Harlan R. Jessup
   
   
The photocopied land records of Newtown, Connecticut, omit all but the deeds themselves, and indexes, vital records, and other items of interest are excluded. The omitted material in the front and back of the original books include a number of cautions addressed to the town clerk, warning him not to record certain conveyances. And the language of a few of these makes for interesting reading.
   
Vol. 13, back - 3 September 1784 - Personally appeared Samuel Adams and Protested against and entered his Caution against the Town Clerk's Recording or Entering for Record a Deed of Conveyance of Land from him to Truman Sherman, as he supposes by Reason of his Extreem Deafness the Deed contains contents very contrary to his Intention and that the Supplies on his part is farr short of the said Trumans Engagements to me.
   
Vol. 13, back - 4 September 1786 - To Caleb Baldwin, Esqr, Town Clerk for the Town of Newtown. We the subscribers do hereby Declare & Protest against the receiving for Record or Recording any Deed or conveyance of lands in favour of Martin Kellogg as it is thought unsafe to admit ye sd Kellogg as an Inhabitant in sd Town of Newtown.
   /s/ Ebenr Smith
   Samll Ferris
   Davd Baldwin, Selectmen
   
Vol. 15, back - 13 April 1789 - We the subscribers having taken into consideration the Childish Aged Cituation of our honoured Parent Benjamin Stillson, do think proper and do hereby forbid any kind of writing, Deed, bill, bond or any other kind of riteing being entered for or on record without our notis.
   /s/ Benjamin Stillson, Junr
   Elizabeth French
   Nathael Stilson