Complete, save a few details,
compiled & revised by Brad Toole 14 February, 2006
This lot is at the
northeast corner of the Public Square, alongside North Mechanic Street. Like the other three lots on the Square, it
was shorter than most of the town lots, at 186 feet or so. Deeds for the west half described it as 205’
long, almost the normal length of 206’, erroneously, it seems. All the town maps we’ve found so far show the
lot as shorter, set back from the principal north marginal line of Main St.
It was divided lengthwise,
like most lots, in 1795, but not in equal-width halves, the east part being
wider, and intended to have an alley laid out in it on the side by the west
part. The stone Shay House is on the
west part, at 101 E. Main, and the stone-veneer-faced house at 103 & 105,
the old McGraw Hotel, is on the east part.
A substantial house was
somewhere on the lot by 1779. In 1795
the east half was sold with a house, and the seller apparently continued to
live on the west half. The west half was
sold with a house in 1811, called a stone house in 1823. Both houses usually sold for high prices
throughout the 1800’s. The existing
houses may or may not date, in part, back to the 1700’s.
101 E. Main, Shay House,
3-story stone with gambrel roof and brick addition. This was for a
time a hotel. Based on statements in the
deeds, and some inferences, it was probably Elie Wade’s Tavern and the Harper
Hotel, and definitely the Shay House and the City Hotel. See notes under the 1864 to 1906 and later
deeds. This has been called the
“McGraw-Shay House,” but the McGraws never owned it, and a descendent who
recalls the McGraw Hotel days (at 103 & 105 E. Main) does not recall the
McGraws operating this stone house as a hotel.
103 & 105 E. Main
St., McGraw Hotel, 2-story, brick veneer on front, siding elsewhere, over
[brick and log?]. In 1849 it was 2-story and
weatherboarded. The McGraws owned and
lived here in the early 1900’s, and operated the McGraw Hotel here, serving
especially long-term boarders, like Canal boatmen in the off-season.
Where two dates are given,
the first is the date that the deed was made and actually signed, and the date
in parentheses is the date it was copied and recorded at the courthouse. Buyers and sellers in the later deeds are
from Washington County unless otherwise noted.
Name spellings varied as written in each deed abstract.
[Items in square brackets are
comments or clarifications.]
Abraham Linganfelter bought from Joseph Chapline
21 January 1764 (recorded 11 Feb 1764, Liber J,
folio 133-4, Frederick Co.)
for 1 shilling current money
All of Lot
49, 103x186’, with profits, advantages and appurtenances. To pay rent of
3 shillings 6 pence sterling money of Great Britain on the 9th of
July yearly, from the 9th of July 1763, and any rent that may grow
due to the Lord Proprietary. Joseph’s
wife Ruhamah released her dower rights.
Henry Eckart bought from Daniel Beall, Esq., Sheriff, seized
from Abraham Linganfelter
22 February 1779 (recorded 23 Feb, Washington Co.
Liber A, folio 459-61)
for ₤775
Lot 49 with
Houses, buildings, Gardens, Ways, Waters, Privileges, Advantages and
Appurtenances [no size given], after it was seized to settle a debt with Bernard
Linganfelter. In or about the November Court 1777 Bernard
recovered a Judgement against Abraham of 263 pounds 5 shillings with Interests
& Costs. By virtue of this, Bernard
did [pursue] of the said Court a writ of Fiere facias, returnable to the August
Court 1778 to the Sheriff of Washington County, commanding him to [take some
action] of the Goods and Chattels, lands and Tenements of Abraham.
Sheriff Beall levied and
caused to be appraised, by good and lawful men of his Bailiwick, one Lott in
Sharpsburg, No. 49, with improvements, and they found it to be worth ₤475. Bernard then did [pursue] out of the Court a
writ of Vendictioni Exhonis [sp?] returnable to the November Court 1778,
commanding the publick sale (after Legal notice) to the highest bidder. [The Hagerstown newspaper, if there was one
then, may have had an ad announcing this sale, but the indexed papers in the
WCFL only go back to 1790.]
This deed includes on the
last page a note about making additional deeds for the further & Better
& More Perfect granting and conveying of the lott. [I’ve seen this in a few other early deeds,
but haven’t yet found any followup deeds like what these notes seem to
anticipate; a couple of correcting deeds, yes, but not planned.]
Mathias Conoad bought from Henry Eckhart
12 March 1795 (recorded 12 April, 1796, Liber I,
folio 592-4)
for ₤500
[103 & 105] East part of Lot 49, 60.5 feet wide and
extending back the whole length of said Lot, with houses, buildings, Gardens,
waters, etc. Joining
William Good’s Lot [Lot 50]. To
pay 2s sterling rent on July 9th from July 9th 1795.
Henry reserves the right to
bring water from the Pump Well on this parcel, and he granted, bargained and
agreed with Mathias that he may at any time when required lay off one alley ten
feet in breadth to lead from the Mains Street through said lot to the back
Alley so as will divide the part sold to Mathias Conoad from the other part of
said Lot. The said alley shall remain a
public Alley forever free from all claims incumbrances and charges whatsoever.
[This part lot is wider than
the normal half-lot’s 51˝ feet, and the ground rent is more than the normal 1s
9p for a half lot. See below.]
[Matthias’ last name was later spelled Knode
in the 1811, 1814 and 1815 deeds below.]
William Zeigler bought from Richard Brooke of Frederick Co.,
trustee for Mathias Knode
28 March 1811 (recorded same day, Liber W, folio
457-8)
for $520 [“twenty” is hard to
read] with interest, plus $1
[103 & 105] East side of Lot 49, 62.5 feet wide and
extending back the whole length of said Lot, with appurtenances. To pay the ground rents reserved to the
proprietary of the Town.
Richard had been appointed
trustee by the Chancery Court on 28th February, 1810, authorised and
empowered to sell and dispose of the real Estate of Matthias Knode, late of
Washington Co., for the payment of his debts.
On 6th April 1810 he sold this lot to William, for $520
[20?], payable in one year from the time of sale and Interest thereon. The sale had been ratified by the Chancery
Court and the money is now paid.
The deed is certified by Abm. Shriver, Judge of the Fifth Judicial
district of Maryland, comprised of Frederick, Washington and Allegany counties.
[The width of the lot changed
from 60.5 to 62.5 feet. There is no
mention of buildings, the water right to the well, or the alley. The price suggests that whatever house existed
in 1795 was still here.]
[Henry Eckhart Senr.
had died before 1814 without selling the West half of Lot 49, and his remaining
property was bequeathed to Henry Junr., Elizabeth Heinzman and
Sarah Steinbach his legal heirs.
Henry [Jr.] had intermarried with Charity Eckhart [no indication
of her maiden name]. Elizabeth’s husband
Henry was granted Power of Attorney for sales of Henry Senr’s
properties in Virginia and Maryland, in Liber Z, folio 639. Recorded immediately before
that was the following deed.]
John C. Stinebeck (of Baltimore) bought from Henry & Elizabeth
Hinesman and Frederick & Sarah E. Stinebeck (of Virginia)
27 April 1814 (recorded 13 August, Liber Z, folio
637-9)
for $1000
[101] [West] part of Lot 49, now in the occupation
of Samuel D. Price, of which Henry Eckhart died seized, that was not
heretofore conveyed by Henry Eckhart to Matthias Knode by deed bearing
date the 12th of March, 1795, Liber I, folios 592, 593 and 594. Also the Eastern half of Lot 60 in
town, 51˝ x 206 feet, with the rights, members and appurtenances, and the
houses, out houses, buildings, improvements, profits and advantages. To pay unto the proprietary of the Town the
ground rent reserved on these part lots, when due. Henry Eckhart [Jr.] had transfered and sold
to Henry his undivided third part of these parts of lots.
The sellers all signed in
Hampshire Co., Virginia, before J.P.’s James Daily and Isaac Keighandall, Esqr., Clerk Andrew Woodrow, and presiding
Magistrate Isaac Miller.
[Samuel D. Price had married
into the Chapline family and then bought large parts of Jeremiah Chapline’s
large estate in 1813, 1814 and 1815.]
Philip Myers bought from John C. Stinebeck (of Baltimore)
12 April, 1815 (recorded 20 April, Liber AA, folio
300-2)
for $1,000
[101] Part of Lot 49 [west part], now in the tenure
of Philip Myers, the part not heretofore conveyed by Henry Eckhart to Matthias
Knode by deed bearing the date 12th March, 1795, subject to the
restrictions contained in the same, Liber I, folio 592-4. Also the Eastern half of Lot
60, 51 ˝ x 206’, with houses, outhouses, buildings and improvements. To pay to the proprietor of the Town the
ground rents reserved at the times due.
Wife Dorothy Steinbeck relinquished her right of Dower, before
J.P.’s John Dougherty and John F. Harris.
With the seal of Baltimore County Court, and signed Wm.
Gibson Clk. Balto. County Court.
[Does “now in the tenure of
Philip Myers” mean that he lived there?]
John Konode bought from William Zeigler
3 May, 1817 (recorded 29 July, Liber CC, folio
148-9)
for $1,350
[103 & 105] East side of Lot 49, 62˝ feet wide fronting
on the main Street and extending back the whole length of said Lot, with
profits, advantages and appurtenances.
To pay 2s 11p rent to Joseph Chapline on the 9th of July
yearly. Spelled Knode
in the certification by the J.P.’s John Blackford and Geo. Smith. [William’s signature was probably duplicated
by the clerk, and looked different the two times that it appears: Wilfalr
Zingnb and Wilnfrol Zingnb, they appear.]
John Grove of Frederick Co. bought from John M. Knode
31 October, 1818 (recorded 16 November, Liber DD,
folio 175-6)
for $2,900
[103 & 105] East side of Lot 49, 62.5 x 186 feet, “my
house and Lot” (“House and Lot” is repeated 3 more times), lot with houses, out
houses, buildings, improvements, etc. To pay 2s 11p rent as above, and any taxes that may grow due to
government. John’s wife Nancy
released Dower, before J.P.’s John Blackford and Geo. Smith.
David Showman mortgaged from Philip Myers
16 January, 1823 (recorded same day, Liber GG,
folio 55-7)
for security on [1/3 of?]
$522.90, plus $5
[101] Lot 49 [west half] with a Stone
dwelling house and other improvements thereon.
David and Philip and Jessee Myers had entered into an obligation
commonly called a single bill on 8 March 1821, which bound them to pay $522.90
[each, or altogether?] to George Decker and Peter Fahrney in 12
monthly [installments]. David has
entered into a special bail for Philip in sundry cares. Philip, to indemnify David from losses on
account of said liabilities, sells to David this Lot. But, until David should suffer such losses,
it shall and may be lawful for Philip and his heirs to hold, possess and enjoy
the Lot and premises, and to have, receive and take the rents, issues and
profits thereof. Philip’s wife Catherine
released dower.
[Philip did, indeed, have
sundry cares, because he also owned half of Lot 47, which was seized to settle
debts in 1822, and sold in 1824. This
mortgage does not have any final addendum by David releasing it, but Philip
must have paid it off, since he was able to sell it in 1831, below.]
Catherine Miller bought from Philip Myers of Baltimore City
29 April, 1831 (recorded 7 June, Liber MM, folio
491-3)
for $100
[101] Half of Lot 49 [west half], 51˝ x 186
feet, with all the buildings, profits, advantages and appurtenances. To pay 1s 9p to the
proprietor. Philip’s wife
Catherine released dower.
[The low price suggests that
the house was gone, but there may have been another payment not noted here,
especially given Philip’s shaky finances.
Catherine made other transactions on her own
and apparently was well off.]
H. H. Hebb bought from Jno. D. & Elizabeth P.
Grove
25 January, 1849 (recorded 26 March, Liber IN 4,
folio 91-2)
for $1100
[103 & 105] Lot 49 [east half] with house, 62˝ feet in
front, 206 feet back, bounded on the East by the property of Jno.
Croning [Lot 50] and on the
West by the property of H.J. Keedy [the
west half of Lot 49].
With buildings, improvements, ways, waters, water courses...and to pay
annual quit rent of 39 cents to the heirs of Joseph Chapline.
[H.J. Keedy did not own the
west half, because Catherine Miller owned it until it was sold below to Leah
Keedy. So, apparently H.J. lived there.]
Leah Keedy bought from John & Mary Miller and David
Smith, Administrator
1 July, 1854 (recorded 3 August, Liber IN 9, folio
202-3)
for $1,200
[101] Half of Lot 49 [west half], 51˝ x 186
feet, with all the buildings, profits, advantages and appurtenances. David Smith was Administrator of Nancy
Smith, dec’d, who with the Millers were the only heirs of Catherine
Miller, dec’d., all of Washington County.
To pay the proprietors claim of 39 cents on 9th
July yearly.
[Leah presumably was a
relative of H.J. Keedy, and here bought the property after the death of H.J.’s
landlord Catherine.]
John Benner bought from Leah Keedy
4 April, 1863 (recorded 10 April, Liber IN 17,
folio 57-8)
for $1,550
[101] [West] half of Lot 49, 51˝ x 186 feet. Leah warrants specially the property,
“except” a $400 mortgage in favor of Joseph Poffenberger Executor of Jacob
Coffman. John agrees to pay it, but the
$400 will be deducted from the $1,550.
[We have not found a deed
record for Jacob’s mortgage.]
Raleigh Domer bought from John & Eliza Benner
1 April, 1864 (recorded 8 April, Liber IN 17,
folio 542)
for $2,000
[101] [West] half of Lot 49, 51˝ x 186
feet. The Benners warrant specially the
property, “Except” the $400 mortgage in favour of Joseph Poffenberger. Raleigh agrees to pay it, but the $400 will
be deducted from the $2,000.
[Michael Domer was a Tavern
Keeper in 1794 (Liber H, folio 830-2)]
Elie Wade bought from Raleigh & Susan Domer
1 April, 1864 (recorded 8 April, Liber IN 17,
folio 541-2 [recorded out of order with the one above])
for $2330
[101] [West] half of Lot 49, 51˝ x 186
feet. The Domers warrant specially a
$400 mortgage in favor of Joseph Poffenberger, Executor of Jacob Cauffman,
dec’d. Elie agrees to pay it, but the
$400 will be deducted from the $2,330.
[Why did Raleigh buy the
property and sell it the same day to Elie?]
[Noah Rohrback’s farm was
auctioned in front of Elie Wade’s Tavern in Sharpsburg on 21 May, 1864. If Elie didn’t own any other buildings in
town, then this was probably his tavern.]
Jacob F. Harper bought from Elie & Frances A. Wade
18 March, 1865 (recorded 21 March, Liber IN 18,
folio 389)
for $2,200
[101] [West half of] Lot 49 on Main and Antietam
Streets, 51˝ x 186 feet, with appurtenances and hereditaments, subject to a
$400 mortgage held by Joseph Poffenberger, Executor of Jacob Cauffman, dec’d,
which Jacob agrees to pay with interest.
[The estate of Col. Jacob
Rohrback was auctioned in front of the Harper Hotel in 1867.]
[Was modern Mechanic Street
called Antietam Street in 1864? It would
be logical, since S. Mechanic St. in earlier deeds was called “the road from
the Public Square to the Antietam Iron Works.”]
Joseph Doll bought from Jacob A. & Elizabeth Harper
16 July 1870 (recorded 19 July, Liber WMcKK No. 2,
folio 663)
for $2,725 [could be $3,725 or
$4,725, hard to read the script]
[101] Lot 49 on Antietam Street, 51˝ x 186
feet, “as relates to a certain mortgage held by Joseph Poffenberger, Executor
to Jacob Cauffman, for $400,” which the Harpers will pay.
John Shay bought from Joseph Doll
1874 (Liber WMcKK No. 6, folio 736)
for $2,750
[101] [West half of] Lot 49 on Main Street,
51˝ x 186 feet, with improvements, but “the building hitherto used as a
Hotel is reserved and excepted…”
[In the 1877 Atlas of
Washington County, on the map of Sharpsburg, this was called the “Shay House,”
John Shay, Proprietor, Good accommodations at reasonable rates.]
Eliza J. Hebb bought from the heirs of Conrad Shindler, late
of Jefferson Co., W.Va., and the heirs of Hilliard F. Hebb, late of
Washington Co. [see names listed below]
23 April, 1887 (recorded 5 July, Liber 90, folio
612-4)
for $1
[103 & 105] East half of Lot 49, with 2-story
weatherboarded house, stable and outbuildings, beginning at the SE corner of
the Hotel Property now occupied by Mrs. Elizabeth Shay [on the West half
of this lot]. North 184’6” to the alley,
east 60’ on the S margin of the alley to the NW corner of Charles W. Porter’s
lot [Lot 50], south 184’6” with that lot to the Square and west 66’4” to
beginning. [Note, this
is not rectangular! This is
repeated to 1970 at least.] No
rent.
Eliza was widow of Hilliard,
and Conrad had willed to Eliza a certain interest by deed of mortgage, executed
by Hilliard, in this property.
The heirs were Robert C.
& Anna M. Shindler of Nacagdoches Co., Texas, Mary Elizabeth
Bragonier of Frederick Co., Va., heirs of Conrad Shindler, late of
Jefferson Co., W.Va., dec’d., Nannie S. Sellman of Merrick Co.,
Nebraska, Elizabeth R.M. Kindless of Harford Co, Md., George Fenton
Snouffer & wife Mary M. Snouffer of Montgomery Co., Md., and Julia
F. Hebb of Washington Co., heirs of Hilliard F. Hebb, late of Washington
Co., dec’d. All of the Grantors signed
before notaries in their respective counties.
Charles W. Porter bought from Julia F. Hebb
26 January, 1891 (recorded Liber 96, folio 320)
for $1,709
[103 & 105] East half of Lot 49, with 2-story
Weatherboarded house, Stable and outbuildings.
Same lot description as in 1887. The property devised to Julia by her mother’s
will, Eliza J. Hebb, on record in Washington Co., with rights, roads, ways,
waters, privileges and appurtenances. No
rent.
Following on folio 320-1 was
a mortgage for $200, recorded at the request of Julia, and due to her, from
Charles W. and Mary A. Porter.
Charles A. Webb bought from Elizabeth Shay
1895 (Liber 103, folio 654)
for $2000
[101] West half of Lot 49, which had devolved to
Elizabeth from her husband John Shay by his will, on record.
Susan A. & John R.
McGraw bought from John R. Porter
and Levi Porter, Executors for Charles W. Porter
2 October, 1906 (recorded 3 October, Liber 124,
folio 510)
for $2,050 plus $1
[103 & 105] East half of Lot 49 bought at public sale, on
the diamond shaped public square, beginning at the SE
corner of the hotel property now occupied as the City Hotel, adjoining the
property of O.T. Reilly [Lot 50]. Mr.
Porter’s property went to probate in the Orphans Court, and his will is in Will
Book, Liber J [Y?], folio 519. “West Sixty-six (66) feet, four (4) inches”
was rewritten in the clerk’s script more boldly.
Charles A. Webb bought from Joseph A. Webb of Baltimore
19 May, 1908 (recorded 20 May, Liber 128, folio
212)
for $1500, and love and
affection
[101] West half of Lot 49, 51˝ x 205’, Mechanic St.
on the west, Charles W. Porter’s property on the east, with improvements. Cites the August 1895 deed. [205 feet is wrong
Woodson C. Cobb bought from Charles A. Webb, unmarried, of
Baltimore, and Fannie Webb of Franklin Co., Oh.
18 April, 1912 (recorded May 1st, Liber
138, folio 750-1)
for $2,450
[101] West half of Lot 49, 51˝ x 205’, as
described in the 1908 deed. Fannie was
widow of Dr. Joseph A. Webb, late of said city [Baltimore], dec’d. She signed before a notary in Franklin Co.
Erma Mae Bowers bought from Woodson C. & Lucile Cobb, all
of Norfolk, Va.
15 May, 1912 (recorded 13 February, 1915, Liber
146, folio 84)
for $2,800
[101] West half of Lot 49, 51˝ x 205’, as
described in the 1908 deed,
Cool Spring Corporation bought from Erma Mae Glass of Norfolk, Va.
7 June, 1917
(recorded 28 June, Liber 151, folio 611)
for $2800
[101] West half of Lot 49, 51˝ x 205’, as
described in the 1908 deed, which it cites along with the 1895 and the two 1912
deeds. Erma Mae is now the wife of Isaiah
S. Glass (also of Norfolk), and was formerly Erma Mae Bowers.
Edward J. Line bought from Cool Spring Corporation
27 June, 1918
(recorded 1 July, Liber 153, folio 503)
for $6500
[101] West half of Lot 49
Horace Lightner bought from Edward J. Line
31 July, 1924 (recorded 14 August, Liber 169,
folio 165)
for $7500
[101] West half of Lot 49
F. Webster McGraw bought from Susan A. McGraw, widow
4 October, 1924 (recorded same day, Liber 169,
folio 442)
for $2,000 plus maintenance of a
home for her
[103 & 105] East half of Lot 49 as described in 1887 and
1906, except that the adjacent property is “formerly known as the City Hotel
and now being the Dwelling house of Horace W. Lightner,” misspelling O.T.’s
last name as Riley, and referring to “the Diamond Shaped public square.” The grantee is to maintain a home on the
property [the only indication of an improvement] for Susan for the rest of her
natural life.
J. Edgar & Mary P.
Remsburg bought from Horace
Lightner
14 May, 1928 (recorded 18 May, Liber 180, folio
298-9)
for $10
[101] West half of Lot 49, 51˝ by 205 feet.
J. Edgar & Mary P.
Remsburg bought from Scott McC.
Kline, Sheriff of Washington Co.
15 May, 1930 (recorded same day, Liber 185, folio
632)
amount not given
[103 & 105] East portion of Lot 49, boundaries as
described in 1887, 1906 and 1924, the adjacent property is still “formerly
known as the City Hotel,” but not mentioning Mr. Lightner. No mention of improvements. The sale was by virtue of the execution
issued by the Circuit Court 16 April, 1930, Susan A. McGraw vs. F. Webster
McGraw, No. 50 Judicials, May term 1930.
Adrian Grim, unmarried, bought from J. Edgar & Mary
P. Remsburg
6 November, 1970 (recorded same day, Liber 514,
folio 125)
[103 & 105] East portion of Lot 49,
boundaries as described in 1887 to 1930, (66’4” in front, 184’6” deep, and 60’
in back). The lot on one side is
still “formerly known as the City Hotel,” and on the other is still “owned by
O.T. Riley.” No mention of improvements.
Jeffrey T. Stouffer bought from Barbara R. Shellenberger, Alice Ann
Dietz, Harold C. Rensburg and Alice Hockenberry, Personal
Representatives for the Remsburg estate
1979 (Liber 687, folio 303)
[101]
West half of Lot 49, 51.5 x 205 feet [sic], bounded by Main St.,
Mechanic St., an alley, and the lot formerly owned by Charles W. Porter. J. Edgar Remsburg had died 26 December, 1977,
intestate, and his wife Mary P. had predeceased him. The sellers were granted letters of
adminstration dated 17 November, 1978, in Estate No. 29,923, and the property
was sold at public sale to Jeffrey. [10,609sq. ft., 2˝ story stone with basement, from SDAT. The lot is shown as 41.5’ on the ca. 1991 Tax
map of the town.]
[103 & 105] bought by Brien
Poffenberger from ___
[no info in SDAT]