The following is the original text for the deed of the Whippany Burying Yard, granted by John Richards.
Richards is the first person to be buried in the Whippanong Burial Yard (Click here to read more about the Burying Yard).

To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come, greetings and etc.

Know yee that I, John Richards of Whippanong in the County of Hunterdon in the province of New Jersey, Schoolmaster,

for which and in consideration of the love, good will, and affection which I have and do bear toward my Christian friends and neighbors in Whippanong, aforesaid.

And also for the desire and regard I have to promote and advance the public interest, especially of those who shall, or may, mutually covenant by subscription to erect, build, and place upon the land by these presents granted, a decent and suitable meeting house for the public worship of God,

have given and granted, and by these presents, do fully, freely, and absolutely give, grant, alien, convey, and confirm from me, my heirs, executors, and administrators forever unto these presents of my neighbors as aforesaid, who shall covenant by subscription and to their heirs and successors forever—

One certain piece or tract of land containing three acres and one half situated, lying and being in the Township of Whippanong on the part commonly called Parcippanong on the northwestward side of the Whippanong River,

beginning sixteen rods and a half distance above my house I dwell inat a white oak tree standing by the path side near the river, marked on two sidesfrom thence . . . etc., etc.

To have and to hold the said hereby granted land with the appurtenances: only for public use, benefit and improvement, for a meeting house, schoolhouse, burying yard, training field, and such like public uses to those the said convenantors by subscription and their heirs and successors forever.

Furthermore, it is the true intent and meaning of the grantor and grantee in these presents that the said granted premises is not to be given, granted, bargained, sold, alienated, exchanged, leased to farm lot, or converted to the particular use or improvement of any person or persons, neither for public advantage or any other whatsoever or by any way of means whatsoever alienated or reverted from the public use and improvement as aforesaid,

and I, said John Richards, do for myself, my heirs, executors, and administrators, covenant, promise, and grant to and with the said grantees who have made themselves so, or hereafter shall make themselves so by their subscripting, their heirs and successors forever shall and may, from time to time, and all times forever hereafter have, hold, use, occupy, possess, and enjoy the above said land and promise to use above said without any manner of lot hindrance, molestation, eviction, ejection, or denial of use.

I, the said John Richards, my heirs, executors, administrators, or assignees, of, by, or from any other person or persons whatsoever by, from, or under us, or by any of our means, act privately, title, or procurement, in witness whereof,

I have hereto unto set my hand and seal the second day of September, anno 1718 and in the fifth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord George, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, Ireland, King, Defender of the faith and etc.

John Richards

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Jovidiah Buckingham and John Cooper.