Lesson Learned~Land Deeds Can & Do Sometime Contain Errors

I have looked at a lot of land deeds in my lifetime but this one is a first in that it contains a blatant misrepresentation of the facts.

The deed is for a tract of land consisting of one hundred eighty seven acres more or less for which Hardie Davidson is selling to Nelson T. Jordan for a mere ten dollars.



Hardy Davidson to N. T. Jordan Deed
This indenture made the thirteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and seventy five between Hardie Davidson of the County of Chesterfield, South Carolina of the one part & Nelson T. Jordan of the County and Sate aforeS[aid] Witness that the Sd Hardie Davidson for and in consideration of Ten Dollars in hand paid by Nelson T. Jordan the receipt & payment whereof is hereby acknowledged hath bargained & sold & by these presents doth bargain, release & sell & convey & confirm unto him the Sd Nelson T. Jordan his heirs & assigns forever a tract or parcel of land lying & Situated in the County of Chesterfield & State of South Carolina being a tract of Land which was Willed to Hardie Davidson by his grandfather Hardie Sellers, containing one hundred & Eighty seven acres more or less joining Elias Steen Nicholas Allen  Steven D. Sellers & others to have and to hold the afore Sd Land & tenements unto the Sd Nelson T. Jordan his heirs & assigns forever together with all the roads ways waters Courses Mines Minerals of which the Sd Hardie Davidson doth Covenent & Defend the afore Sd lands & tenements forever & against the claims of any person whatsoever unto the Sd nelson T. Jordan his heirs Executors and Administrators or assigns forever.
In Witness whereof the Sd Hardie Davidson doth hereunto set his hand & affix his seal the day & date above written.
                                                                            Hardie Davidson {Seal}
Test.
Isaac Wilson
Benjamin Thomas Miles

The mis-representation occurs within this portion of the deed.




“…assigns forever a tract or parcel of land lying & Situated in the County of Chesterfield & State of South Carolina being a tract of Land which was Willed to Hardie Davidson by his grandfather Hardie Sellers, containing one hundred & Eighty seven acres more or less…”

There are several errors within this statement.

1st. Hardy Sellers Left a Last Will and Testament but no land was will to anyone named Hardy Davidson. The Last Will and Testament can be read here:
http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2013/01/amanuensis-monday-will-of-hardy-sellers.html

2nd. Hardy Davidson is the 2nd Great Grandson of Hardy Sellers. Hardy Sellers died 12 Jan 1835. Hardy Davidson was not born until between 1850 and May 1855. He could not legally own land until he reached the age of majority; about the date of this land deed.  

Any land that Hardy Davidson would or could inherit would have to come from his mother Mary Sellers, her Father, Roland Sellers and his Father, Phillip Sellers, Sr. 

The moral of this story is to critically evaluate any and all data. Data and facts can and sometimes are misrepresented. 




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[1] Land Deed - Hardy Davidson to N. T. Jordan Deed; 13 January 1875; Deed Book #4; Page(s) 649; Register of Deeds; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, SC; 9 September 2017.