Tag Archives: deeds

Mary Elizabeth Gillespie Heirs sell to W.P. Gillespie: Setting up Research Plans from Documents

Bound volume of deeds in Amherst County Courthouse 1

Bound volume of deeds in Amherst County Courthouse 1

My niece, Rachel, and I went on an epic research trip in Virginia in July.  We hit 5 courthouses, untold cemeteries, tromped around all sorts of weed filled fields and made a local unhappy when we photographed a deer head suspended from a telephone pole. (That’s a different story.)

We photocopied and photographed countless documents.  Each courthouse had their own rules as to what the methodology was.

Amherst County Courthouse proved to be the most frustrating.  Most volumes were in bound books that did not allow you to pull individual pages out of the book, and the powers that be said that we had to take pictures, no photocopying.  Not all of our  pictures turned out great, but that is what that is.  Looking at the state of some of the volumes, you can guess why.

One goodie I found was a deed where Mary Elizabeth Gillespie’s heirs sold their share of the property to W.P. Gillespie. Transcription:

In margin
Mary Elizabeth
Gillaspies heirs
to } Deed
W.P. GillaspieTax 50COriginal delivered
to grantee Jany
13, 1896This deed made the 4th day of September 1893 between Jeremiah Gillaspie
James R Gillapsie and Amira Gillaspie his wife Geo C Gillaspie Wm H Gillaspie
and Elizabeth Gillaspie his wife, and Hattie Gillaspie heirs of Mary Elizabeth
Gillaspie decd of the first part and W.P. Gillaspie of the second part.
Witnesseth.  That for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and
seventy five (175) dollars in hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged
the said parties of the first part do grant and convey with general warranty
to the said W.P. Gillispie all the their right, title and interest in and to a certain
tract or parcel of land lying and being in the County of Amherst in the
State of Virginia, adjoining the lands of Wm L Davis and others and contain-
ing fifty nine (59) acres it being the same land conveyed to the said Mary E
Gillespie by deed from R. N. Ellis Trustee as to fifty six (56) acres said deed
bearing date on the 23d day of April 1878 and recorded on the 20th day of
May 1878, together with three (3) acres conveyed to said Mary E Gillispie by
deed from Alfred Byas dated on the 19th day of January 1878 and recorded
May 20th 1878 which several deeds are recorded in the Clerks office of Amherst
County Court in Deed Book LL page 167 to which Deeds reference is hereby
and for a more particular description of said lands with its metes and
bounds.   The said parties of the first part do covenant that they
have a perfect right to coney said land, that they have done no act to
encumber the same, that the said grantee shall have quiet and peaceable
possession of the same and that they will execute such further assurances
as may be legally required of them to make this deed sure and complete
forever.
Witness the following signatures and seals.
Jeremiah (his x mark) Gillespie (seal)
Jas. R. Gillispie              (seal)
Almira Gillespie                (seal)
G. C. Gillispie                 (seal)
William (his x mark) H Gillispie(seal)
Elizabeth Gillaspie             (seal)State of Virginia
County of Bedford } to wit:
I B M Page a Notary Public in and for the
County aforesaid in the said State do certify that Jeremiah Gillispie, Jas. R.
Gillispie, Geo C. Gillispie, Wm H Gillispie and Elizabeth Gillispie his wife whose
name are signed to the foregoing writing bearing date on the 4th day of September
1893 have each acknowledged the same before me in my County aforesaid.
Given under my hand this 7th day of September 1893.
B.M. Page N.P.Bedford County, to wit:
I B.M. Page a Notary Public in and for the County aforesaid
in the State of Virginia do certify that Almira Gillispie the wife of James
R. Gillapsie whose name is signed to the foregoing writing bearing date on
the 4th day of September 1893 has acknowledged that same before me me in my
said County.[p394]
Given under my hand this 23d day of September 1893.
B. M. Page, N.P.
Virginia:
In the Clerks Office of the County Court of Amherst County, November 10th 1893,
This deed was this day received in said office and upon the annexed certificate of
acknowledgement admitted to records.
Teste: Wm. Sandidge, Clerk 2

OK.  This has some truly awesome stuff in it.

  • Mary died before September 4, 1893.  Jeremiah died after that.  (I have yet to find a will or probate documents for either of them.)
  • Why did Mary own the land? Why was it deed to her from R. N. Ellis Trustee in 1878?  And why the other three acres from Alfred Byas?  Both of those were recorded on May 20, 1878.  Was there something important about that date?  What about Jeremiah?
  • Why can’t my ancestors pick a spelling of Gillespie?  They seemed to like Gillispie and Gillaspie here.  I know Wyatt Paul (the aforementioned W.P.) settled on Gillespie.
  • Neither Jeremiah or William H signed their names, instead they made their mark.  Evidence that they could not write.
  • W.P, Wyatt Paul, is also the legal heir of Mary.  Why isn’t that mentioned here?
  • Why didn’t Hattie (Harriet) sign this document? Why wasn’t her acknowledgement notarized?
  • Did we manage to pull a copy of the deeds from Deed Book LL, page 167?  (I’m still organizing.)
  • The good news is that this deed lists all of the people I expect to be listed with their appropriate spouses.  The only other child that Mary and Jeremiah had, Sarah, died in 1865.

Now what?

  1. Update the timelines of Wyatt Paul and Jeremiah and Mary Elizabeth Gillespie. Need a nice abstract.
  2. Look to see if we pulled the deeds from Book LL, page 167.  Transcribe and post.
  3. Look for other deeds related to this one.  Wyatt Paul marries Laura Cecile Donald in February 1894 in Rockbridge County and eventually settled in Lexington.  When did they sell the land?
  4. What about Harriet and her involvement with the land?
  5. Is there a legal situation where Mary would own the land and her husband wouldn’t in 1878?
  6. Everyone was notarized in Bedford County, Virginia, including Jeremiah.  Need to look for wills, probate and other documents there.

Footnotes

1. DeHaan, Rachel, “Bound volume of deeds in Amherst County Courthouse,” 24 Jul 2013. Copy help by Anne Gillespie Mitchell, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], California, 2013.
2. Amherst County, Virginia, Deed Book UU:393-4, Mary Elizabeth Gillespie heirs to W.P. Gillespie, recorded 10 Nov 1893, Clerk of Circuit Court, Amherst.

Amanuensis Monday — The House on 108 Houston Street

In 1907, my Great Grandfather, Wyatt Paul Gillespie,  bought what I thought was a house at 108 Houston Street in Lexington, Virginia, but now that I reread the document, it appears that he bought the land, which lends credence to the family legend that he built the house.

I’m posting this so I can refer to in what I know will be many blog posts. Someone in the family lived here for most of the 1900’s.

Deed for 108 Houston Street, Lexington, Virginia 1

Transcription

This deed made this the 14 day of November in the year 1907, between
J A Champe, and Nora F Champe his wife, parties of the first part,
and W. P. Gillispie, part of the second part, all of the county of
Rockbridge VA.,
WITNESSETH: –
That in consideration of $115.00 cash in hand paid, the receipt whereof
is hereby acknowledged, and the four bonds drawn by the W.P,
Gillispie, bearing date Oct 1st 1906, and payable to J. A. Champ, for the
sum of $100.00 each, payable in 1- 2- 3- and 4 years from date, said
bonds bearing interest from date, ( the interest being paid up to
Oct, 1 1907) the said parties of the first part doth grant and convey
unto the said part of the second part, with general warranty of title.,
a certain lot or parcel of land, situatied on Houston Street in the twon
of Lexington, Va, fronting on said street 141 feet, and running back the
full length of the lot owned by the sad J. A Champe, to 139 feet wide
in the rear. The lot conveyed adjoins a lot of John Sheridans,
on th eNorth west and J. A. Manspile on, on the sout east.
The said parties of the first part, hereby expressly retains a Vendor’s
lien on the said land hereby conveyed, as ultimate securety for the pay-
ment of the four bonds mentioned in this deed aggregating the sum of
Four hundred dollars, with all interest that may acrue thereon.
The said parties of the first part covenants, that they have the right
to convey the said lot, and have done nothing to encumber the same.
Witness the following signatures and seals.
J. A. Champe (signature) (seal)
Nora F Champe (signature) (seal)

 

Footnote

1. Rockbridge County, Virginia, photo copy, J A and Nora F Champe to W P Gillespie, 14 Nov 1907, Lexington; copy privately held by Anne Mitchell inherieted from father, Gilbert McClung Gillespie.

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.

Treasure Chest Thursday — The Mysterious Samuel J Campbell Deed

Update: I found I had the images out of order and that what was Page 6 continues the dowry release.  It is all reasonably ordered now.

My grandfather, Gilbert Gillespie, told my father that this deed was the key to everything.  My dad thought thought it had something to do with the theory that we are related to Alexander Anderson “Big Foot” Wallace.  Both are gone know, so it up to me to figure out.

Deed: Samuel J Campbell to William A Anderson

I do know that Samuel J Campbell was my grandfather’s cousin twice removed.   I have no idea if William A Anderson was any relation.

Here is the transcription of the deed.

Image 01

Saml J Campbell’s trust & c

To squiqqle line     Deed

Wm A Anderson

1878 Mch 19

Exd

Tax      1

Rec      1.25

Paid    2.25

Recorded in Deed Book

QQ page 212

 

Image 02

This deed made this 15th day of March 1878 between James B Dorman and Chas A Davidson trustees of Saml J Campbell of the first part John C Bonds a Commisioner of the Circuit Court of Rockbridge of the second part Saml J Campbell and M L Campbell his wife of the third part and Wm A Anderson of the fourth part are all of the County of Rockbridge and State of Virginia Witnesseth; Whereas it appears from a Report of sale filed in the Chancery cause depending in the Circuit Court of Rockbridge in the name of Saml J Campbell’s trustees against Saml J Campbell & others, that James  B Dorman and Chas A Davidson trustees under the authority of a deed of trust executed by said Campbell to them on the12th day of March 1872, and of Record in the Clerks Office of Rockbridge County County; and pursuant to a decree of the Circuit Court of Rockbridge pronounced in said Chancery Cause in the 10 day of April 1873, Offered for sale at public auction on the 11th day of June 1873 a certain lot of land near Lexington containing about Six Acres situated on the North side of the “Fair Grounds” Road adjoining the lands of John Miller and other at which sale Wm A Anderson being the highest bidder became the purchaser

Image 03

of said lot for the Sum of One Thousand Dollars which sale was satisfied and Confirmed by the Court as appears from a decree rendered in said cause on the 15th day of September 1873. An d whereas it also appears from another decree pronounced in said cause  on the 11th day of March 1878, that it was among

other things ” adjudged ordered and decreed

” that the said trustees do convey to the pur-

” chaser of the six acre lot the said lot by

” a deed with special warranty as soon

” as the purchase money is paid, in which

” said deed the defendants S J Campbell and M L

” Campbell his wife will unite and convey

” with general warranty and J C Bond a

” Special Commissioner for the purpose appointed will

” also unite and will convey with Special

” Warranty the interests of all other parties

” to the cause: And whereas the said

purchase money has been paid in full, Am therefore in consideration of the premises, as well as of Five Dollars in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged the said James B Dorman and Chas A Davidson trustees of Saml J Campbell and John C Bond Commissioner as

Image 04

aforesaid do??? grant with Special Warranty, and the said Samuel J Campbell and M L Campbell his wife do grant with general warranty unto William A Anderson all that certain lot or parcel of land sold as aforesaid containing six acres more or less Situated on the Fair Grounds road and is the same lot of land conveyed by W N Pendleton & wife to Saml J Campbell by deed dated Oct 22 1870 and Recorded in the office of the Clerk of the County Court of Rockbridge in Book SS p 328 and from S J Campbell to J B Dorman and Chas A Davidson trustees by deed date March 12, 1872 and recorded in said Clerks Office in Book MM p 155 reference to which deed is hereby made for a more particular description of said lot.  To have and to hold the above dis??? lot or parcel of land with its appurtenances to him the said William A Anderson his heirs and ass?? for ever.

Witness the follow Signatures and Seals

J B Dorman Trustee

Chas A Davidson Trustee

John C Bonds Comm

S J Campbell

M L Campbell

Image 05

State of Virginia

Rockbridge County to wit

I J P Moore a Notary

Public for the County aforesaid in the State of Virginia do certify that S. J. Campbell whose name is signed to the writing annexed(?) bearing date March 15th 1878 has acknowledged the same before me in the County aforesaid.  And I further certify that M. L. Campbell the wife of S. J. Campbell whose names are signed to the writing annexed bearing date  March 15th 1878 personally appeared before me in the County aforesaid and being examined by me privately and apart from her husband and having the writing aforesaid full explained to her.  she the said M. L. Campbell acknowledged the said writing to be her ?? and declared that she had willing executed the same and does not wish to interact with it.

Given under my hand March 16th, 1878

J. P. Moore N P

In Rockbridge County Court Clerks office March 19th 1878

This Deed from Saml J. Campbell’s trustees & c to Wm A Anderson was this day produced in this office and the State Tax

Image 05a

Note: Everything in italics is also on Image 05

declared that she had willingly executed the same and does not wish to retract it Given under my hand March 16th 1878

J P Moore  N P

In Rockbridge County Court Clerks office March 19th 1878

This Deed from Saml J Campbell’s trustees & Co Wm A Anderson was this day produced in this office and the State Tax

of $1.00 being of said thereon it is admitted to record

Teste

J P Moore  C.C.

Footnote

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