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Date Original
1820 July 28
Description
This document is a deed of sale between Henry C. Wells and Solomon Hudspeth for the sum of one hundred dollars in exchange for a Pre-emption Claim of Land with improvements [i.e. buildings, fences].
Biographical/Historical Note
The Wells and Hudspeth families are prominent in Arkansas history, and both were early settlers to Lawrence County. In this deed, Hudspeth is purchasing a pre-emption claim which was a popular practice in the 19th century. Pre-emption referred to a settler's right to buy public land at a federally set minimum price. Typically, this claim was given to heads of households who developed land into a farm and made improvements upon the property.
Transcription
Know all men by these present that I Henry
C,, Wells of the County of Lawrence and Teritory[sic]
of Arkansas hath bargained and soloo[sold] unto Solo-
=mon Huespeth[Hudspeth] of the County and Teritory[sic]
Aforesaid A certain Improvement or pre-
=emption Claim of Land situate on the north
sia-[side] of Spring River Two miles above John
Wells's[sic] and for an in consideration of one
Hundred Dollars to me in hand Paid the Receipt
of Which I here by Acknowledge to have -
Received I bind myself my Heirs Executors -
Administrators and C,, to warrent[sic] and Defined
the title of the said Preemption Claim of Land
or Improvement to him the Sd.[said] Huaspeth[Hudspeth]
His Heirs or Assigns In testimony Whereof I -
hereunto set my hand and seal this 20th
of July 1820
Henry C. Wells
Attest
George J. Hudspeth
(back top-upside down)
Henry, C, Wells,s
to
Sol.[Solomon] Hudspith[sic]
Land Title
Preemption
Filed 28th July 1820
Recorded in Book B
fol[sic] 213 and 214
R Searcy clk[clerk]
Tax 50
2.30
record 33
cert and seal + .50
[total]1.33
(back bottom)
This day Came before me Alexd.[Alexander] Hodge a justice
of the peace within and for the County of Lawrence
George S Hudspeth and made Oath that the said
Henry C Wells signd[sic] and Delivered the within[sic]
instrument of writing to Soloman Hindspeth[Hudspeth] for
the within porposes[sic] mentioned Sworn to before
me This twenty[sic] eight day of July 1820
Alexd.[Alexander] Hodge J.P.[Justice of the Peace]
Territory of Arkansas
County of Lawrence
---- that on the 28 day of
July 1820 the within instrument
was filed for record and the same is duly recorded in
Record Book B fol 213. and 214.
Rich Searcy clk
Physical Description
Document, 12.25" x 7.75"
Subjects
Farms; Frontier and pioneer life; Land; Land use; Law
Contributor
Henry C. Wells
Geographical Area
Lawrence County (Ark.)
Language
English
Identifier
MSNE.0077, Box 1, Folder 1820, Item 3
Resource Type
Text
Collection
Lawrence County (Ark.) land records, MS.0077
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives
Recommended Citation
Deed, Henry C. Wells to Solomon Hudspeth, Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives, Powhatan, Arkansas.
Rights
Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
Disciplines
United States History