Land:  Land Grant to William Cross from Lord Baltimore (1743), Baltimore County, 
Maryland

This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Alynne

************************************************************************
* USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the 
Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message 
remains on all copied material.  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any 
format for profit or presentation by other organizations. 

************************************************************************

The following is a transcript of an existing original land grant of 1743 from Lord 
Baltimore (apparently on sheepskin or pigskin) with seal to a William Cross (Crofs) and 
mentions William Coale in Baltimore County. The owner of the document, Alynne, has 
provided this transcript. 

CHARLES, Absolute Lord Proprietary of the Provinces of Maryland and Avalon, Lord 
Baron of Baltimore, etc. To all persons to whom these presents shall come, Greeting in 
our Lord God Everlasting, Know Ye, that for, and in Consideration that William Crofs of 
Baltimore County, in our said Province of Maryland, hath due unto him twenty three acres 
of land within our said Province by virtue of an assignment for that quantity from William 
Coale part of a Warrant for fifty acres granted said Coale the Sixth day of May seventeen 
hundred forty three as appears in our Land Office. and upon such Conditions and Terms, 
as are expressed in our Conditions of Plantation of our said Province, bearing Date the 
Fifth Day of April, Sixteen Hundred and Eighty-four, and remaining upon Record in our 
said Province, together with such Alterations as in them are made by our further 
Conditions, bearing Date the Fourth Day of December, Sixteen Hundred and Ninety-six; 
together also with the Alterations made by our Instructions, bearing date at London, the 
Twelfth Day of September, Seventeen Hundred and Twelve, and registered in our 
Secretary's Office of our said Province together with aparagraph of our Instructions 
bearing Date at London the fifteenth day of December seventeen hundred & thirty eight as 
registered in our Land Office, We Do thereforehereby Grant unto him the said William 
Crofs all that Tract or parcel of Land called "Crofses Lott" lying on the East side of the 
Patapsco Falls a branch of the Patapsco River. Beginning at abounded Hiccory and two 
bounded red Oaks standing at the head of a branch on the East side of the Patapsco Falls 
contiguous to the Indian Road and running thence North forty five degrees East sixty 
perches, North seventy degrees East ninety perches, South twenty five degrees West sixty 
two perches and thence by a straight line to the Beginning, containing and laid out for 
twenty three Acres, More or Lefs. according to the Certificate of Survey thereof, taken 
and returned into our Land Office, bearing Date the Day of Seventeen Hundred and forty 
three and there remaining, together with all Rights, Profits, Benefits, and Privileges 
thereunto belonging, Royal Mines excepted, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the same, unto 
him the said William Crofs , his Heirs, and Assigns, for ever, to be holden of Us and Our 
Heirs, as of our Manor of Baltimore in free and common Soccage, by Fealty only for all 
manner of Services, Yielding and Paying therefore, yearly unto us, and our Heirs, at our 
Receipt at our City of St. Mary's, at the Two most usual Feasts in the Year, viz. the Feast 
of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St Michael the Arch-Angel, by even 
and equal Portions, the Rent of Eleven pence half penny Sterling, in Silver or Gold, and 
for a Fine upon every Alienation of the said Land, or any Part or Parcel thereof, one whole 
Year's Rent in Silver or Gold, or the full Value thereof, in such Commodities as we and 
our Heirs, or such Officer or Officers as shall be appointed by us and our Heirs, from time 
to time, to collect and receive the same, shall accept in Discharge thereof, at the choice of 
us or our Heirs, or such Officer or Officers aforesaid: PROVIDED, That if the said Sum 
for a Fine for Alienation shall not be paid unto us and Heirs, or such Officer or Officers 
aforesaid, before such Alienation, and the said Alienation entered upon Record, either in 
the Provincial Court, or County Court, where the same Parcel of Land lieth, within one 
Month next after such Alienation, then the said Alienation to be void and of no Effect. 
GIVEN under our Great Seal of our said Province of Maryland, this first Day of 
November Anno Dom. Seventeen Hundred and forty three .WITNESS, our Trusty and 
Well-beloved Thomas Blanden Lieutenant-General and Chief Governor of our said 
Province of Maryland, Chancellor and Keeper of the Great Seal thereof.