Silas SALISBURY
1840 - Sale of Property in Cincinnatus, Cortland, New York

Deed Interpretation: Silas Salisbury to Willard S. Niles (1840)

This is the second deed on pages 376–377 of your deed book — a full sale by Silas Salisbury and Lydia (his wife) of Marathon, Cortland County, NY, to Willard S. Niles of Hamilton, Madison County, NY.

Key Facts

Date of execution: April 9, 1840
Date recorded: April 10, 1840, at 2:00 P.M.
Recording clerk: O. Stimson, Clerk, per D.B. Canfield, Deputy
Consideration: $900

Grantors (first part): Silas Salisbury and Lydia, his wife — Town of Marathon, County of Cortland, State of New York
Grantee (second part): Willard S. Niles — Town of Hamilton, County of Madison, State of New York

The Two Parcels Conveyed

Parcel 1 — Part of Lot No. 65, in the Town of Marathon (formerly Cincinnatus), Cortland County. Metes and bounds:

Beginning at the southwest corner of the [100-acre lot referenced]
West 25 chains 20 links to a stake
North 19 chains 25 links to a stake
East 25 chains 20 links to a stake
South to place of beginning
Estimated 50 acres

Parcel 2 — Part of Lot No. 25 of the Military Tract, Town of Cincinnatus, Cortland County — described as "Plot No. Six" in a subdivision of Lot 25:

Chain of title on this parcel: set off to Anthony Wheeler → conveyed to B.F. Wheeler → conveyed to Silas Salisbury (grantor here)
Bounded west by a plot set to David Wheeler; north by the above-described parcel; east and south by plots set to Noah Wheeler
Dimensions: 20 chains 19 links (east-west) × 15 chains 63 links (north-south)
Containing 36+ acres (the exact fraction is hard to read — possibly "36 acres and 40 hundredths")
Notable Drafting Details
A marginal note (N.B.) by Charles Leach, the witness/ commissioner, documents that several words were interlined (inserted between lines) before execution — including the phrase "formerly Cincinnatus" and the word "Six" — a common practice to correct clerical errors before signing, and useful to you as a researcher because it confirms the town's earlier name.
Lydia Salisbury signed with her mark (X), not a signature — meaning she was likely illiterate or unable to write, which is a small but useful biographical detail.
Lydia was examined separately and apart from her husband by the commissioner, per standard NY dower-release procedure, and acknowledged she signed freely — standard language confirming she was releasing dower rights in the land.
Acknowledgment

Taken in Cortland County before Charles Leach, Commissioner of Deeds, same day as execution (April 9, 1840).

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