William BUCHANAN, Baltimore Town, merchant, petitioned Legh MASTER, Frederick County, merchant, for payment of debt, 1400 pounds sterling with interest from the 14th of July 1773 by bond, in the penalty of 300 pounds sterling, condition for the conveyance to David SHRIVER and Leonard POWDER, two parts of tract "Content", and thus holding Buchanan harmless; however, this was not fulfilled and Master is preparing to leave this province which would cause loss to Buchanan. On 29 Nov 1757, William YOUNG of Baltimore County executed a deed and sale to Benjamin ARNOLD (Baltimore County farmer - wife Esther) for tract "Narrow Bottom", 50 acres; lies on the second branch of Little Pipe Creek in Frederick County (certificate originally returned to land office in April 1750 and said to be lying in Baltimore County and was so patented.). On 2 Jun 1750, a division of Baltimore County caused this tract to then be in Frederick County but was mistakenly recorded in the Baltimore County office agreeable to the patent instead of Frederick County and thus a deed was executed to Legh MASTER from William BUCHANAN (iron master). Appraisers assigned in Oct 1790 were William ROBERTS and Edward LAMB who valued it at 17 shillings/6 pence per acre; but by 8 Apr 1794, Lamb was deceased. On the 16th of June 1760, a deed was executed by Henry AMBROSE to Benjamin SWOPE for part of a tract in Frederick County. Also, two other deeds were executed by Matthias AMBROSE Jr, George MATTHEWS, and w/ Maria Barbara MATTHEWS on the 18th of March 1761, to Benjamin SWOPE. On 16 May 1761, the land office issued a patent to Swope for 30 acres on tract "Beauty Spot"; but the real name of the grantee and patentee was Benedict SWOPE and not Benjamin. Swope was in possession of the said land by his real name and, on 7 July 1768, conveyed all three parts to William BUCHANAN who has since conveyed them to Legh MASTER. Thomas WELCH's survey report was dated 2 May 1773 for Legh Master of Frederick Co and Buchanan of Baltimore Co - lands in Frederick County - pt "Arnold's Choice", 506 acres; - "Long Valley", 101 acres; - "Willson's Delight", 49 acres; - "Resurvey on Indian War", 100 acres; - "Jack's Purchase", 50 acres; - "Cobb's Choice", 50 acres, - "Beauty Spot", 30 acres; - "Edward's Fancy", 21 acres; - "Red Budd", 21 acres; - "Narrow Bottom", 50 acres; - "Bond's Meadow Enlarged" (two distinct parts), 110 acres; - "Bottom and Top", 50 acres; - "Content", 50 acres; - "Wilson's Chance" & "Mistake", 10 1/2 acres; - "Gabriel's Choice", 80 acres; - "York Company Defence", 1000 acres; - "Fire Lock", 14 acres, - "Brother's Inheritance", 2500 acres; - "Lookabout", 1,535 acres; - "Neglect", 65 1/4 acres; - "Brown's Plague", 11 1/4 acres; - "White Oak Bottom", 1 acre; - "Cool Evening", 25 acres. Lands sold were 6,437 acres with a deficiency of 289 acres. (Elder surveys were before the Mason-Dixon line was established, thus making differences in acreage) Other Maryland Land Indentures made 13 Jul 1773 - - "Lookabout", 1,535 acres, patented to Benedict SWOPE and conveyed to William BUCHANAN, except 360 acres of which was conveyed to Conrad ORENDORF, John BRECKER and John Windle HARMAN. - "Wilson's Delight", 1 acre, conveyed by George MATTHEWS to Benedict SWOPE and William BUCHANAN on 10 Sep 1763; later Swope transferred his interest to Buchanan. - "Bond's Meadow Enlarged", 50 acres, by John RIDGLEY to Benedict SWOPE and William BUCHANAN on 6 Oct 1764; of which Swope later conveyed his interest to Buchanan. On 16 Jan 1793, argument made regarding releases of dower for wives of John RIDGELY and William WILSON, as they are now both dead; also stated Matthias AMBROSE Jr was not married at time of conveyance of tract, "Arnold's Chance" to Benjamin/Benedict SWOPE, and the Swopes are now living in Kentucky and are about 70 years old (statement by Master and Buchanan). - "Brown's Plague", 11+ acres by George BROWN to Benedict SWOPE and William BUCHANAN on 12 Mar 1765; of which Swope later conveyed his interest to Buchanan. Two other tracts in Frederick County originally patented to Michael SWOPE and conveyed by him to William BUCHANAN: - "Brother's Inheritance", 2,500 acres, with exception of 675 acres conveyed by Swope to John ENGLAND; - "York Company's Defence", 1,000 acres, except 137+ acres conveyed by Swope to Joseph MURRAY. Three tracts in Frederick County conveyed by Samuel DURBIN to William BUCHANAN originally known as - "Jack's Purchase", 50 acres; - "Indian War", 28 acres; - "The Resurvey on Indian War", 72 acres. Land inherited by Samuel DURBIN through the will of his father, Samuel DURBIN. - "Gabriel's Choice", 80 acres, patented to Gabriel McKINSEY (w/ Sarah) of Allegany County (but formerly a Frederick County farmer), who conveyed it to William BUCHANAN on 25 Apr 1792; - "Edward's Fancy", 21 acres, patented to Edward STEVENSON and then conveyed to Buchanan as well as tract "Red Budd", 21 acres. - "Neglect", 65+ acres, originally patented to William BUCHANAN; and another tract "Firelock", 14 acres. On 16 Aug 1787, Legh Master made petition against William Buchanan, stating Master had purchased an iron furnace lying in Frederick County along with several tracts of land of which totaled about 7,000 acres, priced at one guinea per acre, together with four negro SLAVES, two men and two women, and some livestock for the consideration of 9,000 pounds sterling of which 7,000 had been paid. He also bought another 500 acres and a great number of slaves (not from Buchanan) which now total 39 SLAVES and still possesses all land, slaves and live stock and at present has 160 tons of pig iron and a large quantity of iron ore. Balance of debt in dispute. Master protested the remainder of money because land is less than was originally sold (due to Mason-Dixon line established). Buchanan filed an injunction for nonpayment taking property and slaves of Master thus causing losses to Master. Court petition to resolve issues, part of which is the deficiency of 142 1/2 acres of tract "Lookabout". Release of Dower on 20 Sep 1791 - Eve SWOPE, widow of Michael SWOPE, of Fairfax Co, VA to Legh MASTER, assignee of William BUCHANAN of Baltimore County. [On 8 Oct 1768, Michael SWOPE, shop keeper, was living in York Co, PA; and for 2,000 pounds paid him by William BUCHANAN, executed a deed to Buchanan, then iron master of Frederick Co, MD, for tract "York Companies Defence" and part "Brother's Inheritance", both lying in Frederick County. Eve was not then present to release her dower; thus this indenture to justify release.] Release of Dower on 18 Jan 1794 - Margaret ARNOLD, widow of Anthony ARNOLD of Frederick County to Legh MASTER, assignee of William BUCHANAN of Baltimore County. [On 13 Oct 1762, Anthony ARNOLD, executed sale for "Bottom and Top", 50 acres, at 5 shillings, to James WHITE, which White later conveyed to William Buchanan and by him to Master. Margaret Arnold did not release her right of dower of the 50 acres to White; thus this indenture now releases it for 5 shillings to be paid by Buchanan.] (Injunction dissolved 1794; not recorded)
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