FamilySearch microfilm #0977509: Marshall County Deed Book S, page 485

I, John B. Cummings, of Marshall County and State of Tennessee for and in consideration of the Mutual love and affection which I now for (sic) for my two sons, George Was & Newton A. Cummings have this day given, granted and conveyed and by these presents do give, grant and convey unto them and their heirs and assigns forever all the right & title, claim and interest which I have in and to the following described tracts or parcels of land,

The first lying and being in the County of Marshall Civil District No. 5 and bounded as follows: Beginning at a popular stump, Benjamin Olsens Southwest corner, running thence South 86-degrees West with his line 100 & 4/10 poles to a rock, a corner of the land belonging to James Miller, thence South 5 & 1/2-degrees East with his line 70-poles to a Beech, thence South 85 & 1/2-degrees West with his line 24-poles to a stake, thence South 4 & 1/2-degrees East 4-poles to a stake, thence South 85 & 1/2 degrees West 20-poles to a stake in Willis Burgess line, thence South 5 & 1/4-degrees East with his line, the same being the Section Line 66-poles to a stake with two Lynns and Ash and Elm pointers, James Thomason’s corner, thence North 85-degrees East with his line 40-poles to a stake with two Beech pointers, thence North 5-degrees West 20-poles to a stake with an Oak pointer, thence South 70-degrees East 59-poles to a stake in the field, thence South 5 & 1/2-degrees East 114 poles to a stake in H. B. Smileys line, thence North 85 & 1/2-degrees East with his line 47 poles to a sugartree, thence North 4 & 1/4-degrees West 16 poles to a stake, thence North 86-degrees East 18-poles to a stake thence North 5-degrees West 6 & 6/10-poles to a stake near a popular, corner of Smileys field, thence North 86 degrees East 46-poles to a rock, sugartree and Ash pointers, thence North 4 & 1/2-degrees West 32-poles to a Hickory, thence North 86-degrees East 42-poles to a stake, Hickory and Beech pointers, thence North 5-degrees West 94-poles to a stake thence 83 & 1/2 degrees West 42-poles to a stake at the gate. Thence North 5-degrees West 2 & 9/10-poles to a Gum stump, thence North 68 & 1/2 degrees West 64 poles to a stake near a Beech, thence North 5-degrees West 21-poles to the beginning, containing 217 acres and 55 poles.

Also another tract in said County and state aforesaid and bounded as follows, to wit: Beginning at a rock, Benjamin Olsens Sowthwest corner, running thence with James Miller’s line South 86-degrees West 17 poles to a Rock in the Section Line, thence North 5 & 1/4 degrees West with said line 124 poles to a rock, thence North 86-degrees East with N. A. Lane’s line 17-poles to a Honey Locust, Benjamin Olsen’s Northwest corner. Thence South 5 & 1/4-degrees with his line 124 poles to the beginning, containing 15 acres and 28 poles.

Also one other Tract lying and being in the State of Tennessee, Bedford County and Civil District No. 18 and bounded as follows: Beginning at a stake in the road with two cedars, a Post Oak and Hickory pointers, thence North 9-degrees West 90 & 1/2 poles to a stake and thence East with the School Land line 59 & 3/4 poles to a stake. Thence South with Thomas Allison’s line 89-poles to a stake with three Cedar pointers, thence West 45-poles to the beginning, containing 29 acres and 75 poles.

To have and to hold the above described parcels or tracts of land to the said George W. and Newton A. Cummings and their heirs and assigns forever and the bond for Title of James F. Cummings for said tracts of land whenever the Title is perfected in me in accordance with said bond. Then it is to go to the said G.W. & N.A. Cummings, their heirs and assigns in accordance with this conveyance. I covenant with the said G. W. & N. A. Cummings that I have a good right to convey my interest in said tracts or parcels of land and that they are unincumbered. I further covenant and bind myself my heirs and representatives to warrant and forever defend my Titles to said tracts or parcels of land and every part thereof to the said George W. and Newton A. Cummings and their heirs and assigns forever against all the claims of all persons whatever.

I also for the consideration enumerated in the first part of this deed namely, transfer and convey unto the said George W. and Newton A. Cummings and their heirs and assigns forever the following named slaves and their increase, to wit: a Negro man Abner, aged about 60-years. Negro man slave about 25 years, Negro girl, Amanda, age about 24 years and Negro boy Bill aged about 20 years, the Title to which I will warrant and defend to the said G. W. & N. A. Cummings and their heirs and assigns forever and warrant the Negroes are sound, healthy, sensible, and slaves for life.

I hereby retain & reserve unto myself the use and enjoyment of the above named property and every part thereof for and during my natural life it being understood and agreed to between all the parties to this conveyance that I am to have the use and enjoyment of said property for and during my natural life in the same way that I could have done had I never made this deed receipt- I am not to dispose of any of said property for a longer period than my natural life.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal

this the 25th day of January 1860.

J.B. Cummings [seal]

In Presence of
I. Dixon
W. Thompson

State of Tennessee)
Bedford County ) I, Michael E. W. Dunaway, Register of said county hereby certify that the attached deed of gifts was filed in my office January 24, 1860 and noted at 10 & 1/2 o’clock A.M. and with the clerk’s certification within was duly recorded in Book BBB, pages 460, 461, and 462 the same day.

Witness my hand at office January 24 1860.

Michael E. W. Dunaway, Regr., B. C.

State of Tennessee)
Marshall County ) Filed in my office on the 26th day of January 1860 at 10:00 A. M.
W. N. McCowden, R.M.C.

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contributed by Dick Wood (date unknown)