Deeds of

Charles Steelman of 1774 Great Egg Harbor River/Mays Landing

            (Abstracted) This indenture made 12 August 1774 from Charles Steelman of Great Egg Harbor Township, Gloucester County, Province of West New Jersey to Stephen Morris of same place, house carpenter of the other part for 80 pounds...five following tracts of land and marsh and cedar swamp lying in the named township and county between Egg Harbour and South River.

            First tract: Bounded by a cedar swamp on one side and a cove of flats and fronts the River of Egg Harbour...became the property of said Steelman by deed of gift from Peter Steelman, dated 12 June 1737 containing 10 acres.

            Second tract: Lying in SW corner of the said 10 acres...to a pine tree standing by Great Egg Harbour River against a cove of flats...to said Charles Steelman's land...50 acres of land and flats and allowance for roads. The said land became the right of said Steelman by deed dated 18 January 1749.

            Third tract: Side of the Great Cranberry Swamp...50 acres of land which became the property of said Steelman by a conveyance of 100 acres of rights from Edmond Iliff (probably Iliff^), the deed dated 8 September 1742

            4th & 5th tracts. Both of one survey of 70 acres surveyed to John Budd and sold to Peter Benton and from said Benton to Solomon Manning and from said Manning to Charles Steelman at two different times. The first deed is dated 18 January 1751; the 2nd dated 10 December 1757, beginning at a stake standing a little above...the mouth of Gravelly Run...to Sawings line, to the Little Cranberry Swamp, binding the same to the said Steelman's line and binding thence to the river and down the said river by the several courses...containing a number of unknown acres.

            ...Interchangeable set their hand and seals the day and year above written 1775. (Signed) Charles (x) Steelman, Mary (x) Steelman. Witnessed: Rudduck Townsend, John (x) Steelman, Barbary (or Barbay) "X" Steelman.. On 6 Mary 1776, personally appeared before, John Hinchman, Esq., one of the Judges of Gloucester County Pleas. John Steelman witnessed the within deed. He doth say that he was present and saw Charles Steelman, Mary his wife, the within grantors sign, seal and deliver written instrument of conveyance as their act of deed. He therein mentioned and at the same time he saw Rudduck Townsend, the other witness, subscribe his name as a witness. (Signed) John "x" Steelman. Acknowledged the day and date above said before me – John Hinchman. Recorded 7 October 1823.

                        Gloucester County, New Jersey Deed Book KK 1823-1824, page 399.

            Gloucester County Loan Office and Mortgage Registration: Stephen Morris (his mark) of Great Egg Harbour Township., 35 pounds for 150 acres (five tracts) in the same place on Great Egg Harbour River, bounded by Joseph Sawin, Amariah Lake, Richard Somers, and James Caruthers, being the same land purchased by the mortgagor from Charles Steelman by deed dated 12 August 1775.

                        (New Jersey Archives.org abstracts 1776 on line).

            Comment: Date of deed to date of recording was 46-48 years later.

Later Deeds Linking Charles Steelman "I" to Others

            3 July 1799 Gloucester County: Deed from Charles Steelman the Elder of Weymouth Township, Gloucester County, N.J. to Elisha Aston of the same place, sawyer of the other part, for $40, a certain piece or lot of land lying in the Township of Weymouth, part of 200 acres of land that Charles Steelman, deceased, purchased of Thomas Ireland and Elias Smith, and the said Charles Steelman, deceased by his last will and testament gave and bequeathed unto his son Charles Steelman the within grantor....beginning...of the hill above said Elisha Aston house...black oak on the bank...binding the edge of the swamp...containing 10 acres. (Signed) Charles Steelman, delivered in the presence of Elias Smith, Joseph ("x") Sawin(?), Joseph Smith, came 4 June 1814 personally came before me John Steelman, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleases in and for the County of Gloucester. Recorded 4 October 1815. (Deed Book W, page 274)

            Comment: Notice this is another deed recorded into county files years later.

            14 May 1814 Gloucester County, New Jersey: Charles Steelman of Hamilton Township,, Gloucester County, State of New Jersey deeded to Jonathan Steelman, his son, of the aforesaid place....for $15...certain tract of cedar swamp in Hamilton Township, near the head of Mare River (Mare looks like Quare) containing 4 acres...of a survey made by Japhet Leeds to and for James Steelman, his return...by virtue of a deed of conveyance dated 29 December 1749, the said James Steelman conveyed the same among other land unto Charles Steelman, deceased, who being thereof so seized deceased Intestate, and Charles Steelman the party aforesaid being the eldest son and heir at law because lawfully seized of the same reference to the originals....to hold the said 4 acres of Cedar Swamp... (Signed) Charles (x) Steelman. Signed, sealed, delivered in the presence of John Steelman, James (x) Champion of Gloucester County. On 3 June 1714, before me the subscriber John Steelman one of the Judges of the Court of Common Please in Gloucester County. Charles Steelman the Grantor...Recorded 22 June 1814.          (Deed Book T-445)

            4 June 1814 Gloucester County, New Jersey Charles Steelman of Hamilton Township,, Gloucester County, New Jersey deeded to James Schley (should be Ackley^) of the same place, for $25, ...a certain lot or tract of land situate in Hamilton Township...bounded as follows:...point of land on the southwest side of Mare Run, a little below the public bridge over the same...to Abner Gaskill's lot...containing 39 acres. Of which this land was granted in part of 159 acres surveyed to Edmund Steff and from him to Samuel Harrison and from said Harrison to Nathan Lake and from said Lake to Amariah Lake who conveyed the same unto Charles Steelman by deed dated 1 January 1755 and devised the same by his last will and testament unto his son Charles Steelman, the present (person) granted. (Signed) Charles (x) Steelman. Witnessed by John Steelman and Jonathan Steelman, Gloucester County on 4 June 1814. Recorded 5 October 1819. (Deed Book EE, page 219)

Will and Probate of Charles Steelman who died 1779

            9 September 1775 Gloucester County Will (abstracted), Renunciation, and Inventory for Charles Steelman of Great Egg Harbor, Gloucester County, yeoman; will of. Names wife Mary Steelman, 1/3 of moveable estate, Son, John (Steelman), and my daughter, Barbary (Barbara) Steelman,, all this plantation where I live and 42 acres of meadow, lying a little below Chandlers Run that I bought of Elisha Smith; also the plantation on southwest side of the river, on the upper side of the "lain." Son, John, 1/3 of the cedar swamp that I bought of Amariah Lake. John and Barbery to maintain my son, David, during his life. Daughter, Gartery, 5 shillings. Daughter, Mary, 5 shillings. Daughter Margit, 5 shilllings, Daughter Phebe, 5 shilling. Executors – John Steelman and Barbery Steelman. Witnesses – Amariah Lake, Prisilla Ireland. Proved 24 February 1779. Probate to Samuel Burton, husband of Barbara Steelman.

            24 February 1779. Renunciation by John Steelman, in favor of his sister, and her husband (Barbara and Samuel Burton).

            13 February 1779. Inventory in pounds 689.6.0 made by Amariah Lake and Thomas Champion. Inventory showed 8 head of cattle, 2 horses and wagon, 7 hogs, plow, various household goods and furniture, 10 acres of green rye on the g round, spinning wheel. Liber 20, page 371.