This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: cathabes1 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.vermont.counties.rutland/4802.1.1.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Another possibility is that the land wasn't actually being bought and sold. I found several situations among Ira and Rutland deeds in which someone who needed money would deed their property to a neighbor or relative for an amount and then agree that the deed would be void if the money was paid back with interest within a certain amount of time. The land itself never changed hands. For example, on November 19, 1855 Bernard Higgins of Ira deeded four and a half acres of land in Ira to James Mumford of Rutland for $59. He agreed to repay the money with interest in one year or forfeit his property. By mortgaging his property to James Mumford, Bernard Higgins was able to raise ready cash without actually selling his property. James Mumford, meanwhile, was able to make interest on his money by lending it to Higgins, with the knowledge that Higgins property would be his if Higgins defaulted on the mortgage. In another situation, in 1856 Artemus Cooke deeded land to James Mumford for $450. But James, not having the full price, immediately deeded the same land to Bradley Fish for $200. Mumford had to pay Fish $100 plus interest by January 1, 1857 and $100 plus interest by September 29, 1857 or forfeit the property. In a third situation, in April 1871 Patrick and Jane Mcginly of Rutland mortgaged their homestead to Patrick H. Mumford of Rutland for $1200. (Mcginly's first wife, by then deceased, had been a Mumford.) Mcginly gave Mumford 6 promissory notes of $200 each, the first being due with interest on May 1, 1872 and one being due with interest each May thereafter. Donal F. Begley, in "Irish Genealogy, A Record Finder" remarks that this was a usual practice and that "the original mortgage was more usually made between relatives or connections by marriage, the idea being that such family links provided some additional security." I don't know if this applies to the records you refer to, but these were situations of people lending each other money rather than actually buying and selling property, so taxes might not have applied. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

I have a land record from 5 Mov 1878 in Sutherland Falls that gives permission to John Curry (my gfather) to build a house of such size as he shall choose standing on my land just west of my cedar swamp to occupy the same for ten years It goes on to state that John Curry agrees to pay the sum of five dollars per year for the time said house shall stand on my land payable in money or work at his choice. I have also found what was once called a 'straw deed' which would put the property in the lawyers name and another deed it would change it to the family usually adding other names to the deed - no money was exchanged. I have never checked the tax records on these properties. Just another thought. It's great to have these records available. Thanks! Rosemary "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote: This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: cathabes1 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.vermont.counties.rutland/4802.1.1.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Another possibility is that the land wasn't actually being bought and sold. I found several situations among Ira and Rutland deeds in which someone who needed money would deed their property to a neighbor or relative for an amount and then agree that the deed would be void if the money was paid back with interest within a certain amount of time. The land itself never changed hands. For example, on November 19, 1855 Bernard Higgins of Ira deeded four and a half acres of land in Ira to James Mumford of Rutland for $59. He agreed to repay the money with interest in one year or forfeit his property. By mortgaging his property to James Mumford, Bernard Higgins was able to raise ready cash without actually selling his property. James Mumford, meanwhile, was able to make interest on his money by lending it to Higgins, with the knowledge that Higgins property would be his if Higgins defaulted on the mortgage. In another situation, in 1856 Artemus Cooke deeded land to James Mumford for $450. But James, not having the full price, immediately deeded the same land to Bradley Fish for $200. Mumford had to pay Fish $100 plus interest by January 1, 1857 and $100 plus interest by September 29, 1857 or forfeit the property. In a third situation, in April 1871 Patrick and Jane Mcginly of Rutland mortgaged their homestead to Patrick H. Mumford of Rutland for $1200. (Mcginly's first wife, by then deceased, had been a Mumford.) Mcginly gave Mumford 6 promissory notes of $200 each, the first being due with interest on May 1, 1872 and one being due with interest each May thereafter. Donal F. Begley, in "Irish Genealogy, A Record Finder" remarks that this was a usual practice and that "the original mortgage was more usually made between relatives or connections by marriage, the idea being that such family links provided some additional security." I don't know if this applies to the records you refer to, but these were situations of people lending each other money rather than actually buying and selling property, so taxes might not have applied. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. List administrator [email protected] ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message