Amanuensis Monday~Land Deed, John H. Wadsworth to John C. Martin

Amanuensis Monday is a genealogy blogging theme. It was started by John Newmark who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog.

His definition of Amanuensis is:
Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Today’s subject is a Chesterfield County (SC) Land Deed, John H. Wadsworth to John C. Martin.



Transcription:

John H. Wadsworth to John C. Martin Deed
State of South Carolina}
County of Chesterfield}
Whereas I John H. Wadsworth of the County of Chesterfield State aforesaid, are getting old and infirm and unable to Support myself and wife Susannah and Whereas my Grandson John C. Martin of the Said County and State aforesaid has agreed to comfortably support protect and take care of myself and wife Susannah for and During the Natural Life of both Jointly and for the Life of the Survivor of us. Now Know all men by these presents that I John H. Wadsworth of the County of Chesterfield State aforesaid for and in consideration of the premises and for the additional consideration that John C. Martin of the aforesaid County and State shall comfortably support protect and take care of myself and wife Susannah for and During our Joint Lives and the Life of the Survivor of us have Bargained Sold and released and by these presents do grant bargain Sell and release unto my Grandson John C. Martin of ?? certain Piece Parcel or Tract of Land Situate and Being in the County of Chesterfield State of South Carolina Containing One Hundred and Seventy Three acres be the same more or less and bounded on the North and East by lands owned by my son Lewis Wadsworth on the North and West buy Lands known as the Moss Land on the South and West by Land owned by John C. Martin and adjoining the Lands of Howell Hay on the South East by Lands owned by Jacob Davis with all of my Stock of Cattle, Hogs Household and Kitchen Furniture Farming implements carts, wagons &c. with crop of corn cotton Peas and Potatoes made present year. Together with all and Singular the rights members and Hereditaments and appurtenances to the said premises belonging or in anywise incident or appertaining. To have and to hold all and Singular the premises before mentioned with all of the personal property herein and hereby conveyed unto the said John C. Martin his Heirs and assigns forever. And I do hereby bind myself My heirs Executors and Administrators to warrant and forever defend all and Singular the said premises and all the personal property herein and hereby conveyed unto the said John C. Martin his heirs and assigns against myself and my heirs and against every person whomsoever Lawfully claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof. Witness my hand and Seal this 13th day of October one thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy Five and in the one Hundredth year of the Independence of the United States of America.
Signed, Sealed and Delivered}                                           John H. Wadsworth {L.S.}
in the presence of }
A. A. Pollack}
F. Turner}

State of South Carolina}
County of Chesterfield}
Personally appeared before me A. A. Pollock and made oath that he saw the within named John H. Wadsworth sign seal and as his Deed Deliver the within written Deed and that he with F. Turner witnessed the Execution thereof.
Sworn to before me this}                                                            A. A. Pollock
13th day of Oct. AD 1875
D. Matherson {LS} Notary Public}

Files in office of County Auditor of Chesterfield Co. this 25th of October AD 1875 and recorded in Vol 1 Page 78.
                                                                     W. A. Mulloy
                                                                     Dept. Auditor

Recorded 25 Oct 1875

Orin'l Delv. to J. C. Martin

My research of John H. Wadsworth revealed that he was born about 1793 and twice married. His first wife, Susannah Davis was born about 1794. To this union was born two known Children:

• Lewis H. Wadsworth, b. 13 Sept 1832
• Mary Elizabeth Wadsworth, b. abt 1835

We see by the above land deed that both John H. and Susannah were alive but feeble when this deed was executed on 13 October 1875. 

We also see by this deed that John and Susannah's grandson John C. Martin has agreed to take care of his Grandparents for the remainder of their lifetime in exchange for the farm and all its implements and premises.

By 1880, Susannah has passed away (date unknown); John H. is not being cared for by his Grandson, John C. Martin but he is being cared for by a ’young’ lady named Mary, age 28,  [LNU]. his new wife.

Note: the middle snippet shows John H. Wadsworth age as 31. This age is wrong, his age is 81 as you can see in snippet #3. Click on image for larger view.  

John H. Wadsworth remarried after the death of Susannah between Oct 1875 (DB 4, page 738-739) and June 1880 (Census) and had a 9 month old daughter. So, if Sarah C. Wadsworth, daughter, age 9 month was in fact born in Sept 1879 as shown in the 1880 censuses we can calculate that John and Mary were married about Jany 1879 and that Susannah died between Oct 1875 and Dec 1878. 

Census and Land Deeds show that John H. Wadsworth and his 2nd wife, Mary, had two daughters:

• Sarah Christian Wadsworth, b. Sept. 1879
• Susannah Wadsworth, b. aft 1880

Another Land Deed found in Chesterfield County, SC (DB 8, page 536-537) shows that John C. Martin died before 24 January 1886 and his father Alexander Martin, Marion County, SC, inherited the land mentioned in the above deed. And on that date, Alexander Martin is conveying 97 acres of land to Sarah & Susannah for $5.00.

Transcription:

“they now Reside being a part of a track of land containing (97) ninety Seven Acres more or less purchase by John H.Wadsworth from Harrison Parker about the year 1850 and thence conveyed by Jno. H. Wadsworth to Jno. C Martin the 13th day of October 1875 and and being land belonging to me by inheritance of this Est. of my son Jno. C Martin &c  containing (53) fifty three acres more or less bounded by lands of L. C. Parker…”

Also from this deed

Transcription:

“these Presents by Sarah Christian Wadsworth and Susannah Wadsworth (daughters of Jno. H. Wadsworth Deceased) of the county…”

Clearly, these two land deeds contain a tremendous amount of genealogical data relating to the Wadsworth and Martin families. But, there are also many unanswered questions, such as:

1. What was the maiden name of John’s 2^nd wife Mary?
2. Who was the wife of John C. Martin? Was he the husband of Mary Elizabeth Wadsworth the only known daughter of John H. by his 1st wife Susannah Davis? 
3. What happened to the two daughters,  Sarah Christian Wadsworth and Susannah Wadsworth, by the 2nd wife Mary?
4. Who took possession of the land in 1886; the two girls were minors under the age of 12.
5. When did John H. Wadsworth pass away?

If you have any pertinent information about John H. Wadsworth and his two families please contact me through this blog.

Susannah Davis Wadsworth is my 3rd Great Grand Aunt and John H. Wadsworth by marriage is my 3rd Great Grand Uncle.








____________________________

        1. 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 130A, Line 16, Dwelling 488, Family 488, Household of John H. WADSWORTH; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1 June 2012); citing  National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.

        2. 1820 Census of the United States, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina;, page 129, Line 23, Household of John WADSWORTH; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 8 July 2012); citing  National Archives Microfilm M 33_119.

        3. 1830 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, page 268, line 4, Household of John WADSWORTH; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 9 July 2101); citing  National Archives Microfilm M19_172.

        4. 1839 Election Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, election census, Chesterfield District, South Carolina, John H. WADSWORTH; printed booklet,  (: viewed 7 July 2012).

        5. 1840 U S Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 372, Line 15, John WADSWORTH; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 March 2012); citing  National Archives Microfilm M740_Roll 510.

        6. 1850 Agriculture Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, agriculture census, Chesterfield, Darlington, South Carolina, Page: 441; Line: 11, John H. Wadsworth; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1 June 2012); citing  National Archives Microfilm AD259 Roll 1.

        7. 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 115;  Line 37, Dwelling 302, Family 302, .Household of John H. WADSWORTH; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1 June 2012); citing  National Archives Microfilm M653-1217.

        8. 1870 U. S. Census, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cole Hill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 287A; Line 10, Dwelling 210, Family 210, Household of John H. WADSWORTH; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1 June 2012); citing  National Archives Microfilm M593_1491.

        9. 1880 U S Census, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cole Hill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 0004, Page 307A Line 25, Dwelling 107, Family 107, Household of Jno. H. WADSWORTH; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1 June 2012); citing  National Archives Microfilm T9-1225.

        10. Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Deed Book 8: pages 536 & 537, Alexander Martin to Sarah C. Wadsworth & Susannah Wadsworth; 4 January 1886, Register of Deeds, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

        11. Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Deed Book 4: pages 738 & 739, John H. Wadsworth to John C. Martin Deed; 13 October 1875, Register of Deeds, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina

        14. 1810 U S Census, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 554; Line 22, Household of Thomas DAVIS, Household of Thomas DAVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2 January 2012); citing  National Archives Microfilm M252_60.

        19. Harry Alexander Davis, The Davis Family (Davies and David) in Wales and America: genealogy of Morgan David of Pennsylvania (Washington, D.C.: n.p., 1927), page 125.