Bidwell Lore – Peggy Hull and Morris Potter

Welcome to Bidwell Lore number 166! This week we will share some deeds pertaining to the sale of Agrippa’s land holdings after he died.

November is a month of Candlelight Tours of the Bidwell House Museum! On these special guided tours, you can learn about various aspects of the Museum collection from a series of local experts and then enjoy wine and cheese at the end with your guide. Our next tour is on November 16 at 4 pm, followed by our last tour on November 30. Click HERE to get your tickets.

Peggy Hull and Morris Potter
Rick Wilcox, 2022

In this week’s post, we are going to share two Deeds from the sale of Agrippa’s land after he died. His widow Peggy (whose image you can see at the bottom of the post) and his son-in-law, Morris Potter, owned the land after Agrippa’s death in 1848 and his daughter Charlotte’s death in 1849. Both parcels of land were sold to a man named John Roberts. The first Deed is from 1851 and the second is from 1852.

Morris Potter to John R. Roberts, Book 135, Page 9 (1851)
 
M. Potter to J.R. Roberts}
Know all men by these Presents. That We Morris Potter of Pittsfield & Margaret Hull of Stockbridge in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts in consideration of ninety two dollars paid by John R. Roberts aforesaid the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge, do hereby, give, grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said John R. a certain piece or parcel of land situate in Stockbridge & bounded as follows – on the north & westerly by the highway leading to the Dwelling House of the late Archibald Hopkins to the Dwelling House known as the farm house on the Fenn Farm. [1] On the South by land of Daniel B. Fenn & Henry Gould & on the East by land of Henry Gould. Containing four acres of land more or less – The same being all the land formerly owned by Agrippa Hull deceased South and East of the above mentioned Highway –
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD THE above GRANTED PREMISES with privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging to the said John R. Roberts his Heirs and Assigns to his and their use and forever. And I the said Morris Potter for myself and my Heirs Executors and Administrators to covenant with the said John R. Roberts his Heirs and Assigns, that I am lawfully seized in Fee of the above-granted Premises – that they are free from all incumbrances; that I have a good right to sell and convey the same to the said John R. Roberts & I as aforesaid ; and that I will and my Heirs and Executors and Administrators Shall warrant and defend the same to the said John R. Roberts his Heirs and Assigns forever, against the lawful claims and demands of all persons.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF we the said Morris Potter & Margaret Hull have hereunto set our hands and seals this twenty fifth day of August in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and fifty one
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of F.D. Owen. Calvin Martin a witness to Morris Potter
Margaret her X mark Hull & Seal Morris Potter & Seal
Berkshire SS August 28th
Then personally appeared the above named Margaret Hull and acknowledged the above instrument to be her free Act and Deed – Before me, C. M. Owen Justice of the Peace
 
10
And I Delilah Potter wife of Morris Potter within named in consideration of one dollar to me paid by John R. Roberts within named – do hereby release to the said Roberts his heirs and assigns all my right of dower in the within described premises – Witness my hand & seal this 28^th day of August A.D. 1851 in presence of {
Delilah Potter & Seal
Berkshire SS September 1^st 1851. Then Morris Potter acknowledged the within instrument by him executed to be his deed before me Calvin Martin Justice Peace
Berkshire SS Jan. 6^th 1832 10 oclock AM Recd. & Recorded from the original
Attest George J. Tucker Regr.

Morris Potter & Margaret Hull to John R. Roberts, Book 135, Page 11 (1852)
 
M Potter to J. R. Roberts}
To all people to whom these Presents Shall come, Greeting KNOW Ye That We Morris Potter [2] of Pittsfield and Margaret Hull of Stockbridge in consideration of One Hundred & Sixty Dollars paid by John R. Roberts of the same place the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, and do hereby give, grant, sell and convey unto the said John R. Roberts a certain piece or parcel of land containing four acres more or less and situate near the intersection of the road leading residence of the late Archibald Hopkins to the mountain with the road leading from the Fenn Farm to Glendale [3] and is bounded on the West by said last mentioned Highway – One the South by the first mentioned Highway & on the North & East by land of the Heirs of Archibald Hopkins – The East line is thirty rods & five links in length – The North line Forty five rods & nine links – The West line Twenty four rods in length And the South Line Twenty seven rods in length – And I Delilah Potter wife of the said Morris do hereby release to said Roberts all my right & title of dower in the above described premises.
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD THE afore GRANTED PREMISES to the said John R. Roberts & his Heirs and Assigns to his use and behoof forever. And I Morris do covenant with the said John R. Roberts & His Heirs and Assigns that I am lawfully seized in Fee of the afore-granted Premises – that they are free of all incumbrances; that I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said John R. Roberts and that I will warrant and defend the same to the said John R. Roberts & his Heirs and Assigns forever, against the lawful claims and demands of all persons.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we the said Morris Margaret Delilah Potter have hereunto set our hands and seals this tenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty nine.
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of Calvin Martin, J.E. Field unto M. Hull
Morris Potter & Seal, Delilah Potter, Margaret her X mark Hull & Seal
Berkshire SS November 20^th 1849 Then the above named Morris Potter acknowledged the above instrument to be his free Act and Deed – Before me,
Calvin Martin, Justice of the Peace.
Page 12
Berkshire SS Nov. 26^th 1849 Then Margaret Hull acknowledged the within instrument by her executed to be her free act and deed. Before me J. E. Field Justice of the Peace
Berkshire SS Jan. 6^th 1852 10oc 35 min. Am Recd. & Recorded from the Original “fifty”
Attest Geo. J. Tucker Regr.  

Bidwell Lore will be off for the next two weeks and return on November 28 to discuss the sale of land around Evergreen Hill, which we first mentioned last week in relation to Joab Kellis.

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1. Cherry Hill Road and Sky Farm Road
2. Potter married Charlotte Hull, daughter of Agrippa Hull and his first wife Jane Darby. Charlotte died in 1849. 
3. Now Cherry Hill Road and Castle Hill Road. Fenn Farm was off Sky Farm Road. The above land is on the north side of Cherry Hill Road. Also see Peter Maynard to Agrippa Hull, Book 28, Page 434 (1789) BMRD, Pittsfield.