Amanuensis Monday - 1871 Deed, David Snider to Wm. Elliott

On his TransylvanianDutch blog, John Newmark defines an amanuensis as “a person employed to write out what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.” For more information about this daily blogging prompt, see John’s post Amanuensis – Why?.

I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.


I'm continuing the transcription of deeds related to the property owned by my 2nd great-grandfather David Snider in Union County, Ohio. The following deed is the first in which he sold part of the parcel purchased from Thomas Jameson in 1853. The quality of the scan is poor and it was difficult to transcribe. On my next visit to Salt Lake City (in January 2012), I need to see if I can get a better copy.

"David Snider   )   Know all men by these Presents That David Snider

To. Deed         )   and Nancy Snider his wife of Union Co. Oo in

W^m Elliott        )   consideration of Two Hundred & Thirty one & 75/100 Dollars

                            to them paid by William Elliott the receipt

whereof is hereby acknowledged, do hereby Grant Bargain Sell and

Convey to the Said William Elliott his heirs and assigns forever, the

premises described as follows to wit

            Part or Survey No. [3?]691 Beginning at a stake in the center of
Boks Creek NE corner of said Grantors farm, then S 9o [?] 45 W
a Stake in his East line[?] N 11o [?] to the middle of Boks Creek,
thence N 20o E 1 16100 poles to a stake in the middle of said creek then
with said creek N 1o E {/} 40/100 poles to the place of beginning contain
ing 5 15/100 acres of Land.

            [unreadable] Estate, Title and [?] of the said David Snider

and Nancy Snider either in Law or Equity or [?] the said

premises & together with all the privileges and appurtenances to the

same belonging and all the [?] and [?] To have

and to hold the same to the only property of the said William Elliott

his [h]eir and assigns forever and the said David Snider for himself

and for his heirs, executors and administrators does hereby covenant

with the said William Elliott his heirs and assigns that he is

the true and lawful owner of the said premises and has full power

to convey the same, that the title so conveyed, is clear free and unin

cumbered; and further that he will warrant and Defend the same

against all claim or claims of any person whoever.

            It witness Whereof, the said David Snider and Nancy Snider his

wife who [remainder of line undecipherable]

premises have hereunto set their hands and seals this 21St day of June

in the Year of our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred [unreadable] one.

Signed sealed and acknowledged in presence of us

G. W. Freeman)                      David Snider {seal}

C. D. Freeman )                      Nancy X Snider {seal}

                                                         ^{her mark}

            The State of Ohio County of Union, SS

Be it remembered That on the 1st day of June in the year of our

Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Seventy one before me

the subscriber George W. Freeman, J.P. Personally came David

Snider and Nancy Snider the Executors in the foregoing Deed and

acknolwedged the signing and sealing thereof to the Their voluntary

act and deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned. And

the said David Snider and acknowledged the signing and sealing of

the within conveyance to be his voluntary act of the said. Nancy Snider

being examined by me in private and apart from her Said husband and

the contents of said Deed [?] by me made known and explained to

her as the statues directs declared that she did voluntarily sign seal

and acknowledge the same and that she is still satisfied therewith as

[four words undecipherable] for the use and [?] therein mentioned.

            It Witness Where, I have hereunto subscribed my name,

and [two words undecipherable] hand, and seal on the day and year aforesaid.

                                                G. W. Freeman [?]

[approximately 7 words undecipherable) the foregoing Deed has fifty

(approximately 5 words undecipherable) cancelled.

                                                Hiram Long[?] Recorder Union Co Ohio"

Source: Union County, Ohio, Deed Books, 1819-1877, 35: 239, 

deed, David Snider to Wm. Elliott, 21 Jun 1871; 

FHL microfilm 572,562.

© 2011 Denise Spurlock