Margaret is correct. This is a simple transaction whereby one man gains a tract of land and in exchange promises to pay off two bonds guaranteed by the seller of the land. At the execution of the deed, buyer and seller agreed that in the event the "buyer" failed to pay the bonds, then the seller and the bondholder could, after notice of their intentions, sell the land at public sale, the proceeds to go first to the bondholder, with any excess funds from the sale going to seller. ----- Original Message ----- From: Margaret Driskill To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2003 6:55 PM Subject: [VA-SOUTHSIDE-L] Need help understanding this old deed of trust Dear friend, here is my interpretation: On the 24th of October, 1815, William Lucas in Surry, VA and Stephen Sorsby of Northampton, NC, along with Wilie Davis agreed to a deed. William Lucas, wanted the payment of two bonds bearing the date January 1, 1818 for $672.00. Wilie Davis paid Lucas $1.00 and Lucas sold Wilie Davis a tract of land being in the county of Surry that contained 263 acres (more or less)and other rents and profits both by law or in equity that would have gone to William Lucas. This included any tenants who lived on the land. This is to be valid until William Lucas or Stephen Sorsby, who ever makes the first request AFTER June 1, 1819, after giving legal notice that the land will be sold to discharge the debt and any interest and all costs for the auction, to pay for the the above debt ($672.00). Now my guess is that Lucas bought the land from Sorsby who probably moved to NC and in 3 years Lucas had to pay the $672.00 plus interest to Sorsby. So......Lucas sold to Wilie Davis the land to run/work/make money/rent/ etc. for Lucas so he could pay the debt. If Lucas has not paid Sorsby the debt on time, then the land will be sold to satisfy the debt. It is not clear what Wilie Davis will get out of this deal, but obviously he wanted to do it. Probably as an overseer. Just my interpretation, Margaret Driskill [email protected] ==== VA-SOUTHSIDE Mailing List ==== VAGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~vagenweb ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237