John England and Vesta Zipporah (Zipporah) Choate were my fifth great grandparents. This is one of a series of deeds where John and Zipporah's children sold their shares of their inheritance of John's land. The series of deeds provide the best evidence for the identities of the children.
By this deed, Nichodemus Hackworth sold his share of the land to Spencer Keith. The deed uses the phrase "undivided moiety" to indicate that Nichodemus was not the sole owner of the land and that he was only selling his respective share.
The most salient portion of the deed is where it states that "all the Right title claim and demand that the said Nichodemus Hackworth Hath of in and to as may have to two hundred acres of Land lying in the County of Anderson and State of Tennessee being the place John England Father of the Polly England now the Wife of Nichodemus Hackworth lived and Deceased" Therefore, this deed confirms that Polly England who married Nichodemus Hackworth was the daughter of John England and Vesta Zipporah Choate.
I have not yet identified the exact location of the land. We know that Spencer Keith paid taxes in District 9 of Anderson County, Tennessee and these were the only taxes he paid. So District 9 is where the land must have been located. District 9 is in the southwest corner of the county, bounded to the west by Roane County, to the south by the Clinch River, to the east by the Clinch River, and to the north by Pine Ridge. It is Pine Ridge that separates the Y-12 reservation from downtown Oak Ridge. The Y-12 reservation is in District 9, and the District 9 area was commonly known as the Scarbrough community.
Anderson County, Tennessee deed book B1, page 189
This Indenture made on the fourteenth day of
November one thousand Eight hundred and twenty
Between Nicodemus Hackworth of the County of
Cotaco and State of Alabama of the one part and
Spencer Keith of the State of Tennessee and County
of Anderson of the Other part Witnesseth that
The said Nichodemus Hackworth for and in consideration
of the Sum of Forty dollars to him
in hand paid by the said Spencer Keith the Right whereof is hereby acknowledged
hath and by these presents doth, grant,
Bargain sell alien enfeoff and confirm unto
his heirs and assigns forever all the Right title
claim and demand that the said Nichodemus Hackworth
Hath of in and to as may have to two hundred acres
of Land lying in the County of Anderson and
State of Tennessee being the place John England
Father of the Polly England now the Wife of Nichodemus
Hackworth lived and Deceased which tract
of land is Bounded as follows (to wit) Beginning
on the South Side of a Ridge and Black Oak
And white oak thence South fifty Degrees West
One hundred and Seventy Eight poles to a Small
gum Corner to a tract of land conveyed
By James Russell to William Wyatt Thence
on a direct line formerly Run By James
Russell and Brice Russell Being the Closing
line of Wyatt's conveyance one hundred and
Eighty poles to a Stake Thence North fifty
degrees East One hundred and Seventy Eight
poles to Stake thence North fifty degrees East
Anderson County, Tennessee deed book B1, page 190
To the Beginning
With all and Singular the woods waters profits
hereditaments and appurtenances unto the said tract
of land Belonging so far as Relates to for
as the part of him The said Nichodemus Hackworth
or his undivided moiety to the Same unto
The said Spencer Keith his heirs and assigns forever
against the claims of him The Said Nichodemus
Hackworth his heirs and assigns Whatsoever
claim under him will warrant and
forever defend and witness whereof the said
Nichodemus Hackworth hath hereunto Set his hand
and seal This day and year above Written.
Test.
Gabriel Hackworth | N Hackworth (seal)
Austin Hackworth |
State of Tennessee | October session 1823
Anderson County |
The with deed of conveyance was duly
Proved in open court by the Subscribing
Witnesses thereto and ordered to be
Registered. H. Barton C.A.C.
Registered 15th
Dec 1823
