William PATTERSON of Baltimore Town issued petition against
Hugh FERGUSON of Pennsylvania, being or pretending to be
owner of land tract "Retirement Corrected", 1,500 of 2,000
acres, lying in Frederick County. Ferguson authorized his
son, Josias FERGUSON of Frederick County, to sell said land
and, on 23 Jun 1779, came to agreement with Robert CRAWFORD
of Frederick County for the absolute purchase of 1,500 acres
of said tract. At that time, Josias lived on the property
as did tenants (to Hugh FERGUSON), Jonathan RILEY and John
RILEY (w/ Margaret). When final payment of bond was presented,
Hugh Ferguson refused to provide deed and wanted to take back
the property; this meeting said to have taken place at Two
Taverns.
Hugh FERGUSON of Deep Run, Bucks Co, PA
w/ (first name not given)
son - Josias FERGUSON (w/ Mary age 38)
(testimony given on 12 Apr 1787 stating her age)
lived in Frederick Co, MD but later moved to Plumsted
Twp, Bucks Co, PA
son - John FERGUSON
Land was later surveyed and divided - part for Patterson and
the other part for John Ferguson, son of Hugh. Hugh Ferguson
claimed his son Josias never had any power of attorney to sell
said land. Josias claimed it was always expected the land
would be divided between him and his brother John; and he sold
his part (called "Hunter's Spring" with house and 50 acres
cleared).
Those testifying: James BARR and Robert BARR, both merchants
of Philadelphia; David KEPHEART, age 57 in Sep 1786; James
ARMSTRONG in Aug 1783; Richard WOOD, a Quaker; John PEBBLE
(brother of William PEBBLE); Henry OBLEMAN who went with
George BONER to Josiah FERGUSON's house; Adam GOOD: Hugh SCOTT;
John UPTON; and Joseph GORDON.
Witnesses for Crawford: Barnet MURRAY, George WARNER, Devault
KEPHART, William PEBBLE, Thomas BARNES, John JONES, Mary
STEVENSON, William UNCLES and Dennis SWEENEY.
Meetings were mentioned in Taneytown and also of Westminster
as Mr. Crawford's house (both in now Carroll Co, MD).
Although there was testimony on both sides with validation of
payment of monies, documents mentioned in hearing were not
presented and the case was dismissed on 24 Dec 1789.
website by Dorinda Davis Shepley