Lot 50 spans the modern
properties of two houses on East Main St. east of the Town Square, 107&109
and 111&113 E. Main. The first is a
stone house often reputed to be an old indian
trading post and the oldest house in town, and the second is now Captain
Bender’s Tavern.
The stone house was Oliver T. Reilly’s souvenir shop and headquarters for his Battlefield tours from the late 1800’s into the 1900’s.
The 1939 deed for (we think)
the stone house was given the Seal of the Department of State of the United
States by Secretary John Forsyth, and we have no idea why.
Bender’s Tavern has a USGS
altitude benchmark embedded in the brick wall below one of the front windows,
giving 423’ above mean sea level.
The earliest note of a house
is 1798, for the east half of the lot (111&113 East Main), a house with a
stone addition on its west end, whose corner defines
the southwest corner of this half-lot.
The earliest note for the west half of the lot is 1815, saying “houses,
outhouses, buildings....”
In the deed abstracts for the
half lots, the address numbers are given in square brackets at the beginning of
the description of the property. They
are not given in the deeds themselves.
They were first assigned sometime after WWII.
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.]
William Good bought from Joseph Chapline
(both of Frederick County)
20 January, 1764
(recorded July 19, 1764, Frederick Co. Liber J, folio
680-1)
for 1
shilling current money Maryland
Lot 50,
103x206’ with profits, advantages and appurtenances. To pay Joseph Chapline rent of 3s 6p
yearly on 9th July, from 1763.
Wife Ruhamah Chapline
released her right of Dower.
[David Reed, a Chapline descendent, found that William Good was related to
Moses Chapline.
They had married, respectively, sisters Mary and Jeannette Caton, as in Catonsville, Maryland. But Paula Reed reported from a letter from
William’s descendent Judy Bauer that he married Moses’s
daughter Mary. William was a Justice of
the Peace here.]
Catherine Huffman
(alias Addick)
bought from William Good
5
April, 1798 (recorded 21April, Liber K, folio
890-3, Washington Co.)
for ₤300
[111&113] Part [east half] of Lot 50,
together with the adjoining part of Lot 51 [west half]. Beginning at the corner of the stone
addition to the house that Catherine Huffman (alias Catherine Addick) now lives in [east half of Lot 50], and runing with the main street to Philip Buckleys half
lot [east half of Lot 51], and back to the alley. To pay 3s 9p rent to Joseph Chapline.
[So,
the stone addition to Catherine’s house defined the southwest corner of the lot
where Bender’s Tavern now stands. The
barbershop between this and the first floor of 107&109 has some odd
stonework in it, from what Brien told me; need to
find out more about this.
[The
sizes of the two part-lots aren’t given, but the rent amount is for a full lot,
indicating this deed is for two typical half lots. That would make them each 51˝’ wide,
more or less, and 206’ deep back to the east-west alley in the rear. This agrees with the half lots shown in the
1877 Atlas and the modern tax maps.
Philip purchased in 1783 the east half of Lot 51, bordering the alley (Liber C, folio 478-9).]
Elizabeth Chaplain bought from John, Josiah and William Good
19
October, 1811 (recorded 27 February 1812, Liber
Y, folio 41-2)
for $1,000
[107&109] Part of Lot 50 [the west
half], 50 x 206 feet, with profits, advantages and appurtenances. To pay Joseph Chapline rent of 3s 6p yearly on 9th July, from this date. [This was the normal rent for a full lot, not
a half lot like this.] John’s wife Hesther, Josiah’s wife Mary and William’s
wife Mary Ann quit their claim to all their right of Dower. Before J.P.’s
Geo. Smith and Ezra Slifer.
Joseph Smith bought from Catherine Huffman
1
September, 1812 (recorded 11 September, Liber
Y, folio 337-8)
for 300
pounds
[111&113] Part [east half] of Lot 50,
together with the adjoining part of Lot 51 [west half]. Described as in the 1798 deed, except that
Joseph Smith now lives in the house with the stone addition, and neighbor
Philip’s last name is spelled Breakly.
Gabriel Nourse bought
from Elizabeth Chaplain
7 April 1815
(recorded 11 April, Liber AA, folio 283-4)
for $1000
[107&109] [West half of] Lot 50,
50x206 feet, with houses, outhouses, buildings, improvements, profits and
advantages. Gabriel would pay to Joseph
Chaplain the proprietary of said town on 9th July yearly 3 Shillings
6 pence sterling. [This rent was the
normal amount for a full lot, not a half lot.]
[Jerry Randell
found that Mr. Nourse was Postmaster for Sharpsburg
in 1816, and they say he ran the Post Office from his house. Paula Reed found an ad for him regarding
letters left at the Office in 1813.
Elizabeth, born Elizabeth Nourse in 1762, was
the widow of Jeremiah Chapline (1756-1809), son of
Sharpsburg’s founder. She and Gabriel
both came from Virginia/West Virginia.]
Josiah Good bought from George Spangler of Jefferson Co., Va.
18 September 1816 (recorded 23 December, Liber
BB, folio 687-8
for $50
[???] ‘Portion of ground in Sharpsburgh Town number fifty’ [suspect this was actually
in Lot 52, see note], 17’2” x 206’ with all profits, advantages and
appurtenances. To
pay 13 cents yearly on July 9th from July 9th, 1816. Wife Christiana Spangler acknowledged before J.P.’s Geo. Smith and John Blackford.
[This
is an odd narrow width. Josiah sold an
almost identical parcel to Jacob Rohrback in 1818 (Liber DD, folio 318-20), in Lot 52. Note that Mathias Spangler had owned
lot 52, he died seized of properties in Sharpsburg before 1818, and George was
an heir. George also might have acquired
this narrow parcel earlier. I suspect,
for the moment, this deed is for part of Lot 52.]
Joseph and Michael Nourse bought
from Gabriel Nourse
3 June 1828 (recorded 14 July, Liber
KK, folio 165-7
for $5
[107&109] [West] Half of Lot 50, 50 x 206 feet, and all
of Lot 24, 103 x 206 feet, with profits, advantages and appurtenances,
in trust, for Joseph and Michael to sell to pay off Gabriel’s debts to several
people on bond and otherwise. These are
listed at the end:
To
my son Joseph Nourse . . .
. . . . .
. . .
. . .
. 212. –
Purchase
bond for which my two Judgment
Bonds
were given. One pays. 1 Jany
1829 for $150
1 Jany
1830 for $150 300. –
Due Cushing & Jewitt for
Books in Baltir. With Ints.
about 340.
–
Due on the Road on Liverpool Rout about . .
. . .
. . .
200. –
Due in Sharpsburg about . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . . .
200. –
Due in Pittsburg about . .
. .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
60. –
Due John G. Nourse with
interest . . .
. . . . .
. . . 162.50
Sundry Small Debts at Centerville . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
30. –
Sundry
Small Debts in all about . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. 35.50
Gruber
[B.] May . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. 63. –
Treetey
& Co. .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. 7. –
Tavern Keeper in Martinsburg . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . 50. –
Other
Small debts say . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . . . . 20.
–
$1680. –
The
real estate is to be sold at public or private sale, for cash or credit, and
the proceeds to apply first to discharge all the debts, with power of attorney
to contest such as are not just, fair and equitable; secondly, to indemnify
Joseph and Michael against any bonds which they enter on Gabriel’s behalf, and
to cover their costs and fees, and lastly, to hold the surplus to permit
Gabriel to enjoy, hold and possess the real estate and receive the interest, or
have the money, if any, invested for the rest of Gabriel’s natural life. In the event of his death, the whole will be
conveyed, paid, and applyed according to his Will, or
if he dies intestate, to his heirs according to Law.
Gabriel
is of the County of Washington, and Joseph and Michael are of the County of
Washington and District of Columbia [respectively?]. Before J.P.’s
R.S. Briscoe and Saml. Smith.
No rent mentioned.
[We may infer from the deed
chains that the two lots both bore houses or other
large improvements, and from this list of debts that they were together worth,
they would have hoped, at least $1,680.]
John Nourse bought
from Joseph and Michael Nourse, Trustees
9 August 1834 (recorded 9 October, Liber
PP, folio 352-3)
for $1,227
[107&109] [West] Half of Lot 50, 50 x
206 feet, and all of Lot 24, 103 x 206 feet, with profits, advantages
and appurtenances. Cites the 1828 Deed of Trust and Gabriel Nourse’s indebtedness (the clerk wrote “a certain Bob Nourse,” first). Witnessed by Caroline R. Nourse and Anna
J. Nourse.
Joseph B. Austin bought from John & Araminta
E. Nourse (of Washington, D.C.)
11 February 1839 (recorded 8 March, Liber
TT, folio 858-9)
for $150
[107&109] [West] Half of Lot 50,
50 x 206 feet, with buildings, improvements, profits and advantages. To pay 3s 6p rent on 9th July to the heirs of
Joseph Chapline the propietary.
The
beginning of the deed attests that R.S. Brison &
W.B. VanZandt were duly
commissioned Justices of the Peace for the County of Washington in the District
of Columbia. It then says that “I, John
Forsyth, Secretary of State of the United States, have hereunto subscribed my
name, and caused the Seal of the Department of State to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington this twelfth
day of February, A.D. 1839, and of the Independence of the United States the 63d. John Forsyth”
[Why this? Because the house in use as the Post Office
or another structure? Was John Nourse a Federal official?]
Bender’s Tavern on the east half of Lot 50 has a USGS elevation marker
embedded in the front wall just above the level of the sidewalk.
[Jno. Croning or Cuning owned the
west half of Lot 50 in January 1849, according to adjacent Lot 49 deed, Grove
to Hebb, Liber IN 4, folio
91-2, but the 1851 deed below is where he actually bought it. This may mean that he lived there in 1849
before he bought it.]
John Cunning bought from John Otto, Trustee
1851 (recorded Feb. 20, 1851, Liber
I.N. No. 5, folio 546-7)
for ___
[West
half of Lot 50, acc. HSS. Need to check this deed to see for whom John
Otto was Trustee.]
B.F. and William Cronise bought
from John and Mary Cunning
1854 (recorded April 21, 1854, Liber
I.N. No. 8, folio 53)
for $700
[West half of Lot 50,
acc. HSS]
John Emmert bought
from William & Sarah Cronise and Benjamin
F. & Elizabeth Cronise
1854 (recorded July 26, 1854, Liber
I.N. No. 9, folio 185-6)
for $950
[West half of Lot 50,
acc. HSS]
[missing
deeds for John and Louisa Emmert sale and Henry Smith
purchase]
Franklin Marker bought from Samuel Show, Trustee for Henry
Smith et al
1866[8?]
(recorded June 12, 1866[8?], Liber
LBN No. 1, folio 488-9)
for $275
[107&109] [West half of Lot 50. S. Show owned or occupied the east half in
1877.]
Benjamin A.
Edwards bought from Franklin
Marker
1871 (recorded May 3, 1871, Liber
WMcKK 3, folio 389)
for $1575
[107&109] [West half of Lot 50, acc.
HSS. They note that this is
Edwards, not “Edmonds” as shown on the 1877 map. It says S. Show owned or occupied the east
half. Both halves were drawn with
structures.]
Charles M. Porter bought from John Remly (sp?),
Trustee for Benjamin A. Edwards
1889 (recorded March 27, 1889, Liber
79, folio 376)
for ___
[107&109] [West half of Lot 50, acc. HSS] [Charles owned the west half in April 1887,
according to adjacent Lot 49 deed Shindler et al
to Hebb, Liber IN 4, folio
91-2]
Jacob F. Miller bought from Hermin
O. Clipp
April
21, 1891 (recorded , Liber 97, folio 80)
for $___
[111&113] Eastern portion of Lot 50
and western portion of Lot 51. [from the citation in the 1903 deed]
Oliver T. Reilly bought from Charles M. & Mary A. Porter
1894 (recorded November 27, 1894, Liber
102, folio 572)
for $1000
[107&109] [West half of Lot 50, acc. HSS] [Mr. Reilly lived here, operated a shop
selling Battlefield souvenirs, and conducted tours.]
Inich
Hammond bought from Urilla V. Houb, Annie
C. Wyand, David F. & Eliza J. Otto, William H.
& Ellen L. Thomas, Knode & Mary S. Newcomer,
Henry W. & Laura S. Rohrer, Henry M. & Emma A. Miller, Otho W. Miller, Joseph L. & Susan F. Thomas, and
John E. & Alice B. Otto, heirs of Jacob F. Miller, all of
Washington Co.
2
April, 1903 (recorded 7April, Liber 117, folio
675-6)
for
$1,280
[111&113] Eastern portion of Lot 50
and western portion of Lot 51, with buildings and improvements, beginning at
the South West corner of Eugene [?] Marker’s Dwelling,
running west along the boundary line of the North side of Main Street 51’6” to
the South East corner of Elizabeth Show’s lot, North 209’10” to the alley,
51’6” back to Marker’s lot, and 209’10” back to the street, containing 10,806.5
sq. ft. Being the same
that was conveyed to Jacob Miller by Hermin O. Clipp in 1891.
[The
script is not perfectly easy to read, regarding middle initials J, which could
be I, and which is close to the shape of S.
Inich is hard to read. Hammond may be Hammand. He was listed as Josiah Hammond, with
this deed number, in 1991, still, on the tax/plat map copied in the Historic
Structures Survey. 51’6” total width for
these two lot portions would make them each half as wide as usual for half
lots, and it doesn’t agree with the 1877 Atlas or the modern tax map, so this
seems to be a mistake. “Two Hundred and
Nine Feet and Ten Inches” looks like the right reading for depth, but it should
be 206’.]
William
H. Thomas mortgages for Inich & Alice V. Hammond
2
April, 1903 (recorded 7April, Liber 117, folio
676-7)
for
$1,000
[111&113] Eastern portion of Lot 50 and western portion
of Lot 51 as described above. The
Hammonds are to repay the loan by 2nd April, 1904, but they were
released, for value received, on 2nd April, 1923, by Edith M.
Hess, legatee named in the last Will and Testament of her father William H.
Thomas, dec’d, and sole heir of her mother Ellen
L. Thomas, also dec’d.
Raleigh Bender bought from ____
Abt 1937
(recorded ___, Liber 207, folio 669)
[111&113] [East half of Lot 50, from 1990 tax map]
Charles A. and
Martha W. Billmyer bought from Oliver T. Reilly
1939 (recorded April 4, 1939, Liber
209, folio 181)
for $700
[107&109] [West half of Lot 50, acc. HSS]
Raleigh S. Bender bought from Charles & Martha Billmyer of Montgomery County
1944 (recorded October 30, 1944, Liber
228, folio 102)
for $2000
[107&109] [West half of Lot 50, acc. HSS]
Otha S. Bender
bought from ____
Liber 732,
folio 1003
[107&109] [West half of Lot 50, from 1990 tax map]
Brien & Chase Poffenberger bought from ____
[107&109]