The Portland daily press., 1895-10-21


Bath, October 19.-Clerk of Courts
Hayes will soon present to the Sagada-
hoe Historical Society a collection OF
papers of more than ordinary interest.
They are documents which have been
treasured in the Hyde family for nearly
five gene rations and relates to the history
of the family when it's members were
citizens of King Georges colony of Con-
necticut.' The early Hydes were evident
ly--people of means as the papers relate
to the transfer of real estate and, in
one case of q slave womansand her child,
and include wills and other interesting
documents. While many of the papers
ago, they are still clear and legible, al
though the cramped handwriting is none
to easily read at best. Mr.. Hayes re-
ceived the papers from Mr.. Henry A.
Hyde, whose father, also Henry hyde,
had kept them before him. The docu-
ments were given to Mr.. Hayes with
request that he should, when he thought
the time had arrived, hand thom over to
the historical society. Mr. Hayes will
soon do SO.
| The papers are contained in ''safe'-
not an iron strong box with massive
lock, but a little wooded receptacle,
about three inches long and two inches
in height and breadth. 1t was evidently
of home manufacture, made when, In
the early years of the last century,
Elijah Hyde felt the need of box In
which to keep the deeds of the property
| he had begun to acquire. The hinges
are rudeIy made Of wire as is the clasp
| by which the box is fastened. On the
H.'' and the date "1724' Long use has
worn the wood until that OH the bottom
of the box has become as smooth as glass
| but the little "safe'' has done its duty
we'll and the papers within are still
| in good condition. 1t will be noted that
| in those early days the name was spelled
Glide The present spelling was OF
later adoption.
In looking over these old documents
one naturally turns with curiosity to the
bill of sale of the young slave woman
and her child which Joseph Colt in l743
sold to Elijah Hide. 1t contains many
quaint expressions Joseph thus makes
the trransfer:
"To all people to whom these presents
Joseph Colt of New London in ye County
of New London and colony of Connect1-
out For and in consideration of one hum
dred and fifty pounds old Termor
Bills of Probate Credit me In hand truly
paid by Elijah Hide of Norwich in .ye
whereof I do hereby acknowledge Doe
Give Grant Bargain Sell and Confirm
| unto ye said Hide and to his Heirs and
assigns forever one certain Negro wom
an named Sylvia aged about IS years and
Negro child named Clveae aged about
eight months to have and to hold ye
sd Negro and child untohlm the sd
Hide Bis Heirs and assigns forever to
his and their own proper use and Be-
hnof."
Joseph then in due and proper form
with the use of many words and loyal
phraseology declares his title to "ye
afores'd Negro woman and child" to be
good one. How he could. ;" bargain sell
and confirm them forever in colony
where even the slaves must have died the
instrument does not tell.
Eliiah Hide himself lived to be an old
man for here is his will which WAS not
made until 1774. 1t bequeathes his prop
erty to his seven SONS, Andrew, Elijah,
Caleb, Eliphalet, Irah, Moses and Eben-
ezer and to his daughter. Ruth Hunting
ton the share of the daughter to be three
quarters of that Of each of the sons.
Among other interesting documents
in the little "safe' are deed of certain
property transferred by David Hide to
Elijah in 174s, power of attorney from
Caleb Hide to his loving brother Elijah.
given in 1866, the will of Elizabeth Hide,
made the 18th day of February lin the
10th year of her majeste's reign, Annoque
Dominid 1885, and of still earlier
date. the deed of "seven acres of land on
We middle hill in Norwich, which
christopher n huntingdon sc d to Elijah
ii ide in 1871 for 36 pounds 10 shillings.
But all the papers in the little box are
not old, for some time ago MIR. Hyde re-
ceiyed a letter asking about the papers
and making some curious statements Mrs.
A bigaiI Blackman Of Andover, CT, is the
writer and says: "Will you please
look in a small wooden safe, once the
nroperty of Elijah Hide who lived in
f,ehanon in 1905. The initials e. II.
are carved on the cover OF the safe /
wish you to examine the papers in that
safe to see if you can find the birth
and parentage of Benjamin Hide, as he
was nv mothers grandfather He was
lost or stolen from his home when
about six years old. He was old enough
TO remember his name and his father.