James Madison Papers

To James Madison from Benjamin Bell and Nancy Tapscott, [9 April 1827]

From Benjamin Bell and Nancy Tapscott

(illustration)

Top portion of map shows “Clear Creek,” “Tapsetts Lott A Madisons 1000.” Below the “Division Line between Bell & Tapscott” is “Bells Lott James Madison 1000,” with “Martins Creek.”

[9 April 1827]

Dear Sir,

Above You have a plat of Both Surveys of Land purchased of You by Mr. William Tapscott and Myself, Inclosed in a Platt of 150 Acres Surveyed for John Stowers and Sold by Mr. W Tabscott in his Life time to Willis Mcpickett & Conveyed by sd. Pickett to Wm. R Griffith and by Mr. Griffith to Sd. Stowers their Other Tract of Land Sold by Mr. Wm. Tab-scott in his Life time Was to Henry Greenwell for which Land the Plat has been Mislaid. We have only to Designate the Courses & Distances of the Lines agreeable to his Tapscott Title bond as both parties are Dead they are as follows One Hundred Acres of Land Sold to Henry Greenwell Bounded as follows Viz Lying on Panther Creek—Begining at an Elm ash Walnut and Water Beech—Standing on the Bank of panther & Runing thence up the Creek binding thereon with its Meanders to a Sugar Tree and two Hickories thence Leaveing the Creek and Runing No. 83-E 38 poles to a Large beech tree thence No. 14 E 264 poles to an Elm Two beeches & sugar Tree Thence W 78 W 30 poles to the begining Containing One Hundred acres of Land those Two Tracts of Land Were Sold by Mr. Tapscott in his Life time the parties are all dead Tapscott Greenwell and Stowers the administrators of Greenwell and Stowers are at present presing Mrs. Tapscott for a full Compliance With his William Tapscotts Contract for the Land agreeable to his Contract with them. Mrs. Tapscott and Myself are both present and I wish You agreeable to Your Letter which She presented to me that You Were Willing to make partial Deeds for partial payments. You have my Intire Approbation to Make her any Deed or deeds for any part or the whole of the Tract of Land Which Mr. Tapscott Setled on and is designated in the foregoing plat When pd. for and I shall myself Expect in Time the Same favours Extended towards me as it Respects the Survey Which I have Setled on agreeable to the plat presen⟨t⟩. I have not Sold any Land out of the Lott I Setled on but one hundred acres on account of those Two Interferances which I hope Will and Can be Brought to a cl[o]se in a Short time. I will Write You More fully on this Subject by our Nex[t] Mail. My worthy friend Your agent Mr Lee Will be able to Give You any Necessary Information that could be Wanting on the Subject. In behalf of Mrs. Tapscott and myself Except our best Respects and Remain Yours &C

Benjn. Bell
Nancy Tapscott

RC (DLC: John J. Crittenden Papers). Undated; conjectural date assigned based on the postmark: ‘Yellow Banks Apl 9th,” and John H. Lee to JM, 4 Apr. 1827.

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