John Masden to Heirs, 200 Acres

In 1834, at some point following the death of John Masden, his two 100 acre tracts in southern Bullitt County were deeded to his heirs. We have transcribed the deed below its images, separating it into relevant sections to ease its understanding. Here you will find the names of his children and some of his grandchildren as well.

Bullitt County Deed Book H, pages 47-49

Whereas John Masden dec'd departed this life in Bullitt County, Kentucky possessed of two hundred acres of land on which he lived at the time of his death lying on Cane Run in two tracts of one hundred acres each conveyed to the said Masden by Adam Shepherd and Jacob Shawler and wife.

The tract conveyed by Shepherd and wife is bounded as follows (to wit) Beginning at a white oak and sugartree and beech standing on the South bank of Cane Run and in the original line, thence with said line S 10 E 94 poles to Macher's corner of three white oaks, thence N 80 E 114 poles to two beeches in the original line, thence N 10 W 179 poles to a sycamore and buckeye on the south bank of Cane Run, thence down said run in the middle thereof with its several meanders one hundred and ninety four poles to the beginning.

And the other tract bounded as follows to wit: Beginning at two white oaks, the southwestwardly corner of John Macher's lower 500 acre tract on Cane Run, thence S 10 E 20 poles to a chesnut oak, thence N 80 E 40 poles to a white oak, thence S 11 E 103 poles to a black oak, thence N 86 E 59 poles to three white oaks, thence N 27 E 112 poles to a white oak, thence N 85 E 10 poles to a chesnut oak and white oak and pine, thence N 10 W 50 poles to two white oaks, black oak and ironwood in Macher's line, thence with his line S 88(?) W 159 poles to the beginning.

And the said John Masden also departed this life leaving Jonathan Masden, James Masden, John Masden, Nancy Masden, Mary Masden, Gilly Masden who intermarried with Jonathan Ricketts, Elizabeth Masden who intermarried with John Boots, William Masden & Benjamin Masden his legal heirs and representatives.

And whereas also since the death of the said John Masden, the aforesaid John Masden, one of the heirs, bought of the said James Masden, Jonathan Masden and John Boots and Elizabeth his wife all their right, title and interest of in and to the said two tracts of land and obtained their bond for a conveyance.

And the said Gilly Ricketts before she intermarried with the said Jonathan Ricketts and the said Benjamin Masden and John Masden sold to William Masden all their right title and interest in said tracts of land as heirs as aforesaid, and the said John as purchaser as aforesaid and gave their bond to convey the same.

Since which time the said Benjamin Masden departed this life intestate, leaving Taylor Masden and Nancy Masden his heirs and legal representative, and the said James Masden has also departed this life leaving Hardin Masden, Ellen who intermarried with Felix Hamilton, John Masden, Matilda Masden, Drusilla Masden, James Masden and Felix Masden his heirs and representatives.

Now this indenture made this twenty first day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty three between the said Jonathan Masden, John Masden and Mary his wife, John Boots and Elizabeth his wife, Johnathan Ricketts and Gilly his wife of the county of Bullitt and State of Kentucky of the one part and the said William Masden of the same county and state of the other part, witnesseth that the said Jonathan Masden, John Masden and Mary his wife, John Boots and Elizabeth his wife, Johnathan Ricketts and Gilly his wife for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and twenty dollars to them in hand paid before the sealing and delivery hereof, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained and sold and by these presents do grant, bargain and sell, alien, release, convey and confirm unto the said William Masden, his heirs, executors, and assigns all their right title interest and claim as heirs as aforesaid and that interest of which the said John purchased of in and to the said two tracts or parcels of land bounded and described as aforesaid to have and to hold the said right title interest & claim as aforesaid in the said tracts or parcels of land and appurtenances unto him the said William Masden, his heirs, executors and assigns and to his and their only proper use, benefit and behoof forever.

And the said Jonathan Masden, John Masden and Mary his wife, John Boots and Elizabeth his wife, Johnathan Ricketts and Gilly his wife for themselves, their heirs &c do convenant that they will and their heirs shall warrant and forever defend the interest right and title hereby conveyed in the said tracts of land & appurtenances unto him the said William Masden, his heirs &c from the claim or claims of all persons claiming or to claim the same. In testimony whereof the parties of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals on the day and year within written. [signatures: John and Mary Masden made their marks; the rest signed.] Attest: John Hart, Squire Hart

Commonwealth of Kentucky, Bullitt County to wit:
I David B. Abernathy, deputy for Noah C. Summers, clerk of the county court for the county aforesaid, do certify that this deed from John Masden and Mary his wife, Jonathan Masden, John Boots and Elizabeth his wife, Johnathan Ricketts and Gilly his wife to William Masden was this day produced to me in said county and acknowledged by the said John Masden, Jonathan Masden, John Boots, and Jonathan Ricketts to be their acts and deeds for the purposes therein named. And that the said Mary Masden, Elizabeth Boots, and Gilly Ricketts, being examined by me privily and apart from their husbands declared that they did freely and willingly seal and deliver the said writing and wishes not to retract it, and acknowledged the said deed again shown and explained to them to be their acts and deeds and consented that the same may be recorded. Whereupon the said deed together with this certificate hath been duly admitted to record in my office. Given under my hand this 27th day of February 1834. (signed) David P. Abernathy D.C.

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