Source: The Maine Genealogist & Biographer

William B. Lapham, editor

Sprague, Owen & Nash, Augusta, ME

September 1877

974.1/D25mg

Notes & Quotes, pages 23-24

Many thanks to Marsha Spangler Grant for transcribing this deposition on March 14, 2001!

"From Concord Mass records: John Craggin aged about sixty three years and Sarah his wife Aged about sixty three years, do both testify upon oath yt about 2 years agon John Shepard Sen'r of Concord came to our house in Obourne (Woburn) to treat with us and to give us a visit, and caryed the sd Sary Craggin to Concord with him, and there discoursed us in order to a mariage between his son John Shepard Jun'r and our daughter Elizabeth Craggin, and for our incouragement and before us did promis yt upon the consumation of the sd mariage, he the said John Shepard Sen'r would give to his son John Shepard Jun'r the one half of his dwelling house and the old Barne and the pasture before the Barne, the old plowland and the old horse when his colt was fitt to ride, and his old oxen when his stears are fitt to worke. All this he promised upon mariage as above say'd, wch mariage was consumated upon March following, wh. is two years agon come nex March. Dated febru ye 25, 1691/2.

Taken upon oath before me

William Johnson.

A true copy of ye originall evidence

Atest Thomas Brown, Cl'k."

"Whereas I, John Shepard, Jun'r, of Concord, having lately Received a Deed of Gift of my father John Shepard wherein is contained eight acres of land, plowland, swamps and pasture land, and ye part ye land yt is pasturing doth butt upon my father's cornfield, I the said John Shepare, Jun'r do ingage myseld my heirs or assigns, to make and maintain a sufficient fence between the pasture yt is my part of it, to the marked tree; and furthermore, in case there shold be any difference arise hereafter for want of a fence between what land my father hath given me and himselfe or his heirs after him, yn I the sayd John Shepard Jun'r do ingage (to prevent further trouble or law suits) to make and maintain ye one half of the Remainder of the fence between us.

"And further, whereas there hath been former differences between us upon one account or another, and in speciall whereas there was as I did Apprehend an obligation from my father at my mariage, I do freely aquitt my sayd father of any such obligation, his heirs and assigns forever, or any trouble that either hath or might have arisen from the beginning of ye world to this day. Witness my hand and seal this eleventh day of March, Ano dominy One thousand six hundred and nine two-ninety three.

his

John X Shepard

mark

"John Shepard Jun'r of Concord personally Appeared before me March ye 11. 93. Acknowledged this Instrument to be his proper Act and Deed. James Minott, Justice.

Boston. B.A.G.F."