Chesterfield County, Virginia, Deed Book 38, pp. 260-261 This Indenture made this 18th day of April one thousand eight hundred and forty nine, between John William Elam of the one part, and Richard W. Flournoy and Edmund H. Flournoy, of the other part, all of the County of Chesterfield. Witnesseth, that the said John William Elam, in consideration of two hundred and twenty two dollars and thirty six cents to him in hand paid before the delivery of these presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath given, granted, bargained, sold, aliened, assigned, transferred and confirmed, and by these presents doth give, grant, bargain, sell, alien, assign, transfer and confirm unto the said Richard W. Flournoy and Edmund H. Flournoy, their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, all his the said John Wm Elam’s right, interest and estate, being on undivided fifth part, in reversion, of the land and slaves, held by his mother Mrs. Winifred A. Elam, for life, under the will of her late husband Richard Elam, late of Chesterfield County; also all his interest and estate in another parcel of land, devised to his mother for life by the will of James Elam dec’d late of Chesterfield County, being an undivided fifth part thereof, in remainder-- All lying and being in the said County. To have and to hold the said rights and interest unto, and to the use of the said Richard W. Flournoy and Edmund H. Flournoy, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns. And the said John Wm Elam, for himself and his heirs, doth by these presents covenant to warrant and forever defend the said rights and interest unto the said Richard W. Flournoy and Edmund H. Flournoy, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, against the claims of all persons whomsoever. In testimony whereof the said John William Elam has set his hand and seal to these presents the day and year aforesaid. J. W. Elam {seal} note: John William Elam may have wanted the cash for investment in a "patented stave making machine" that he and John Eppes FLOURNOY were operating "on the dock at Richmond." The 2 men were half-first-cousins. John William Elam is not listed in the Chesterfield County censuses after 1850, although his wife and children are. Does anyone have further information about either of these men, or their business? Laura