Warwick County VA - Notes on the Miles Curtis Family File submitted for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Ray Parker ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in Any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************ The folder containing this in research on the Miles Curtis Estate was salvaged from the demolished Smith Hotel located across the street from the Denbigh Court House, Denbigh, VA. The original folder containing the typed pages this text came from, the original hand-written notes and a copy of the plat are located in the: Main Street Library 110 Main Street Newport News, Virginia 23601 Tel: (757) 591-4858 Fax: (757) 591-7425 ======================================== MILES CURTIS ESTATE INTRODUCTION The following collection of interviews, field trips, grave records, and Clerks Office searches have been assembled to put together a picture of the division of the Miles Curtis Estate and to establish to whom each original share went. There is included the name of every original shareholder. The identity of all but one are certain. The exception is Mary W. Curtis. I believe that she is the same as Mary Wade Curtis but if this is true then she was not of age at the settlement, signed a deed at the age of 14, and had a sister and two brothers, and left all of her estate to her husband Samuel C. Curtis at her death. I believe that the deed from Thomas Curtis, Jr. and Martha F. is legitimate insofar as they are the correct signors of a deed. All of the holders of an original share who bounded the No 1 share and sold their share or gave a deed of trust recognized that Phillip Shields owned the No. 1 share. They were: Mary W. Curtis, Martha Moreland, and John L. Curtis. Since these people recognized Phillip Shields ownership it is reasonable to assume that all parties to the estate knew exactly the meaning of Thomas Curtis's deed to Phillip Sheilds, regardless of its errors or omissions. As given, on in the notes, in the case of Patrick Henry, and in the deed took references it has been established that: Thomas Curtis had an Uncle Thomas and that it was the custom in a close family for a man to style himself as a junior in order to separate himself from his uncle, and that he was known as junior. The plat in Plat Book A P39 is not the original plat but is a copy of the same. It was recorded when S. R. Curtis sold a parcel of land to the School Board. The sketch of the school property was added at this time, and the names of the original shareholders were omitted. ================================================== Probable Oriqin of Miles Curtis Farm Edmund Curtis married Ann Cary, XVII two of the children were Thomas Cary Curtis, and Miles Curtis. E. C. Harwood purchased some land from, Thomas Cary Curtis WB 1 P 7 XX and this could be a portion of the "Greater Curtis Farm". Thomas Cary Curtis received a share and Miles Curtis received a share. W. C. Wades plat shows a line which he described as the original line of the Curtis farm. This same land could be what the Burchers sold to Philip Shields. It would not matter that the land of Miles was more than the land of Thomas because Ann Curtis Jordan left the balance of her estate of every description to Miles. (York Cty., WB 13, P 41) Since there were seven children and let us suppose that each received equal shares and that one share equaled 75 acres, then we have 7x 75 or 425 acres. Miles had 275 acres or about 4 shares. This leaves about 2 shares to be accounted for. Two shares or about 150 acres could be the land to the North East of the Miles Curtis Farm. This and stood in the name of McCauley and Cook at the time of the Wade Survey. The above conclusion to which a set of facts and assumptions have led us might not be true but appears worthy of further checking. Ann Jordan died in 1848 and her will was probated in York County. Thomas Curtis Jr. was 21 years old, already had a child and was definitely not living at home in 1850 and might not have been there in 1848. In his deed to Phillip Shields he mentioned 242 1/3 acres and could have been ignorant of a further inheritance of his father, or of the death of his brother Edmund. ============================================================= Timing of the Division of the Miles Curtis Estate At the time of the death of Miles Curtis (May 26, 1851) the Majority of his living children were minors. Martha 33 Thomas 24 Humphrey 22 Sarah 18 Mary 15 Frances C. 13 Robert 11 John L. 6 Therefore the earliest settlement date if all the heirs had been accounted for would be when John L. attained his 21st birthday or July 15, 1866. However some of the heirs, notably Sarah, died and left a minor child. Sarah's child was Carrie Harwood. Then before things got settled Frances C. died and the heirs recognized a Mary W. Curtis as her replacement. If Mary W. Curtis was 21 then all is well and good. There was however another family who had a Mary Wade Curtis and she was supposed to be the daughter of Sarah Elizabeth Smith Curtis and Thomas Miles Curtis, but there is doubt if this is really true. Thomas Miles Curtis also had the Frances C. above as his second wife and it is possible that Mary W. Curtis was the daughter of Frances C. If this is the correct identification of Mary W Curtis then she was 12 years old when the estate was settled. In answer to a direct question: who was the Mary W. Curtis who sold land To your father John L. Curtis?, Mary Curtis Amp (Maize Amp) answered. "Mary Wade Curtis the wife of Samuel G. Curtis." xvi Carrie Harwood born in Williamsburg Dec. 1861 ================================================ A Title Difficulty? Lots 0 OL and 0 WL were sold to John L. Curtis by one Mary W. Curtis. Mary W. Curtis was Frances C. Curtis's replacement. Mary Wade Curtis was the daughter of Thomas Miles Curtis and either from his first wife or his second wife. Thomas Miles Curtis's first wife was Sarah Elizabeth Smith and she died in December 1869. (from an unchecked family record) Mary Wade Curtis was born Dec. 26, 1869. Thomas Miles Curtis's second wife was Frances Cary Curtis and she bore him at least three children who were legitimate. They were Needs, Armstead, and another boy. A story reputed to be true is as follows.- "Christopher Curtis the father of Thomas Miles Curtis cut his son and any children of his second wife out of his will, leaving his lands only to the children of Sarah E. S. Curtis. This was done because Thomas had a bad reputation. The three children of his second wife attacked the will in Court but could not upset the same.' Mary W. Curtis evidently sold her mothers interest in the estate of Miles Curtis- this assumes she was the bastard child of Thomas and the natural child of Frances C. Mary Wade Curtis also inherited from Christopher Curtis. This estate she left to her Husband Samuel G. Curtis. Did Christopher Curtis cover up a family scandal? Was Mary Wade Curtis the natural child of Frances C. or was she the natural child of Sarah Elizabeth? If she was from Sarah, what right did she have to replace Frances C. If she was an infant raised by Frances C. did Frances C. leave a will specifically naming her, and what of the other natural children who were legitimate- namely Needa, Armstead, and one other a boy. Some important dates: Christopher Curtis died Sept. 8, 1873 Thomas Miles Curtis died Apr. 17, 1882 Frances C. died Feb. 18, 1875 Mary Wade Curtis born Dec. 26, 1869 Sarah Elizabeth Smith Curtis died December, 1869 If we have correctly identified the Mary W. Curtis then we have to establish her right to sell a portion of the Miles Curtis Estates we need to eliminate her brothers and sister, we further need to show that she affirmed her deed, as she was only 14 at the signing, and that she did not pass title to Samuel C. Curtis her Husband inasmuch as her will left to her. all of her property. This story needs considerable checking ===================================================== Division of the Miles Curtis Farm The farm was divided into eight shares, each share contained two lots, one of which was open land and the other was woodland. Miles Curtis died on May 26, 1851 and all children then living inherited a share. The farm was divided by the Wade Plat and living children of Miles Curtis, their replacement, and heirs of heirs all got a share. 0 went to Mollie Curtis known as Mary W. Curtis, Daughter of Frances C. 1 went to Thomas Curtis's replacement Phillip Shields 2 went to Martha Moreland 3 went to H. H. Curtis 4 went to Robert Curtis 5 went to Carrie Richardson daughter of Sarah H. C. Harwood 6 went to John L. 7 went to Mary E. =========================================== Children of Miles Curtis Children Age at death of Age at Issue or Miles Curtis death Replacement ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Martha 33 Living Self Edmund -- 27 ? Robert 1 18 ? Nancy 1 ? Humphrey Harwood 16 days Miles Cary -- 22 ? Thomas 24 Living Phillip Shields Humphrey H. 22 Living Self Christopher -- 15 ? Sarah E. 18 don't know Carrie Harwood Mary H. 15 Living Self Frances C. 13 Living Mary W. Curtis Robert II 11 Living Self William H. -- 5 John L. 6 Living Self =============================================================== CONCLUSION Eight heirs, their issue, or replacements received a share. Four heirs who might have had issue did not participate: Edmund, Robert 1, Miles Cary, and Christopher. The dower rights of Sarah H. Curtis seem to have been ignored. There is substantial question as to the exclusive rights of Mary W. Curtis to replace Frances C. It appears that all of the participants in the division Of the estate Knew exactly the meaning of Thomas Curtis' deed to Phillip Shields. ==================================================== APPENDIX Combination of visits to Warwick Clerk's office and Grafton Christian Church and Lebanon Christian Church and Bethel Church on Yorktown Road, now the site of Yorkshire Academy, and Grace Episcopal Church Nov. 3 and Nov. 4, 1970 DB 32 P 434 "All that certain lot or parcel of ground situate in Denbigh Magisterial District. Warwick County, Virginia, containing one acre with the building Thereon and known as Colored school No. 5. DB Page Grantor Grantee Date Description --------------------------------------------------------------------- Rufus B.Wriqht J. E:. 5 Feb. 2-1/2 acres Ethel M.Wright Crafford 1931 Ella Hopson Ruford B. 18 Feb. 2-1/2 acres Parker sole Wright 1930 heir of Zebedee Hopson 39 447 Clifton Zebedee 26 June 2-1/2 acres Burcher Hopson 1918 37 377 James Clifton 1 Jan. 2-1/2 acres Campbell Burcher 1917 24 259 John L. James 25 Aug. 2-1/2 acres Curtis Campbell 1904 North by County Main Road East by Carrie Richardson South by ODL Co. west by John L. Curtis Part of the land of John L. Curtis and is laid off by certain Metes and Bounds as agreed upon by the said parties Grafton Christian Church: Christopher Curtis Lucy A. Smith Thomas wife of M. B. Smith Jan 21, 1858 Died Dec. 25, 1953 Apr. 11, 1928 22 yrs old Henry Christopher Curtis John Curtis Dec. 4, 1859 May 15 1801 June 29, 1920 Oct 29 1844 Gave land for Grafton Church Mary W. Samuel G Curtis Sallie M. Curtis Thomas Curtis wife of S. G Dec. 5, 1861 Dec. 4,1853 Sept.20,1827 Curtis Aug. 14, 1935 Nov. 25, 1922 July 11,1-902 Dec. 26, 1869 May 1, 1917 Martha Curtis Harwood Ann Cary Curtis Wade Dec 23, 1870 Oct 8, 1824 Jan 7, 1939 Oct. 10, 1892 Chidley Wade Feb. 25, 1819 Feb. 29, 1902 Lebanon Christian Church; Mary Lee Curtis Martha Curtis Campbell Feb. 15, 1834 Nov. 26, 1872 Feb.7, 1916 Jan. 14, 1944 Sarah Langley Harrel Formerly wife of Sam'l H Miner Daughter of W.T@. & Elizabeth Harwood Oct 2, 1814 Apr. 6, 1888 Yorkshire Academy on Yorktown Road (Bethel) Christorhor Curtis Sr. George A. Curtis Oct 19, 1800 1876-1953 Sept. 8, 1873 Bessie P. Curtis 1876-1950 Grace Episcopal Virginia Cary Curtis Taylor Jan 7, 1833 Jan 16, 1916 ============================================= Field Trip of R. W. Morton Nov. 5, 1970 Visited: Madeline Jones She suggested I talk to Lottie West Pervatt to learn about Humphrey Harwood and visit the Curtis Cemetery. Curtis Graveyard - Warwick John L. Curtis his wife Virginia Curtis Garrow July 1, 1845 May 29, 1853 March 12, 1905 Dec. 28, 1930 Robert Curtis his wife Mary E. Carrow July 1, 1840 March 26, 1844 Jan. 28, 1923 Nov. 25, 1868 ======================================================= Taken: Nov. 5, 1970 Typed: Nov. 6, 1970 Thomas Curtis - son of Miles Curtis Thomas Curtis First Wife Fannie Randall Married Children Born Died ------------------------------------------------------------ 21 or 22 children 4 who lived Christopher(City Sgt.Newport News) Alvin Simmons (lst Cora husband) Getty(2nd Husband) Kirby Irene Thomas Curtis Second Wife Sallie M.Curtis 9 children 7 lived Humphrey Harwood Curtis Marshall Wynne Thomas Moss Curtis(oldest son) Edward Mary Lottie Laura Rosa (still living) Miles Cary died one other died Interview: Thomas West Sr., 17367 Warwick Blvd. 887-5334 ======================================================== 2nd Interview: Thomas West Sr.,17367 Warwick Blvd.-887-5334 Nite of Nov. 6, 1970 Children of Thomas Curtis and Fannie Randall Christopher, buried at PMP Alvin, buried Old Soldiers Home-Washington-Arlington National Cemetery Cora, buried olive Branch Christian Church, Toano Irene Power, buried at Lebanon Christian Church Children of Thomas Curtis and Sallie M. Curtis Humphrey Harwood Curtis, buried PMP Edward Garret Curtis, buried PMP Mary Lou married Baker West, buried PMP Lottie married a Cooke, she is buried at Episcopal Church in Hampton (St. Johns) Laura married Bray, buried PMP Rosalie (still living) living with son Humphrey Cooke in Richmond (She also married Mr. Cooke) Fannie Randall might be buried at Olive Branch Christian Church, Toano =============================================== Interview with Mrs. Oliver Warren, 302 Deep Creek Road Nov. 7, 1970 Her Grandfather, Tom, Curtis, had a farm called the "flats" located in James County near Clarence Lee's farm above Lee Hall. This was not the same place where Humphrey Harwood Curtis burned up in. Near Coleman Curtis's farm, down the old road to the James River near Henry Crafford. Her brother Harry has the family bible. My first cousin is Cora Curtis and she is the daughter of Christopher Curtis who was the City Sgt. of Newport News, and she never married, has no issue, and still lives in his old home, that is on 312 54th Street and her telephone is listed as C. C. Curtis. My mother was Irene Curtis, and my oldest sister was named Martha Frances Curtis and she married a Kirby, and I therefore suspect that my Grandmothers' name was "Martha Frances Randall Curtis", and she was otherwise known as Fannie Randall Curtis. There lived at the old Smith Hotel a group of Curtis's and in particular one Ella Curtis who married Charlie Mast. That she had a brother "Kit", Jake, and a sister who I think was Julia. (I remember that my wife always spoke of "ole man Maas" - R. W. Morton") ("Maust -- he turned his buggy over and had a long white beard-Wilbur Cary Morton") That they lived at the hotel around 1924. That Mazie Curtis would know more about thew.. ====================================== Field Trip of R. W. Morton Nov. 9, 1970 PMP: Lot C-269 #2 Thomas M. Curtis Florence Marshall Curtis 1877-1962 1883-1952 Lot C-1 10/5 Humphrey H. Curtis Edward Garret Curtis March 13, 1888 June 28, 1896 Dec. 27, 1967 May 31, 1936 Smith Cemetery at Poqousson: (Mother of Henry Christopher Curtis) Sarah Smith Curtis 1837-1869 in a brick vault ========================================== Field Trip of R. W. Morton Nov. 10, 1970 Visit to Clark, sister of D. C. Curtis. Location: Farm known as "Endview" opposite Lebanon Christian Church on road to Yorktown from Lee Hall. My father's name was Simon Read Curtis. This farm called "Endview" was inherited by two sisters: Elizabeth Reed Harwood and Sarah Harwood Sarah Harwood married and became Sarah H. Miner Elizabeth Reed Harwood Married Daniel P. Curtis, they had a child Humphrey Harwood Curtis, died 1881, buried at Ft. Eustis There is a plat of Endview on the wall of this house titled "Endview the Estate of H. H Curtis" and it contained 492 acres, 3 roods, 3 perche and was bounded by T. H. Wills, R. D. Lee, and the County Line. Behind the house is a 1/2 acre Harwood Cemetery, title to same is held by Mrs. Indiana Virginia Harwood Poindexter, and it contained the following marked graves: Mother Father NLH LMT Harwood E.M.H. D.C.H. H.K. Harwood Jan 1859 Jan.1835 Dec. 1 Feb. 1860 Sept. 1830 Sept. 1864 Dec. 1861 Aug. 1865 Jan. 1870 Aug. 1901 In the front yard of the house is a grave titled: Margaret C. wife of Richd Shield June 5, 1867 July 24, 1890 Charles City County Clerk of Courts - Mrs. Iona W. Adkins Circuit judge - Armistead DB7 P36 15 Oct. 1824 Deed of Gift (Persons) Grantor - Major Grantee - Sarah E. Harwood After Charles City County clerks office I went to Toano to Olive Branch Christian Church and there found the following two graves Cora Curtis Geddy b. June 24, 1857 d. March 1, 1939 George William Geddy d. Apr. 29, 1910 b. Nov. 14, 1847 This Cora Curtis Geddy is the dauqhter of Thomas Curtis and his first wife Martha Frances Randall Curtis. At lebanon Christian Church Irene Power Kirby b. Oct. 17, 1869 d. Feb. 27, 1936 Wm. H. Kirby b. May 22, 1866 d. Aug. 28, 1942 Irene is Cora Curtis Geddy's sister ans is mother of Mrs. Oliver Warren. (Lucy Kirby Warren) =========================================== Nov. 10, 1970 Interview: Mrs. P. G. Willis, 20 Groome Road, 596-1895 from Bible found in estate of Edward Harwood born 1827. Ref: Mariners Museum, a W&M Qtrly 1. Humphrey Randall Harwood, born 1832, married Laura Moss Martha Curtis, 1870 buried near Tabbs Academy, Gloucester Citv 2. John Harwood, I)orn 1834, married teary Curtis, children from this marriage: Farmy Nornia Tula Scott Dickerson Heian Scull John R. Harwood - sisters Lizabeth, married a Clemens from Gloucester City Martha, married a Bringham Curtis, children from this marriage: Sydney Curtis Daniel Curtis William Curtis Thomas Curtis James Curtis Martha (Mattie) Endview Farm Authority: Mrs. T.V.E. Poindexter Mary S. married a Hunphrey H. Harwood Sarah Harwood married Miles Curtis Elizabeth Reade Harwood married Daniel Prentis Curtis, children from this marriage: Humphrey H. Curtis, Sept. 8, 1832 James M. Curtis, Oct. 20, 1850 Delk and Robert Curtis (twins) Humphrey H. Curtis carried murine Whittaker, children from this marriage: Anne Prentis, 1859 Daniel M., 1860 Summer Reade, 1863 Fanny Maggie Elizabeth Reade Robert Thomas Hurqphrey Mary Mills or Wills Daniel Curtis, 1860-1870 ================================================ Interview with Mrs. John E. Scull Nov. 11, 1970 123 - 35th Street 244-8229 John R. Harwood and his wife Mary Harwood had the following children: Nannie Fanny Lula Nannie married Janies (sp?) Disharoon Fanny married Clifford Scott Lula married Hiram Scull Lula and Hiram Scull had a son named John Lewis Edward Scull and he was my husband and he died about 10 years ago. That I personally knew Nannie, Fanny and Lula. That I have checked with a member of the family and neither they nor I can tell the complete name of John Harwood's wife Mary Harwood. ======================================= 2nd Interview-. Miss Cora Curtis Nov. 11, 1970 John R. Harwood married Mary H. Curtis, children of this marriage-. Clarence C. Harwood died young Fanny married Scott Nanny married Disharoon Lula married Hiram Scull Miles Curtis farm, was called Lee's Mill, near the reservoir Thomas Curtis lived on Mullberry Island Authority: Charles Parish Reqister, York County-. Edmund Curtis married Ann Drury, they had 8 children: (Rev) Thomas married (1) Anne Presson, they had Christopher Curtis (2) Anne Cray Edmund married Ann Cary, they had Miles Curtis Mary Robert Henry and 3 unknowns Carrie Harwood was born in Williamsburg on December 1861 John R. Harwood, born Feb. 18, 1834, died 1893, John married Sarah H. Curtis June 11, 1856. Is Mary C. Harwood buried at St. Johns in Hampton? When Cora Curtis was a child she knew Mary C. Harwood. Ask Mrs. Scull where Lula is buried. ======================================= November 11, 1970 Interview: Miss Cora Curtis, daughter of Christopher Curtis, son of Thomas Curtis Father, Edmund Curtis married , Mother Ann Cary Children of this marriage: Edmund Married Widow Martha Moreland Chisman Thomas C. Married Elizabeth Haynes Ann Married Willoughby Jordan Miles Married Sarah Harwood Elizabeth Married Mr. Charles Christopher Married Widow Elizabeth Lee Wynne John Married Virginia Goodwin ================================================ Nov. 11, 1970 Interview: Miss Cora Curtis, daughter of Christopher Curtis, son of Thomas Curtis Miles Curtis, born Feb. 9, 1791, died May 26, 1851 married Sarah Harwood, Dec. 25, 1816. Sarah Harwood Curtis, born Nov. 29, 1800, died Oct. 15, 1886 Children of this marriage: Name Born Died ---- ---- ---- Martha Jan. 14,1818 Edmund June 13,1819 Jan. 12, 1847 Robert Dec. 16,1820 May 22, 1839 Nancy Jan. 2,1823 Aug. 27, 1824 Humphrey Harwood Oct. 28,1824 Nov. 13, 1824 Miles Cary Dec. 12,1825 Nov. 12, 1847 Thomas Curtis Sept. 20, 1827 July 11,1902 Humphrey H. July 28, 1829 June 1882 Christopher Feb. 1.0, 1831 Dec. 20,1846 Sarah Sept. 24, 1833 married John R. Harwood June 11, 1856 Mary H. Sept 19, 1836 married John R. Harwood John Feb. 16, 1835 Aug. 10,1844 Frances C. Nov. 29, 1838 Feb. 18,1875 Robert July 1, 1840 Jan. 28,1923 William H. Dec. 18, 1841 1846 John L. July 15, 1845 July 12,1905 ==================================================== Nov. 11, 1970 Interview: Miss Cora Curtis, 312 - 54th Street, 247-5752 Sallie Moss Curtis was the 2nd wife of Thomas Curtis Sarah H. Curtis was the wife of Miles Curtis Christopher Curtis's papers contained the following: My mother's name was Martha Frances Randall Curtis, born Feb. 16, 1837, died June 7, 1875. Cora Curtis thinks she is buried at Grafton Christian Church. Martha Frances Randall's mother was a Harwood. Mary H. who married John Harwood was called Aunt Mollie by me her child Lula Harwood Scull married Hiram Scull, their child John Scull married Mrs. Scull who is Mrs.. John E. Scull, 123 35th St. 244-8229 ===================================================== Visit to Clerk's Office Nov. 12, 1970 DB 25 P448 "as shown on plat of the same known as Mrs. Sallie Curtis Farm Warwick Co. Va. as surveyed by W. C. Wade of York Co. Va. Nov. 1881" "Thence continuing along the said line south of said main road to a point on the S. E. side of Woodland Lot No. - allotted on said plat to M. W. Curtis, thence N. E. along said line to the main road first aforesaid" "in the Partition had among the heirs of Miles Curtis Estate known as the "Old Homestead" & survey & platted by W. C. Wade of York County, Va. as above set forth, to which plat & survey reference is hereby given' for a complete description of the- said property" DB 1 P79 "and interest hereby conveyed being one undivided ninth thereof" Thos Curtis Jr Marha F. For information on Thomas Curtis Jr see DB25 P 448 S. E. Lee & M. E Lee to J. W. Clements wherein a Parcel of land is described as bounded by Thomas Curtis Jr and is also bounded by the Warwick River WB 1 P 7 Dec. 24, 1831 E. C. Harwood Will "The lands I purchased of John Randle and the lands formerly -belonging to Thomas Cary Curtis" his wife was Martha Harwood DB 2 P466 30 Jan. 1884 Grantors Grantee Thomas Curtis Thomas Tabb Tract on Mullberry Island Sarah Curtis Consideration $1,000.00 to release indebtedness Deed Signed by: Thomas Curtis and Sallie Curtis In this deed we see the transformation of Thomas Curtis Jr into Thomas Curtis. The above reference to a bounding owner (DB 25 P 448) gives his name as Thomas Curtis Jr but when he sold he dropped the junior. DB2 P 376 DT Grantor: John L. Curtis & Virginia C. 7 Dec. 1883 The description of No. 6 WL qives Mollie Curtis and Carrie Richardson as bounding on the West. The description of No. 7 OL and No 6 OL gives Mollie Curtis & Phillip Shields on the North, Carrie Richardson on the East, Washburne on the South and Philip Shields on the West. DB2 P 454 Grantor: Mary C. Harwood and John R. Harwood Grantee: Virginia C. Curtis 30 Nov. 1883 14 acres + North by Mollie Curtis, East by John L. Curtis, South by Main Road and land of Washburne, and West by the land of Phillip Shield. being the portion of the land which the said Mary Harwood inherited in the partition of the real estate of her father Miles Curtis deceased. Virginia Curtis had just sold a piece of land in another location and evidently used the proceeds to purchase this parcel.. Note that this deed was recorded after the Deed of Trust was recorded. The reason for the Deed of Trust was evidently to purchase the shares of fiollie(sp?) Curtis for on the day following the DT ie8 Dec. 1883 they purchased Mary W. Curtis's two parcels. Notice that Mary Harwoods deed to Virginia Curtis did not convey the No. 7 WL. This is the first time it happened this way and that whether or not the woodland went with the open land was not a matter of the description of the bounding owners but rather a statement of the acreage. This point is made because some attorneys become perturbed about a lack of separate descriptions of each Parcel but we must conclude that it was common to do it this manner. =========================================================== Telephone Interview Taken Friday Nov. 13, 1970 Mary Louise Curtis Stone - Richmond lst Marriage - Fact Thomas Miles Curtis and Sarah Elizabeth Smith Curtis Children: Frances Cary Curtis, Henry Christopher Curtis, etc. 2nd marriage - Fact & Hearsay Thomas Miles Curtis and Frances Cary Curtis Children: Mary Wade Curtis Needa who married Frank Smith: Daughter Frances Curtis Smith Armstead 1 more a male Hearsay: Christopher Curtis's will specified that only the children of the 1st marriage could inherit, that Thomas Miles Curtis was disinherited. A lawsuit was brought by Needa and her brothers and was lost. Mary Louise promises to check on this and a visit to York County Clerk's Office is in order.