A deed from John Sampson and Lucy his wife to Elijah Sampson, William Sampson, and John Sampson dated the 22nd of June 1797 and recorded in the county of Orange the 26th of June 1797 for a tract of land containing one hundred and 53 acres more or less lying and being in Orange county and bordered as followeth towit:
Beginning at 2 gums and 2 white oaks east side of swamp on Benj. Sewell's line north 86 degrees west 70 pole to 2 white oaks in back line South 14 degrees west 114 pole to a parcel of oaks NE side of the road, north 49 degrees 120 pole 2 white & Spanish oaks on ridge in Winslows & Picketts line N 40 degrees west 141 poles to 2 white oaks & 2 dogwoods on west side of the above mentioned swamp to the beginning.
Teste
Reynolds Chapman
By a clause contained in the deed from which the forgoing is an extract it appears that William Sampson was to have 50 acres of land where James Jollett lived, John Sampson to have 50 acres of land where John Sampson the father lived and Elijah Sampson the balance of land. The deed was recorded upon the acknowledgement of John Sampson & wife made in open court.
Teste
Phillip Fry Aug. 23, 1857
Petition
Elijah Sampson died many years ago intestate leaving as his heirs at --- your oratrix Lucy Sampson, Leanna Sampson, who married one --- whose baptismal name is unknown to your oratrix, then died without having had issue who could have inherited from her, Lucinda who married one --- Frederick whose baptismal name is unknown to your oratrix, died intestate having as her heirs at least three children viz George Frederick, Lucinda Frederick, and another --- Frederick whose baptismal name is unknown to your oratrix, Matilda who married one William Stratham, Fountain Sampson, Fitney [or Pitney] Sampson, Nancy Sampson, John Sampson, and George Sampson, that upon the death of the aforesaid Leanna without issue as aforesaid her interest in the said land assigns to her brother and sisters aforesaid who were alive and to the children of such of them as were dead --- --- that the share which the said Lucinda who was sometimes called Sidney, inherited from her father in the said land --- --- from her death --- --- children aforesaid in equal shares; that said land is not capable of such division without serious injury to the interests of all parties intestate; that it is not worth 300 dollars per share, that all of the partners interested in it are non-residents of the Commonwealth and --- a sale of it now [what follows is legal jargon making the point that the land needs to be sold] Therefore, that the aforementioned parcel of land granted to Elijah Sampson by his father as above stated may be sold and the proceeds of sale equally divided between the parties thereto ...
Article in Alexandria's Virginia Sentinel for 4 weeks
Dec. 28, 1857 [first appearance]
At Rules held in Clerk's Office of the County Court of Greene County, on Monday, the 7th day of December 1857, Lucy Sampson, plaintiff, against George Frederick, Lucinda Frederick, --- Frederick, William Stratham, and Matilda his wife, Fountain Sampson, Fitney [or Pitney] Sampson, George Sampson, John Sampson, and Nancy Sampson, Defendants.
The object of this suit is to get a decree to sell the real estate of Elijah Sampson, dec'd, lying in Greene County, VA, and to divide the net proceeds between his heirs at law, and the heirs such of them as have died since he died. And it appearing by satisfactory evidence that the said defendants are all non-residents of this State: on motion of the plaintiff it is ordered that the said non-residents do appear here in one month after due publication of this order, and do what is necessary to protect their interests, and that a copy of this order be published for 4 successive weeks in The Sentinel, a paper published in the town of Alexandria and also posted at the front door of the Courthouse of this Court.
R. Pritchett, Clerk
Teste
A. R. Blakey
George Frederick - - son of Lucinda Frederick, daughter of Elijah
Lucinda Frederick - - daughter of Lucinda Frederick, daughter of Elijah
William Stratham & Matilda - - daughter of Elijah
Fountain Sampson - - son of Elijah
Pitney Sampson - - son of Elijah
George Sampson - - son of Elijah
John Sampson - - son of Elijah
Nancy Sampson - - daughter of Elijah
Appointment of Commissioners to sell Elijah's land
This was a "fill in the blanks" form:
Know all men by these presents that we Franklin Sampson and William Sampson are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Virginia in the sum of 6 hundred dollars to the payment whereof, well and truly to be made to the said Commonwealth of Virginia, we bind ourselves and each of us, our and each of our heirs, executors, and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents.
Sealed 15 Sept. 1859
Franklin Sampson who was appointed commissioner to sell the land in the bill and proceedings of Lucy Sampson against George Frederick and [the others]
[signed ] Franklin Sampson and William Sampson
Sampson vs Sampson
The --- commissioners --- --- to --- and that pursuant to the decree in turn --- this cause --- --- the cause in the Bill and proceedings mentioned and sold the same at public auction to the highest bidder upon the --- mentioned in said decree on the 19th day of June in the year of 1858.
James McMullen became the purchaser at $337.01.