
THE PIONEERS.
NEW LONDON.
…place in October, 1815, at the house of Almon Ruggles, at Vermillion; although this event was not known to those settling' in the second and fourth sections till after they had reached the end of their journey. The other cause, a "rumored illegality" of the purchase by Richards of the Douglass estate or claim which we will next notice.
COPY OF DEED FROM NAT. RICHARDS TO DAVID COIT.
"To all people to whom these presents shall come. Greeting: Know ye, that I, Nathaniel Richards, of the town and county of New London, and State of Connecticut, as administrator of the estate of Nathan Douglass, late of New London, did, by order of the court of probate for the district of New London, for the consideration of two hundred thirty-eight pounds thirteen shillings. (£*3S Vis. Od.) lawful money, received, to my full satisfaction, of David Coit, of New Loudon, the State of Connecticut, do give, grant, bargain, sell and confirm, unto the said David Coit, all the right, title or share, that the said Nath. Richards, as administrator aforesaid, has, or ought to have, in, or to a certain tract of land lying on or adjoining Lake Erie, which was granted by the general assembly of the State of Connecticut,- at their session in May, 1792, to Nathan Douglass and many others; the whole grant being half a million of acres, the Nathan Douglass proportion of it being about three thou sand one hundred and eighty-two (3,183) acres; being the whole of Nathan's rights therein, be the same more or less. The amount of his, Nathan Douglass' loss, as allowed and ascertained by a committee on the losses, being £941 lls. 9d.. as from the record of assembly appears, etc., etc., etc , to have and to hold the above granted and bargained premises, with the appurtenances thereof, unto him, the said David Coit, and his heirs and assignees forever, to his and their own proper use and behoof. ' '•' * (as usual to the close). In witness whereof, I have hereunto set mv hand and seal the 11th day of March, Anno Domini 1797. Nat. Richards.
Signed, sealed and dated in the presence of
| Georoe Colfax, Guy Richards.
New London county, ss.;
New London, March 11th, 1797.
Personally appeared, Nat. Richards, signer and sealer of the foregoing instrument, and acknowledged the same to be his tree act and deed before me.
Guy Richards. Justice of the Peace.
ON THE SAME DAY—COIT TO RICHARDS.
"Know all men by these presents. That I, David Coit, of the town and county of New London, for divers good causes and considerations thereunto moving, especially for the sum of £-MS 13.s. Od., lawful money, received, to my full satisfaction, of Nat. Richards, of New London, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have remised, released and forever quit-claimed, and do, by these presents, forever tor myself and my heirs jointly and absolutely remise and forever quit-claim unto the said Nathaniel Richards, and to his heirs and assignees forever, all such right or title as I, the said David Coit, have or ought to have, in a certain tract of land lying on or adjoining Lake Erie, which was granted by the general assembly of the State of Connecticut, at their session in May, 1793, to Nathan Douglass and many others. " " '" (The same description to close as the former one. Executed on March 11, 1797, and witnessed by the same witnesses, and before the same justice of the peace.)
DECREE OF COURT.
After nearly thirty years the above deed was declared illegal, and the terrible effects will be apparent from the following copy ot the record of the court and their several decrees:
PICKETI LATTIMER TO WILLIAM P. CLEVELAND,
DEED, ETC., ETC.
To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting: Whereas. William P. Cleveland, executor of the estate of James Lewis, deceased, Charles R. Lewis and George A. Lewis, by said Cleveland, and their next friend, heretofore filed their bill mot complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Huron County, sitting as a Court of Chancery, against Nathaniel Richards. Benjamin Huntington and Henry Channing, praying the sale and foreclosure of a claim against lands in said bill described, as four thousand one hundred and fifty acres, in the 20th range, 2nd township, and third section, in the county of Huron, and two thousand twenty-nine acres in 20th range, and township, 1st section, amounting in all to six thousand one hundred and eighty (6180) acres and, whereas, the said Huntington at a subsequent term of said court had also filed his cross-bill of complaint against said Cleveland, Charles R. and George A . Lewis, Nathaniel Richards and Henry Channing, praying that said lands might be sold, and foreclosed for his benefit and tor the satisfaction of a certain debt owing him f i om said Richards, and secured on said land; and, whereas, the said court, at their October term, 1833, on the hearing of said bill and cross bill, made their interlocutory decree, ordered the Master Commissioner of said Court, that by the oaths of five freeholders, in said bill mentioned, to cause said land to be appraised by lots; and, whereas, the Master Commissioner of said Court, in obedience of said decree, and by virtue of decretal to him directed, did cause the following lots of land to be appraised by the oaths of freeholders, to wit: lots No. 1, 3, 3, 4, 6; south part 8, 11, 13, 16, 17, 19, '30, 31, 23, 34. in the third section of said town; and lots No. 7; north part of 8, 9: south part of 10, 13, 14, 15; south part 18; north part 18, 33, were appraised, subject to the rights of settlers thereon, being in the section aforesaid; and lots in the first section, No. 14, 15, 16 17, 18, east part of 30, 21, 22, 23, 24, and the west part of lot No. 30, east part of No . 25, and west part of 25, appraised subject to the rights of settlers thereon; and that, having made his report of his proceedings to said Court of Common Pleas, and they having inspected the same, and being satisfied that said appraisal had in all respects been conducted agreeable to said decree, at their August term, A. D., 1834, made a further decree in the premises, by which, among other things, it was ordered, that the Master Commissioner do proceed and sell said mortgaged premises, he giving thirty days' notice as is required by the act regulating judgments and executions. That he set up each lot separately, and that so much of said land as has been "contracted" he shall sell subject to said "contracts,'" and that he report his proceedings thereon.
And, whereas, I, Pickett Lattimer, Master Commissioner as aforesaid, did in obedience to said decree, and by virtue of a decretal order, advertise and offer said lands tor sale according to the command in said order; and that having struck off and sold all the right and title of Nathaniel Richards in and to the following land, to William P. Cleveland, who bid by his agent, Eben Newton, and was the highest bidder, to wit:
…[VV Ed. Note: the specifics (i.e. size and amounts paid for the lots) was listed here, but I have omitted those details in this publication.]
situated in said first section subject to rights of those having contracts therefor; and having reported my proceedings thereon, and said Court having at their October term, 1834, inspected said report, and being satisfied that said sale had, in all respects, been conducted in conformity to said decree,—Ordered that the Master Commissioner make, execute and deliver to said Wm. P. Cleveland a deed, conveying to him all the right and title of said Nathaniel to the above described land subject to the rights aforesaid
Now, therefore, I, Pickett Lattimer, Master Commissioner as aforesaid, by virtue of said decretal order, and for and in consideration of $6,966.83, received, to my full satisfaction, of William P. Cleveland, do grant, bargain and sell to the said William P. Cleveland, all the right and title of said Nathaniel Richards in and to the aforesaid lots of land situated in the first and third sections of New London, and in the county of Huron, subject to the right of those holding "contracts'" thereof, be the same more or less; to have and to hold the above granted and bargained premises to his own proper use and behoof in as full and perfect a manner as I could, by virtue of the authority aforesaid, convey the same.
Excerpts from: The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio; W.W. Williams - 1879 -
Press of Leader Printing Company, Cleveland, Ohio