Amanuensis Monday: I Knew I Had Seen This Description Before

You have to love those light bulb moments that happen while your researching. You'll come across something that seems familiar. At first, you can't place where you've seen something before. Then...Bing! A bulb goes off in your head and you say to yourself, "I got it!"

Well, that's what happened recently when I was reviewing through the deeds of some of my 3rd great grandfather's neighbors. I wrote about one of these neighbors in particular, Vine Allen Tolson, in a few different posts. Here are the links if you missed those posts:

Mortimer Mitchell's Neighbor Vine Allen Tolson --Part One

Mortimer Mitchell's Neighbor Vine Allen Tolson --Part Two 

Mortimer Mitchell's Neighbor Vine Allen Tolson --Part Three 

My 3rd great grandfather Mortimer Mitchell purchased land from the Vine Allen Tolson's half sister, Elizabeth Hardison Williams, in 1878. In that deed, a description of the land was provided.

Deed information courtesy of Craven County Register of Deeds

Land description from Mortimer Mitchell's deed

...land situate in the    and bounded and described as follows lying on the North West side of the Meeting house Branch Beginning Where the Main Road Crosses said branch thence down the branch to the great branch and With the great branch to the said Vine A. Tolsons Corner to a Marked bay. Thence the said Tolson line to the Main Road thence With said to the Beginning. In the above tract of land there six acres to be Excepted for the use of the Church and School house the Remainder the said part of the second parties. 

As I reviewed through a list of Tolson deeds on line, one in particular caught my eye. If you happen to have ancestors that lived in Craven County, NC and who owned land, you too can check their deed information on-line. Here's the link for Craven County Register of Deeds online access site:  http://72.15.246.183/CravenNC/

Screen shot of an index page for Tolson deeds

Here's a listing for a purchase of land by Elizabeth Hardison from Vine Allen Tolson. Now check this out.

                 State of North Carolina Craven County April 16, 1865

This deed made by Vine A Tolson of the County of Craven and State of North Carolina to Elizabeth W. Hardison of the same County and State. Witnesseth: That the said Vine A. Tolson hath bargained and sold and by these presents doth bargain and sell to the said Elizabeth W. Hardison for and in consideration of the sum of Seventy-five Dollars (75) to the said Vine A Tolson paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged the following tract of land in the County of Craven and State of North Carolina lying on the South side of the County road leading from New Berne to Beaufort and on the North west side of the Meeting House branch beginning where the main road crosses said branch thence down the branch to the great branch and with the great branch to the said Vine A Tolsons corner a marked bay thence with the said Tolson line to the main road thence with said road to the beginning. To have and to hold the said parcel of land except six acres, one for the Church and five for the School House. 
          To have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land to the said Elizabeth W. Hardison forever provided her title to her land heired from her Grandfather and her brother Thomas G Tolson is made good to me Vine A Tolson and to her only use and behoof. And the said Vine A Tolson for himself and her heirs do covenant to and with the said Vine A Tolson is lawfully seized of the said land and hath full right to convey the same in fee simple and that he will at all and any time when requested by the said Elizabeth W Hardison execute with further assurance or deed at the proper costs and charges of the said Elizabeth W Hardison for the promises which the said Elizabeth W Hardison may be advised by council learned in the law as is necessary to assure her title thereon.
          In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal. 

Signed, Sealed and     }
attested in the presence of }                            V. A. Tolson (Seal)
C. W. Wood      }
T. J. Tolson       }

               Probate Court Craven Co. N.C. New Berne Sept 28, 1869 
Then was the due and legal execution of the foregoing deed acknowledged before me by V. A. Tolson, the grantor therein named. Let said deed with this certificate be registered. 

                                                                     G. E. West
                                                                Judge of Probate
Registered Sept. 28, 1869.

The land my 3rd great grandfather Mortimer Mitchell purchased from Elizabeth in 1878 was the very same land that she had purchased in 1865 from her half-brother Vine Allen Tolson. 

P.S. Hey, y'all I know I've been away for a bit. I am going to try to get back to posting more consistently now. I've been feeling the itch to write up some stuff so stay tuned.