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The grant is boldly signed by Governor James Wood and countersigned by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. It also retains period endorsements on the reverse documenting subsequent title history. Documents from Wood's brief gubernatorial administration are encountered far less frequently than those of many other Virginia governors, making this an appealing example of early Virginia land distribution during the opening years of the Federal period.
An outstanding original document for collectors of Revolutionary War figures, Virginia history, Shenandoah Valley settlement, early American land grants, and eighteenth-century legal manuscripts.
Grantor: Commonwealth of Virginia
Governor: James Wood [large manuscript signature]
Grantee: Adam Bloss
Property: 207 acres
Location: Rockingham County, Virginia, on the south side of Market [Massanutten] Creek, surveyed April 8, 1797.
The document is issued from Richmond under a Treasury Warrant and grants Adam Bloss a tract of land described by detailed metes and bounds, beginning at "three pines," with bearings and distances to white oak, black oak, hickory saplings, and other survey markers.
The document bears the large autograph signature of Governor James Wood and the countersignature of James Wood, Secretary of the Commonwealth, together with later ownership endorsements on the reverse.
Historical Significance
This grant represents several important collecting categories:
- Virginia frontier settlement.
- Rockingham County land development.
- Early Federal-period land distribution.
- Revolutionary War-era governor signature.
- Original land office document with complete legal description.
James Wood served with distinction during the Revolutionary War before becoming governor of Virginia from 1796 to 1799, during which thousands of western Virginia land grants were issued as settlement expanded into the Shenandoah Valley and beyond.
Because this grant is dated only months before the conclusion of Wood's gubernatorial term, it is among the later grants issued under his administration.
Condition
Based upon the photographs:
- Original laid paper.
- Strong manuscript signature of Governor James Wood.
- Embossed paper seal remains visible.
- Complete text with no significant loss.
- Normal fold separations.
- Moderate toning and age discoloration.
- Minor edge wear consistent with storage.
- Later recording endorsements on verso.
Overall condition is Very Good for a Virginia land grant over 225 years old.
