PURCHASING
LAND FROM THE PENN FAMILY
 |
Field in York County, Pennsylvania, on or Near William's Property photo by Cindy Cruz, 2021 |
William first became a landowner in York County, Pennsylvania,
in 1768. He joined a large number of Scotts Irish immigrants who settled on vacant
land in this area but had no legal title to the land. Colonial policy was
amended in 1765 to permit settlers who lived on unwarranted land on the “West
Side” of the Susquehanna River to apply for an official Pennsylvania land
warrant.
Land was acquired from the Proprietors of Pennsylvania through
a five-step land acquisition process. This chain of events produced several documents
and indices which outlined the path to legal ownership of a plat of land. Through
these documents, William’s property was found be located about three miles east
of Muddy Creeks Fork in Chanceford (later set off as Lower Chanceford) Township.
 |
The Upper Right Circle Marks the Approximate Location of William's Land The Lower Left Circle Marks Muddy Creek Forks The Susquehanna River Runs Down the Right Half of the Map |
William first submitted an Application to Warrant Land, requesting a plat of 200 acres in Chanceford Township, on 26 February 1768.
.jpg) |
William's 1768 Application for Warrant |
(Transcription:)
William McWilliams 200 Acres
Feb. 26, 1768
Febry 26th
1768
William
McWilliams by John Dixon applys for 200 a of vacant woodland adjoining John
Dixon afd John McMullun and Nathanial Morgan in Chanceford Township York County
This Land is said to have been purchased by McWilliam of one Wilson and
the Deputy Surveyor is to inquire what claim Wilson had to the Land and to see
if any Improvements to it, and to report on the Draught what information he can
gain. John Dickson
Pennsylvania, Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952, Harrisburg, PA, Pennsylvania State Archives, Land Warrants, York County, William McWilliams, 26 February 1768; accessed www.ancestry.com, Chester, 1768, image 63-64
The application, written on a scrap of paper, was indexed in
both alphabetical and numerical indices called warrant registers. In the second step of
the land acquisition process, William was granted warrant number 4764. The
warrant designated the county, township, warrantee’s name, approximate acreage
and the date of issue. It placed a “hold” on the described land and was also an
official order authorizing a surveyor to complete a written survey of the
requested land. This warrant register notes that the survey of William’s land
was recorded in book C-194, page 197.
 |
William McWilliams Land Warrant No. 4764 West Side of the Susquehanna River Numeral Index |
Pennsylvania State Archives, RG-17, Records of the Land Office, West Side Applications: Numeric Listing of Applications, 1766-1769, series #17.40, page 387, No. 4764, William McWilliams, 12 February 1768, Chanceford Township, York County; accessed www.phmc.pa.gov, Numeric Index of West Side Land Grant Applications, page begins with #4752, page 387
The survey was the third step in the quest for land
ownership. The survey was a sketch of the tract of land made after measuring and
marking the boundaries and acreage of the property. The measurements were made
with a compass and surveyor’s chain and were recorded in a system known as metes
and bounds. The compass courses were expressed in “degrees” of direction and
the distances between corners were listed in “perches.” One perch was equal to
16.5 feet. The corners of the survey were generally marked and indicated in the
description as a specific tree, post, waterway, stone, roadway, or other
natural or manmade marker.
 |
| William McWilliams/George Robinson Survey 22 August 1831 |
Pennsylvania State Archives,
RG-17, Records of the Land Office, Copied Surveys, 1681-1912, series #17.114, Book,
C-194, page 197, Wm McWilliams, No. 4764, George Robinson, 22 August 1831, York
County; accessed www.phmc.pa.gov, Images of Each Survey, “C” Volumes: volume
C-194, page C-194-197 and reverse
The fourth step of the acquisition process was called the
Return. It was an internal document from the Surveyor General of the province
to the Secretary of the Land Office. Copies of the Return were seldom retained.
The final step was receipt of a patent from the Proprietaries. The patent was
the official granting of the first legal title to the land to the “first
purchaser” of the property. The granting of the patent required a trip to the
county seat and payment of the purchase price and all taxes and rents which may
have accumulated between the date of the survey and the request for the patent.
There were no restrictions on the length of time a warrant could be held
without purchasing a patent. As a result, many families passed land down to
heirs or the land was sold several times before the patent was acquired.
Sometimes, the new warrants and surveys were made to replace the originals, and
patents might be issued many years after the original warrant and survey were
received.
William lived on his property for a few years but did not complete the paperwork and pay the required fees to receive a patent to the York County property. This document shows that George Robinson applied for a second warrant and received the patent on the York County property on 27 November 1837, almost seventy years after William's application.
 |
George Robinson Patent York County Patent Index, Chanceford Township, 27 November 1837 |
Pennsylvania State Archives,
RG-17, Records of the Land Office, Patent Indexes, 1684-[ca.1957], series
#17.147, 154 & 155, “H” Series, 1809-1957, Volume 2, 1823-1839, Surnames
beginning with “R,” p. 299, volume H-38, p. 422, George Robinson, 17 January
1838; accessed www.phmc.pa.gov, Patent Index Pages, H Series, 1823-1838,
Surnames beginning with “R,” page 285
The patent document states that William McWilliams transferred his rights
to the land to George Robinson “by virtue of sundry Conveyances and the
Assurances in Law” before Robinson completed the patent process. Robinson paid
$55.46 to the Commonwealth for slightly more than 206 acres. The cost of the
land in today’s dollars would be about $1700.
.jpg) |
Patent to George Robinson Stating Proof of Land Transfer from William McWilliams |
(Transcription) The
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 251
John Gebhart To
all whence these Presents shall come, Greeting.
Know Ye, That in consideration of the sum of
Fifty five dollars & forty six cents in full now paid by George Robinson
into the Treasury office of this Commonwealth there is granted by the said
Commonwealth unto the said George Robinson a certain tract of Land situate in
Chanceford Township in York County Beginning at a white oak thence by land of
John Fife south five degrees west sixty two & a half perches to a white oak
south forty degrees west twenty eight perches to a post south sixty degrees
East seventy eight perches to a chestnut & south fifty degrees west thirty
eight perches to a chestnut thence by land of William Stewart south thirty one
degrees East seventy six perches to a chestnut south twenty five degrees East
seventy three perches to a chestnut & north seventy degrees East one
hundred and three perches to a post thence by land of James Logue north ten
degrees west thirty perches to a white oak & north forty three degrees East
one hundred & sixteen perches to a white oak thence by land of Samuel
Cameron north seventy six degrees west forty two perches to a black oak south
forty three degrees west sixty perches to a Spanish Oak north five degrees west
seventy six perches to a white oak north fifty five degrees East thirty perches
to a black oak & north eleven degrees west thirty nine perches to a black
oak thence by land of James Fullerton south seventy two degrees west sixty
perches to a white oak north thirty eight degrees west thirty six perches to a
white oak & north sixty degrees west sixty nine perches to a post thence by
land of Andrew Clarkson south seventy four degrees west forty seven perches to
the Beginning Containing Two hundred and forty nine acres one hundred and three
perches and allowance &c
Which
said tract of Land was surveyed by virtue and in pursuance of an order in
application No. 4764 entered the 26th day of February 1768 in the
name of William McWilliams & whereas the right of the said William
McWilliams in and to the said tract by virtue of sundry Conveyances and the
Assurances in Law became vested in the said George Robinson to whom a Warrant
of Acceptance issued this day with the appurtenances
To
Have and to Hold the said tract or parcel of Land with the appurtenances,
unto the said George Robinson & his heirs to the use of the said George
Robinson his heirs and Assigns forever.
Free and clear of all restrictions and
reservations, as to Mines, Royalties, Quit-rents, or otherwise, excepting and
reserving only the fifth part of all Gold and Silver Ore, for the use of this
Commonwealth, to be delivered at the Pit’s Mouth, clear of all charges.
In
Witness Whereof, John Gebhart Secretary of the Land Office of the said
Commonwealth, hath hereto set his hand, and the Seal of the Land Office of
Pennsylvania hath been hereunto affixed, the twenty seventh day of November, in
the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven and of the
Commonwealth the sixty second
Attest:
Jos Henderson Deputy Secretary Land Office.
Pennsylvania Bureau of Land Records, Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, Patent Books, 1676-1960, Patent Book H-38, page 251, George
Robinson, 27 November 1837; www.familysearch.org, filmstrip 1028881, DGS 8715707, volume H, page 251,
image 78
NEXT - THE MILLER’S DAUGHTER
No comments:
Post a Comment