Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-10-28
Thomaa Naffa Old WaIIet.


An old leather wallet hand-sewed has
been submitted to the herald Office for
inspection by {. L. Smith Of the Center
10 whom II descended through his grand
moth Mrs. Solomon Smith. The wallet
was once the property OF Thomas Men,
who married Mrs. Smiths sister and
lived in this town on what is nov known
as the Henry Holman farm. On one side
the initials 81 NJ. T. are pressed into the
leather end on the other the date "173o,"
showing that this ancient pocketbook has
survived the ravages OF time for It's years
and is still sound long after the hands
hich fashioned 1t have mouldered to
dust.
No less interesting than the wallet are
its contents-two papers of by-gone legal
transactions and a sample Of very fancy
penmanship executed in writing the
name OF Lydia NeH, Randolph, March l,
1898. aud the word, lebanon"
One OF the documents, dated Jan. II,
1927, and signed by Solomon Smith, Jr.,
and Eunice Neff in the presence of Josiah
and Ziba Lyman, concerns the above
mentioned Lydia Neff and reads as fol-
lows:-" Agreement made by and be-
tween Solomon Smith, Jr., of Randolph,
10 the county of Orange in the state of
Vermont, and the Widow Eunice Neff of
Randolph, county and state as aforesaid,
on the other part. 1, the said Solomon
Smith Jr. on my part do agree to let
Lydia Neff live at my house and have it
for her home SO long as she lives in this
world, and to find her vituals and drink,
such as lie comfortable for her support, so
long as she shall see at to live with me
and no longer; but do not find her, the
said Lydia Nefi, any clothing or pay any
thing or be at any expense for anything
except board and house room. Also ],
the said Eunice Nen, do agree on my part
to let the said Solomon Smith have the
use and improvement OF the farm, OF
which hold life lease (giyen me by
Storrs Hall, late Of Randolph) the whole
and every part thereof to do with it and
improve II as the said Solomon Smith,
Jr., shalI see at without any molestation
from me or any under me; provided that
the said Solomon Smith, Jr., does provide
vituals, drink, clothing and everything
that Is necessary for my comfort and sup
port, both In sickness and in health, 81
long as the said Eunice Nefi shall live in
this world.
"And on failure Of the said Solomon
Smith Jr. not providing those things
above written for the comfort and sup
port of the said Eunice Neff both in sick
ness and in health the said Eunice.. Neif is
to take possession of the aforementioned
farm and improve ii for her own use ana
benefit so long as the said Eunice Neff
shall live in this world. And We the
said Solomon Smith, Jr., and Eunice
Nei, promise and engage to comply and
fulfill our engagements of the above
agreement and, on failure OF either party,
we do promise and engage to make good
all damages, as witness our hands"
The second document, dated July 2,
1774, not quite a year before the battle OF
Bunker Hill, lie the conveyance Of parcel
OF land containing as acres and lying con
the Mansfield line in the FIRST tier For
80 pounds lawful money this property
was decided ty David Huntington OF
Windham in Windham county and col
ony OF Connecticut, to Thomas Neff Of
the said Windham, and the tranefer was
recorded by the town clerk, Samuel Gray.
as having taken place ''the I'd day OF July
in the 14th year OF the reign OF our Sow
ereign Lord, George the Third OF Great
Britain and King, Ammo Domini 17T4."
Very soon after this ssths shot heard
round the world" Jared our Sovereign
Lord George the Third and ended the
further reckoning of time In county OF
Windham and colony Of Connecticut by
the reign Of any earthly king.