Metadata
Title
Christ Church attorneys letter to the Society concerning a Philadelphia land purchase
Alternative Title
The attorney's letter to the Society
Date
1762-01-12
Digital Identifier
ChristChurch.CorporationCorrespondence_4-2-0-6
Call Number
4.2.0.6; F494
Description
Draft letter from attorneys acting for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts regarding an agreement with Thomas Penn's agents for a lot of land in Philadelphia, to be vested for the perpetual use of the parson of Christ Church.
The letter notes a generous donation by Reverend Richard Peters, former secretary to the Proprietor and Governor, of £100 sterling, with a proposal to raise an additional £100 by voluntary contributions, to enlarge the lot. Two-fifths of the larger lot was to be dedicated to the use of the parson of the newly erected St. Peter's Church.
The writers request the Society's advice and permission to hold title locally in the name of the Philadelphia corporation rather than directly in the Society's name, in order to simplify management of the property, subdivision into smaller lots, collection of perpetual ground rents, renewal of powers of attorney, and possible legal actions against delinquent tenants. They also ask the Society to transfer £300 in New South Sea Annuities Stock to Thomas Penn as payment for the lot.
The letter notes a generous donation by Reverend Richard Peters, former secretary to the Proprietor and Governor, of £100 sterling, with a proposal to raise an additional £100 by voluntary contributions, to enlarge the lot. Two-fifths of the larger lot was to be dedicated to the use of the parson of the newly erected St. Peter's Church.
The writers request the Society's advice and permission to hold title locally in the name of the Philadelphia corporation rather than directly in the Society's name, in order to simplify management of the property, subdivision into smaller lots, collection of perpetual ground rents, renewal of powers of attorney, and possible legal actions against delinquent tenants. They also ask the Society to transfer £300 in New South Sea Annuities Stock to Thomas Penn as payment for the lot.
Subject
Place
Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
Congregation
Christ Church, Philadelphia, PA
Extent
1 document
Format (Digital)
tiff
Rights
http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/
Language
eng
Type
Text
Abstract
This draft letter, dated January 12, 1762, from the attorneys of the Society to a Reverend Sir, concerns the acquisition of land in Philadelphia to support the Parson of Christ Church. The attorneys acknowledge receipt of the Society's letter of attorney authorizing them, or the major part of them, to contract for lands in the Province worth £300 sterling to be vested in the Society for the perpetual use of the Parson of Christ Church [p.1r]. They report agreeing with the agents of the Honorable Proprietor Thomas Penn, Esq., for a lot in the city which they conceive will well answer the intended use, and enclose a plot of it [p.1r].
The letter notes that Reverend Richard Peters, late Secretary to the Proprietor and Governor, most generously offered £100 sterling and proposed to obtain a like sum from others through voluntary contributions to enlarge the purchased lot, with two-fifths of the larger lot to be settled and vested for the use of the Parson of St. Peter's Church, newly erected in the city, a benevolence the attorneys heartily approve and gratefully acknowledge [p.1r]. The attorneys, in the name of and as attorneys to the Society, entered into articles of agreement with the Proprietor's agents for the purchase of this great lot in the name of the Society, but declined for the present to receive the title deed in full form (though offered to them) until they could obtain the Society's further advice and approbation [p.1r].
The attorneys anticipate practical difficulties in carrying out the charity: the great lot must be divided and let into smaller lots under perpetual ground rents, tenants may prove troublesome and refuse payment, the Society will often be put to trouble to renew their power, the Society's attorney may die, and lawsuits may be required to recover rents, with no attorney from the Society present locally to prosecute such suits [p.1r]. They therefore request the Society's advice and consent to receive the title in the name of any of the Corporation in the city, promising to transmit an exemplified copy of the deed, believing this mode of title will obviate every objection to the ready and speedy recovery of the rents [p.1v].
Finally, having ratified the agreement by sealing articles, the attorneys ask the Society to order a transfer of the £300 in New South Sea Annuities Stock to Thomas Penn, whose agent has agreed to accept it in payment for the lot [p.1v].
The letter notes that Reverend Richard Peters, late Secretary to the Proprietor and Governor, most generously offered £100 sterling and proposed to obtain a like sum from others through voluntary contributions to enlarge the purchased lot, with two-fifths of the larger lot to be settled and vested for the use of the Parson of St. Peter's Church, newly erected in the city, a benevolence the attorneys heartily approve and gratefully acknowledge [p.1r]. The attorneys, in the name of and as attorneys to the Society, entered into articles of agreement with the Proprietor's agents for the purchase of this great lot in the name of the Society, but declined for the present to receive the title deed in full form (though offered to them) until they could obtain the Society's further advice and approbation [p.1r].
The attorneys anticipate practical difficulties in carrying out the charity: the great lot must be divided and let into smaller lots under perpetual ground rents, tenants may prove troublesome and refuse payment, the Society will often be put to trouble to renew their power, the Society's attorney may die, and lawsuits may be required to recover rents, with no attorney from the Society present locally to prosecute such suits [p.1r]. They therefore request the Society's advice and consent to receive the title in the name of any of the Corporation in the city, promising to transmit an exemplified copy of the deed, believing this mode of title will obviate every objection to the ready and speedy recovery of the rents [p.1v].
Finally, having ratified the agreement by sealing articles, the attorneys ask the Society to order a transfer of the £300 in New South Sea Annuities Stock to Thomas Penn, whose agent has agreed to accept it in payment for the lot [p.1v].
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