Know all Men by these presents that whereas the general
Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in & by an Act Passed
their Session in the year 1786, to Subject the Non-Resident Proprietors
umimproved Land in this Commonwealth to be sold for the pay-
=ment of Taxes & also Impowered the Constables or Collectors to Sell so
much of said Lands of non-Resident Proprietors who should either Ne-
=glect or Refuse to pay the Taxes due on them as would be Sufficient
to discharge s^d Taxes with Intervening Charges, And wherever the Free-
=holders & other Inhabitants of the Town of Bernardston, at their Meet-
=ing holden on the fourth of February Ad 1782 made Choice of me
Jesse Field Collector of Taxes: who proceeded according to the directions
of the Above Mentioned Act & have Sold to Caleb Chapin of Bernards
=ton ~~Gentleman~~ Aforesaid Gentleman.
at Public Vendue the Lot N^o 48 in the first division of Land in said
Bernardston containing Fifty Acres (said Caleb being the highest bidder)
for Twenty Five Pounds Lawful Money paid by him the s^d Caleb
to me the s^d Jesse. In consideration where of I the said Jesse by Virtue
of the Authority Vested in me aforesaid: So give grant Sell & Convey to
him the s^d Caleb, his Heirs & Assigns the above described Lands in my
Capacity. To have & to Hold the s^d given & granted Premises with
the Appurtenances thereof, to him the s^d Caleb his Heirs & Assigns as
a free Inheritance in fee Simpe Forever. And I the s^d Jesse do hereby
Avouch in my aforesaid Capacity, that I have good right to dispose of
the same as Aforesaid: and do also in my Capacity Covenant with
the s^d Caleb his Heirs & Assigns the above granted Premises with the
Appurtenances, against the Lawful demands, of my Person or Persons
whatsoever, to Warrant & Defend by these presents. In Witness where-
=of I have here unto Set my hand & Seal this Eighth day of April
Anno Domini 1788-----
Jesse Field.
Signed Seal'd & Deliver'd
in Presence of
Joseph Allin
John Burke
(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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In 1786, the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts passed an act that allowed unimproved land owned by non-residents to be sold for back taxes. In 1788, Caleb Chapin purchased at public auction, the fifty acres of lot number 48 in Bernardston. This document attests that Jesse Field, the tax collector, had the authority to sell this land, and grants Chapin, his heirs and assigns, free inheritance.

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