The Joseph Dow trunk archive · Document gallery 61

Marston estate: warrant and partition of property, 1826

14 photographs · 7 document groups

Photographed by Whit from the recovered Joseph Dow collection. Descriptions draw on visible names, dates and subjects; uncertain readings remain provisional. Reading copies are turned upright, and each image links to the unchanged full-resolution original.

JDT-D465 · Marston partition: endorsed wrapper and detail — 8 April 1826

The endorsement identifies a copy of the warrant and return for partition of real estate belonging to Jonathan Marston and the late Abraham Marston. It is dated 8 April 1826 and marked for Mr. Jonathan Marston. The second photograph gives a closer view of the same wording.

2 photographs

JDT-D466 · Probate commission and committee oaths

The Rockingham probate warrant, dated at Exeter on 16 February 1826, appoints Josiah Dow, David Garland, Reuben Lamprey, Richard Greenleaf and Edmund Toppan to divide the jointly owned real estate into equal shares with regard to quantity and quality. The next page records oaths of fidelity and impartiality before justices of the peace.

2 photographs

JDT-D467 · Committee return: parties and terms of division

Addressing Judge of Probate John Harvey, the committee explains that it has notified the interested parties and divided the property as equally as possible. It names Jonathan Marston, Deborah Marston as executrix, and Cotton W. Marston as guardian of the infant Hannah Marston. Some tracts were deliberately left undivided for occupation in common.

1 photograph

JDT-D468 · The home place: house, barn, orchard and East Field

The return describes tracts on both sides of the road to the sea, using bearings, rods, links and adjoining owners to define each share. It assigns halves of the dwelling house, barn, barnyard and associated privileges, and records an orchard and East Field. A well and certain orchard and mowing land remain for common use rather than immediate division.

4 photographs

JDT-D469 · Pasture, spring marsh and shared holdings

The property schedule continues through pasture, spring marsh, Causeway Marsh and Boar’s Head Marsh, assigning portions to Jonathan Marston and Abraham Marston’s heirs or devisees. Bounds refer to roads, a ditch, a river and neighboring marsh owners. It also identifies an Ox Common lot, an Epsom pasture and a mortgaged interest in John Pike’s property to remain undivided.

2 photographs

JDT-D470 · Philbrick Pasture, Little River woods and Old Swamp

The return divides Philbrick Pasture in North Hampton and woodland in Little River woods by detailed boundary lines. It also describes the six-acre Old Swamp parcel, using adjoining proprietors’ lands and physical markers such as a pine stump and stakes and stones to distinguish the shares.

2 photographs

JDT-D471 · Signatures, probate approval and certified copy — April 1826

The committee signs its partition on 8 April 1826: Josiah Dow, David Garland, Reuben Lamprey, Richard Greenleaf and Edmund Toppan. Below, John Harvey approves and confirms the partition at Exeter on 20 April. Register of Probate John J. Parker certifies it as a true copy of record.

1 photograph

Collection photographs supplied by Whit. Descriptions are finding aids, not full transcriptions. Names, dates and associations remain provisional where the handwriting is uncertain.