Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

John Jones Sen
To
John Watkins Sen

This Indenture made this 16 Jan, A.D. One thousand Eight Hundred & thirty two by and Between John Jones Sen & Lydia Jones his Wife of the one part and John Watkins Sen of the other part Witnesseth that for and in Consideration of the Sum one hundred & twenty Dollars Secured the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged S^d [said] John Jones and Lydia his wife have Sold to John Watkins the West half of the South West qr.[quarter] of Sec^t [Section] twenty in Township 18 N^o [North] of range 7 West in the District of Lands Subject to Sale at Springfield Illinois Containing 80 acres1To have and to hold the above 80 acres of land with all the appurtinances and immunities belonging thereto forever sd John Jones and Lydia his wife relinquish their Claim from themselves their heirs &^c [etc.] to John Watkins his heirs &c2

Given under our hands this Day and date above Writen
John Jones seal Lydia Jones seal

[ certification ]
Green, Bowling Lincoln, Abraham (President)

Attest
A. Lincoln Bowling Green

[ docketing ]
04/09/1832
Recorded April 9^th 1832

[ certification ]
01/30/1832
Green, Bowling

State of Illinois
Sangamon County

Personally before the under Signed an acting Justice of the peace for the County and State aforesaid John Jones and Lydia his Wife and acknowledged granting of the within Deed to be their Voluntarry act and Deed for the Purposes therein Expressed and Lydia Jones wife of S^d [Said] John Jones being by me Examined Seperate and apart from her Husband and by made acquainted With the Contents thereof freely acknowledged the Signing thereof to her Voluntary act and deed without the Compulsion of her Husband Given under my hand and Seal this 30^th January 1832
Bowling Green J. P.[Justice of the Peace] S. C

1The land described here was situated near the village of New Salem.

2“Dower” is a term that refers to the legally protected lifetime right of a woman to one-third of her husband’s lands and personal property. Dower was intended to provide for the support of a widow and her children. Because of this, a husband could not convey property without the consent of his wife.
Christopher A. Schnell, “Wives, Widows, and Will Makers: Woman and the Law of Property,” in In Tender Consideration: Women, Families, and the Law in Abraham Lincoln’s Illinois (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2003), 129, 133; Joan R. Gundersen, “Women and Inheritance in America,” in Robert K. Miller Jr. and Stephen J. McNamee, eds., Inheritance and Wealth in America (New York: Springer Science and Business Media, 1998), 94.