Wordless Wednesday - A Bathing Beauty!

Digital image. Original photograph held by Deanna Golden,
[ADDRESS WITHHELD FOR PRIVACY], Portland, Oregon, 2012.

Gloria Jane Spurlock

circa 1952, probably El Monte, California

© 2013 Denise Spurlock

Amanuensis Monday - 1818 Deed - Richard Cook to Thomas Cook

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.


Because I am working with my newfound cousin Connie on our Cook ancestors, I am trying to transcribe all the documents I have scanned relative to this family. Today I am publishing the image and transcription of the first of two deeds from Richard Cook to his father Thomas Cook (one of my maternal 4th great-grandfathers). This deed for 100 acres on Brushey Mountain in Wilkes County, North Carolina, was executed on 29 March 1818, but not recorded until 15 July 1819, after Thomas Cook's death.

“Richard Cook to Thomas Cook Deed 80 Acres land

This Indenture made the twent[y]ninth of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen Between Ritchard Cook of the County of Wilkes and State of North Carolina of the one part and Thomas Cook of the County and State aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth that for and in Consideration of the sum of one hundred dollars to me in hand paid by the said said Thomas Cook the same where is fully acknowledged that the said Richard Cook hatch given Grnated Bargained sold and by these presents do give Grant and Sull unto the said Thomas Cook his heirs or assigns to a certain tract or parcel of land Containing Eighty acres on the Brushey Mountain Beginning at a red Oak in Thomas Cooks line West sixty poles to a Chesnut in Martains line thence North with said line thirty poles to the corner then West sixty poles to a White Oake North eighty two poles to a red oak East twenty five Poles to a read Oak in Gilreaths line South six poles to the former East one hundred and seven poles to a Chesnut Oak thence South to the Beginning with the appertances and all Rights titles Privilleges and Improvments the same in anney ways Belong to him the said Richard Cook his heirs or assigns forever and the said Cook himself his heirs do hereby covnant and agree to and with the said Thomas Cook that said Cook his heirs or assigns shall and may forever hear after peaceably and Quietly Injoy Oquipy [occupy] and pocess [possess] the aforesaid Grant and Land without Molestation and the said Richard Cook himself his huars [heirs] Executors administrators or assigns do by these presents warrant and forever defend the Right and titel of the aforesaid Granted land and primses [premises] to him the said Thomas Cook his heirs nad assigens, forever against the Right title or clame or Intrust [interest] of any person or persons whatsoever in witness whereof I Richard Cook hath hearunto set my  hand and fixt my seal the day and year first above Ritten.

Signed Sealed and Delivered }

In presents of                          }                                              Richard Cook {seal}

James Kanton [Clanton]

Enox [Enos] Anderson

W. W. Martin

(wrote on the back)

North Coralina            }          May Term 1819

Wilkes County            }          The within deed was duly proven in open Court by the oath of William W. Martin in order to be Registered.

                                                                                                Test. R. Martin, Clk.

Registered 15^th July 1819 }”

[Source: Wilkes County, North Carolina, Deeds, 1768-1964, 24: 429, indenture, Richard Cook to Thomas Cook, dated 29 March 1818, 15 July 1819; FHL microfilm 392,960.]


© 2013 Denise Spurlock

Wordless Wednesday - Out for a Little Fun!

Digital image. Original photograph held by Deanna Golden, [ADDRESS WITHHELD
FOR PRIVACY], Portland, Oregon, 2012.

Gary Arnold Hutchcraft and Deanna Dale Sherrell

circa 1953, probably Long Beach, California

© 2013 Denise Spurlock

Wordless Wednesday - You Cooked, We Wash Dishes!

Digital image. Original photograph held by Deanna Golden, [ADDRESS
WITHHELD FOR PRIVACY], Portland, Oregon, 2012.

Gary Arnold Hutchcraft and Donald Dale Chaney

circa 1954, probably El Monte, California

© 2013 Denise Spurlock

Amanuensis Monday - Kilpatrick-Owens Indenture 1888

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.


Today I'm publishing the transcription of an indenture between Emily C. Kilpatrick and H.T. Owens (one of my paternal 2nd great-grandfathers) recorded in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, in 1888. The seller, Emily Coleman (Morgan) Kilpatrick was the mother of William Thomas Kilpatrick, husband of my paternal great-grand-aunt Mary Ann Spurlock.

The actual date of the sale of this property is unclear. The indenture says it was sold 22 December 1888, but the clerk's statement at the bottom says it was recorded 15 October 1888. Perhaps it was sold in December 1887 and not recorded until October of the following year. There is no way to know when the sale took place without having the actual original deed.

“State of Louisiana   )

Parish of Bienville     )

This Indenter [sic] maid [sic] and entered into on this the 22nd day of December one thousand Eight hundred and eighty eight between Emily C. Kilpatrick of the first part and H. T. Owens of the second part in witness whereof I the said Emily C. Kilpatrick for and in consideration of the sum of Two hundred and fifty Dollars the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged before the sealing and signing of these presents I the said Emily C. Kilpatrick has this day bargained and sold unto the [said] H. T. Owens, all my rights, titles and interest in and unto the following described lands to wit. The South West qua[r]ter of the South East qua[r]ter and the North East qua[r]ter of the South West qua[r]ter and the west half of the North West qua[r]ter of the south east qua[r]ter Section five Township No. Eighteen of Range No. five West containing one hundred acres more or less to have and to hold the ab[?] bargained premises and I the said Emily C. Kilpatrick do warrant and forever defend [?] titles and claims from myself my heirs executors administrators and all other persons unto the said H.T. Owens his heirs, executors and administrators to have and to hold the above bargained premises with all [?] teniments {?] and appartainances In witness whair [sic] of I do hereunto set my hand  and seal in the presence of these witnesses.

                                                                                    Emily C. Kilpatrick

Attest  Isaac Miller                                                    H. T. Owens

            M. A. Miller

I hereby certify the above and foregoing is a true and correct record of original deed This Oct 15^th 1888.

                                                                                    J C Thuss

                                                                                    Dy CDC & Ex Of Recorder[?]”

Source: Bienville Parish, Louisiana, Conveyance Records, 1848-1900, AA: 704, Kilpatrick-Owens indenture, 15 Oct 1888; FHL microfilm 266,016.

© 2013 Denise Spurlock

Wordless Wednesday - At The Kids' Table

Digital image. Original photograph held by Deanna Golden, [ADDRESS
WITHHELD FOR PRIVACY], Portland, Oregon, 2012.

Cindy Phelps, Roger Hutchcraft, Jennifer Spurlock

circa 1961, probably El Monte, California

© 2013 Denise Spurlock

Surname Saturday - Ancestors #34 and #35 - Parents of Ellender VICKERS

Ancestors #34 and #35 are the parents of my paternal 2nd great-grandmother Ellender Vickers.

Ellender married Ransom Spurlock reportedly in Barbour County, Alabama, in 1836. There were numerous Vickers families in southeast Alabama/southwest Georgia/northwest Florida in this general time period, but I have not been able to place Ellender in any of these families.

The clues I have to the possible identity of Ellender's parents are:

1. In the 1850 federal census, there is a Vickers family enumerated two visits away from Ransom and Ellender (Vickers) Spurlock in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. The head of the household is Elleonder Vickers, age 68, female, no occupation, born in Georgia. Also in the household are Green Vickers (23, male, farmer, born in Georgia), Louisa Vickers (21, female, born in Georgia), Joshua Vickers (41, male, laborer, born in Georgia), and Jane Vickers (20, female, born in Georgia).
2. In the 1840 federal census, Joshua Vickers is enumerated in Hinds County, Mississippi, as the head of household of a family two visits away from Ransom Spurlock. The enumeration includes 1 male age 10-15, 1 male age 20-30, 1 female age 10-15, and 1 female age 50-60. This seems to be the same family as the one in Louisiana in 1850. A marriage record for a Joshua Vickers and Nancy Jane Thompson is found in Hinds County, Mississippi, in 1846.

It is possible that this Elleonder Vickers is Ellender Vickers Spurlock's mother and that Joshua is her brother. Green and Louisa are likely also Ellender Vickers Spurlock's siblings, but they could be Joshua Vicker's children from a marriage prior to his 1846 marriage to Nancy Jane Thompson. Ransom and Ellender (Vickers) Spurlock used the given names Green and Joshua when naming sons: first son was named William Green and last son was named James Joshua.

I have not been able to identify these Vickers in any other records after 1850.

Years ago, I was told that Ellender Vickers Spurlock's mother was a Smith before her marriage. I have not been able to find a record of an Ellender Smith who married a Vickers.

Lot of work is needed on this brick wall....

© 2013 Denise Spurlock

Wordless Wednesday - Hurry Up, I'm Freezing!

Digital image. Original photograph held by Deanna Golden, [ADDRESS
WITHHELD FOR PRIVACY], Portland, Oregon, 2012.

Jennifer and Denise Spurlock

Winter 1958, Fairbanks, Alaska

© 2013 Denise Spurlock