On 20 Jul 1821, Benjamin Stansbury deeded several parcels of land to his son-in-law and daughter George and Hannah Beeler, and his daughter Elizabeth Stansbury. The deed included six lots of ground of a half acre each in Shepherdsville. They included lots 13, 14, 15, 32, 38 and 53 under the town plat drawn by James Shanks.
On 20 Jul 1821, George, Hannah and Elizabeth sold lots 38 and 53 to John J. Dozier. Dozier lost the two lots in Circuit Court suits when they were sold to Robert Shanklin and Richard P. Simmons to pay his debts, as described below.
On 11 Mar 1822, Sheriff Joseph Hedges completed the legal process of transferring ownership of Shepherdsville lots 38 and 53 (new plan) from James J. Dozier to Robert Shanklin and Richard P. Simmons. Essentially, Dozier was in debt, and had been sued in Bullitt Circuit Court where it was ruled that these lots must be sold to pay his debts. At the sale, Robert Shanklin was the purchaser. Richard P. Simmons had advanced funds to Shanklin, and in return Shanklin requested that the sheriff make a deed to Simmons for an undivided half of lot 53.
Bullitt County Deed Book D, Pages 509-512
This indenture made and entered into this 11th day of March 1822 between Joseph Hedges Esquire, Sheriff of Bullitt County, of the one part and Robert Shanklin and Richard P. Simmons of the other part.
Witnesseth that whereas on the 21st day of February 1822 in the 30th year of the Commonwealth of Kentucky there issued from the clerk's office of the Bullitt Circuit Court a writ of execution commonly called a fiere facias in the words and figures following, (viz)
The Commonwealth of Kentucky to the Sheriff of Bullitt County, Greeting. We command you that of the estate of James J. Dozier and Henry Oldham, late of your bailiwick you cause to be made the sum of $160 which Moses Clark, lately in said Bullitt Circuit Court recovered against them for debt by virtue of a Replevin bond, and by the force of an Act of Assembly &c; also 33 cents adjudged to him for his costs by him expended.
Whereof the said James J. Dozier and Henry Oldham are convicted as appears to us of record, and that you the said $160 have before the judge of our said court at the courthouse in Shepherdsville on 6th day of April next to render to the said Moses Clark his debt and costs aforesaid; and have then there this writ.
Witness George F. Pope, clerk of our said court at the courthouse aforesaid the 21st day of February 1822, and in the 30th year of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. (signed) George F. Pope.
On which is the following endorsement and sheriff's return (viz): Memo. This execution is to be discharged by the payment of $82.66, five mills with interest thereon after the rate of 6% per annum from the eighth day of November 1821 till paid, and the cost; and no security of any kind is to be taken; and by order of plaintiff's attorney notes on the Bank of Kentucky or its branches, or notes on the Bank of the Commonwealth of Kentucky or its branches may be received by the officer in charge of the whole of this execution. Teste. George F. Pope, C.B.C.C.
The Sheriff's return is as follows. The sum of 148.50 money made to satisfy this execution on the 11th day of March 1822 by sale of two lots in the town of Shepherdsville, one of which is numbered 53 and the other 38, the property of James J. Dozier, deeded to him by George Beeler and wife, adn Elizabeth Stansbury, consisting of one half acre each; which lots aforesaid was regularly advertised for sale and all other the regular and necessary proceedings touching the premises thereon had previous to the day of sale when Robert Shanklin became the purchaser of both lots when on the day set for sale they were regularly exposed, and cried of to the said Shanklin who was the highest bidder for the sum of $83.50 for one and the other for $65, making in all $148.50 on the 11th day of March 1822 by George Hedges, Deputy Sheriff for Joseph Hedges Esquire, Sheriff of Bullitt County who was present on the day of sale. (signed) George Hedges, D.S., Joseph Hedges, S.B.C.
And the said two lots before mentioned and so sold by the said sheriff is deeded to the said James J. Dozier by the said George Beeler and wife, and Elizabeth Stansbury; and the deed from the aforesaid grantors to the aforesaid James J. Dozier is recorded in the clerk's office of the Bullitt County Court in Deed Book D, and the aforesaid Robert Shanklin for and in consideration of the sum of $32.50, which money that said Richard P. Simmons advanced to him, the said Shanklin agrees and hereby requests that one undivided moiety of the more southwardly lot lying on Water Street in the town of Shepherdsville aforesaid shall be and the same is hereby deeded to the aforesaid Richard P. Simmons in conjunction with the aforesaid Shanklin; but the other lot exclusively belongs to Shanklin alone.
And Joseph Hedges, Sheriff of Bullitt County aforesaid, being on the aforesaid lots when the aforesaid was made by the aforesaid George Hedges, my aforesaid deputy sheriff cried off the aforesaid lots to the aforesaid Shanklin, do by these presents as sheriff of Bullitt County aforesaid convey to the aforesaid Robert Shanklin for and in consideration of the premises aforesaid, and to Richard P. Simmons the one undivided moiety of the lot lying on Water Street as before mentioned, and no more, all the right, title, claim and interest of and belonging to the said James J. Dozier to the said lots to the said Robert Shanklin and his heirs forever.
And at the request of said Shanklin, I convey unto the said Richard P. Simmons and his heirs forever the one undivided moiety of one of the said lots which lies on Water Street in the aforesaid town of Shepherdsville, and has been before mentioned.
In testimony whereof I have signed, sealed, acknowledged and delivered as sheriff aforesaid this [?] in presence of ... (signed) Joseph Hedges, S.B.C.
State of Kentucky
I George F. Pope, Clerk of the county Court of Bullitt County, do certify that on this day the within named Joseph Hedges, Sheriff of Bullitt County, came personally before me in my office and acknowledged and delivered the within indenture of bargain and sale to be his act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned. Whereupon I have recorded the same with this certificate in my said office as required by law. Witness my hand this 12th day of March 1822. (signed) George F. Pope
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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: 27 Oct 2026 . Page URL: bullittcountyhistory.org/bchistory/dozier-shanklin-simmons.html
