%xmlchars; ]> ms2090 Guide to the Property agreements, Washington, DC, 1809-1835 Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Special Collections Research Center, The Gelman Library, The George Washington University 2006
2130 H. St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20052 Phone: 202-994-7549 Email: speccoll@gwu.edu
Machine-readable finding aid derived from Re:discovery database program and converted into xml; Code template by Archives and Information Associates (http://archivesandinformation.com), Alexandria, Virginia . 2005 Finding aid written in English Guide to the Property agreements, Washington, DC, 1809-1835 MS2090 Special Collections Research Center, The Gelman Library, The George Washington University
Washington, D.C.
Special Collections Staff, 2006 Jennifer King, 2006

copyright 2006 The George Washington University. All rights reserved.

 Descriptive Summary Various Property agreements, Washington, DC, 1809-1835 MS2090 2 Linear feet Collection consists of 48 indentures, or property agreements. These documents date from 1809-35. Most of the documents have the term "indenture" appearing in the first sentence, although they are variously described by city officials in the agreements themselves as deeds, bills of sale, leases, and agreements. The George Washington University, The Gelman Library, Special Collections Research Center
&gwuaddr;
 English Information for Users Preferred citation

Property agreements, Washington, DC, Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University.

 Restrictions on Access

Some records may be restricted.

 Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased by George Washington University sometime late in 1983 or early in 1984.

Restrictions on Use

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

 Historical or Biographical Note

The clerk of the circuit court for Washington County in the District of Columbia was required by a law of March 3, 1801 to record deeds. In these early years the clerk's office included the office for the recording of deeds. On July 17, 1805 William Brent became clerk of the circuit court,'a position which he held for 38 years. Unless otherwise specified, all these agreements are signed at the end by William Brent, clerk, and the date he received them is present:. along with exact citations to the Liber of the land records of Washington County in the District of Columbia where the transactions were then also recorded.

Many of those involved in these agreements were prominent figures. Those who signed in their official capacity, for instance those who were justices of the peace, were also pillars of the community. Many of these names are the same as those who were buying and selling.

Not all these transactions cover real estate exchanges between the leading citizens of the community. Some cover slave sales; sale of a dwelling to a freeman of color; the sale of the contents of a printing shop; and a pre-marital agreement.

 Collection Scope and Content

This collection consists of 48 indentures, or property agreements. These documents date from 1809-35. Most of the documents have the term "indenture" appearing in the first sentence, although they are variously described by city officials in the agreements themselves as deeds, bills of sale, leases, and agreements. They contain the required signatures of the partners to the agreements and of city officials such as justices of peace and the clerk of the circuit court, but only two of them have any seals. In other cases circles are drawn for the placement of seals, but they are not present.

These agreements concern property of several types: real estate, household goods, chattel and slaves. They dating and signing by William Brent is the one element common to all pieces in the collection; this recording was the last step for property transactions; the clerk's date was always the latest one found on each agreement.

Each listing includes the date when recorded by Brent, the name of the seller and then the buyer, the type of agreement, and the lot and square numbers if mentioned. During the time of these agreements, the District of Columbia was comprised of Washington County and Alexandria County; Washington County included Washington City and Georgetown. Please bear in mind that for the most part land in Georgetown and in the various additions to Georgetown was designated by lot numbers whereas land in Washington City was designated by square and lot numbers.

The spelling of names varies even within the same indenture. For the most part the spelling and version of the name used here is that which appeared in the section appearing before Brent's signature.

 Collection Organization

Organized in one series.

 Subject Terms Individuals Brent, William Corporate Entities United States. Circuit Court (District of Columbia) Topics Indentures, Washington, DC Washington (D.C.) history District of Columbia. Office of the Recorder of Deeds Real property Slavery Slaves Antenuptial contracts Geographic Locations Washington (D.C.) Detailed Description of the Records MS2090 Series 1 Indentures and property agreements, 1809-1835 2 Linear feet

This series consists of indentures, or property agreements. These documents date from 1809-35. These agreements concern property of several types: real estate, household goods, chattel and slaves. They dating and signing by William Brent is the one element common to all pieces in the collection; this recording was the last step for property transactions; the clerk's date was always the latest one found on each agreement. Each listing includes the date when recorded by Brent, the name of the seller and then the buyer, the type of agreement, and the lot and square numbers if mentioned.

 1 Indentures and property agreements, undated

1 1 Deed: Alexander Robert Beall to Samuel Beall, 11/09/1809

[From original finding aid]: Tract of land called "James's Gift". Lacks section for clerk of circuit court. Acknowledged by William Cranch as chief judge of the circuit court of the District of Columbia

 1 2 Deed: Joseph Garner to William Stewart, 02/22/1810

[From original finding aid]: Land on Jefferson St. in Georgetown

 1 3 Deed: Richard Parrot to Thomas Beall, 05/02/1810

[From original finding aid]: Part of tract of land originally called "Rock of Dumbarton"

 1 4 Bill of sale: Levin Soper to George McCalley, 05/17/1810

[From original finding aid]: for slave

 1 5 Deed: Thomas B. Beall to Elisha Lanham, 05/24/1810

[From original finding aid]: Lots 173 and 174 in Beall's first addition to Georgetown

 1 6 Deed: Joseph Huddleston to David Sommerville, 08/27/1810

[From original finding aid]: Lot 3 in square 461. Lacks section for clerk of circuit court. Acknowledged by B. Thruston as assistant judge of the circuit court of the District of Columbia

 1 7 Deed: George Schnaetzete to Abner Ritchie., 08/31/1810

[From original finding aid]: Lot 149 in Beatty and Hawkins addition to Georgetown

 1 8 Deed: Thomas Beall to Nathaniel Heath, 09/24/1810

[From original finding aid]: Lots 211 and 212 in Beall's second addition to Georgetown

 1 9 Deed: George Magruder to William Steuart,'Samuel Turner, Jr., and Patrick Magruder, 11/05/1810

[From original finding aid]: Lots 19 and 20 in Georgetown

 1 10 Release of mortgage: John P. Van Ness to William Hammond Dorsey, 12/12/1810

1 11 Deed: William H. Dorsey to John Herford, 12/18/1810

[From original finding aid]: Lot 4 a&b in square 380. Lacks signature in section for clerk of circuit court

 1 12 Deed: William H. Dorsey to John Herford, 05/09/1811

[From original finding aid]: Lot 4 a&b in square 380. Lacks signature in section for clerk of circuit court

 1 13 Deed:John Simpson to Thomas James Mudd, 10/08/1811

[From original finding aid]: [Lot 7] Beatty and Hawkins and.Bealls's additions to Georgetown

 1 15 Deed: James Dunlop to Rev. William Matthews, 04/25/1814

[From original finding aid]: Lot 11 in square 376

 1 16 Deed: John Murdoch to William H. Dorsey, 05/09/1814

[From original finding aid]: Lot 11 in City of Washington

 1 17 Deed: John Murdoch to William H. Dorsey, 09/28/1815

[From original finding aid]: Lot 11 in City of Washington

 1 18 Stephen B. Balch to Peter Coulter, 02/03/1816

[From original finding aid]: Deed: Lot 254 in Beatty and Hawkins addition to Georgetown

 1 19 Deed: Thomas Law to Thomas Claxton, 05/02/1816

[From original finding aid]: Lot 5 in square 690

 1 20 Bill of sale: Richard Young to Joseph Gales, Jr., 07/10/1816

[From original finding aid]: for horses and coach

 1 21 John and Marcia Van Ness to Thomas Hillard, 07/15/1816

[From original finding aid]: Lease. Lot 9 in square 293

 1 22 Deed: Joseph Gales, Jr. to George Andrews, 07/18/1816

[From original finding aid]: Lot 9 in square 407

 1 23 Deed: Thomas Law to Simon Meade, 07/29/1816

[From original finding aid]: Square 408

 1 24 Bill of sale: Perrin Willis to J. P. Van Ness, William Brent, and R. C. Weightman, 11/21/1816

[From original finding aid]: of tenement on Pennsylvania Avenue

 1 25 Deed: Richard Parrott to Leonard Mackall, 02/12/1817

[From original finding aid]: Property known as "Pretty Prospects"

 2 Indentures and property agreements, undated

2 26 Lease: Samuel Hoot to Samuel Hutchinson, 07/22/1817

[From original finding aid]: Lot 3 in square 320

 2 27 Bill of sale: Joel K. Mead to Romolus Riggs, 12/15/1817

[From original finding aid]: of printing shop contents

 2 28 Joel K. Mead to Romolus Riggs, 05/24/1818

[From original finding aid]: Bill of sale of printing shop contents

 2 29 Richard Bland Lee Jun. & William W. Seaton, 02/17/1823

[From original finding aid]: Agreement concerning a mulatto slave.304 17 F 1823. Harriet Greene to Charles Cutts. Deed. Part of lot 1 in square 575

 2 31 Deed: Mary Burns to George Watterston., 03/13/1823

[From original finding aid]: Lot 3 in square 762 and lot 8 in square 845

 2 32 Bill of sale: Waring B. Beall to Otho B. Beall, 03/25/1823

[From original finding aid]: Lot 18 in square 163 plus slave and household goods

 2 33 Deed: Walter Smoot and Ulysses Ward to Walter Ringgold. a&b, 05/31/1823

[From original finding aid]: Lots 163 and 164 in Beatty and Hawkins addition to Georgetown

 2 34 Bill of sale: Miriam Ball to Sarah P. Bowling, 05/31/1823

[From original finding aid]: Slaves and some household goods

 2 35 Deed: William Archer to James Hoban, 06/06/1823

[From original finding aid]: Lot 18 in square 8

 2 36 Deed: Nathaniel Kelly to James Kennedy., 06/09/1823

[From original finding aid]: Lot 43 in old Georgetown

 2 37 Bill of sale: John Rumney to James Curren, 06/16/1823

[From original finding aid]: A dwelling in square 54; to a freeman of colour

 2 38 Bill of sale: James Semmes to John Threlkeld, 06/19/1823

[From original finding aid]: Goods and chattels

 2 39 Deed of conveyance: Rebecca and John Ford to Elizabeth Threlkeld, 06/20/1823

[From original finding aid]: Lot 114 in Threlkeld's addition to Georgetown

 2 40 Deed: Walter J. Chandler to Gustavus Beall, 06/20/1823

[From original finding aid]: Lot 10 in square 172

 2 41 Deed: Tench Ringgold to Ignatius Clarke., 06/21/1823

[From original finding aid]: Ringgold as Marshal seized house and lot in parts of lots 14 and 15 in Beall's addition to Georgetown. This was the property of Thomas Mudd and was sold at auction

 2 42 Deed: Charles Glover to Ignatius Mudd, 06/23/1823

[From original finding aid]: Lot 10 in square 258 and lots 2 and 3 in square 1045. This is the only indenture done on a preprinted form

 2 43 Deed: Peter Lenox to Frederick Keller, 10/26/1826

[From original finding aid]: Lots 26, north half of 27, in square 327

 2 44 Bill of sale: Joseph Wood to Anthony Hoimead, 10/30/1826

[From original finding aid]: Household goods

 2 45 Deed: Peter J. Maitland to Richard Peters (both of Philadelphia)., 02/15/1830

[From original finding aid]: Parts of lots 13 and 14 in square 490. This indenture has a seal on it

 2 46 Deed: Richard Peters to Peter J. Maitland (both of Philadelphia), 03/22/1830

[From original finding aid]: Parts of lots 13 and 14 in square 490. This indenture has a seal'on it

 2 47 Marriage contract: George A. Smoot and Mrs. Ann Mitchell, 07/13/1833

[From original finding aid]: She is to occupy, possess and enjoy all real and personal property in her possession free from his claims and vice versa

 2 48 Lease: John P. Van Ness to James Hoban, 08/11/1835

[From original finding aid]: Part of lot 3 in square 491

 3 Indentures and property agreements, undated

This is an oversize folder

 3 14 Bill of sale: George Dashiell to Joseph Milligan, 11/30/1811

[From original finding aid]: for goods and chattels (including a slave)