Amanuensis Monday: Deed of Sale between James Nesbitt and Pierre Genvre

An amanuensis is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

This deed of sale between James Nesbitt and my paternal great-grandfather Pierre Janvry (1851-1941), whose surname is rendered as “Genvre” in the deed, was drawn up on 20 September 1881. It was registered on 29 September 1881. The transcription of this deed appears in quotation marks, with preprinted portions shown in black and handwritten portions shown in red.

“This Indenture made the twentieth day of September one thousand eight hundred and seventy Eighty-one

Between James Nesbitt, of the Township of Masham in the County of Ottawa and Province of Quebec farmer

of the one part, and Pierre Genvre of the said township of Masham farmer

of the other part, Witnesseth, That for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred dollars current money of this Province

to the said James Nesbitt

in hand paid by the said Pierre Genvre

at or before the execution of these presents, (the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged

by the said James Nesbitt) he, the

said James Nesbitt

doth hereby grant, bargain, sell and confirm unto the said Pierre Genvre

his heirs and assigns for ever, all that certain lot of land,

situated and being in the township of Masham aforesaid and described as the lot number fifty-five in the fourth range of the Township of Masham aforesaid containing one hundred and twenty-three acres of land in superfic[ies] more or less

To have and to hold the said lot of land and premises hereinbefore granted, bargained and sold, or intended so to be, with their and every of their appurtenances, unto the said Pierre Genvre his heirs and assigns forever

In Witness Whereof, the said parties hereto have hereunto set their hands and Seals the day and year first above written, at the Township of Wakefield in the District of Ottawa, (in duplicate.)

Signed, Sealed and Delivered     James Nesbitt

A. Cates                                   Pierre his Genvre

Isaac B. Yorke                                  x

                                                      mark ”

Source: “Deed of Sale Between James Nesbitt and Pierre Genvre”, dated 20 September 1881; Demoskoff Family Papers, photocopy held by Yvonne (Belair) Demoskoff, British Columbia, 2012. The photocopy, was supplied by Eloi Belair to Yvonne, his cousin, during her visit to his home in Hull, Quebec in the 1980s. Eloi was Pierre Genvre [Janvry]’s grandson.

Copyright © 2012, Yvonne Demoskoff.