December 2, 1861 South Cemetery Association Lands Sold

The Snippet from the Past on November 26 discussed the consolidation of the North and South Cemetery Associations. That consolidation resulted in a number of land transactions.

In 1847 the South Cemetery Association, mostly members of the Baptist Church, had purchased land from William Rappleye near the church. On December 2, 1861 those lands were sold back to Mr. Rappleye.

The Seneca County Clerk’s office records all land transactions, and these can be found by looking in the Grantee and Grantor indexes. The indexes note the Book of Deeds and the page within that volume. Book of Deeds #67 page 435 and 436 has the details of the land transaction.

This Indenture, made this 2^nd day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one. Between John Boorom, Lockwood Hinman, Ira Almy, Jacob D. Wintersteen, John P. Rappleye, Ansel Rappleye, James B. Scott and Lemuel Bassett, Trustees of the Farmerville Rural Cemetery Association of the first part and William Rappleye of Covert, County of Seneca and State of New York, of the second part…”

William Rappley paid to the Farmerville Rural Cemetery Association $150 dollars. The deed describes the property as “being a part of Lot number 50 and bordered as follows, Commencing on the east line of said lot and at the southeast corner of land belonging to Peter Rappleye, deceased, and running from thence West ten chains and 71 ¾ links to a stake; thence South two chains and 50 links; from thence North 78 ¾ degrees East, five chain and 89 links; thence East five chains to the East line of said lot, thence North one chain to the place of beginning, containing one and a half acres of land.”

Next is the history of the property, Being the same premises conveyed to Nathan Hall, John Boorom, Lemuel Bassett, Lockwood Hinman, Ira Almy, Ansel Rappley, John P Rappleye, Jeremiah Rappleye, and Jacob D. Wintersteen by the said William Rappleye and Abigail his wife on the 17^th day of June 1847.

All of this information was handwritten on the original deed. After all of the legalese was spelled out, the men noted in the opening paragraph each signed their name. In transcribing the deed into the book, the clerk wrote each name and placed “LS” after it, indicating “legal signature.”

The deed was recorded at the County Clerk’s office on February 8, 1864. Many deeds were not recorded at the time of the transaction because the trip from Covert to Waterloo meant a long day of travel.

Reading the old deeds is always interesting, and challenging when faced with the old handwriting. The one advantage when working with deeds is the format that was in use then, is still much the same today.

Dewitt’s Diary, Thursday, December 2, 1965

Clear, temperature 32. It was an Indian summer day. Warmed up to 50 in the sun.

We went through this square and drove out 4 deer, all does.

Worked in the woods some this morning.

Le and I went to the lake this afternoon. Le caught two lake trout near Lem’s on wire line. Nice on the lake.

I looked for deer up behind Lem’s.

Called on the McCoys this evening.