1764 New Jersey Will & Testament PARCHMENT Elizabeth NJ Marsh Family Franklin
$ 342.68
Description
Item Description Title: Rare 1764 Colonial New Jersey Probate Archive - Mephibosheth Marsh of Elizabeth Town Material: Hand-written and printed Parchment (Animal Skin) Date: June 26, 1764 (Will) / October 4, 1764 (Letters Testamentary) Location: Borough of Elizabeth, County of Essex, Province of East New Jersey Overview: Offered is a complete, original two-part colonial legal archive for the estate of Mephibosheth Marsh (1707–1764), a prominent early resident of Elizabeth Town and Rahway, NJ. This archive consists of: 1. The Last Will & Testament (Certified "True Copy"): A large, multi-page document hand-written on high-quality parchment. It details the distribution of his "Plantations," salt meadows, and personal estate to his wife Elizabeth and his many children and grandchildren. 2. The Letters Testamentary: A rare, officially printed parchment form issued at Perth Amboy. This document grants the executors (Mephibosheth, Jacob, and Cornelius Marsh) the legal authority to settle the estate. Historical Significance: • The Marsh Family: Mephibosheth was a descendant of the "founding" Marsh family of Elizabeth/Rahway. His father, John Marsh, was a founder of Rahway and a major landowner. • The Royal Authority: The Letters Testamentary were issued under the authority of Governor William Franklin (the last Colonial Governor of NJ and son of Benjamin Franklin). His name is featured prominently in the printed header. • Official Signature: The archive is signed on the reverse by John Smyth, Register. Smyth was a powerful Loyalist official and the Register of the East Jersey Proprietors. • The Prerogative Seal: The document features the original embossed Prerogative Seal of the Province of New Jersey, still sharp and visible in the upper left corner. Condition: Excellent for its 260+ year age. The parchment remains strong with a beautiful natural "cockling" (rippling). The iron-gall ink is dark and highly legible. Original "file holes" are present on the left margins where the two documents were historically stitched together. Note the remnants of the original silk ribbon. Item is as seen in the photos
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