1857 Michigan Warranty Deed Rodger D Boyd Grandson of Congressman Alexander Boyd For Sale

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1857 Michigan Warranty Deed Rodger D Boyd Grandson of Congressman Alexander Boyd:
$159.95

Original antebellum Michigan warranty deed dated August 12, 1857, conveying a group of village lots in Hastings, Barry County, Michigan.

The deed was executed by James H. Crop and his wife Martha Crop of Niles, Berrien County, Michigan, to Roger D. Boyd of Albany, New York, for the substantial consideration of FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS.

The property is described within the manuscript as land in the Village of Hastings and includes Village Lots Nos. 1041, 1042, 1043, 1044 and 1045.

ROGER D. BOYD – NEW YORK POLITICAL & MERCANTILE FAMILY

Historical research strongly identifies the grantee as Roger D. Boyd, born June 22, 1828, a member of a prominent New York family.

Roger entered the dry-goods business in Albany with his father, William A. Boyd. The family moved the business to Hamilton, New York in 1859, only two years after this Michigan land transaction.

Of particular historical interest, Roger D. Boyd was the grandson of Alexander Boyd, the Albany-born politician and landowner who represented New York in the United States House of Representatives during the 13th Congress, serving from 1813 to 1815.

This therefore represents more than an anonymous real-estate deed: it documents the Michigan land dealings of a member of a documented early New York political and mercantile family.

NILES, MICHIGAN ASSOCIATIONS

The deed is witnessed by:

• Thomas T. Glenn

• Amanda E. Whipple

Thomas T. Glenn also executed the formal acknowledgment as Notary Public for Berrien County.

Period Niles history records Thomas T. Glenn as Clerk of the Village of Niles in 1855. He remained active in local government and was later serving as a Berrien County Coroner.

Another excellent period detail appears at the top of the printed form:

“Sold by C. M. Alward, Niles, Mich.”

C. M. Alward was Cyrus M. Alward, a documented Niles attorney. An 1871 Niles city directory lists “Alward Cyrus M., lawyer” at 47 Main Street, and contemporary material later referred to him as Judge C. M. Alward.

DOCUMENT DETAILS

• Dated August 12, 1857

• James H. Crop and Martha Crop to Roger D. Boyd

• Grantors identified as residents of Niles, Berrien County, Michigan

• Boyd identified as a resident of Albany, New York

• Consideration: $400

• Property located in the Village of Hastings, Barry County

• Includes Village Lots 1041 through 1045

• Original manuscript signatures of James H. Crop and Martha Crop

• Witnessed by Thomas T. Glenn and Amanda E. Whipple

• Acknowledged before Thomas T. Glenn, Notary Public

• Printed legal blank sold by C. M. Alward of Niles

• Recorded August 15, 1857 at 6 o\'clock P.M.

• Recorded in Liber D of Deeds, pages 145 and 146

• Attractive blue paper with ornate printed “This Indenture” heading and manuscript entries

An excellent piece of pre-Civil War Michigan legal and land-history ephemera with connections to Hastings, Niles, Berrien County, Barry County and Albany, New York.

CONDITION:

Original folded document with expected folds, handling wear, scattered age toning and staining, and small edge/fold separations consistent with an approximately 169-year-old legal document. Ink remains quite strong and the manuscript is remarkably readable. Please examine all photographs closely for condition and content.

Original historical document – not a reproduction.

Type: Warranty Deed / Land Deed

Date: August 12, 1857

Era: Antebellum / Pre-Civil War

State: Michigan

County: Barry County / Berrien County

City/Town: Hastings / Niles

Grantor: James H. Crop

Additional Grantor: Martha Crop

Grantee: Roger D. Boyd

Grantee Residence: Albany, New York

Consideration: $400