On August 18, 1777, Paul Shackford who was living in Wells at the time, sold land in Coxhall, Massachusetts (now Lyman, Maine) to his son John Shackford in consideration of Love, Good Will, and Seven Pounds, Ten Shillings. The land Paul sold to his son included fifty acres on the southwesterly side of the one hundred and sixty acres of land he had purchased from Nathaniel Clark on March 23, 1758. The deed transferring the land to John was registered on April 23, 1796. Paul would have been about 57 years old and John 32.
We believe these deeds are referring to the Paul Shackford b abt 1720-1728, son of Joshua and Elizabeth (Barnes) Shackford who married Sarah Day, son of Joseph and Patience (Hilton) Day and John Shackford abt 1743-1745 – perhaps 1827 who married a Day, Hannah Hatch, and Abigail Littlefield. We are currently working to learn as much as we can about this John Shacford who we believe was the father of Samuel Shackford of Duxbury, Vermont.
The deeds involved are shown below: First the deed showing Paul purchasing 160 acres of land from Nathaniel Clark of Wells.
Know all men by these presents that I Nathaniel Clark of Wells in the County of York and Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Blacksmith for and in consideration of twenty four pounds lawful money paid me by Paul Shackford of Wells aforesaid Husbandman the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge do freely & absolutely grant bargain sell convey and confirm unto the said Paul his Heirs and assigns forever One Hundred and Sixty acres of land being Part of a Tract of Land containing Eight Hundred acres purchased by Benjamin Bronsdon which lies and is within the bounds of as large Tract of Land at the head of the Townships of Wells aforesaid and Arundell called Coxhall that is today One Hundred & sixty acres of land being part of my part of one Moiety or half part of the said Tract of land containing eight hundred acres which Moiety or half part was conveyed by Benjamin Wormwood aforesaid to me to me the said Nathan & Adam Clark in equal halves to be Divided by Deed of Sale Dated the twenty third Day of March 1758. To have and to hold the said One Hundred & Sixty Acres with the Privileges of Appurtenances to the same belonging to the said Paul his Heirs & Assigns forever And I do convenant with the said Paul that I am the Sole owner of the said one hundred & sixty acres that I am lawfully seized in fee of the same, that the same is free from all encumbrances and that I will Warrant and Defend the same to the said Paul his Heirs & Assigns forever against the lawful Claim & Demands of all Persons.
In Testimony where of I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal this thirtieth Day of Decem in the seventh year of his Majesties Reign Annoque Domini 1766. Signed Sealed & Delivered in Presence of Joseph Wells Nathl Wells
Nathaniel Clark (seal) York/Oct 10th 1767 Nathaniel Clark personally appearing acknow this instrument as his free act & Deed before Nathl Wells Just Peace
Recorded according to the Orignl recd June 27 1789
Att Dan Moulton Regr
Followed by the Deed showing Paul selling 50 of these acres to his son John.
Know all men by these presents that Paul Shackford of Wells in the County of York and Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Yeoman in consideration of ye Love & good Will I bear to my son John Shackford yeoman & in consideration of Seven pounds ten Shillings Lawful money paid me by my son do hereby give grant sell and convey unto him my said son Shackford his heirs & assigns forever fifty acres of Land lying & being in ye Township of Coxhall it being the South Westerly part of one hundred & Sixty Acres of Land which I ye sd Paul Shackford purchased of Mr Nathaniel Clark as may appear by Deed Dated March ye 23th 1758 and also by my Deed dated December ye 30th 1766. To have and to hold the said granted bargained premises together with all there appurtenances free of all incumbrances whatsoever to him the said John Shackford his heirs and assigns forever as an absolute Estate of inheritance in fee Simple and I the said Paul Shackford for my self my heirs Exers and adminrs do Covenant and Engage the above demised premises to him the sd John Shackford his heirs and assigns against the Lawful Claims of any person or persons Whatsoever forever to Warrant Secure and Defend by these presents In Witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand and Seal this Eighteenth Day of August Anno Domini One Thousand seven hundred and seventy seven . Signed Sealed & Delivered in presence of Joseph Storer Jr Reuben Hatch of York ss August 18th 1777 Then Paul Shackford above Named acknowledged the above written Instrument to be his free act & Deed , Before Joseph Storer Just Peace
Received April 23rd 1796 Wm Frost Regr
We’re still trying to understand where this property was located — it’s a bit complicated as the boundaries between townships in York County, Maine have changed as well as the names of these areas. Also the deeds do not clarify how the land was subdivided. This 1795 map of Coxhall (now Lyman) may give an approximate clue as it shows the older boundaries. We believe we’ve approximated the location of the land (see blue arrow) however still need to research more deeds to determine what John did with the property and determine if that property owner is shown in the York County 1856 map. We’ll probably update this blog as we learn more about this property.
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SOURCES:
Survey of the Town of Coxhall, 1795, Robert Swanson, at DigitalMaine Repository, contributed by Maine State Archives. Land was surveyed at 200 rods to an inch https://digitalmaine.com/planbook_20/8/
“York. Deeds 1799-1789,” digital images, FamilySearch (familysearch.org : accessed 13 April 2024), Paul Shackford purchased land from Nathaniel Clark; V46 p 101 [Image 108 of 588].
“York. Deeds 1761-1767,” digital images, FamilySearch (familysearch.org : accessed 9 April 2024), Joseph Day sold land to Paul Shackford, son-in-law; Vol 38, p 211 [Image 491 of 562].
“York. Deeds 1795-1796,” digital images, FamilySearch (familysearch.org : accessed 12 April 2024), Paul Shackford grants land to son John Shackford.
Copyright 2024 Joanne Shackford Parkes (sharing a link to this post is appreciated but please do not copy this material and paste it elsewhere).
SHACKFORD Family History 