Yesterday I attempted to file some of my original deeds, wills, etc., and came across this indenture between John and Ann Linton and William Moran. I thought this might be interesting for you.

The John and Nancy Linton mentioned in this Washington County, Kentucky, indenture, are my 4^th and 5^th great-grandparents, descending from two of the couple’s children – William Linton and Nancy Linton.  John and Nancy were Virginia natives, with deep roots in that state.  They came with their children and grandchildren to Washington County in the year 1816.  A few of the children came earlier.  While in Virginia, John Linton purchased 2,000 acres of land, located on the Beech Fork of Salt River, in Washington County, Kentucky, at the rate of $2 per acre, on June 13, 1818, from Charles Fenton Mercer.  It was shortly after this time that John Linton and whatever family was left in Virginia, started for Kentucky, arriving at the county seat of Springfield on November 5, 1818.  He came to the courthouse on that date to list slaves brought with him, and to guarantee they would not be bartered or sold.  I would say he arrived shortly before that date.  In my great-grandmother’s writings, Frances Barber Linton Montgomery states that the children and some of the women were taken to adjoining Nelson County where Nancy Mason Linton’s brothers and sisters lived.  Cabins were built and the children brought to their new homes in Washington County.

William Moran is John and Nancy’s son-in-law, their daughter, Susan Linton, married William  Moran in Loudoun County, Virginia, March 15, 1812.

The Moses Linton mentioned in the following indenture is a son of John and Nancy.  Edward Barber Edwards is a son-in-law, married to their daughter Nancy Linton.

John Janes may be the father of James Kaleb Janes who married Mary Jane Edwards, John and Nancy’s granddaughter.

Most of John and Nancy’s children lived on part of the 2,000 acres purchased in 1818.  However, their son Benjamin Franklin Linton lived in Logan County, Kentucky.

Indenture Between John and Nancy Linton and William Moran

Deed Book H, Page 159-160

This Indenture made this tenth day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty-Three, between John Linton and Nancy his wife, of the County of Washington and Commonwealth of Kentucky, of the one part, and William Moran, of the County of Washington and Commonwealth of Kentucky, of the other part.  Witnesseth that the said John Linton and Nancy his wife, for and in consideration of the sum of six shillings to them in hand paid, by the said William Moran, the receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge, have given, granted, bargained, sold and conveyed and by these presents to give, grant, bargain, sell, alien, release, convey and confirm unto the said William Moran and unto his heirs or assigns forever, a certain tract, piece or parcel of land situated and lying and being in the County of Washington and Commonwealth of Kentucky, containing by survey two hundred acres and bounded as follows:  Beginning at a beech and sugar tree on the original line of Mercer’s 2,000 acres survey, then S18 E370 poles to two ash and hickory trees on Moses Linton’s line, thence with his line N68 E3W110 poles to a birch, white oak and walnut, corner to E. B. Edward’s, thence with his line N22 W152 poles to a sugar tree and elm on a small branch, thence with another line of said Edward’s N1 ¼ E190 poles to a stone in the road, leading from Daniel Michael’s to John Janes and in the original line thence with the same 167E 55 poles to the beginning, being the same land whereon the said William Moran now lives.  To have and to hold the said land and premises with all and singular the rents, issues and profits thereof and every privilege and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in appertaining to the said William Moran and his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, to the only proper use, benefit and behoof of him or any of them forever and the said John Linton and Nancy his wife, for themselves, their heirs, executors or administrators, do further covenant, promise, grant and agree to deed with the said William Moran and with his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns that they have good right to sell, transfer and convey the said land and premises and that they will warrant and forever defend the same from and against the claim or claims of themselves and their heirs and from and against the claim or claims of all and every other person or persons whatever.

In testimony where the said John Linton and Nancy his wife have hereunto set their hand and affixed their seal the day and year above written. 

John Linton

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of

Washington County

I, John Hughes, Jr., Clerk of the county Court for the County aforesaid, do hereby certify that on the day of the date hereof this Indenture was acknowledged before me in my office by the within named John Linton to be his act and deed, and thereupon admitted to record.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 10^th day of March 1823.

John Hughes, Jr., C.W.C.