I have copies of a Land Indenture from Surry County Court in 1749 where Charles Binns, Gent, and wife Judith sell 333 acres of land in Southwark Parish to James Dering for 100 pounds current money. It is witnessed by Charles Binns Jr. According to many sources Charles Binns and wife Judith Eldridge has a son Charles Binns born in 1738. This son Charles Binns became the first county clerk for Loudoun County. Here's the question: Can a child aged 11 years sign as a witness to a land indenture? This is the way it appears from the information we have but we can't imagine an 11 year old child could legally do this. If not then this would cast doubt on the 1738 birth date, in our opinion. What are your opinions? Steve and Bunny -- Subscribe to BINNS-L surname email list: mailto:BINNS-L-request@rootsweb.com?subject=subscribe&body=subscribe American Binns Families and Individuals: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~ysbinns/americanb/index.htm 1790/1800 County Tax Lists of Virginia: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~ysbinns/vataxlists/index.htm

I presume when you say "indenture" you are saying that the verbiage contained is that of a deed for the transfer of land. If so, I know of NO American jurisdiction where a child of that age could have "signed" anything having to do with any land, nor can I imagine a legal scenario where any court would permit such a signature. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Yvonne and Steve" <ysbinns@yspcbdesigns.com> To: <VA-SOUTHSIDE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2001 9:31 PM Subject: [VA-SOUTHSIDE-L] Age to sign as a witness for Land Indenture > I have copies of a Land Indenture from Surry County Court in 1749 where > Charles Binns, Gent, and wife Judith sell 333 acres of land in Southwark > Parish to James Dering for 100 pounds current money. It is witnessed by > Charles Binns Jr. > > According to many sources Charles Binns and wife Judith Eldridge has a > son Charles Binns born in 1738. This son Charles Binns became the first > county clerk for Loudoun County. > > Here's the question: Can a child aged 11 years sign as a witness to a > land indenture? > > This is the way it appears from the information we have but we can't > imagine an 11 year old child could legally do this. If not then this > would cast doubt on the 1738 birth date, in our opinion. > > What are your opinions? > > Steve and Bunny > -- > Subscribe to BINNS-L surname email list: > mailto:BINNS-L-request@rootsweb.com?subject=subscribe&body=subscribe > > American Binns Families and Individuals: > http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~ysbinns/americanb/index.htm > > 1790/1800 County Tax Lists of Virginia: > http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~ysbinns/vataxlists/index.htm > > > ==== VA-SOUTHSIDE Mailing List ==== > USGenWeb Archives Census Project > http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/census/ > > > ============================== > Shop Ancestry - Everything you need to Discover, Preserve & Celebrate > your heritage! > http://shop.myfamily.com/ancestrycatalog >