Today’s find in my BRILES file is yet another deed my parents photocopied years ago during a visit to Randolph County, North Carolina. They thoughtfully noted the deed book and page number and even attempted a transcription, but much of the original handwriting is difficult to read. As a result, locating this deed again—and confirming its details—proved more challenging than expected.
Rather than relying on names alone, I had to get a bit creative with my search strategy. I pulled several short, clearly legible elements from the document itself and used those as search clues:
“Know all men by these presents”
“fifty acres”
1818
After narrowing the search to Randolph County, North Carolina, the results dropped to just two deeds—one of which proved to be an exact match for my photocopy. That discovery made it possible to obtain the full transcription shared below.
Know all Men by these presents that William Bethele of Rock[ing]
ham County & State of N Carolina and late & Stand bound to Frederick
Briles of Randolph County in the Sum of fifty pounds Current
money to which payment well & truly to be made I bind myself
my heirs of firmly by these presents sealed with my seal and dated
this 15th day Jany 179[9]
[that whereas the sd]the Condition of the above obligation
that whereas the said Will . Bethell hath sold the said F Briles fifty Acres
of Land [being] in said County of Randolph that [L Brutt] of Marthers &
Isaac Scott [now then] all Surety how if the said Bethell or any [other]
forever make said Briles a Good and sufficient Deed to said 50 acres land
as sworn as Betthell can obtain a letter himself then the above obligation
to be Void else to remain in form & Virtue – –
William Bethell (seal)Test Phillard Wright
State of N Carolina
Randolph County
February Term 1818 The Execution of this bond as proven
hand writing of Phillard Wright the subscribing Witness who is an resident]
of Another State & ordered to be Registard
Jesse Hoover CCCNorth Carolina, Randolph County. Record of Deeds, 1779-1963. Film #7517637. Fredrick Briles, 15 Jan 179[9]; Vol. 13: page 220; 545 of 717, digitized images, FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online 19 January 2026.