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 1866 Land Deed~Jas. Eddings & Others to W. T. Goodwin.1
Back in 1976 when I first started my genealogical journey I found out that my 3rd Great Grandfather was married to a lady with the given name Mary and whose last name was unknown. At this point in my journey I had concentrated on Census and other readily available resources. My knowledge of these resources were very limited at this time.
There was no internet and networking was done by US Mail or telephone calls and of course there were no cell phones. However there were some “Car” phones. If you don’t know what a car phone is just google the phrase - car phone.
Mary was an obscure entity back in 1976 and remains an obscure entity today. Thanks to networking and an introduction to a genealogist who became a dear friend until her death I now know that Mary [LNU] is Mary Boan. My new found friend, Marie Gulledge Wiggins, sent me to the Chesterfield Courthouse to procure a copy of this Land Deed (Chesterfield County SC Deed Book 5, page 598-599 and also Deed Book 6, page 177).
Little did I know then, back in the 1970’s, this land deed would become the last known document to name most of the Shadrach and Mary Boan Johns family. No record of Mary, most of her children and Son-in-law has been found after the date of this deed, 3 Dec. 1866.
Transcription:
Jas. Eddings & Others to W. T. Goodwin Deed
State of South Carolina
Know all men by these presents, that we, SHADRACH JOHNS and MARY JOHNS of the county of Washington and State of Florida, and JAMES EDDINGS, ANN EDDINGS, and REBECCA BONE of the District of Chesterfield, and State of South Carolina, have in consequence of ninety dollars to us in hand the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged paid by WILLIAM T. GOODWIN of the District of Chesterfield and State of South Carolina, have granted, bargained, sold, and released, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell and release unto the said WILLIAM T. GOODWIN all that parcel or tract of land, containing eight acres, more or less, being a part of a tract of land purchased by MARY BONE deceased of A. P. LaCOSTE deceased together with all and singular the rights, members, 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 unto the said WILLIAM T. GOODWIN, his heirs and assigns forever; and we do hereby bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, to warrant and forever defend, all and singular the said premises unto the said WILLIAM T. GOODWIN, his heirs and assigns, against ourselves and heirs, and all persons whatsoever lawfully claiming, or to claim the same or any part thereof Witness our hands and seals this the third day of December in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, and in the Ninety-First year of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America.
Signed, Sealed and delivered Aner X Johns
in the presence of E. Rushing A. C. Toler
in the presence of R. C. Goodwin James X Eddings
W. N. Eddings Rebecca x Boan
F. T. Eddings Ann Eddings
Wm T. Goodwin
Alice Goodwin
H. J. x Johns
U. S. stamps amounting to
Fifty Cents properly canceled
State of South Carolina
County of Chesterfield
Personally appeared R. C. GOODWIN who made oath that he was present and saw JAMES EDDINGS REBECCA BOAN ANN EDDINGS and ALICE GOODWIN sign seal and as their act and Deed delivered the within instrument of writing and that defendant with E. RUSHING attested the execution thereof.
R. C. GOODWIN
Sworn to before me this 11th}
day of Sept. A D 1879}
A. A. Pollock}
Notary Public}
State of South Carolina
County of Chesterfield
Personally appeared before me F. T. EDDINGS and being duly sworn says on oath that he saw the within named ANN JOHNS A.C. JOHNS and JOSEPH JOHNS sign seal and as their act and Deed delivered the within written Deed and that he with WILLIAM M. EDDINGS witnessed the execution thereof.
F. T. EDDINGS
Sworn to before me this 11th}
day of Sept. AD 1879 }
A. A. Pollock }
Notary Public }
Recorded 12th Sept. 1879
Orig'l deliv'd to W. T. Goodwin
______________
[1] DEED: Chesterfield County South Carolina Land Deed between Jas. Eddings & Others recorded in Book 5, Pages 598-599.