John Sanders to Laurence Williams, Land Deed

©  Kathy Duncan, 2019

In 1809, John Sanders sold 200 acres of land on Spear's Creek in Kershaw County, South Carolina to Laurence Williams. Laurence Williams' wife was Rachel Hogan. Because Rachel might have been related to William and Jemima Hogan, and because two Hogans witnessed the sale agreement, and because Jemima Hogan might have been a Sanders, this deed transaction is worth studying carefully. It would seem that this piece of land was near the 100 acres that Laurence Williams purchased from William Hogan just a few years before.

The first image below shows the deed as it appears in the deed book. The deed in the lower right quadrant is representative of the problem with many of the deeds in this book. The clerk wrote over the record with subsequent notations. It makes one cross-eyed and a bit dizzy trying to decipher these. While this over-writing does not affect the deed between Williams and Sanders, it does affect some of Laurence Williams' later records.

Below is an image of the Williams - Sanders deed transaction, followed by a transcript and commentary.

The State of South Carolina Kershaw District. Know all men by these presents that I, John Sanders of Kershaw District in the State aforesaid planter for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and forty Dollars to me paid by Laurence Williams of Kershaw District in the State aforesaid, have granted, bargained and sold and released and by these present do grant, sell and release unto the said Laurence Williams all that plantation or tract of land containing two hundred acres situated on Spearses Creek waters of Wateree River and binding N.W. by the widow Sanders' land when Surveyed and all others Vacant land at the time of surveying which was in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three - Together with all and singular the right member, hereditaments and appertainant to the premises belonging or in any wise incident or appertaining To have and to hold all and singular the premises before mentioned unto the said Laurence Williams his Heirs and assigns forever. And I do hereby bind myself, my heirs Executors and administrators that each and every one will not interrupt the said Laurence Wiliams in the peaceful possession of the premises before described. Witness my hand and seal this third day of February in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nine and in the thirty fourth year of the Independence of the United States of America. Signed, sealed and Delivered in the presence of
Lemuel Hogan }                                       John Sanders
Cordel his x mark Hogan}

State of South Carolina Kershaw District. Personally appeared before me Cordel Hogan and made oath that he saw John Sanders sign, seal and deliver the written conveyance for the uses and purposes therein mentioned and that with Lemuel Hogan in the presence of each other witness ?th the due execution thereof. Sworn to before me this 10th Day of March 1809.
William Langley J. P.                   Cordel his x mark Hogan

In 1809, John Sanders and Laurence Williams were both residents of Kershaw County, South Carolina. I do not know what John Sanders's relationship is to William Sanders or if he was related to Laurence Williams in any way. This tract of land is reasonably close to the tract of land that Laurence Williams purchased from William Sanders since they are both on Spear's Creek. Laurence Williams paid $140 for these 200 acres which was considerably more than the 15 pounds he paid for the 100 acres that he bought from William Sanders. The deed is signed by John Sanders who seems to be literate. Significantly, it was witnessed by Lemuel Hogan and Cordel Hogan. This is the same Cordel Hogan, who could not sign his name when he witnessed the deed between William Hogan and Laurence Williams.

This gave Laurence Williams a total of 300 acres at this point in time.

Cordel Hogan was probably the same Cordel Hogan who was a Revolutionary War soldier, so he was roughly the same age as William Hogan.