In 1682, Dame Elizabeth Carteret held inheritance and administrative rights to the colony of East New Jersey. Her late husband Sir George Carteret, together with Lord John Berkeley, had been granted co-ownership of the Province of New Jersey by the Duke of York in June 1664. In his last will and testament, Sir George bequeathed this land to his grandson, also named George. Since the young George Carteret was a minor, his grandmother Elizabeth acted as “Proprietrix” of East New Jersey as a co-heir and in her role as executrix of her late husband’s estate. In this capacity, she asserted land-rights policy with regard to the settlers, claimed ownership of Staten Island, and re-appointed her cousin Philip Carteret as proprietary governor. The capital of the colony was the city that still bears her name – Elizabeth, N.J.
Sir George Carteret held many debts at the time of his death in 1680. His will directed that all land holdings in America be used to settle with his creditors. On behalf of her grandson and herself, Elizabeth Carteret eventually petitioned the Duke of York for permission to sell the family’s rights to the colony of East New Jersey to investors. After unsuccessful attempts to sell it outright, the property was put up for auction. William Penn and 11 Scottish investors, most of whom were Quakers, bought the land rights for £3,400. This transaction is documented in the deed of release displayed here.
The large, exquisite parchment bears a rare example of Elizabeth’s signature and seal, as well as those of seven trustees appointed in Sir George’s will. The manuscript was meticulously restored in 2017 by the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia through grant funding from The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of New Jersey. The Society has funded several conservation treatments in connection with the State Archives’ “New Jersey Early Land Records Project” in partnership with the Genealogical Society of New Jersey.
This Indenture made the first day of February in the four and Thirtieth yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraighn Lord Charles the second by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the faith &c Annoq Domini 1681 Between the Right Honble Dame Elizabeth Carteret the Relict and sole Executrix of the last Will and Testament of the Right Honble Sr George Carteret Knight and Baront Deceased, the Right Honble John Earl of Bath, the Right Honble Thomas Lord Crew Baron Crew of Steane, the Honoble Bernard Greenville Esqr Brother to the said Earl of Bath, the Honoble Sr Robert Atkins Knight of the Bath, the Honoble Sr Edward Atkyns Knight, one of the Barons of his Maties Court of Exchequer, Thomas Pocock of the parish of St Andrews Holborne in the County of Middx Gentl. and Thomas Cremer of the same, Gentl, of the one part And William Penn of Worminghurst in the County of Sussex Esqr Robert West of the Midle Temple London Esqr, Thomas Rudyard of London Gentl. Samuell Groome of the parish of Stepney in the County of Middx Mariner, Thomas Hart of Enfeild in the said County of Middx Merchant, Richard Mew of Stepney aforesaid Merchant, Thomas Wilcox of London Goldsmith, Ambrose Rigg of Gatton place in the County of Surry Gentl, Thomas Heywood Cittizen and Skinner of London, Hugh Hartshorne Cittizen and Skinner of London, Clement Plumsteed Cittizen and Draper of London, and Thomas Cooper Cittizen and Merchant-Taylor of London of the other part Witnesseth, That the said Earl of Bath, Lord Crew, Bernard Greenville, Sr Robert Atkyns and Sr Edward Atkyns by and with the Consent and direction of the said Dame Elizabeth Carteret Testifyed by her being a party to these presents, and signing and Sealing the same, And the said Thomas Pocock and Thomas Cremer by and with the Consent and direction of the said Dame Elizabeth Carteret, John Earl of Bath, Thomas Lord Crew, Bernard Greenville, Sr Robert Atkyns and Sr Edward Atkyns testifyed, as aforesaid for and in Consideracon of the sum’e of five shillings of lawfull money of England to them some or one of them, in hand paid by the said William Penn, Robert West, Thomas Rudyard, Samuel Groome, Thomas Hart, Richard Mew, Thomas Wilcox, Ambrose Rigg, John Heywood, Hugh Hartshorne, Clement Plumsteed and Thomas Cooper at and before the sealeing and Delivery of these presents the receipt whereof they doe hereby acknowledge, Have Granted, Bargained and sould, and by these presents do Grant, Bargain and Sell to the said William Penn, Robert West, Thomas Rudyard, Samuell Groome, Thomas Hart, Richard Mew, Thomas Wilcox, Ambrose Rigg; John Heywood, Hugh Hartshorne, Clement Plumsteed and Thomas Cooper All that Easterly part share and porc’on, and all those Easterly parts, shares and porc’ons of all that whole and Entire Tract of Land in America heretofore called New Caesarea or New Jersey Extending Eastward and Northward along the sea Coasts and a Certain River called Hudsons River from the East side of a certain place or Harbour lying on the southernne part of the same Tract of Land [and com’only called or Known in a Mapp of the said Tract of Land¹] by the name of Little Egg Harbour to that part of the said River called Hudson’s River, which is in fforty one Degrees of Latitude, being the ffurthermost part of the said Tract of Land and premisses, which is bounded by the said River and Crossing over from thence in a Straight Line Extending from that part of Hudsons River aforesaid to the Northernmost Branch of a certain River there called Delaware River and to the most Northerly poynt or Boundary of the said Entire Tract of Land and premisses now called the north partic’on point, and from the said north partic’on point Extending Southward unto the most Southerly poynt by a Straight and direct Line drawn through the said Tract of [Land from the said north partic’on point unto the said South partic’on point called the Line of partic’on, Dividing the said Easterly part, share and porc’on from the Westerly part share and porc’on of the said Tract of Land, and all and every the Isles, Islands, Rivers, Mines, Mineralls, Woods, ffishings Hawkings, Huntings, ffowlings and all other Royalties, Governments, powers, Forts, Franchises, Harbours, profits, Comodities and Hereditaments whatsoever unto the said Easterly parts, share and porc’on, parts, shares and porc’ons of the said Tract of Land and premisses belonging or in anywise appertaining with their and every of their appurtenncs, And the Revercon and Revercons, Remainder and Remainders, Rents, Issues, and profits of the same, and of every part and parcell thereof, ALL which said Easterly part, share and porcon, parts, shares and porc’ons are called by the name of East New Jersey. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Easterly part, share and porcon, Easterly parts, shares and porc’ons of the said Tract of Land and now called East New Jersey, and all and singular other the premisses herein menc’oned or intended to bee hereby bargained and sould with their and every of their appurtenncs unto the said William Penn, Robert West, Thomas Rudyard Samuell Groome, Thomas Hart, Richard Mew, Thomas Wilcox, Ambrose Rigg, John Heywood, Hugh Hartshorne, Clement Plumsteede and Thomas Cooper their Executors, administrators and assignes from the day next before the date of these presents for and unto the full end and time of one whole yeare from thence next ensuing and fully to bee compleate and ended. Yeilding and paying the Rent of one pepper Corne at the Feast of St. Michaell the Arch Angell, if the same bee lawfully demanded, To the intent & purpose, that by virtue of these pn'tes and of the statute for transferring uses into possession the said William Penn, Robert West, Thomas Rudyard, Samuell Groome, Thomas Hart, Richard Mew, Thomas Wilcox, Ambrose Rigg, John Heywood, Hugh Hartshorne, Clement Plumsteed, and Thomas Cooper may bee in the actual possession of the said premises and be thereby enabled to accept a Grant and Release of the Reversion and Inheritance thereof to them and their Heires. In Witnes whereof the said parties to these presents have to these present Indentures interchangeably Sett their hands and Seales. Dated the day and yeare first above written.
Elizabeth Carteret
Bathe
Crewe
B Grenville
Robert Atkyns
Edw. Atkyns
Tho: Pococke
Tho Cremer
Page Last Updated: 06/05/26
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