Amanuensis Monday

What in the world is "Amanuensis"??? 

An amanuensis is a person employed to write what someone else dictates, or to copy what has been written. Essentially, it refers to a secretary, scribe, or literary assistant.

Here are a couple of details about the term:

• Etymology: The word comes from the Latin phrase servus amanuensis (a slave whose duty is to write), derived from a manu (meaning "at hand" or "of the hand").

• Historical Context: Historically, authors, composers, politicians, or individuals who were unable to write themselves (or had too much correspondence to handle alone) would use an amanuensis to take dictation, draft letters, or transcribe manuscripts.

So that is what I have been doing on Mondays.  Transcribing and sharing really old documents pertaining to my family that I have been fortunate enough to find. 

The following is a deed from Hosea Tapley to John Short.

North Carolina Archives, Northampton County Register of Deeds,
Record of Deeds Vol 2, 1751-1758

    Tapley to Short

North Carolina } This Indenture made the nineteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty three between Hosea Tapley of Orange County in the said Province of the one Party and John Short of Northampton County of the other party witnesseth that the said Hosea Tapley for and inconsideration that John Short did marry my Daughter Anna Tapley within four weeks from the Date hereof, then I shall Acknowledge my self fully paid of the said consideration, and do freely give grant, convey and confirm unto the said John Short his heirs and Assigns ? a certain Tract or Parcel of Land containing three hundred and twenty Acres be the same more or less lying in the county of Northampton and bounded by ? to Arthur Kavanaugh & given by the said Arthur Kavanaugh to Arthur Harris and by the said Harris conveyed to the said Tapley; beginning at a white Oak and a Mulberry on the River bank ? ? line then along the said Tract line to a Red Oak in the Patent line then along the Patent ?? to a black oak & corner tree then S. 45 W. ?20 pole to the River and the winding ? ? ? River to ge ? ? is being part of a Patent granted to Arthur Kavanaugh for 640 acres of Land with all woods waters profits commodities and Appurtenances to the said Land belonging or in safe use Appertaining with the Reversion and Reversions Remainder and Remainders rents ?? and Profits thereof said of every Part and Parcel thereof To have and to hold the said three hundred and twenty Acres of Land and Premises hereby given and granted to the only sole use benefit and behoof of him the said John Short his heirs and Assigns forever and the said Hosea Tapley for my self my heirs Ex and Adm covenant & agree to and with the said John Short his heirs and Assigns that the said Hosea Tapley at the time of the execution hereof am Lawfully ? of all and singular the Premises hereby granted as an absolute Estate of Inheritance in fee Simple having in my self full Power and lawful authority to give and dispose of the same in manner as aforesaid and that the said Land and Premises with all and every of the Appurtenances is free and clear from all other gifts grants bargains sales leases mortgages & all other Incumbrances whatsoever and further that I the said Hosea Tapley my heirs ? the said Land and Premises unto the said John Short his heirs and Assigns shall and will Warrant and forever Defend by these Presents against the claims and Demands of and every Person or Persons whosoever and shall and will at any time or times hereafter on Demand give and ? ? further and other conveyance for the better securing the within granted Premises unto the said John Short his heirs and Assigns as by the said John Short his heirs or Assigns or his or their councel {sic} Learned in the Law can be reasonably Devised advised or Required. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand & seal the Day and year above written) 

Sealed Signed and Delivered in Presence of us 

Hilbert Thomas Short____________ Northampton county ss) May Court 1753 

The above written Deed was proved in open Court by the Oath of both the subscribing witnesses thereto and on motion was ordered to be Registered.     

Test Edwards ?

Transcription by Google Gemini with a lot of proofing, reading and correcting by me.  This was a bad copy off the microfilm and difficult to transcribe. There are a lot of words in this one that AI nor I could make out, even after looking over it three times.  

The good news is John Short did marry Anne Tapley in 1753.