Incomplete. Researched by Jerry Randell and Brad Toole, compiled & revised by Brad Toole 8jan06
The deed chain for the stone house on the east half of this lot, 125 E. Main, goes back only to 1858, but it is thought to be much older than that. The 1779 deed for the entire lot indicates that a substantial house was there. There was probably some structure on this lot in 1771, but it was not likely the existing stone house.
The Church of the Brethren, finished in 1899, stands where two structures used to be in 1877, which extended from the corner at the alley to the west face of the stone house. This is recalled to have been Mr. Kretzer’s blacksmith shop.
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 Lingenfelter bought
from Joseph Chapline
21 January, 1764 (recorded 11 February, 1764, Frederick Co. Liber J, folio 134-5)
for 1 shilling current money Maryland
All of lot 52, 103x260 feet [sic Several January deeds had this mistake, and in some it was corrected by the clerk by crossing out or scratching out the “ty” in “sixty.” 206’ is correct.], with profits, advantages and appurtenances. To pay rent of 3s 6p sterling money of Great Britain on 9th July yearly, from 9th July 1763. Ruhamah Chapline released her dower rights.
Philip Martel bought from Abraham Lingenfelter
30 March, 1771 (recorded 6 May, 1771, Frederick Co. Liber O, folio 288)
for ₤110 common curry
All of lot 52, 103x206 feet [correct], described as above except wife Barbara Lingenfelter released dower. [No house is mentioned, but this price indicates significant improvements.]
[missing deeds; Philip M. sale not found in Washington Co.]
Mathias Spangler bought from Peter Beaver
4 December 1779 (recorded 27 December, Washington Co. Liber B, folio 278-80)
for ₤750 current money
All of lot 52, 103x206 feet, with all and singular the Houses and other Buildings. To pay 3s 6p Sterling money of Great Britain to Joseph Chapline on july 9th yearly. “_____ wife to the said Beaver” Relinquished her Right of dower.
[This is presently the oldest Sharpsburg deed to state “with house(s)” and to be of a high enough price to indicate a substantial house was there. It could be the existing stone house at 125 E. Main.]
[missing deed(s). A Matthias Spangler had died by January 1819, and the heirs sold some other property in town in Liber DD, folio 311-6.]
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’ [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, and fits fairly well in this deed chain, not Lot
50’s. This appears to be a clerk’s
copying error.]
Jacob Rohrback bought from Josiah
Good
24
December 1818 (recorded 9 January, 1819, Liber
DD, folio 318-20)
for $140
One-sixth of Lot 52 [in the east half], 17 x 206 feet, with houses, outhouses, buildings and improvements, and paying 13 cents [not pence] rent yearly on July 9th. Wife Mary Good released dower. J.P’s John Blackford and George Smith.
[Again, the odd narrow width. Perhaps this was between the existing stone house in the east half (125 E. Main) and the brick house in Lot 53, where there is a gap of about this width. But, it may instead be where the stone house is now, holding a smaller structure. Or, “52” may be an error, and it is for Lot 50, as the 1816 deed says.]
[missing the purchase by Jacob of the west half of the lot.]
John Cretzer bought from Jacob
Rohrback
24
December 1818 (recorded 9 January, 1819, Liber
DD, folio 316-8)
for $800
West half of Lot 52, 51½ x 206 feet, with houses, outhouses, buildings and improvements, and paying 2s 11p rent yearly on July 9th. Five additional times it is described as “House and Lot.” Wife Mary Rohrback released dower. J.P’s John Blackford and George Smith.
[The stone house on the east half of this lot shows in the
pointing of its west wall the shadow of an attached structure, and the 1877
Atlas shows two abutting structures on the west half, which also abut the stone
house. Mr. Kretzer is recalled to have had a
blacksmith’s shop here, and the 1877 label for the lot is “Kretzer
Est.”]
[missing the purchase by Jacob of the balance of the east half of the lot]
Samuel Orendorf, Lot Ensy & George F. Beam mortgaged to George W. & Josephine Rohrback 5 July 1858 (recorded 8 July, 1858, Liber I.N. 13, folio 252-4)
for $961.70
[The east] half of Lot 52 (¼ acre) and a house, now occupied by Mary Rohrback, widow of Col. Jacob Rohrback, adjoining the property of the heirs of Mrs. Lavinia Grove, dec’d, and Mary Kretzer [the west half of Lot 52, and Lot 53]. GWR & JR granted “all the right, title, interest, claim and demand at law and in equity” to the three buyers, “trading under the name and firm of Orendorf Ensey & Co. of the City of Baltimore,” for this and the following property of which Col. Jacob Rohrback died seized, “being the one undivided tenth part of said real estate, subject to the right of dower of Mary Rohrback, widow...”
Also an adjacent ½-acre lot [all of Lot 59, based on Heritage Festival notes of the 1876 deed below] which also adjoins the property of Mrs. Margaret Glass [Lot 58], and a ¼-acre half of Lot 151, adjoining the property of Mrs. Magdalene Jones and D.R.F. Kennedy [Dr. R.F. Kennedy, elsewhere]. Also the ½-acre Lot 75, adjoining the property of David Smith and Samuel Painter, plus about 15 acres near Sharpsburgh, adjoining the lands of John Otto and the lands bought by John Gimmerman [Zimmerman elsewhere] from J.[S?] Dixon Roman & G.S. Claggett [Z.S., elsewhere], Trustees on 30 January 1858, and about 11½ acres near Sharpsburgh, adjoining the lands of John Grice, William Rohrback and George Stiffler’s heirs, and “all their right, title and interest in and to all and any other real estate of which the said Col. Jacob Rohrback died seized...”
GWR & JR also granted, bargained and sold much personal property, including four Bedsteads and bedding, 26 chairs, stoves, carpeting, 2 cows and 5 hogs, “now on the premises and in the house at present occupied by the said George W. Rohrback, in the town of Sharpsburgh...”
[This property had descended to GWR as one of the heirs of Col. Rohrback, see below.] There was also a house and lot, [apparently that had not belonged to Col. J.R.] “situated in the village of Sharpsburgh... purchased from I.[J?] Dixon Roman & G.S. Claggett on 30 January 1858, adjoining the property of Washington Gentmyer and Henry Smith...” The mortgage began on 3 July 1858 and repayment with interest was due on or before 3 July 1859 to make the mortgage void.
Samuel Orendorf, et als bought from G.S. Claggett, Trustee
Deed made and recorded 23 December 1861, Liber I.N. 16, folio 41-2
For the fully paid purchase money
A house and half of Lot 52 as described above, the adjoining half-acre lot, half of Lot 151, Lot 75, the 15 acres and the 11½ acres near Sharpsburg. The buyers were Samuel Orendorf, Lot Ensy & George F. Beam.
This deed was made after a decree in Equity Court No. 1601, sitting the 28th December 1859, for the buyers against George W. & Josephine Rohrback and others. G.S. Claggett was appointed Trustee to sell the land, and sold this portion to these plaintiffs. This property had descended to GWR as one of the heirs of Col. Rohrback, and was conveyed to Samuel Orendorf, Lot Ensy & George F. Beam “by deed [not mortgage]... I.N. 13, f 252-4)...”
[Lot Ensy and George F. Beam died intestate in the early 1860’s, which apparently resulted in another Equity Case, No. 1884, which decreed on 2nd July 1866 that Trustee George Schley sell the interest in Col. Rohrback’s property to Jane C. Rohrback.
[Case No. 2003 was brought after that, and decreed that the property be sold again, at auction, by Trustees Z.S. Claggett and Benjamin F. Rohrback. This they did, before Harper’s Hotel in Sharpsburg on 28 September, 1867. From their report and from the deed for half of Lot 52 we have:]
Jane C. Rohrback, Mary Rohrback, Augusta Rohrback & Elizabeth Rohrback bought at auction from Z.S. Claggett & Benjamin F. Rohrback, Trustees
(recorded 30 December 1867 Liber
I.N. 21 [or LB 1 2, acc. Her. Fest. notes],
folio 284-5)
For $1585
Half of Lot 52 (1/4 acre) and the dwelling house, adjoining the property of Lavinia Grove, dec’d. They also bought the adjoining half-acre lot directly in the rear of this lot and house and adjoining the property of Mrs. Margaret Glass, Lot 59, for an additional $293 (total $1878). The other properties were sold to other bidders.
David S. Mumma bought from Jane C. Rohrback, now Bowman, her husband William A. Bowman, Mary Rohrback & Elizabeth Rohrback,
20 July 1876 (recorded 12 September, 1876, Liber 74, folio 636)
for $800
House and lot known as the property of Jacob Rohrback, “being upon the front street of said town.”
[a Heritage Festival note says that this lot 52 property was owned by Jane C. (Rohrbach) Bowman and Daniel S. Mumma from 20 July 1876 [note looks like 1826] to April 24, 1893.]
John H. & Mary Early bought from Trustee George Smith, Jr.
28 March 1893 (recorded 24 April 1893, Liber 100, folio 311)
for $825
Two-story stone dwelling house. The Circuit Court had sat as a Court of Equity in case 4532, George W. Smith, Jr. vs. Mary E. Mumma and others, wherein Mr. Smith was appointed trustee to sell the property. The purpose of the Case is not clear from the deed. The property had been conveyed in 1876 from Jane C. Bowman and Daniel S. Mumma.
John died 18 April, 1917, and Mary died perhaps in 1928, then the property was willed to the Seamans.
Miller, Hout, Schamel, Otto and Neikirk bought from John Kretzer, Sarah Kretzer Smith & John H. Smith, John P. Smith, Margaret Ann Smith DeKalb, et al, heirs of John Kretzer
Aug. 16, 1897 (recorded Jan. 22, 1898, Liber ___, folio ___)
for $800
West half of Lot 52, 51½ x 206 feet. No mention of the buyers’ association with
the Church of the Brethren. [A small log
house was on the front, alley-side corner of the lot, and an outbuilding was to
its east, both of which were torn down in the summer of 1898 to make way for
the new Church. Ground was broken August
1, and the finished church was dedicated on Sunday,
January 1, 1899. From Arnold Platou’s A Century of Faithful Service: The Sharpsburg
Church of the Brethren: 1899-1999]
Manor Congregation [Church of the Brethren] bought from Miller, Hout, Schamel, Otto and Neikirk and their wives.
1902 (recorded March 31, 1902, Liber ___, folio ___)
for $1
West half of Lot 52 [also from Platou]
James W. & Leda A. Schmidt bought from William & Amanda Seaman (of Harrisburg, Dauphin Co, PA) and James & Nannie E. Seaman of Wash . Co.
(recorded 16 March 1928, Liber 180, folio 179)
for $1232.50
The sellers were the only heirs of Mary E. Early, who died intestate. John H. Early had died about 18 April 1917. The property adjoined the west side of the property of Samuel I. Piper.
M. Clifford & Junita Bussard bought from James W. Schmidt (widower)
(recorded 10 August, 1942, Liber 220, folio 102Liber 180, folio 179)
for $1450
The property adjoined the west side of the property of Samuel I. Piper. James’ wife Leda had died 6 September, 1930.
Victorine M. Morgan, Ellender & B. J. Morgan bought from Martin Clifford Bussard & wife Junita Clara Bussard
(recorded 6 September, 1952, Liber 271, folio 655)
for $10 and other good and valuable considerations.
The property adjoined the west side of the property of Clarence Easterday, formerly owned by Samuel I. Piper. The buyers would be joint tenants with rights of survivorship but not tenants in common.
Martin V.B. Bostetter bought from Victorine Mumma Morgan, Bonnard J. Morgan, (both of Wash. Co.) and Victorine Morgan of Clarke Co, NV.
(recorded January 27, 1964, Liber
404, folio 539)
This was for the purpose of reconveyance, below.
Leon & Victorine M. Morgan bought from Trustee Martin V.B. Bostetter, Esq. (of Nevada)
[27 December, 1963] (recorded January 27, 1964, Liber 404, folio 540)
East half of Lot 52 (adjoining the west side of the property of Clarence Easterday), and another property 2 miles outside Sharpsburg towards Snyders Landing [Mount Pleasant?]. This was the reconveyance from Victorine Mumma Morgan, Bonnard John Morgan, [Sr.] and Ellender Victorine Morgan, joint tenants.
Theresa A. Morgan, Bonnard
Morgan, Jr. & Michelle Zientek in trust from
their grandfather Leon Morgan
(recorded 25 April, 1973, Liber 559, folio 204)
Leon’s property was conveyed in his will in trust “for the natural love and affection which I bear my grandchildren,” with B.J. Morgan, Sr. as Trustee. Victorine had died earlier. The property adjoined the west side of the property of Clarence Easterday. The grandchildren were to have equal interest, and the property was to pass to each upon the age of 18. The Trustee was [also] empowered to sell the property and distribute the money between them.
The house was in the Morgan family, with Victorine Mumma Morgan, husband Leon K., son Bonnard J., Sr., and grandchildren Bonnard J., Jr., Theresa A. Morgan and Michelle M. Zientek until 1986. [this from Heritage Festival notes researching the lot history]
Theresa A. Morgan, Bonnard Morgan, Jr. & Michelle Zientek [or Michelle M. Morgan] received the property from Trustee Bonnard Morgan, Sr.
2 October, 1986 (recorded 8 October, 1986, Liber 823, folio 251)
The property adjoined the west side of the property of Clarence Easterday. The grandchildren of Leon, having [all] reached the age of 18, received the property for no monetary consideration, each having 1/3 interest as tenants in common.
20 November, 1986 (recorded 21 November, Liber 827, folio 314)
The east half of Lot 52 on the north side of Main St., adjoining to its east the property of Clarence Easterday, and to its west the Dunkard Church property.
Theresa A. Morgan, Bonnard
Morgan, Jr. & Michelle Zientek bought from Donald
& Janet Shields
6 October 1990 (recorded 20 November, 1990, )
The property adjoined the west side of the property of William (Wilbur) Lind.
[? I may have mis-read this note, or perhaps this was for a smaller parcel not including the house.]
Lawrence & Mary Bomberger bought from Donald L. & Janet S. Shields
1991 (recorded 24 April, Liber 990, folio 698)
N. Jeremy Randell & Amanda Reed bought from Lawrence J., Jr. & Mary C. Bomberger
(recorded 4 January, 1999, Liber 1466, folio 127)
The property adjoined the west side of the property of Wilbur Lind.