Hi, Below is a deed from the Bristol County Land Court, Taunton, MA. The buyer, and later the seller, was one of my ancestors, Stanley CARTER (1760-1844). His first wife was Bethiah LEONARD (1764-1804), while his second wife was POLLY KNAP (1781-?). Both women were b. in Raynham. Bethiah d. in Raynham, while Polly d. in Fairhaven, MA. Stanley CARTER has always been a mystery. Although some say he was b. in Raynham, there is no proof. We simply do not know where he came from. He did d. in Raynham in 1844, but we have never found where he was buried. His father-in-law was part of the iron-related LEONARDs, and at c. 1800, he was listed as a "founder." Acc. to these deeds, he lived in Foxborough (MA) in 1795, and Norton (MA) in 1796. Perhaps he did not move at all at that point -- the boundaries may have just changed. If anyone can help with this deed, this would be great! My main question: Does anyone recognize this land (in the deed), i.e., does anyone know where the GODFREYs of Norton, MA, lived? Or where the "ROAD" was? Might it have been (now) Route 140? I live near that area, and would love to find where he once owned this land. I have only one other deed from Stanley, later in life, and it was in Raynham. There are no probate entries in Bristol County for him. Finally, I'll list the names of his children (all b. 1789-1815, all b. in Raynham, MA). If anyone has any info on what happened to his children, please write! If anyone needs dates for the children, I'll be glad to share that info. His children: Sarena CARTER, Alanson CARTER, Menzies CARTER, Stillman CARTER, Diadamia CARTER, Maria CARTER, Leonard CARTER, Philander CARTER, Clarissa CARTER (my ancestor, m. Henry WALDRON of Fall River), Eliza CARTER, William CARTER, Franklin CARTER, Clothier CARTER & Charlot CARTER. I have a feeling the children moved far away, so they could be anywhere. Thank you! Betty G., Middleboro Land Court Taunton, Bristol, MA Book 74/P. 508 Deed - Land in Norton, Bristol, MA >From EZRA & MOLLY GODFREY to STANLEY & BETHIAH (LEONARD) CARTER Know all Men by these presents that we, EZRA GODFREY, of Norton, in ye County of Bristol, yeoman, & MOLLY GODFREY of ye Town & County aforesaid (Taxoris?) for & in consider ( ) of ye sum of thirty one pounds & ten shillings will & truly paid to us by STANLEY CARTER of Foxborough in ye county of Suffolk, yeoman, the receipt is here fore & hereby acknowledge do hereby give, grant, bargain, sell & convey to him ye said STANLEY CARTER & to his heirs & assigns forever a certain tract or parcel of Land lying in Norton, aforesaid, & containing four acres & a half excepting twenty two rods taken out by ye Road, reference must be had for ye Bounds of sd Land to a deed of ye above sd Land that RICHARD GODFREY of town (Norton?), Esqr., gave to his son EZRA GODFREY of Norton, dec'd, together with all ye Buildings, privileges & appurtenances thereunto belonging, to have & to hold ye same & we do by these presents covenant to & with ye said STANLEY CARTER, that we are lawfully seize of ye sd (premises?) and that they are free & clean of all encumbrances & that (I do?) by these presents persons warrant to same & defend ye same to him ye said STANLEY CARTER & to his heirs & assigns forever against the lawful claims of any persons whatsoever. Further, I MARY GODFREY, Norton, Widow, do by these presents (promise?), release & forever quit claim & (yield?)(up?) to him ye said STANLEY CARTER all my right of dower or power of these in or to ye aforesaid premises in Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this Fifteenth Day of April, Anno Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred & Ninety Three. Page Two (Top of this page is completely black) EZRA GODFREY (seal) MOLLY GODFREY (seal) MARY GODFREY (seal) (?)in presence of: WM. BURT, JUNR. WM BURT EBENEZER NELSON Bristol Ss March ye 10th 1795 Personally MARY GODFREY & MOLLY GODFREY, I acknowledged the within Instrument by them Subscribed to be their free act & deed before SETH SMITH, JR. Justice Peace. Providence Ss. In Providence, May 5th, 1796. Personally appeared EZRA GODFREY Subscriber to ye within written Instrument & acknowledged ye same to be his free act & deed with his hand & seal thereto affixed before me, GEO TILLINGHAST Just Peace. Received May 6th 1796 and Recorded by JAMES WILLIAMS, Register. (Next Section, same page) Know all Men by these Presents that I, STANLEY CARTER of Norton, in ye County of Bristol, yeoman, for & in consideration of Three Hundred Dollars paid me DINAH BURT of Taunton in ye County Aforesd, Widow, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge to hereby give, grant, convey, sell & deliver unto ye said DINAH her heirs & assigns forever, a certain tract or parcel of Land lying in sd Norton, containing four acres be ye more or less and is all ye Land northerly of ye Road that I bought of EZRA GODFREYs' heirs and is the Land MAJOR RICHARD GODFREY gave to his son EZRA, bounding Easterly & Northerly by JOSEPH GODFREY's Land, Westerly by SAMUEL GODFREY's Land, & Southerly by ye Road. To have & to hold ye same, I do covenant with said Dinah that I am lawfully seized of ye same in fee and that I have good right to sell & convey ye same as aforesaid and that ye said DINAH shall hold ye same her heirs & assigns as above & free of all encumbrances, and that I will warrant & defend ye same to ye said DINAH her heirs & assigns forever, against the lawfull claim or demand of any person or persons, whatsoever. In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands & seals, this Sixth Day of May, in the year of our Lord 1796. STANLEY CARTER (seal) BETHIAH (LEONARD) CARTER (her mark) (seal) … Sealed & Delivered in presence of us: DAVID LINCOLN SIMEON LINCOLN Bristol Ss, May ye 6th 1796 Then STANLEY CARTER Signer to this above instrument personally knowledge ye same to be his act & deed before me. JAMES WILLIAMS, Justice ye Peace Received May 6th 1796 and recorded by JAMES WILLIAMS, Register.