Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

Deed of Ninian W. Edwards and Elizabeth P. Edwards to Stephen T. Logan and Abraham Lincoln, 16 March 18421

Ninian W. Edwards

To } Deed

Stephen T. Logan & A. Lincoln

This Indenture Made and entered into this 16th day of March AD. 1842 between Ninian W— Edwards and Elizabeth P. Edwards his wife of The County of Sangamon and State of Illinois of the first part and Stephen. T. Logan, and Abraham Lincoln of the County of Sangamon and State of Illinois of the second part, Witnesseth, that the said parties of the first part for and in Consideration of the Sum of Four Hundred Dollars in hand paid by the said parties of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged have Granted bargained and sold, and by these presents do grant bargain and sell unto the said parties of the second part their Heirs and assigns, a Certain Tract of land situate lying and being in the County of Sangamon and State of Illinois, known and Designated as follows, to wit: the East half of the West half of Lot number six in Block number fourteen in the late Town Now City of Springfield Illinois—2

To have and to hold the aforesaid Tract or parcel of Land, together with all and Singular the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in anywise appertaining, to the only Proper use and benefit of them the said Parties of the Second part, their heirs and assigns Forever. And the said Parties of the first part for their heirs executors and administrators do Covenant to and with the Said parties of the second part that they are lawfully Seized have full right to Convey and will forever warrant and Defend the said Tract of Land from the Claim of them the said parties of the first part their heirs and assigns, and against the Claim or Claims of any other Person whomsoever—

In Testimony whereof the said parties of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year aforesaid—3
Ninian W. Edwards seal Elizabeth P. Edwards seal

[ certification ]
Moffett, Thomas (Moffitt)

Signed, Sealed and Delivered in presence of
Thomas Moffett—

[ certification ]
03/16/1842
Moffett, Thomas (Moffitt)

State of Illinois— } Ss

Sangamon County

Before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid personally—

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Came Ninian W. Edwards and Elizabeth. P. Edwards his wife who are Known to me to be the real persons by whom and in whose names the above Conveyance was Executed and by whom and in whose names said Conveyance is Proposed to be acknowledged and acknowledged that of their free will that they Executed said Deed for the Purpose therein Expressed— And the said Elizabeth. P. Edwards wife of the said. Ninian. W. Edwards being by me first Examined Separate and apart from her said Husband and the Contents of said Conveyance being first made known to her acknowledged that freely and voluntarily and without any Compulsion or Coercion from her said husband she Executed the same and forever Relinquished all Her right and Claim of Dower in and to the Lands and Tenements In said Conveyance described—4

Given under my hand and Seal, this 16th day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and forty two—
Thomas Moffett J. P.[Justice of the Peace]
seal

[ docketing ]
03/17/1842
Talbott, Benjamin

Recorded March 17th AD. 1842—
Benjamin Talbott R. S. C[Recorder of Sangamon County]

1This deed was recorded by a clerk into a county deed book.

2The lot described here was on the block directly southwest of the site of the state’s new capitol building. It was located within the city’s business district and contained a building that was occupied by a shop.
Harry E. Pratt, Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln (Springfield, IL: Abraham Lincoln Association, 1943), 63.

3In January 1844, Abraham Lincoln drew up a contract to purchase a home on Eighth and Jackson streets in Springfield from the Rev. Charles Dresser. The purchase price was the lot described in this document, plus $1,200. On April 23, 1844, Lincoln, Logan, and their wives deeded the lot to Dresser. The purchase was completed on May 2, 1844, when Dresser and his wife conveyed the home lot to Lincoln. This was the only home Abraham Lincoln ever owned.
Harry E. Pratt, Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln, 63, 65-66.

4“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 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,” Robert K. Miller Jr. and Stephen J. McNamee, eds., Inheritance and Wealth in America (New York: Springer Science and Business Media, 1998), 94.