divers other good Causes and Considerations me hereunto moving, Have Remised, Released, Sold and forever Quitclaimed — And do by these presents for me my Heirs Executors and Administrators fully freely and Absolutely Remise, Release, Sell and forever Quitclaim unto the said John Goffe jun’r his heirs and assigns forever all the Estate, Right, Title and Interest whatsoever which I the said Benjamin Hilyard have might or ought to have of, in or to a Certain Lott or Tract of Land Situate lying and being in the Province aforesaid it being the twelfth Lott in Number of the hundred and twenty Acre Lotts in the tract of Land Granted to Ichabod Robie Esq’r and others the Purchasers of the Right of Mr. Tufton Mason Esq’r, which Lott was Originally Granted to me the said Benjamin Hilyard and laid Out for One hundred and twenty Acres be the same more or Less —
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Lott of Land howsoever the same may be bounded or reputed to be bounded with all Privileges and Appurtenances to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining to him the said John Goffe jun’r his Heirs and Assigns forever, as a good Sure and Absolute Estate of Inheritance in Fee Simple Without any Lett, Suit, Kindrance, Denial, Molestation or Interruption or any Claim, Challenge or Demand whatsoever of me the said Benjamin Hilyard my heirs Executors or administrators. But the said John Goffe shall peaceably and quietly have, hold, occupy and enjoy the same forever by these presents. In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand and Seal this Sixth of December Anno Domini 1752 in the Six and twentieth year of his Majesty’s Reign._

Signed, Sealed & Delivered in presence of:

• Mehetable Wear

• Meshech Wear

Signed:

• Benj. Hilyard

Province of New Hampshire, Hampton December the 6th 1752 —
Then Benjamin Hilyard within named appeared and Acknowledged the above written Instrument to be his act & Deed —
Coram Meshech Weare Jus: Pacis

Back notation:
Hilyard to Goffe
Rec’d 6th Dec’r 1753. Recorded Prov. of New Hampshire.
Recorded Lib. 13 Fol. 87
Examined Per Rich’d Wibird Reg’r

• Folded parchment with light edge wear and period ink.

• Minor loss at one edge, not affecting signature or legal text.

• All handwriting legible, with clear signature from Meshech Weare.

• Early American manuscript collectors

• New Hampshire historical archives

• Museums or researchers interested in the Masonian Proprietors

• Autograph collectors (Weare’s autograph is rare)

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