When I first started searching Warrick county Indiana land records for my ancestor, James Evans, I found four men with the EVANS surname had patented land in Warrick County IN. At the time, the other three Evans (Robert, Henry and William) were a mystery. (See post: Mystery Evans) And they are still a mystery.
However, while transcribing deeds for William L. Evans, I found a clue that suggests he might be related to Henry H. Evans. When William L. Evans purchased land on the Ohio river from Joseph Vankirk, one of the witnesses was Henry H. Evans. While I continue to wonder whether these four EVANS men might be related, this is the first piece of evidence suggesting a a possible relationship (or at least FAN club membership) between William L. Evans and Henry H. Evans. I also found four Ancestry trees showing these two men as brothers. While these trees contain quite a bit of documentation for Henry H. Evans and for his father, none of the sources were a will or other document that would connect William L. Evans to the family.
Below are the deeds I found in Warrick County Indiana for William.
Warrick County Indiana
Deed RecordsVol. 3 page 181
This Indenture made and entered into this twenty fifth day of June in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight between
Joseph Vankirk of the state of Kentucky of the one part and Wm L Evans
of Warrick County Indiana of the other part witnesseth that for and
in consideration of the sum of seven hundred dollars good and lawful
money of the united States to me the said Vankirk in hand paid
by the said William L. Evans the receipt whereof is hereby acknow
ledged and the said Evans his heirs and assigns is covenanted and
discharged hath bargained and sold and do by these presents bargain
sell alien release convey and confirm unto the said Wm L Evans his
heirs and assigns forever all that piece or parcel of land situated
lying and being in the county of Warrick and State of Indiana
being the west half of the south west quarter of section
twenty three township seven south of range eight west in the
district of Lands offered for sale at Vincennes having a front on the
margin of the Ohio River and containing seventy eight acres and
one hundred and forty five poles to have and to hold the tract
of land afore said with all and singular the privileges and apperte
nances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining to the only proper
use benefit and behoof of him the said Wm L Evans his heirs and
assigns forever and said Vankirk for him self his heirs executors and
administrators doth covenant and agree to and with the said Evans
his heirs and assigns to warrant and forever defend the premises aforesaid
with privileges and appertances there unto belonging or in any wise appertai
ning free and clear freely and clearly from all manor of claim or
claims lawfully claiming there to from any person or persons claiming
thereto forever In testimony whereof I the said Joseph Vankirk
have here unto set my hand and seal the day and year first above
written
Joseph Vankirk (seal)
Seald Signed
and Delivered in
presents of
Henry H Evans
Thos WilsonState of Indiana Warrick County to wit Be it remembered
that on the 25th day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and thirty eight the within named Joseph Vankirk personly came before me
Wm L [Moxley] Justice of the peace of said County and acknowledged that
he did sign seal and deliver the within Indenture as his act and for
the purposes there in mentioned given under my hand and seal this the
25th day of June 18[?]8
Wm S Mosely J. P. (seal)
Warrick County Indiana
Deed RecordsVol 6 page 480
This Indenture made and entered unto this 2nd day of September in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & forty five between Wm L Evans &
Nancy his wife of the one part and Felix Haverstram all of the county of Warrick
State of Indiana of the other part witnesseth that the said W. L. Evans & Nancy his wife for
and consideration of the sum of seventy five dollars to them in hand paid by the said
John Haverstran at and before the sealing and delivery hereof they do hereby acknowledge
and hereof acquit and forever discharge the said Felix Haverstran his heirs exeuctors administrators
&c and by these presents have granted bargained sold aliened and confirmed unto the said Felix
Haverstram his heirs & assigns for ever the following described lot or parcel of land situate lying
and being in the town of Alpha in Warrick County Indiana and designated out lot No (1) one
as will appear from an explanatory deed executed to us this day by Moses Clark.
Beginning at the southwest corner of said lot thence running east eight rods thence
north twenty rods thence west eight rods thence south twenty rods to the place of beginning
containing one acres less fifty feet on the east side of said lot which last above mentioned
part of said lot is not intended hereto be conveyed Together with all the rights privileges
and appurtenances thereunto belonging and the reversions remainds and profits
thereof and all the estate title and interest of the said W. L. Evans and Nancy
his wife in law or equity in and to the same To have and to hold the lands hereby
conveyed with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging to the only proper use
benefit and behoof of him the said Felix Haverstram his heirs and assigns forever
and it is the intent and meaning of this instrument that all the right title
and quaranty in and to W. L. Evans by Moses Clark is hereby intended to be conveyed to the before described land conveyed to Felix Haverstrom & no more
In testimony whereof we the party of the first part have hereunto set our hand and affixed our seals the 2nd day of Septem
ber in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred & forty four
W. L. Evans (seal)
Nancy Evans (seal)page 481
State of Indiana
Warrick County to wit
Be it remembered the within named W. L. Evans and Nancy
his wife came this day before me the undersigned one of the Justices of the peace
for the county aforesaid and acknowledged that they signed sealed and delivered the within Indenture as
their act and deed for the purposes therein expressed the said Nancy being questioned separate and
apart from her said husband and acknowledging that she signed the same without
coercion. Given fromunder my hand and seal this 2nd day of September 1845
Henry H Evans JP (seal)
Recorded Sept. 22 / 66
