Looking for a Transcription on a Deed for my Ancestor William W Major (1812-1876)

Brian Paul Kaess

Hello,

Looking for a Transcription for a Deed my Ancestor William Watson Major (1812-1876) of Rockbridge County, Virginia. The Deed, on pages 409-11 of the Deed Book, is in slightly garbled English. Dated to October 1867, it is for the Lexington Hotel, where my Ancestor was reputed to be friends with Robert E Lee when he would visit. I have also included an image of the Hotel, circa 1866. See attached below.

Randall Jay Philpot

Brian:

See below. Probably not exact but hope this helps.😀

409 

This deed made this first day of October in the year 1867, between G.A. White 

And E.A. White his wife of the first part and William W. Major of the second part, 

Witnesseth:  that in consideration of Eight Thousand Dollars lawful money of the 

United States, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledge, the said parties of the 

First part do hereby grant unto the said William W. Major all that parcel of land on 

Which said Major now resides heretofore sold by said G.A. White to said Major, 

and being a part of the same tract, lying in Rockbridge County, Virginia, 

which was conveyed to said G.A. White by deed executed by James G. Laird and 

wife and David E. Laird and wife, dated January 25th 1863, and recorded in the 

Office of the County Court Clerk’s of said County in Deed Book II page 259; 

the portion of said whole tract hereby granted or intended to be granted, being 

two hundred acres more or less of the North East part of said track and including 

the brick dwelling house and outbuildings appertained thereto, and being 

that part adjoining to and bounded in part by the farm of James G. Devose, 

Joseph Steele, John Ruff, David Witt and that belonging to the heirs or 

devisees of Capt. Saml. Johnson and said two hundred acres being the same 

now in the actual occupation of said Major and particularly described by 

metes and bounds, by a survey and plat thereof made by Jacob Shaver in the Month of 

March 1867.  The said G.A. White hereby covenants with the said William  

W. Major that he has the right to convey said property, that he has done no act 

to encumber the same, that the grantee shall have quiet possession thereof free from 

all encumbrances, that he covenants the said property generally and will execute 

such further apurtances of the said property as may be requisite Witness the  

following signatures and seals the day and year herein first above written. 

G.A. White “Seal” 

E.A. White “Seal” 

State of Virginia 

Rockbridge County:  to wit. 

We John W. Jordan and John F. Figgatt justices of the peace 

For the County of Rockbridge in the state of Virginia, do certify that G.A. White 

And E.A. White whose names are signed to the Deed or writing hereto annexed 

Bearing date on the first day of October 1867, have acknowledged the same before 

Us in our County aforesaid.  And we do further certify E.A. White, the 

Wife of G.A. White, whose names are signed to the deed or writing hereto annexed 

bearing date on the first day of October 1867, have acknowledged the same before 

County aforesaid, and being examined by us privily and apart from her 

Husband and having the writing aforesaid fully explained to her, she, the said 

E.A. White acknowledged the said writing to be her act and declared that she 

Had willingly executed the same and does not wish to retract it. 

Given under our hands this 1st Day of October Anno Domini 1867. 

John W. Jordan E.P. 

J.T. Figgatt E.P. 

   In Rockbridge County Court Clerk’s Office October 31, 1867. 

This deed from G.A. White & wife to William W. Major, was this day produced to me 

With the annexed certificate of its acknowledgment and having therein affixed 

Revenue stamps of the value of $8.00 admitted to record. 

Teste 

J.K. Edmondson C.C. 

410 

This deed, made this first day of October in the year 1867 between G.A. White 

and E.A. White his wife of the first part and Charles T.O. Ferrall and William W. 

Major of the second part, Witneseth:  that in consideration of Thirty two Thousand 

Dollars, lawful money of the United States, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, 

the said parties of the first part, do grant unto the said Charles T.O. Ferrell and William 

W. Major, all the right, title and interest of said parties of the first part, in and to 

that real estate situated in the town of Lexington, in Rockbridge County, Virginia 

known as the Lexington Hotel including all the apurtances and lots thereto 

belonging, the said property being bounded as follows.—in front by Main Street, 

on the south East by the back street sometimes called Randolph Street, and on the North 

East by the alley and lot of H.M. Estill’s also another lot thereto attached, and now 

improved by a large new stable, bounded by said back street, by a lot owned by the 

heirs of John McClelland by the lot of J.D. Davidson and by the lots lately owned by 

Matthew White and Robert McDowell; the right, title and interest hereby granted 

or conveyed by the parties of the first part, to the parties of the second part being all 

that right, title and interest in and to said Hotel property and appurtenances and lots 

thereto belonging which was heretofore conveyed to said G.A. White by 

George W. Johnson and wife by deed dated the 18th of August 1864 and duly 

recorded in the office of the Clerk of the County Court of Rockbridge: and also 

any other or further right, title and interest of any kind or nature whatever 

held or claimed by the parties of the first part on and to said Lexington 

Hotel property and its appurtenances aforesaid, including also the personal 

property now in said Hotel and used therewith as said personal property is 

described in an inventory of the same heretofore made out and dated on Sept. 

19th 1867; said parties of the first part hereby expressly conveying and assigning 

to said parties of the second part all of the personal property contained and 

described in said inventory.  But it is distinctly understood and agreed by 

and between the parties of the first and second parties, that said G.A. White only 

grants, conveys and assigns to the parties of the second part his own undivided 

interest in the said Hotel property and its appurtenances, and that said parties 

of the second part are to purchase from the Executor or other legal representatives of 

the late George W. Jonson and at the proper cost of said parties of the second part 

such undivided interest therein as said Executor, or the other legal representatives 

of said Johnson may hold or claim, in the said hotel property and its appropriate 

names; it being the true intent and meaning of the parties of the first and 

second parts, that said parties of the second part are to take by virtue of this deed 

all the rights, titles and interest of said G.A, White in said hotel property and 

appurtenances with the like advantages and burdens as the same were held by 

said G.A. White himself; and with full right to said parties of the second 

parts to satisfy, if they see proper, the alleged sale of March 20, 1866 if 

said hotel property and to settle and pay of the interest or claim of said 

G.W. Johnson’s estate in or to said hotel property as if said sale for $32,000 

had been regular and valid and binding in all parties interested 

therein.  The said G.A. White hereby covenants with the said Charles 

 

411 

T.O. Ferrell and Willaim W. Major, that he has done no act to encumber the property hereby 

Granted and conveyed, that the grantees shall have quiet possession thereof free from all 

encumbrances (except these herein before expressly mentioned) that he will covenant the  

said property generally, and will execute such further assurances as may be requisite  

Witness the following signatures and seals the day and year first above written. 

G.A. White “Seal” 

E.A. White “Seal” 

Chas. T.O. Ferrall “Seal” 

Wm. W. Major “Seal” 

State of Virginia, Rockbridge County to wit. 

We, John W. Jordan and J.T. Figgatt, justices of the peace for the County 

of Rockbridge in the State of Virginia, do certify that G.A. White and E.A. White who’s 

names are signed to the deed or writing hereto annexed, bearing date on the 1st day of 

October 1867, have acknowledged the same before us, in our County aforesaid.  And we do 

further certify, that E.A. White, the wife of G.A. White, whose names are signed to the 

deed as writing hereto annexed, bearing date on the 1st day of October 1867, personally 

appeared before us in the County aforesaid, and being examined by us privily and apart 

from her husband, and having the writing aforesaid fully explained to her, she, the 

said E.A. White acknowledged the said writing to be her act and declared that she 

had willingly executed the same, and does not wish to retract it. 

Given under our hands the 1st day of October Anno Domini 1867. 

John W. Jordan J.P. 

J.T. Figgatt J.P. 

In Rockbridge County Court Clerk’s Office October 31st 1867. 

        This deed from G.A. White and wife to Charles T.O. Ferrall and 

William W. Major, was this day produced to me with the annexed certificate of its 

Acknowledgment and having thereon affixed revenue stamps of the value of $32.00 

admitted to record. 

Teste 

J.K. Edmondson. C.C.