William sold property to
William (W?) Shankland on 27 June 1717 at Land record, Sussex, DE, Lewes Sussex Co DE. .
Pensilvania & Counties ss
By the Commissioners of Property
At the Request of William Shankland of the county of Sussex that we would grant him to take up a small Island situate in Lewis Creek on the back of those two Small Islands lately granted to Alexander Molleston, the Said Island is Supposed to contain about ten acres of marsh. These are to authorize and require thee to Survey or causes to be surveyed unto the Said William Shankland the said Island of Marsh according to the bounds thereof extended to the Water of Said Creek, Which Said Island is to be holden of the Proprietary under the Yearly Quitrent of one bushell of Good Winter Wheat, and make return of the Same into the Secretarys Office in order for a future Confirmation. Given under our hands and Provincial Seal at Philadelphia the 27th day of ye 3d month Anno Dni 1717.
Richard Hill
Issac Norris
James Logan
To Jacob Taylor Survr. General
(A Proprietary Colony was one in which the Crown granted proprietorship to an individual, or group of individuals. William Penn was granted this proprietorship as the Crown (The King of England) owed his father money for the building of ships. Quitrent was a method of selling property in Colonial Times. The purchaser was Granted ownership and could sell the land for a profit or loss to anyone else, however he owed the original proprietor (William Penn and his descendants) a small fee for the privlege. England deliberately made it difficult for the Colonists to obtain cash so, many times, this rent was asked for and paid in goods.
The reference of this being the third month was due to the old dating system where the New Year started in March.
This Island of Marsh was handed down in the wills of several generations of Shanklands and was afterwards known as Shankland's Island. It was eventually dredged away during the making of the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal. JNS).