Linda You may find it useful to get copies of the original grant certificates for 1830-1840 for the Pate grants in the Tuscaloosa - Pickens Co area. You may download graphic images of them from the Government Land Office-Bureau Of Land Mgt site http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/Logon/Logon_Form.asp? Joel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Linda Brunner" <lbrunner@netcarrier.com> To: <PATE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, November 24, 2002 4:57 PM Subject: [PATE] Thomas and William Pate > This is a follow-up to my previous note about Thomas and William Pate owning land together in 1837 Tuscaloosa as tenants in common. > > A good friend's husband is an attorney who told her that it was common for fathers and sons to buy land together, with the unwritten agreement that the father provided at least some of the money for the purchase, while the son farmed the whole thing. Unless it is specified on the deed, each party held an undivided half interest, with the father's name often appearing for security. > > Since both men's names appear on the Tuscaloosa deed, and there is no division of land noted on the deed, I'm going to assume this is what happened with Thomas and William, and I am going to proceed in my research with that assumption because it makes the most sense to me. > > I just can't see two Pate brothers buying land together that late in their lives when they'd already owned property before moving to Tuscaloosa. And I can't see Thomas buying land with a nephew. It just seems logical to me that it's a father and son arrangement. Their ages are right too. (That certainly was the case with Jesse Beck and his son Edom, for which I have more proof than I do for the Pates.) > > I know the case I have is circumstantial but I feel evidence is starting to accumulate. Next step is to see what happened to that particular piece of land after Thomas died. > > Thank you, Karen, Richard and Charlotte for all of your help and for your ideas. > > Linda > > > >

Thanks, Joel. A Beck cousin, Richard, was the one who put me onto to that original land grant to William and Thomas on the BLM site. That's how I know the land was held in common and the division wasn't specified. Thanks also for the other help and ideas you have given me, Joel. You really run an excellent family board. I belong to several boards and this one is among the best. Linda ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joel Pate" <patej@nettally.com> To: "Linda Brunner" <lbrunner@netcarrier.com>; <PATE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, November 24, 2002 5:08 PM Subject: Re: [PATE] Thomas and William Pate > Linda > You may find it useful to get copies of the original grant certificates for > 1830-1840 for the Pate grants in the Tuscaloosa - Pickens Co area. You may > download graphic images of them from the Government Land Office-Bureau Of > Land Mgt site > http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/Logon/Logon_Form.asp? > > Joel