Ephraim K. Willson's Quit Claims - Part of Lot 25

On 20 Aug 1825, Tax Collector Kalfus sold that part of Lot 25 owned by Abner Chalfant, and 17 feet off of Lot 19 owned by John Scott for taxes due and not paid.

Francis Blundell first obtained Lot 25 from the Shepherdsville Trustees. He then sold the southeast corner part to Thomas Holt, before later selling the 40' by 40' section north of the public square to Holt, while retaining the remainder.

In 1806, John Hough and Andrew Ralston sued Blundell and Holt for payment of debts, and the sheriff was required to sell Blundell and Holt's parts of lot 25 to recover the necessary money to pay the debts. At the sale, Andrew Ralston was the purchaser. This included the two sections Blundell had sold Holt as well as the part of the lot he still owned.

Ralston almost immediately sold his lot 25 holdings to Abner Chalfant. Then on 20 Aug 1825, Shepherdsville Tax Collector Kalfus sold that part of Lot 25 owned by Abner Chalfant for taxes due and not paid. Ephraim K. Willson was the purchaser of both. Note that while the deed seems to be selling the entire Lot 25, it was only that part owned by Chalfant being sold.

On 2 Aug 1825, Ephraim K. Willson paid Elizabeth Chalfant Moore & Susan Chalfant Rix for any rights they might have to lot 25. They were sisters, daughters of the now deceased Abner Chalfant who had had eight children. Of these Harry died young, leaving the others to share his inheritance from his deceased father

In October 1829, three of the others, Margaret Purcell, Nancy Newland and James R. Chalfant sold their undivided shares of Abner's part of lot 25 to Thomas Q. Willson, Ephraim's brother. Then in October 1832, Jane Moore, another of Abner's children, sold her share to Thomas as well.

Thus by the fall of 1832, the Chalfant holdings in lot 25 were securely in the two brothers' hands. Then in 1842, after E. K. Willson had moved to Louisiana, he deeded quit claims to release his holdings to others.

It seems likely that Lot No. 19 may have been redeemed by Scott, for it was again sold for taxes in 1827.

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First, Willson released his claim to the share now claimed by William R. Thompson, as shown below.

Bullitt County Deed Book K, Page 5

For the sum of one dollar and other considerations from William R. Grigsby, I have this day conveyed and do hereby convey and transfer to Henry J. Craycroft, all claim whatever I have to the lots or parts of lots conveyed by William R. Grigsby and Thomas Q. Willson to William R. Thompson by deed dated __ day of November 1839, recorded in Bullitt County Court clerk's office, Deed Book I, [page 258.] and said lots or parts of lots were conveyed to said Henry J. Craycroft by William R. Thompson by deed dated 10th day of February 1840 and recorded in Bullitt County Court clerk's office, Deed Book I, [page 276]. Reference is made to said deeds for a more particular description of said lots or parts of lots, said lots or parts of lots lie in Shepherdsville in the county of Bullitt.

This relinquishment is made without any warranty of title or any recourse to me or without my incurring any liability by this conveyance. Witness my hand and seal the 22nd day of August 1842.

This deed is intended to convey to said H. J. Craycroft, such part of lot number 25 as he said Craycroft now has under fence, as fenced in and enclosed by said Craycroft, and which title I acquired under deed at tax sales from town tax Shepherdsville, and deed from part of the heirs of Abner Chalfant of record in Bullitt County Court office to me, leaving the other part of said lot not enclosed by Craycroft not hereby conveyed but claimed by me. This deed is quit claim title only by consent and without any warranty of title or responsibility on me whatever. (signed) E. K. Willson

Second, he deeded a quit claim to Richard P. Simmons for another part of this lot, as shown below.

Bullitt County Deed Book K, Pages 23-24

Whereas I claim title to that part of lot number 25 called Chalfant lot in Shepherdsville, Bullitt County, Kentucky by tax sale for taxes in Shepherdsville, and from a purchase of part of the heirs of A. Chalfant, see deeds of record, Bullitt County court office, and have conveyed to H. J. Claycroft part thereof by quit claim; and Richard P. Simmons claims a part thereof by purchase derived directly by him from Francis Maraman's heirs, they claimed under Thomas Q. Willson, my brother, reference to the bond of said Thomas Q. Willson will show the quantity sold and claimed by said Simmons.

Now in consideration of the premises and one dollar paid, I Ephraim K. Willson of Louisiana have conveyed and do hereby convey to said R. P. Simmons all my title to such part of said lot so sold by my brother to Maraman and now claimed by Simmons under said sale. This deed is a quit claim title only and without any warranty for title in any event whatever or recourse to me in any event whatever for title. August 22, 1842. (signed) E. K. Willson

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