1775 North Heath, Pulborough, Sussex 

Georgian Manuscript Legal Bond - Sale of Cottage & Land

Sayres Family

An original indemnity bond dated 30 January 1775, by which William Sayres of Harting, Sussex, yeoman, binds himself to Edmund Greenfield of Pulborough, Sussex, husbandman, in the penal sum of £50. It relates to Greenfield’s purchase from William Sayres and Sarah his wife of a cottage or tenement and one acre at North Heath, Pulborough, for £55, with Sayres agreeing to bear half of any future title-related costs arising within twenty years from claims connected with named former parties.

Description: paper, cursive script in a legible hand using brown ink, red wax seal; paper tax stamp (nine pence a quire) with adjacent fiscal revenue embossed stamp.

Size: 34 x 42 cm

Condition: original folds with wear and loss at some fold ends; toning in places; central fold reinforced with archival tape verso

Transcription of the document (done by AI - checked but may contain minor errors)

Know All Men, by these presents That I William Sayres of Harting in the County of Sussex Yeoman am holden and firmly bound unto Edmund Greenfield of Pulborough in the said County of Sussex Husbandman in the Sum of fifty pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid to the said Edmund Greenfield or his certain Attorney Executors Administrators or Assigns. For which payment to be well and faithfully made I bind myself my Heirs Executors and Administrators firmly by these presents. Sealed with my Seal. Dated the thirtieth Day of January in the year of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred and seventy five.

Whereas the said Edmund Greenfield hath on the Day of the date hereof purchased of and from the said William Sayres and Sarah his Wife a Leasehold Cottage or Tenement and one acre of Land thereunto belonging situate and being at Northheath in the said parish of Pulborough, for the Sum of fifty and five pounds. And the said  William Sayres  hath agreed that if the said  Edmund Greenfield  shall at any Time within the Space of  Twenty years  now next ensuing be put to any Expence or Charge by the Heirs or Assigns of  Walter Coles  late of Pulborough aforesaid Gentleman deceased or the Representatives of  Anthony Ayling  late of  Horsham  in the said County of Sussex Yeoman deceased and  Jane  his Wife for or on Account of the Title to the said Leasehold Cottage Land and premises that then he the said  William Sayres  his Heirs Executors or Assigns shall and will from and pay unto the said  Edmund Greenfield  his Executors Administrators and Assigns half the Expence and Charge that he or they shall or may be put unto for the same.

Now the Condition  of this Obligation is such That if the said  William Sayres  his Executors Administrators or Assigns shall and do well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto the said  Edmund Greenfield  his Executors Administrators or Assigns half the Charge and Expence which he or they shall or may be put unto for the Space of  Twenty years  now next ensuing the date hereof by the Representatives of the said  Walter Coles  deceased or by the Representatives of the said  Anthony Ayling  deceased and  Jane  his Wife for or on account of the Title to the said Leasehold Cottage or Tenement, piece of Land and premises herein before mentioned to be purchased by the said  Edmund Greenfield  of and from the said  William Sayres  and  Sarah  his Wife  Then this Obligation to be Void else to remain in full force and virtue.

Sealed and Delivered   

In the presence of 

Chas. Browne   

Chas. Browne Junr.

Wm. Sayres   

(with red wax seal)