This Indenture made the sixteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven between Christiana Neff, widow and relict of Henry Neff late of the County of Hampshire now deceased and Adam Neff, eldest son of the said Henry Neff, Thomas Barton Smoot and Catherine his wife, late Catherine Neff and Esther Neff daughters of the said Henry Neff of the one part and Sylvester Welch of the said county of the other part. Whereas the said Henry Neff in his lifetime being seized in fee simple and possessed of a certain tract of land on the southwest side of Patterson’s Creek and run called Ramsey’s Run, a drain of the said creek adjoining the Manor of the said County of Hampshire bounded as follows, to wit: Beginning at a white oak standing on a hillside, corner to Peter Beaver, then with his line South 23° 15^me West thirty four poles to a stake on the brow of a hill by a hickory near the said Beaver’s fence, thence extending from his line N 66° 45^me W fifty poles to a black oak on a level, thence S 23° 15^me W fifty poles to a white oak and hickory standing on the east side of the wagon road from Fort Pleasant,† then S 66° 45^me E fifty poles to the line of the said Beaver by a large white oak on a descent near his fence, then with his line S 23° 15^me W at about 116 poles, crossed the road from Fort Pleasant one hundred and eighty eight poles to a white oak on a hillside his corner, then with another of his lines South 14° W 126 poles to two small white oaks, his corner and William Buffington’s, then with Buffington’s line S 25° W seven poles to a large white oak and two small ones in the head of a hollow corner to M^r Rilfe’s land, then with his line N 47° W eighty poles crossed Ramsey0146;s Run the same course continued one hundred and twenty four poles to his corner, a white oak and hickory on a hill, then with another of his lines, N 30° W two hundred and ten poles to his corner in said Manor line, then binding along the said line N 32° E one hundred and twenty one poles crossing Ramsey’s Run to two white oaks, a hickory and a small red oak in the said line standing on the east side of a hollow, then extending from the said Manor East at 72 poles crossed the Pensferry Branch at 211 poles, crossed the wagon road from Fort Pleasant the same course continued in all two hundred and seventy poles to the beginning, containing four hundred and twenty nine and one half acres which was granted to Andrew Ramsey by deed from the Proprietor of the Northern Neck of Virginia bearing date the third day of September 1767, and by the said Andrew Ramsey conveyed to the said Henry Neff the 18^th day of October 1773 by deeds of lease and release and being so thereof seized and possessed he the said Henry Neff in his lifetime contracted with the said Sylvester Welch for the sale thereof to him and his heirs for the consideration of one hundred and fifty two pounds eight shillings current money of Virginia and passed a bond accordingly. Now This Indenture, witnesseth that for and in consideration of the sum of ninety seven pounds part of the consideration aforesaid paid to the said Henry Neff in his lifetime and the residue amounting to fifty two pounds eight shillings to the said Christiana Neff and Adam Neff, administrators of all the goods and chattels, rights, and credits of the said Henry Neff in hand paid by the said Sylvester Welch at and before the sealing and delivery of these presents, and also the further sum of twenty shillings current money to the said Christiana Neff, Adam Neff, Thomas Barton Smoot and Catherine his wife and Esther Neff also in hand paid the receipt whereof is also hereby acknowledged, they the said Christiana Neff, Adam Neff, Thomas Barton Smoot and Catherine his wife and Esther Neff have granted, bargained, sold, aliened and confirmed and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, alien and confirm unto the said Sylvester Welch as well as the dower of the said Christiana Neff as several parts and proportions of the said Adam Neff, Thomas Barton Smoot and Catherine his wife and Esther Neff of the said tract of land with the appurtenances thereunto belonging, which legally descend to them respectively by the death of the said Henry Neff, intestate, and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues and profits thereof and also all the estate, right, title, interest, property, claim and demand whatsoever either in law or equity of them the said Christiana Neff, Adam Neff, Thomas Barton Smoot and Catherine his wife and Esther Neff of, in and to the said tract of land and appurtenances. To Have and to Hold the land hereby conveyed and all and singular the premises hereby granted with their appurtenances unto the said Sylvester Welch, his heirs and assigns forever to the only proper use and behoof of him the said Sylvester Welch and his heirs and assigns forever. In witness whereof the said Christiana Neff, Adam Neff, Thomas Barton Smoot and Catherine his wife and Esther Neff have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above mentioned.

Sealed and delivered in the presence of Samuel Davis Isaac Miller Job Parker Isaac Welch

her Christiana X Neff                Mark Adam Neff Thomas Smoot                 her Catherine X Smoot                Mark Ester XX Neff

At a Court held for Hampshire County April 10^th 1788
     This Deed of Bargain and Sale from Christiana Neff, Adam Neff, Thomas Barton Smoot and Catherine his wife and Esther Neff to Sylvester Welch was proved by the oaths of Samuel Davis, Isaac Miller, Job Parker and Isaac Welch, the subscribing witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded.

Notes
     Fort Pleasant was built in 1756 on the order of Colonel George Washington. It was one several forts built to protect settlers on the western frontier. By the time of this deed, it may not have been an active fort. (DMS)