Bullitt County History

John W. Beckwith to Cornelius Comyges and John Pershouse

On 3 Aug 1822, John W. Beckwith mortgaged his three tracts to two Philadelphia brokers in exchange for a loan of $5000, as shown in the following deed.


Bullitt County Deed Book E, Pages 17-20

This indenture made this third day of August 1822 between John W. Beckwith of Bullitt County and State of Kentucky of the one part and Cornelius Comyges and John Pershouse of the other part. Witnesseth that the said John W. Beckwith for and in consideration of the sum of $5000 current money to him in hand paid before the sealing and delivery hereof, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath granted, bargained and sold and by these presents doth grant, bargain and sell, alien, release, convey and confirm unto the said Cornelius Comyges and John Pershouse their heirs &c forever two certain tracts or parcels of land situate lying and being in the said county of Bullitt on Salt River, commonly called the mill tract, one of which is bounded as follows, vizt.Beginning at two Black Walnuts and three Mulberry saplings on the north bank of Salt River, thence South seventy-nine degrees East two hundred and forty poles to a Black or Red Oak, Elm and Sweet Gum saplings in a flat, thence South six degrees thirty minutes West forty nine poles to a stake corner to the grave yard, thence with a line of the same North eighty-three degrees West twenty-five poles to another stake, thence South six degrees thirty minutes West six poles to another stake, thence South eighty-three and one half degrees East twenty-five poles to a stake, thence South six degrees thirty minutes West twenty-six poles to a line of said Shepherd's six hundred acre survey on the bank of Salt River, thence down said river and binding thereon with the several meanders thereof to the Beginning containing one hundred and fifty acres and bounded as follows to wit.

Beginning in the upper line of the aforesaid one hundred and fifty acre tract at the junction of the lower line of Water Street in Shepherdsville, with said line thence with said Street line up the river as far as Walnut Street, thence with said Street to the river, thence up the river to a large Beech tree marked A.S., corner to Peter Shepherd's 600 acre survey, thence with a line thereof South thirty six degrees West to the South side of Salt River and so far up the bank thereof as shall be seven feet perpendicular height above low water mark, thence down said river at the distance aforesaid to a point opposite to the Beginning corner of the said one hundred and fifty acres, thence crossing the river to the said beginning corner, thence up the river with the lines of the said tract of onehundred and fifty acres to the beginning which siad two tracts were conveyed to John W. Beckwith and Frederic W. S. Grayson by deed bearing date the 1st day of March 1813 and recroded in the clerk's office of the county Court of Bullitt County reference being there to had will more fully appear. Also a certain tract lying and being in said county on Salt River back of and below the town of Shepherdsville containing 250 acres more or less and bounded as follows.

Beginning at a stone corner to Beckwith and Grayson at A and running thence North 79° West 160 poles to B, thence North 4° West 369 poles to C, thence South 35° E 377 poles to D, thence South 6 1/2° West 100 poles to E, thence North 79° West 40 poles to F, thence South 6 1/2° West 40 poles to G in the first line, thence South 79° East 40 poles to the beginning, which tract was conveyed t othe said John W. Beckwith by Adam Shepherd and wife and William Pope Jr. by deed having a plat thereon of the courses and quantity of land bearing date the 13th day of October 1818 and recorded in the clerk's office of the County Court of Bullitt County reference being thereto had will more fully appear.

To have and to hold the said three tracts or parcels of land with all the appurtenances thereto belonging unto the said Cornelius Comyges and John Pershouse, their heirs &c forever, free and clear of and from all right and title of dower or other encumbrance whatsoever, and the said John W. Beckwith doth covenant and agree to and with the said Comyges and Pershouse that he will and his heirs shall warrant and forever defend the said three tracts or parcels of land and appurtenances to them, their heirs &c from himself and his heirs and all persons claiming or to claim the same, provided nevertheless and these presents are upon the condition that if the said John W. Beckwith shall well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto the said Cornelius Comyges and John Pershouse under the firm of C. Comyges &cand unto C. C. Falconer &c the following sums of money and such other sums of money that may be received so as to amount to the sum of $5000 with the sums now due as herein after stated, and at the time herein stated (to wit) one note dated the 16th day of June 1819 payable on demand for $1654.75 with credit thereon endorsed to the amount of $503.90 given to C. Comyges &c, one other note of same date and payable on demand for $833.43 payable to C. C. Falconer and with a credit thereon of $117.00 and annual payments of $1000, the balance due on the said notes to bear interest until paid; it being the intention of the parties and is so to be understood that the parties of the second part advances to the said Beckwith as much money as will added to the aforesaid sum now due by note make thesum of $5000 which sum is to be paid by the said Beckwith in annual payments of $1000 in specie or in paper on such banks as pay specie for their paper, then these presents shall cease and become utterly null and void. And the land hereby conveyed shall revert to the said Beckwith, his heirs &c, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, else to remain in full force and virtue in law. In testimony whereof hte said John W. Beckwith hereto sets his hand and seal on the day and year before written. (signed) John W. Beckwith


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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/beckwith-comyges.html