Thanks to Marty for a valuable education here! As so often happens with enlightenment, this brings up another question. The notation that caused my initial bewilderment is on a transfer of lease between John Butcher and Phillip France dated 13 March 1781. The original lease for three lives between John Carlyle as representative for George William Fairfax and John Butcher is dated 1 May 1761. (The three lives mentioned, by the way, are of John Butcher, Peter Shomaker, Jr., and John Carlyle.) This 1761 lease is referred to in a later transfer of lease from my ancestor Michael Ruse to James Hamilton dated 14th November 1804. Ive been unable to find any reference to a document that transfers the lease to Michael Ruse. However, there is a margin note on the transfer from Butcher to France Examd & deld Michl Rouse April 14. 1797. Would I be justified in assuming this is the instrument that transferred the property to Michael? Or was Michael perhaps acting as an agent or administrator for Phillip France? Should I be looking for a different kind of record -- perhaps an administration account? Thanks again for everyone's generous help! Kathe