Bullitt County History

Edward Williams to George Reed, 862.5 Acres, 18 Dec 1802

On 18 Dec 1802, Edward Williams of Hardy County, Virginia (now West Virginia) sold 862.5 acres lying in Bullitt County to George Reed, a resident of Bourbon County, Kentucky. Thomas Bullitt, a Louisville merchant, acted as Williams' attorney in fact to handle the transaction.

According to the deed, this land was the northern part of Williams' settlement and preemption, which contained a total of 1400 acres, and is shown here and described on another page.

It's interesting to note that, of the 1400 acres in Williams' settlement and preemption, he conveyed 862.5 acres to Reed, and 700 acres to Isaac Hornbeck, as shown on another page. Also note that Williams only warranted 600 acres against all claims; he only warranted the remaining 262.5 acres against claims by himself or his heirs.

In actual measurement, the tract sold to Hornbeck came closer to 798 acres, while Reed's tract measured only slightly more than 601 acres.

We've located several deeds by which Reed sold parts of this tract to others:

     Robert Martin | Jesse Wilson | John Phebus | John Beckwith

A photocopy of this deed is shown below with a transcription following.

This Indenture made this eighteenth day of December, Eighteen hundred and two between Edward Williams of Hardy County and State of Virginia by Thomas Bullitt, merchant of Louisville in the County of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, his attorney in fact, of the one part, and George Reed of Bourbon County in the State of Kentucky of the other part, Witnesseth that the said Edward Williams by his said attorney in fact for and in consideration of the sum of four hundred and fifty pounds current money of Kentucky to the said Edward Williams in hand paid before the execution of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath granted, bargained, sold, aliened, released, conveyed, and confirmed, and by these presents doth grant, bargain, sell, alien, release, convey and confirm unto the said George Reed, his heirs and assigns forever a certain tract or parcel of land containing eight hundred and sixty two acres and one half, more or less, being part of the said Edward Williams' settlement and preemption lying and being on the waters of Floyds Fork in Bullitt County and State of Kentucky, and which said track of 862 1/2 acres of land is bounded as follows, Viz. Beginning at three Beeches in the patent line of the preemption and corner to the heirs of Isaac Hornbeck, thence with the preemption line North two hundred and thirty nine poles to a sugar tree, mulberry and elm, corner to the preemption, thence on another of the said preemption lines West three hundred and three and one half poles to a Black Oak, Elm, and White Oak, corner to said preemption and standing in the line of Thomas Philips' survey of 400 acres, thence on a line thereof and another line of the said preemption South six degrees West one hundred and sixty poles to three Sugar trees & Walnut, corner to said Philips' and the said preemption, thence with a line of the same and said settlement line, West two hundred and thirty one and a half poles to a White Oak, Elm and Beech north west corner of the said settlement, thence with a line of the same South ninety two poles to a large White Oak, Hickory, and Ash corner to said Hornbecks line, thence with their line East across the said settlement & preemption five hundred and fifty three poles to the Beginning, to have and to hold the said eight hundred and sixty two acres and a half of land with all the appurtenances unto the said George Reed and his heirs and assignees to his and their only proper use, benefit and behoof forever and the said Edward Williams by his attorney in fact aforesaid doth covenant and agree to and with the said George Reed, his heirs and assignees to his and their only proper use, benefit and behoof forever, and the said Edward Williams by his attorney in fact aforesaid doth covenant and agree to and with the said George Reed that he the said Edward will and his heirs, executors, and administrators shall warrant and forever defend six hundred acres of the said tract of 862 1/2 acres of land unto the said George Reed, his heirs and assignees against all and every person or persons whatsoever, and that he the said Edward Williams doth further convenant and agree to and with the said George Reed that he the said Edward will and his heirs, executors and administrators shall warrant and forever defend the said two hundred and sixty two and one half acres (be the same more or less) residue of the said 862 1/2 acres of land with all the appurtenances unto the said George Reed, his heirs and assignees against the said Edward Williams and his heirs and all persons claiming or to claim the same by, from, or under their or them or either of them, but against no one else, nor in any other manner whatever. In testimony whereof the said Edward Williams by his attorney in fact aforesaid hath hereunto set his hand and seal on the day and year first written.
Edward Williams by Thomas Bullitt, his attorney in fact


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The Bullitt County History Museum, a service of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is located in the county courthouse at 300 South Buckman Street (Highway 61) in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The museum, along with its research room, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday appointments are available by calling 502-921-0161 during our regular weekday hours. Admission is free. The museum, as part of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization and is classified as a 509(a)2 public charity. Contributions and bequests are deductible under section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the Internal Revenue Code. Page last modified: 12 Jan 2024 . Page URL: bullittcountyhistory.org/bchistory/williams-reed.html