Nicholas Davies Cares About the Welfare of Others
Contributed and Transcribed by Mr. Doug Mcleod
Bedford County Deed Book No. 6 p. 259 - July 4, 1779
Nicholas Davies, for the cause and consideration hereafter mentioned to incurrage (sic) Mary DeWitt to keep her promise she has made solemnly to him of having no more children in an unlawful manner and live chaste and virtuous all the rest of her life, hath bargained granted leased and to farm lett [lease] unto Mary DeWitt 100 acres on Hunting Creek being the hundred leased to her father John DeWitt and said 200 acres to be laid off and bounded to include plantation made by her brother John DeWitt and the plantation made by William Lear and also to include a sufficient quantity of wood for fire and rail timber for the said three plantations and her own use to have and hold...use and quietly and peaceably possess and enjoy the said 200 acres and three plantations thereon settled and made by John DeWitt & William Lear and John DeWitt, Jr. for and during her natural life from the 20th of the next October for those two plantations made by William Lear and young DeWitt, which said 200 acres of land and said three plantations and all orchard buildings, improvements privileges & appurtenances of every kind except mines quarried and minerals.
The said Nicholas Davies doth for the consideration heretofore mentioned confirm to said Mary DeWitt for her life and hereby bind himself and his heirs to defend quiet good peaceable tenantable of the said land & three plantations, etc. except mines...
M. DeWitt is to take good care of all fruit trees and orchards as there now standing there and leave the 3 plantations in good tenantable order and repair and to pay Nicholas Davies or his heirs 20 shillings current money for each plantation that is three pounds yearly rent on or before 25th December every year and she is not to sell her lease or right to any person but said Davies, but may work said land or any part of it or hire persons to work for her benefit or rent plantation to whomever she chuseth (sic) and for the honest full and good performance of all these said agreements and contracts - Nicholas Davies and Mary DeWitt bind themselves to the sum of 500 pounds current money of Virginia.
July 26, 1779 lease proved by oaths of Richard M-----, John Williams & John DeWitt - witnesses.
J. Steptoe - C.C.
Editor's Note: Brief legal documents such as this one, where Nicholas Davies leases land to Mary DeWitt for apparently very generous terms provided that she agrees to have no more children out of wedlock, provides us with valuable insight into the character of one of our ancestors. Interpreting old legal documents is always a challenge, because of the phraseology used, the lack of punctuation, and the inability to read every word written. Despite these challenges was can understand enough of this document to understand that Nicholas had an interest in setting this lady's life back on a righteous and morale track. Perhaps he felt obligated to do so on account of his relationship with her recently deceased father, maybe as a favor to her brother, or possibly in response to his own religious convictions. We know what Nicholas did and what his goal was in doing it. It is up to the reader to hypothesize as to Nicholas' motivation.