Do you find land records confusing? Normally, I can follow land transactions and make sense as to who owned a parcel of land at a particular point in time. However, I found a deed in my Hiram Currey files that is challenging.
On the surface, it appears Hiram Currey purchased almost 80 acres from Linus Scoville for $150 in 1836. This land was located in section 30 of township 11N of Range 9E. In March of 1836, these two men, Hiram M. Currey and Linus Scoville, were in disagreement over another parcel of land: the South west fractional
qr of Sec 5 town 10 North of Range 9 East. My previous, Land Dispute, post transcribes the documents related to the dispute.
It appears that after losing the land to Linus Scoville, Hiram M. Currey purchased a different parcel of land from Linus Scoville.
Peoria County Illinois
Recorder of Deeds474
Book F page 505
This Indenture made and entered into tis ninth day of July in the
year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six between Linus Scoville and
Elizabeth his wife of the County of Peoria and State of Illinois of the one part and
Hiram M. Currey of the County of Peoria and State aforesaid of the other part. Witness-
eth: That the said Linus Scoville and Elizabeth his wife for and in consideration of
one hundred and fifty dollars current money of the United States tot hem in hand paid
by the said Hiram M. Currey at or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents
the receipt whereof the said party of the one part doth hereby acknowledge hath granted,
bargained, sold, assigned, transfered, set over and confirmed and by these presents doth
grant, bargain, sell assigns, transfer, set over and confirm unto the said Hiram M.
Currey his heirs and assigns forever a certain tract of or parcel of land containing
seventy eight 99/100 acres of land being the east half of the North west quarter of
section thirty of township eleven North and range nine East of the fourth principal
meridian lying and being in the County of Peoria and State of Illinois. To have and to
hold said East half of the North west quarter of section thirty of township eleven North
and range nine east of the fourth principal meridian with the premises and appurtenances
thereof unto the said Hiram M. Currey, his heirs and assigns forever. And the said Linus
Scoville & wife for themselves, their heirs, executors and administrators doth covenant
grant, promise and agree to and with the said Hiram M. Curry, his heirs and assigns
by these presents that the said Linus Scoville and wife for themselves, their heirs the
said above described with the hereditaments and promises hereby granted, mentioned or
intended so to be with the appurtenances unto the said Hiram M. Currey his heirs and assigns
against them the said Linus Scoville and wife, their heirs and against all and every other
person or persons whomsoever lawfully claiming or to claim shall and will warrant and for-
ever defend by these presents. In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and
seals the day and year above written.
Linus Scoville (LS)
Elizabeth Scoville (LS)Signed, sealed and delivered in presence
of Nehsay Dickenson James (his mark) CoyleState of Illinois
Peoria County
I Edwin S. Jones an acting Justice of the PEace in and for Peoria
County do certify that Linus Scoville and Elizabeth his wife are personally known to
me to be the person described in and who executed the within deed and who severally
acknowledged they had executed the same for the uses and purposes therein mentioned.
And the said Elizabeth having been by me made acquainted with the contents of said
deed and examined separate and apart from her said husband acknowledged she executed
the same and relinquished her dower to the premises therein conveyed voluntarily,
freely and without compulsion of her said husband. Given under my hand and seal
this 11 day of July 1836.
Edwin S. Jones Justice of the Peace (Seal)
When I looked at the First Landowners map, I found that Linus Scoville was the original land owner of this parcel of land.
Since Linus Scoville was the original land owner, I searched the Bureau of Land Management records to see if I could find a patent for the land. According to the patent, Linus Scoville made final payment for the land in 1848. Thus, the confusion! Linus Scoville sold the land to Hiram M. Currey in 1836 but received the patent for the land in 1848 when he made final payment. (More research of this land obviously needs to be done!)
