Dear Listers, I have a question to throw out to the group regarding what may or may not have been a "common custom" during the 1670s. Q: Was it a common occurance -- or was it a custom of the times, 1670s -- for elderly land owners who were weak/ill to "give" their land and house to unrelated persons such as neighbors in exchange for care for themselves and their spouse? Using Salem deeds, I have researched the history of a particular piece of ppty in Salem which was seized and taken from my ancestor in 1692 when she was arrested for witchcraft. In deeds I found out where this land came from ... in 1672 an agreement was made between the elderly owner of the ppty (over 70) and his young neighbor (29). The neighbor had been in Salem only 6 years, arriving about the age of 23. In 1668, the old man had sold a small town lot to the young man who was a blacksmith. Four years later, October1672, an agreement between the two was filed in deeds, viz. if the young neighbor cared for the ill and weak old man and his wife until their deaths, the young neighbor would get the ppty. Apparently the old man did not live more than a few months. I don't know what happened to his wife. Have found no mention of her after the agreement. But 6 months later, per April 1673 court, the young neighbor was listed as "successor" to the old man who was referred to in court as being "late deceased". No mention in court records of his elderly wife. Should we assume "dead" since she was not listed as a "successor"? A relationship? I have not found any relationship between the old man nor his wife and the young neighbor, and none is mentioned in the agreement, i.e. no "for love" as seen in other arrangements of this kind. It seemed to be a straight forward business deal. However, it is possible that the young neighbor's wife was a relative of the elderly couple, but I have found nothing so far to link her to them. The young neighbor's wife didn't live much longer either. She died 4 years later in 1676. So, that's why I ask: Was it customary for elderly people without relatives around to help them to prepare an agreement with a neighbor or non-relative to have them agree to care for them until death in exchange for their land and house? I need to mention that this elderly couple were not destitute. They had money to live on until death. They could have hired someone to care for them in their own home and to care for their land. In fact, a month before the agreement, they had sold 10 acres for 10 pounds sterling. So, why the agreement? Anybody have any ideas or suggestions? Discussion, please. This agreement may have a bearing on why 20 years later my ancestor was accused of witchcraft, the ppty was seized by Sheriff Corwin, she was hung, and one of the judges (Sheriff Corwin's father in law) ended up with it. -- Helen Greenslit Graves