Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started a Monday blog theme years ago called "Amanuensis Monday." John offers this definition for "amanuensis:"
"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."
The subject today is an 1871 deed in the Taylor County, Iowa deed books for A.A. and Rebecca Hancock selling land to Devier J. Smith.
The transcription of this deed is (handwritten text in italics, form fields underlined):
01 DEED RECORD, TAYLOR CO., IOWA
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02 A A Hancock } Filed for record, this 20 day of December A.D. 18 71
03 } at 2 o'clock, P. M.
04 To: D.J. Smith }
05 } E.G. Medford, Recorder
06
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07 Know all Men by these Presents:
08 That We A A Hancock and
09 Rebecca Hancock of the County of Taylor and State of Iowa
10 in consideration of the sum of Three Thousand Dollars,
11 in hand paid by Devier J. Smith
12 of Taylor County and State of Iowa do hereby SELL AND CONVEY
13 unto the said Devier J. Smith the following
14 described premises, situated in the County of Taylor and State of Iowa to wit:
15 The South East Quarter of the South East Quarter of Sect. No Eleven
16 (11) and the North East Qr of the N E 1/4 of Sect. fourteen (14)
17 all in Township No Sixty Seven (67) Range Thirty three (33) West.
18 and We hereby covenant with the said Devier J. Smith
19 that We hold said premises by good and perfect title, that We have good right and lawful authority to sell
20 and convey the same; that they are free and clear of all liens and incumbrances whatsoever, And We covenant
21 to WARRANT AND DEFEND the said premises, against the lawful claims of all persons whomsoever. And the said
22 Rebecca Hancock
23 hereby relinquishes her right of dower in and to the above described premises.
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24 Signed this 18th day of December A.D. 18 71
25 IN PRESENCE OF { $ 3.00 U.S. Rev.Stamp } A A Hancock
26 {Annexed and Cancelled by } Rebecca X Hancock
27 { A A H & R H 18 dec 71 }
28 STATE OF IOWA, Taylor County SS
29 On this 18th day of December A.D. 18 71 , before me James P. Hick
30 a Notary Public within and for said County, personally came A A Hancock &
31 Rebecca Hancock personally known to be the identical person s whose
32 name s are affixed to the above instrument as Grantor s , and acknowledged the same
33 to be Their voluntary act and deed, for the purposes therein expressed.
34 In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my
35 official seal at Bedford Iowa on the date last above written.
36 J.P. Hick
37 Notary Public
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38 I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the original deed, as filed for record on the
39 20 day of December 18 71
40 E.G. Medford Recorder.
The source citation for this Deed is:
Taylor County, Iowa, Taylor County, Iowa, deed records, 1855-1953; index, 1855-1902, "Deed Records (Land) v. O (cont'd), 1873-1874, v. P 1871-1873, v. Q (to p.391)" Volume P, page 91 (stamped), Deed of A A and Rebecca Hancock to Devier J. Smith, 1871; accessed 4 February 2014 on FHL US/CAN microfilm 1,535,635.
This is a new purchase of land. Devier J. Smith had sold many of the lots in Section 23 of Section 68 in the months previous, and he then bought these two parcels.
Devier J. and Abby A. Smith are my second great-grandparents. By 1875, they were residing in Concordia, Cloud County, Kansas. Subsequently, they moved to McCook, Red Willow County, Nebraska in 1885, and then bought land in Cheyenne County, Kansas before Devier died in 1894 in McCook. Abby came to San Diego to live with her daughter's family in the early 1890s.
Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver
