Benjamin Summers to John W. Beckwith - A Deed

Benjamin and Valinda Summers sold two lots in Shepherdsville to John W. Beckwith in October 1805. It's possible that there is where John and his brother Upton had their store, prior to becoming involved in the construction of an iron forge and grist mill further downstream on Salt River.

Here is the Deed, found in Deed Book B, pages 45-6. It is transcribed below the image.

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This indenture made this eleventh day of October in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and five between Benjamin Summers and Valinda his wife of the county of Bullitt, Commonwealth of Kentucky of the one part and John W. Beckwith of the town of Shepherdsville and the County and Commonwealth aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the said Benjamin Summers and Valinda his wife, for and in consideration of the sum of six hundred dollars current money of the United States of America to them in hand paid by the said John W. Beckwith before the saling and delivery hereof the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledge, have given, granted, bargained and sold, aliened, released, conveyed and confirmed, and by these presents do give, grant, bargain and sell, alien, release, convey and confirm unto the said John W. Beckwith, his heirs and assigns forever, two certain lots of ground in the said Town of Shepherdsville containing about one acre more or less bounded Southwardly by Water Street, Eastwardly by one of the extreme lines of said Town and Northwardly and Westwardly by two alleys of the same Town, being the lots known in a deed from the Trustees of the aforesaid Town to said Summers by No. 45 and 46, and on which William Mackbee now lives, with their appurtenances to have and to hold the said two lots of ground unto the said John W. Beckwith, his heirs and assigns to his and their only proper use, benefit and behoof forever. And the said Benjamin Summers and Valinda his wife for themselves, their heirs, executors, and administrators do further covenant and agree to and with the said John W. Beckwith, his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns that they the said Benjamin Summers and Valinda his wife will forever covenant and defend the two aforesaid lots of ground with all and singular their appurtenances and hereditaments unto the said John W. Beckwith, his heirs and assigns against them the said Benjamin Summers and Valinda his wife, their heirs and against the claim or claims of all and very person or persons whatsoever. In witness whereof the said Benjamin Summers and Valinda his wife have hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals the day and year first above written.
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of ... (no names listed)
(signed) Ben Summers

Bullitt County Sct
To all whom it may concern, I Frederic William Spence Grayson, clerk of the County Court of said County, do make known that on the 11th day of October 1805, Benjamin Summers whose hand and seal are affixed to the foregoing indenture personally before me acknowledged the same to be his voluntary act and deed, and that I have recorded the same indenture in my office as required by law. Witness my hand the 2nd day of May 1806.
(signed) Fred W. S. Grayson

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The two lots, numbers 45 and 46, were located on the east side of town, not far from the river, and may be located on the "Original Shepherdsville Lots" page here. These numbers were from the original Benjamin Stansberry survey. The later James Shanks survey numbered them as 63 and 64.

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