Bond signed by Joseph Parsons

Bond written by Cornet Joseph Parsons of Northampton, Mass. 24 March 1663/4.

(The original is in the Trumbull Collection in Forbes Library at Northampton, and is currently not available for imaging due to renovations at the library.) A reproduction of the bond was transcribed by Gerald J. Parsons, F.A.S.G. 21 July 1993. A re-typing of his transcription and translation into present-day English follows below.

marche 24 : [16] 63 64
Knowe all men by this presente that
Joseph parsons of north hamtone for
my selfe and wife dooe bind my selfe
in a bande of twentey pound to thomos
roote Senyer and Josof Roote and tomas
Solmon not to trobell aney of them or thar wifes for
aney doefrance that was bee twene aney of
theme abowte giveng thare othes in to the
comesheners of north hamton whare in they sayd
that thare was som mescareg doone by him
I Josof parsones by this writeng dooe
fooley aqite the fore named parsones of
aney wrong doon to him and dooe & shall
berey the sayd as if it had nover ben
in word or deed to him: and dooe fooley
aquite thos[e] parsons so that thare may be
no more dofrance abowte that thinge or
thinges but in after time the sayd Josof or
marey or aney of his should trobell aney of thes[e] aboofe
parsons spesified the sayd Josof parsons
dooe owe to paye to him or them aney one
of them twontey pownde Joseph parsons
Wittness
Enos kingsly
marke of
Sary kingsly

The Bond in present-day English (also as per Gerald Parsons'):

March 24: [16]63/64
Know all men by this present that
Joseph Parsons of Northampton for
myself and wife do bind myself
in a bond of twenty pounds to Thomas
Root Senior and Joseph Root and Thomas
Salmon not to trouble any of them or their wives for
any difference that was between any of
them about giving their oaths into the
Commissioners of Northampton wherein they said
that there was some miscarriage done by him [Joseph].
I Joseph Parsons by this writing do
fully acquit the forenamed persons of
any wrong done to him [Joseph]: and do & shall
bury the said as if it had never been
in word or deed to him [Joseph]: and do fully
acquit those persons so that there may be
no more difference about that thing or
things but in after time the said Joseph or
Mary or any of his [family] should trouble any of these above
persons specified the said Joseph Parsons
do owe to pay to him or them any one
of them twenty pounds. JOSEPH PARSONS
Witnesses
Enos Kingsley
mark of
Sara Kingsley