On Nov, 15, in the year of our Lord God 1753, Obed Outten bought a tract of land in Worcester County Maryland, containing 320 acres more or less, called "Outten's Discovery."
On Oct. 22, 1760, Obed Outten ship carpenter, bought of Joseph Marshall, Blacksmith, 50 acres of ground in Worcester County Province of Maryland including, saw mill, grist mill, mill dam, house, orchard, fence improvements and all other appurtenances thereunto belonging for 300 pounds current money of Maryland.
While the writer has in his possession a complete copy of the deeds and bonds that were signed by Obed Outten, he has usually given only a brief extract of each of them. But in order to show to the reader the roundabout style in which bonds were written in those days, he will give the next one in full. It is found in the record office at Cambridge, Maryland, and it is the only one in that office that is signed by Obed Outten. And it is worthy of notice, that in this Dorchester bond, he is called Obed Outten of Dorchester Co., while in other deeds and bonds he is called Obed Outten of Somerset County, Obed Outten of Worcester County and Obed Outten of the County and State of Delaware.
"This indenture made this 13th day of August 1772, between Obed Outten of Dorchester Co., in the Province of Md. of the one part and John Fisher and Samuel Conwell of the County and Province of Md. of the other part -- Witnesses that the said Obed Outten for and in consideration of the sum of Thirty six Pounds, ten Shilling, five pence, three, farthings current money to his Hand paid before the and delivery here of the receipts when the said Obed Outten doth acknowledge, hath Granted, bargained and sold and by these presence doth grant, bargain & sell unto them the said John Fisher and Samuel Conwell their heirs and assigns forever one Negro man named Tom to have and to hold this Negro man named Tom to them the said John Fisher and Samuel Conwell their heirs and Assigns forever upon the following terms To wit: That in case the said Obed Outten shall neglect or refuse to pay unto the ops John Fisher the sum of twenty six Pounds nine Shillings and four pence half penny Current money on or before the thirteenth day of November with Legal Interest for the same and upon his the said Obed Outten neglecting or refusing to pay unto him the said Samuel Conwell the Sum of Ten Pounds one Shilling and one penny Current Money on or before the 13th day of Nov. next ensueing the date hereof with Legal Interest for the same and in case the aforesaid Negro Tom shall and may be sold at Public Vandue by them the said John Fisher and Samuel Conwell for the Payment of the two above mentioned Sums of money with Legal Interest for the same on this day or year aforesaid and from the proceeds of such sale to satisfy them does the aforesaid several sums of money with Legal Interest and the overplus if any there be.
Then the said John Fisher and Samuel Conwell do hereby promise to oblige themselves also their Heirs, Executors, & Administrators to Pay to him the said Obed Outten His Heirs or Assigns on demand. In witness whereof the parties to these Presence have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written."
Obed Outten (Seal)
John Fisher
Samuel Conwell
On the back of the mortgage was the receipt of Fisher & Conwell. Received in full. On 13th day of Aug. 1772.
Obed Outten did not write this document but he did sign it. This bond was written 175 years ago, but it seems strange that a perfectly illiterate man should be allowed to copy it in a public Ledger. The writer has copied it to show how difficult it is to read and understand the old records. Perhaps Obed bought the Negro Tom and paid for him, but the writing is so obscure that sometimes it looks as though he was selling him. And there are several other similar documents in other County seats signed by Obed Outten.
On March 30th in the year of our Lord God 1776, Obed Outten bought of Absolem Phillips about 200 acres of land known as "Good Neighborhood." Situated on the east side of the Chesapeake Bay, and south side of Nanticoke river a little below Deep Creek.
On March 27, 1787, Obed Outten of Somerset County bought of Samuel Hill one Molster woman and child named Nancy Colrich for the term of 14 years for 13 pounds current money of Maryland. He probably owned many other slaves.