This deed is the legal origination of land that eventually served as my father’s family childhood homeplace.
James Douglass was an appointed deputy surveyor of Colonel William Preston, county surveyor, when Kentucky was known as Fincastle County of Virginia. In April 1774, Douglass joined John Floyd, Hancock Taylor (uncle to future US President Zachary Taylor), and Isaac Hite in heading to Kentucky. Other members of the surveyors group soon joined.
Although surveys had been conducted in the region a year or so prior, those claims were not considered legitimate because the men conducting the surveys were not deputized by Col. Preston.
In the detailed account, The Fincastle Surveyors in the Bluegrass, 1774 by Neal O. Hammon, around July 3, 1774, Douglass, having left the headwaters of the Elkhorn, “discovered a spring which he named Jessamine after his daughter, an only child.” This spring of Jessamine Creek served as the primary water supply for the my father’s homeplace.
He has shared memories of how integral was that spring to his youth. Finding arrowheads, swimming, how it would swell and on a few occasions shot up like a geyser, how he saved his older brother from drowning there, when the bridge was built…and more. I knew the creek spring as where the family gathered for my uncle’s pig roasts.
Kentucky Doomsday book record of 1,000 acre land grant at Jessamine Creek spring described as “a remarkable camping spot” which I had seen referenced on a landowners map by Clyde Bunch of the Jessamine County Historical Society.
Attempts to transcribe the handwriting and legal jargon of this time the late 1700s were a bit futile. When I am able to get clarity, I can revisit and update the references. I am building the timeline for how Douglass’ deed eventually came to be owned by Pleasant Cook, my 2nd great grandfather.
Words I can decipher – James Douglass, 1,000 acres, the District of Kentucky, 5 or 6 miles below Hickman creek, head of Jessamine Creek, a remarkable camping place.
The transcription below is my attempt to decipher the handwriting and legal jargon of the late 1800s. You will notice question marks and placeholder text that informs my research. Additionally the FAN (friends, acquaintances, neighbors) approach yields rich opportunities with the names of Stifers, Rhorer, Welch, Campbell, etc.
The deed is the third in a series of entries pertaining to a certain tract of land in Jessamine County that passed in 1873 from Francis Grow and Amanda J. Grow, his wife, to my 2nd-great-grandfather, Henry Harden Corman and Sophia Smith Dean, his wife. Henry and Sophia had one child, Surber Harden Corman, my great grandfather (see image below).
Surber Harden Corman (1867-1948) (father), Martha Jane Bradshaw Corman (1881-1963) (mother) and, I have tentatively concluded, Fanny Dean Corman (1901-1976), Surber and Martha’s first child.
Surber was the only child of Henry (1835-1909) and Sophia (1836-1910) and presumably heir to his parents’ estate. They sold the property (in part or in total) in 1906 to James M. Laury.
Mortgage
Corman, Henry H
To
Lowry, James M.
Acknowledged before me by
Henry H. Corman and
Sophie Corman his wife
March 8 1906
N. A. Dierarson J. C. C. ?
By James M. Lowry
Recorded in Mortgage Book 19
Page 174
The Jessamine Journal Print, Nicholasville, KY.
? ? paid (2 b) ?
This Indenture, made and entered into this 8th day of March 1906 between Henry H. Corman and Sophie Corman his wife of the County of Jessamine State of Kentucky parties of the first part and James M. Lowry of the County and State aforesaid County of the second part
Witnesseth, that the parties of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar to _____? In hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and the further consideration hereinafter mentioned, do hereby sell, grant, and convey to the part of the second part, his heirs and assigns, the following described real estate, to-wit: all that tract of land except 10 acres more or less which was some time ago deeded to John P. Lowry record of which is in the office of the Clerk of the Jessamine County (branch?) lying and being in Jessamine County Kentucky on the waters of Jessamine Creek and formerly known as the (Tozier?) Mill property and (bordering) the lands of R. (Daversbooth?) Stifers, Rhorer, Lowry and the lands of (?) Welch and (something -ing) 40 acres more or less and being a portion of the same tract of land (conveyed) to Henry H. Corman by Rev P. Campbell and wife by deed of record in the Office of the Clerk of the Jessamine County Clerk in Deed Book No. 16 Page (638)
To have and to hold the same, with all the rights, privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in anywise appertaining unto the second party, his his heirs and assigns forever, with covenants of General Warranty.
Nevertheless, it is understood between the parties thereto that this instrument is to operate as a Mortgage to secure the second party in the payment of a note of (even) date hereof for Two hundred dollars (?) and payable twelve months after date and bearing interest at the rate of seven per each (?) from date until paid – executed by Henry H. Corman and payable to James M. Lowry.
This Mortgage is intended to secure (…) or extrusions of the whole or any part of the above described note
Now, should said first parties well and truly pay off and discharge said note interest when the same becomes due and payable, then this Mortgage and all other writings as may exist as evidence of said debt shall become null and void, otherwise it shall remain in full force and effect and said grantor hereby especially waive and release all rights or claim they have or may have hereafter have, which arises out of or is given by the Exemption and Homestead Laws of Kentucky in and to the property hereby conveyed; also all right to dower in said property is included in and made part of this Mortgage and these covenants and conveyances are especially made part of this Mortgage.
Witness our hands the day and year first above written.
Henry H. Corman
Sophie Corman
State of Kentucky,
County of Jessamine
I, N. R. Dickerson, Clerk of the County Court of the County aforesaid, do certify that the foregoing instrument of writing from Henry H Corman & Sophie Corman his wife
To James M. Loury
Was on the 8th day of March 1906 produced to me
In my office, and was acknowledged by Henry H. Corman and Sophie Corman his wife parties thereto
To be their act and deed, and was this day lodged for record by the grantee, which, together with this certificate, is duly recorded in my said office.
![[ARTIFACT] 1906 Deed: Corman, Henry H. to James M. Lowry, Jessamine Co, KY](https://thatkentuckygirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/img_7926.jpg?w=1200)
that Kentucky girl 