wp0de4e738_0f.jpg

 

James Family Archives

 

•  Researching the Past

•  Education for the Present

•  Preservation for the Future

 

wp10_wp39d0d8d7[1]-14.png
wp10_wp49a82e55[1]-14.png
wp10_wpad784a43[1]-14.png
wp10_wpfbe98973[1]-14.png
wp10_wp00d50912[1]-14.png
wp10_wp1387ad45[1]-14.png
wp10_wp5e41c6bd[1]-14.png
wp10_wp4efebdb4[1]-14.png

Indenture for the Sale of Land by Daniel & Susanna (nee “Bealert”) James

To Jacob Latch (Nephew), May 22, 1809

 

In this document, Daniel and his wife Susanna are disposing of property in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania that Susanna inherited from her father, Johan Jacob Bealert (1700-1770) as dower. Johan Jacob Bealert's estate was administered in January of 1776. As Daniel and Susanna were married in 1772, it is likely that this property was already in the possession of Daniel and Susanna by 1776 prior to their migration south to Loudoun County, Virginia and subsequently Bedford County, Virginia after the Revolutionary War. Jacob Latch (1758-1845) was the nephew of Daniel and Susanna, the son of Susanna's sister Mary Bealert (1734-1813) who married Rudolph Latch (1723-1785).

 

Jacob Latch was born in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, October 30, 1758. He was the oldest son of Rudolph Latch. With his father and brother, Jacob Latch enlisted in the Continental Army in Lower Merion in August 1776 at the age of seventeen. He was enlisted in Captain John Young's Company of Colonel Paschall's Regiment. Jacob was quartered with the army at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-1778. He had been trained in the trade of shoemaker/cordwainer, and from time to time traveled home to make shoes for some of the soldiers. He became a messenger or "runner" for General Washington. In August, 1780, he became a sergeant in Captain Richard Robert's company of Colonel James Berry's Regiment. He is mentioned in the Annals of Montgomery County and in the Pennsylvania Archives. Jacob Latch died in Lower Merion on June 29, 1845.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 25, Pages 465-466

 

Release          This Indenture of bargain and sale made this

Danl James      Third day of May in the year of our Lord One

To              thousand Eight hundred and nine Between

Jacob Latch     Daniel James & Susanna his wife of the County

                of Bedford & State of Virginia of the One

                part and Jacob Latch of the County of

                Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania of the

                other part

 

Witnesseth That the said Daniel James and Susanna his wife for and in consideration of the sum of Two hundred & Sixty six dollars & Sixty Eight cents lawful money of the State of Virginia to them in hand paid by the said Jacob Latch the receipt whereof the said Daniel James & Susanna his wife doth hereby acknowledge hath released granted bargained & sold & by these presents doth release grant bargain sell alien & confirm to the said Jacob Latch & to his heirs Exors Administrators & assigns.

 

All Claim right title Interest or demand whatsoever which they the said Daniel James & Susanna his wife now have or ever have had in & to A Certain undivided share moiety piece or parcell of land situate lying and being in Lower Merion Township in the County of Montgomery & State of Pennsylvania as devised to the said Susanna James by her father Jacob Bealart decd as will appear reference being had thereto by the last Will & Testament of the said Jacob Bealart which was proved approved & insinuated as the last Will & Testament of the said Jacob Bealart decd before Benjamin Chew Register General for the Probate of Will & Granting Letters of Administration in and for the province of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia on the sixth day of January in the year one thousand seven hundred & seventy six.

 

Also the said Daniel James & Susanna his wife do (p 466) by these presents & in consid-eration of having received the aforesaid sum of Two hundred & Sixty six dollars and Sixty Eight cents further relinquis[h]eth & release to the said Jacob Latch all right title claim interest or demand whatsoever which they may or might have been entitled to of any other real or person[a]l Estate whatsoever which shall have been devised to the said Susanna James daughter of the said Jacob Bealart decd by his said last Will & Testament as heretofore alluded to and the said Jacob Latch doth by these presents & in consequence of the above conveyance bind himself his heirs Exors Administrators & cc to indemnify the said Daniel James & Susanna his wife their heirs Exors Administraators &c from the payment of all sum or sums of money which they the said Daniel James and Susanna may be bound for as the heirs of the said Jacob Bealart decd To have and to hold All and singular the hereby granted premises & with all and singular The appurt-enances thereunto belong- ing to the only proper use benefit and behoof of the said Jacob Latch his heirs Executors Administrators & assigns forever. And They the said Daniel James & Susanna his wife doth hereby covenant for themselves their heirs Exors Admrs &c to & with the said Jacob Latch his heirs Exors Admrs & assigns by these presents that they the said Daniel James & Susanna will warrant and forever defend the said land and premises unto the said Jacob Latch his heirs Exors Administrators & assigns forever from them- selves their heirs Executors Admrs &c or any other person claiming under them but not from the claim or claims of any other person. In Testimony whereof the said Daniel James & Susanna hath hereunto set their hands & seals the day & year first herein written.

Signed Sealed & delivered in                Daniel James

        the presence of                     Susanna James

 

Virginia Sct

 

At a Court held for Bedford County at the Court House the 22d day of May 1809 This Indenture of bargain & Sale Between Daniel James & Susanna his wife of the one part and Jacob Latch of the other was acknowledged by the said Daniel James & Susanna his wife the said Susanna being first prively examined according to law voluntarily relinquished her right of Dower in and to the land & premises conveyed by this Indenture which is ordered to be certified to the Court of the County of Montgomery in the State Pennsylvania to be there recorded.

 

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of Office this 22nd day of May 1809.

                            Ja Steptoe C.B.C.         Seal

 

State of Virginia

Bedford County Sct

 

As presiding magistrate in and for the County aforesaid I hereby certify that James Steptoe who attests the acknowledgement of this Indenture from Daniel James & Susanna his wife of the one part and Jacob Latch of the other is Clerk of the Court of said County that the said attestation is in due form of law and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to his official acts. Certified this 26 day of May 1809 Thomas Logwood Recorded July 3d 1809.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Updated: September 20, 2025