1779 Killingholme Lincolnshire Trout to Rack Lease for a Year Indenture For Sale

1779 Killingholme Lincolnshire Trout to Rack Lease for a Year Indenture
DescriptionAn original 1779 legal paper indenture dated 25 June 1779 (in the nineteenth year of the reign of King George III), detailing the lease for a year (the preliminary conveyance under a Lease and Release) of an allotment of land in Killingholme South, Lincolnshire. The parties are John Trout of Killingholme South in the County of Lincoln, Yeoman, of the one part, and Thomas Rack of the same place, Labourer, of the other part. In consideration of the nominal sum of five shillings paid by Thomas Rack, John Trout bargains and sells unto Thomas Rack all that his allotment or parcel of land, arable, meadow, or pasture ground (now fenced and taken in) containing by admeasurement 5 acres and 15 perches situated in the East Field of Killingholme South. The boundaries are explicitly recited: bounded on or towards the East by the land of William Morrison, on or towards the South by the road going to Humber, on or towards the West by the land of the said John Trout, and on or towards the North by the land of Hansard Brocklesby. Granted for a term of one whole year at the yearly rent of a pepper corn, executed under the Statute of Uses so that Thomas Rack might be in actual possession to receive a Grant and Release of the freehold reversion and inheritance intended to be dated the following day. Features three embossed duty revenue stamps (one 1 Shilling and two 1 Shilling 6 Pence additional duty stamps) along the left margin, red ink margin and ledger rules, the mark of John Trout accompanied by a crisp red wax seal with an intaglio classical profile bust, and witnessed by Tho. Marris junr. and Thomas Goy (\"Servant to said Mr. Marris\"). Endorsed on the reverse: \"John Trout to Tho: Rack / Lease for a year / Dated 25th June 1779\". Measures approximately 55 cm by 42 cm.
Background InformationKillingholme (now divided into North and South Killingholme) is situated in the ancient wapentake of Yarborough, parts of Lindsey, fronting the Humber Estuary in North Lincolnshire. During the mid to late 18th century, Parliamentary Enclosure radically altered the Lincolnshire landscape, partitioning vast open-field farming systems (such as the East Field referenced here) into enclosed freehold allotments bordered by newly laid out public roadways and drainage ditches. Conveyancers routinely utilised the two-part Lease and Release mechanism—invented during the reign of Henry VIII following the Statute of Uses 1535—to transfer freehold property privately without the legal necessity of either performing a public ceremony of \'livery of seisin\' on the land or officially enrolling the transfer in a public court registry. The witness Thomas Marris junior was a member of a prominent family of attorneys practising in nearby Barton-upon-Humber and Caistor.
Condition ReportHeavy handmade laid legal paper with original fold lines and very light handling marks. Features clean, distinct red ink border rulings, crisp blind-embossed revenue stamps to the left margin, and an exceptionally intact, bright red sealing-wax impression retaining sharp detail of a classical profile portrait. The handwritten manuscript text in iron gall ink remains dark, sharp, and entirely legible throughout, with elegant calligraphic flourishes to the opening words and capital letters. Very clean condition for an 18th-century paper legal document. See Photos for Condition.
Shipping InformationCarefully packaged in a protective sleeve to ensure safe delivery. Shipped securely in a rigid mailer to prevent bending or damage during transit.
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