1652 Deed of Gift

The following is a mid seventeenth century contract. This (like most others of the time) was recorded in the Liber Cancellerii. After around 1690 the original deed (an individual document), was deposited with the authorities.

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The example shown here is the official copy of a deed of gift by Christian Cannell (nee Quayle) to her son Charles of a small plot of land. Both Christian and her two witnesses made their marks rather than sign the document (presumably because they were illiterate). The name at the bottom is Richard Tyldesley who was Comptroller at the time. He appears to have wanted further confirmation before validating it. A transcription is given below

Febr 21 1652

Know all men by these presents that I Chris[tian]
Cannell als Quayle widowe of the pish of
KK Michaell in the Isle of Mann, for many
good & lawfull causes mee how unto moving
And espetiallie for & in consideracon of the
greate paines wch my sone Charles Cannell
hath taken wth mee in my longe languish=
inge sickness doee hereby freely & volunta[rily]
give unto my said sone Charles Cannell his
heyres executors adminstatrators & assigns
for ever two day math of hay, sittuated
and lying in the pish of Ballaugh of
the yearly rent of neene pence, And alsoe
I doe hereby freely give unto him my said
sone Charles Cannell one white fledge
one white blankett one paire of flaxen
sheets one table now remainge in John
Cannon's house & two silver spoones. And
to witness this to bee my owne voluntary
& free deede of gift I have caused the
same to bee written & have hereunto putt
my signe manuell the day & yeare above
written:

Christian Cannell als Quayle her marke
Witnesses hereof
Danold Cayne his mrke
Tho: mcylrea his mrke


28th Febr 1652

This day these two witnesses brought this writing unto mee to bee
Recorded by direccon from the ptie whom it concerns and offered to take their
[o]athes of the trueth of the prmises that the same is the voluntary &
[f]ree guift of the afforenamed Chrian Cannell als Quayle (who is not able
to travell to acknowledge the same, before officers) unto her said sone Char[les]
[C]annel, wch oath though of two be not, - as concerninge it not proof for now
in pticular (without sufficient order) to take, yet if thought good (in case ye
[sa]id xpian or the said witnesses or any of them should dye before a further
acknowledgment were made of the prmises) to inscribe this memorandm for
the more clearinge of the trueth hereafter as neede shall require
Rich Tyldesley Attorunt [etc.]