4th Great Grandfather Daniel Piper bought a lot in Staunton’s oldest residential neighborhood in the Newtown section April 28, 1800 from Michael Seyford and his wife Catherine. Although I expected to find the deed in the City of Staunton documents, the sale was recorded in Augusta County Court (which I haven’t yet viewed). Staunton is an independent city physically located in Augusta County, Virginia and maintains their own deed books.
Courtesy Library of Congress
Edward Beyer, 1820-1865, artist
Woldemar Rau, 1827-1889, lithographer
I learned more about the property when Great Grandparents Daniel and Elizabeth Piper sold the lot to Jacob Leas Sept. 19, 1803 for 75 Pounds. The parcel was described as Lot No. 14 in Staunton known as Newtown containing ¼ acre being part of 25 acres that formerly belonged to Alexander St. Clair. The indenture noted this was the same parcel conveyed to Daniel Piper by Michael and Catherine Seyford April 28, 1800. I found a record of the indenture in Staunton Deed Book 1, pages 22-23.
The following year Archibald Stuart and his wife Eleanor sold a ¼ acre to Daniel Piper on Nov. 1, 1804. It was Lot No. 6 in the Town of Staunton and described as
“One certain Lot or parcel of ground, lying and being in that part of the Town of Staunton, which from the Lands of the said Archibald Stuart, hath been surveyed and laid off into Lots and Streets, and by Law lately added to the said Town of Staunton”
The selling price was 35 Pounds and a margin notation indicates the sale was examined and delivered to the grantee April 25, 1805.
One-fourth of an acre is too small for much farming. Daniel Piper wasn’t yet a Staunton constable; perhaps he worked as a tradesman or merchant.
Daniel still owned a ¼ acre in Staunton when he purchased Lot No. 47 in Middlebrook, Augusta County from William Scott and his wife Nancy Nov. 25, 1805. I haven’t yet read the Augusta County deed and don’t know any details. Middlebrook is located 12 miles south of Staunton. By this date, Daniel had been working as a constable in Staunton a few months.
The following year he would sell Staunton Lot No. 6. Daniel and Elizabeth made a nice profit when they sold it for 100 Pounds to John McDowell July 21, 1806. The sale was presented the same day at the Court of Hustings held for the Corporation of Staunton.
Several years passed and on March 20, 1811 Archibald and Eleanor Stuart sold another small parcel to Daniel Piper containing 25 poles. The sale of Lot No. 32 was acknowledged in the Court of Hustings the same day.
Then on April 20, 1812 Great Grandfather acquired part of Lot No. 14 from the Stuart’s for 20 Pounds—another ¼ acre parcel.
Daniel Piper needed $300 and arranged to mortgage the most recent ¼ acre to Adam Sheuy Nov 13, 1813. Jacob Leas and Andrew Haroufe served as trustees in the arrangement. The following summer the indenture in trust with Adam Shuey was acknowledged in the Staunton Court of Hustings.
More family business occurred in Middlebrook when Daniel’s son-in-law and daughter, Henry Stover and Polly, sold him Lot No. 35. The Middlebrook sale was recorded with the Augusta County Court.
In April of 1821, Daniel sold his Middlebrook property (Lot No. 47 he acquired in 1805) to James Cosby. As was the case with the other Middlebrook, Augusta County deeds, I need to view the county clerk’s copies.
Daniel’s last Staunton transaction was dated October 20, 1823. This occurred after his death. It involved Lot No. 14 that he had mortgaged in 1813 and the debt owed Adam Shuey. It appears Jacob Leas and Andrew Harouf had to sell the ¼ acre for nonpayment. John Joseph, Daniel’s son-in-law, purchased the property at a public sale for $175.
While pleased to know more about my ancestor, I have new questions. What happened to the Middlebrook lot that Henry and Polly Stover conveyed to Daniel? And what did my 3rd Great Grandfather John Joseph do with the ¼ acre lot he bought at the public sale?
An inventory of Great Grandfather Daniel’s personal estate didn’t answer my questions. However, it did reveal Daniel owned a German Bible and German books hinting at his origins. I know he couldn’t fulfill his mortgage commitment and his personal estate reflected his financial hard times valued at $35.20.
Son-in-law Henry Stover’s final accounting of Daniel’s estate showed only a $12.16 balance after his bills were attended to.
Excerpt Augusta County, Virginia
Will Book 15, page 137
I’ll post next time about Daniel Piper and Elizabeth Acker’s children.
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