Sorting Saturday: A Research Plan for the Samuel J Campbell Deed

This is more of a mental sorting, rather than a physical sorting.  Sometimes it’s hard to find a blog queue that fits what you want to write about!

So, I published the documents and the transcription for the Samuel J Campbell to William A Anderson deed.   On to the research plan.

What do I know?

  1. The land was originally conveyed to Samuel Campbell by W N Pendelton and his wife on October 22, 1870 and was recorded in Book SS, p. 328.
  2. Samuel then conveyed the land to J B Dorman and Chas A Davidson by deed on March 12, 1872 and that can be found in Book MM, p. 155.
  3. James B Dorman and Chas A Davidson  pursuant to a decree in a Chancery Cause from April 10, 1873, offered the sale at public auction on June 11, 1873.
  4. William A Anderson was the highest bidder and purchased the land for $1000 and this appears from a decree pronounced on September 15, 1873.
  5. Another decree pronounced on March 11, 1878 that Samuel and his wife granted with general warranty to William A Anderson this particular six acres. This land that was located on the north side “Fair Grounds” road near Lexington, Rockbridge County, Virginia. The land was also adjacent to the lands of John Miller.
  6. M L Cambpell, the wife of Samuel J Campbell submit a dowery release. 1

What Next?

  1. Who was Samuel J Campbell and his wife M L Campbell?
  2. Who was W N Pendelton?
  3. Who was William A Anderson?
  4. I need to obtain the following:
    1. The deed from Book SS, p. 328 which is from W N Pendelton to Samuel J Campbell
    2. The deed from Book MM, p. 155 where Samuel conveys the land to J B Dorman and Chas A Davidson.
    3. The chancery cause from September 15, 1873
    4. The chancery cause or decree from March 11, 1878

Footnote

1. Rockbridge County, Virginia, Deeds, Q: 212-216, Samuel J Campbell to William A Anderson, 19 March 1878, County Courthouse, Rockbridge.

3 thoughts on “Sorting Saturday: A Research Plan for the Samuel J Campbell Deed”

  2. M. A. Spencer

    Both Pendleton and Anderson were Confederate veterans of note. Pendleton was the rector of Grace Episcopal Church , later/presently named Robert E. Lee Episcopal Church which adjoins the property of the Lee home at Washington and Lee Univ. in Lexington. Wm. A. Anderson was an attorney, also co-author of the Virginia public education system. The chancery case can be read at Library of Virginia website LVA and appears to be ” a can of worms” relating to the mishandling of deeds for property belonging to the Episcopal church. Wm. A. Anderson seems to simply be the person who chose to buy the property at auction. However, he was also an influential member of the Episcopal church.

    1. Anne Gillespie Mitchell Post author

      How very interesting and thank you for supplying this information cases that are available online at the Library of Virginia website are a goldmine, aren’t they. It would appear that this is going to take quite a bit of digging to figure out why this particular deed was in my grandfather’s possession, was given to my father and then given to me. It does sound like a story worth investigating.

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