Land indenture document transferring land from Gerrit Smith to John Bics

Gerrit Smith, American, 1794 - 1874 · September 1, 1846

A land indenture document transferring land from Gerrit Smith to John Bics or Bice, a possibly formerly enslaved man, for the sum of one dollar. The document contains printed and handwritten text, both in black ink, on both sides of a single sheet of off-white paper. The beginning states [THIS INDENTURE, made the First day of September / one thousand eight hundred and forty six between Gerrit Smith of Petersboro, Sate of New York, of the first part, and John Bics(?) / of the town of Madison, and the County of Madison, / State aforesaid, of the second part. / Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, in consideratin of one dollar and of his desire to have all share in the means of subsistence and happiness, which a bountiful God has provided for all, has granted, sold, and quit claimed, to the said party of the second part...]. The document is signed by Smith at the bottom, next to a green seal mark. The reverse side contains a printed and handwritten statement signed by [E. Holmes Judge Co. Courts / [illegible] his court] on the middle third of the document. The bottom third contains handwritten text. The document was previously folded into thirds.