Statement, Defense of title to Woodlawn, Lawrence Lewis

Containers:

Box 39, Folder 1805.04.29

Creator:

Lewis, Lawrence, 1767-1839

Scope and content:

A.D.S. 6 pages. A statement as to the title to Woodlawn drawn up by Lawrence Lewis because of a threatened suit over the land by descendants of Sarah Mason Brooke; it embodies Col. George Mason's statement on the history of the lands ownership. Lewis's search of title goes back to William Travers, who by deed from Proprietors, March 22, 1677, got 788 acres. The Woodlawn part of that property was later owned by George Washington (who had gotten it on 27 October 1772) and then willed by him to Lawrence Lewis and Eleanor ("Nelly") Parke Custis Lewis. Autograph document signed, by Lawrence Lewis, docketed "Col. Geo. Mason's Statement," and in another hand, "as to title of Woodlawn."

Biographical / historical:

In 1715 Col. G. Mason (father of Sarah and grandfather to Commodore Brooke) died, leaving among other children, by his last wife two sons and one daughter Sarah Mason-left several tracts of land to sons who died under age and their property left to their sister--she married, under age, in 1734 to Thomas Brooke--before her marriage to protect her estate a settlement made of her lands and slaves upon her and Thomas Brooke during their life and heirs of her body by Brooke or any other husband--in failure of heirs her half-brother George--Articles of Agreement between G. Mason and Brooke who gave £2,000 bond for its execution--in 1735 George died intestate--Brooke never executed the agreement but sold most of his wife's land and ran the money, then died--Mrs. Ann Mason, widow of George, brought suit against Sarah and Thomas Brook (deceased) for breach of bond and won--conveyances made by Brooke cannot be disputed.

Lewis's search of title goes back to William Travers, who by deed from Proprietors, March 22, 1677, got 788 acres--son Samuel conveyed it by deed July 1, 1685 to brother Rawleigh--conveyed by him to William Lambert, Dec. 2, 1692--conveyed by him to George Mason, April 19, 1693--left by will to sons who died underage--descended to sister Sarah who with husband Thomas Brooke sold it to Zephaniah Wade, October 20, 1738--Z. Wade Conveyed 300 acres on Nov. 26, 1739 to Saml. Magruder for Eliza. Spencer--it was reconveyed to Z. Wade on Aug. 4, 1744--Jan. 16, 1745 sold to John Littleton--on his death left to 2 sons and is now property of William Butler Harrison--the remaining part of 788 acres was sold by Z. and Violiner Wade to John Brown Dec. 15, 1739--left at his death to Ann, a daughter who married Charles West--they deeded it to Geo. Washington, Oct. 27,1772--he willed it to Lewis.

Names:

Mason, George, 1725-1792
Lewis, Lawrence, 1767-1839
Mason, George, 1725-1792

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