On this page: Introduction; Conveyance of land - Documents and Transcription; Land Price Comparison
Latest update: Tuesday, October 25, 2011
NOTE: As of October 2011, we are still enhancing the images and transcribing the text.
INTRODUCTION
In 1791 Adam EDGAR sold about two (2) acres of land from his family homestead
in Chester County, SOUTH CAROLINA in order to establish Rocky Creek
Reformed Presbyterian Church and Cemetery. The transaction is noted in several
historical texts including
• History of The Reformed Presbyterian Church in America
• "The centre and parent of all was Edgar's meeting-house, afterwards called
Rocky Creek, and finally the Brick church. It was called Edgar's, because
Adam Edgar, one of the earliest elders, ceded the land on which it
stood." The Reformed Presbyterian and Covenanter
• "The above historians had called the first building a log meeting house.
At the court house I found a deed for such a building."
Bulletins of Chester District Genealogical Society, Vol. 1, No. 1 - 4, 1978
This conveyance document was contributed and transcribed by Robert Merritte
WEBB, Adam's GGGG Grandson. Kay KING obtained this copy for Bob in early
2009 when she visited Chester County, SOUTH CAROLINA.
Although this document is probably part of other genealogy research, we believe this is its first presentation on the open
Internet. Please feel free to use the information on this webpage, but also please be respectful and feel obliged to link to this
webpage and to clearly identify it as a source.
Those involved with this conveyance are as follows:
• James McQUESTION, Hugh McMILLAN, and John KELL
• Honorable Wm. BULL, Esquire, "Lieutenant Governor & Commander in Chief in and over the then Province now State of So.
Carolina"
• Benjamin MITCHELL, original owner of 150 acres of land that became the Adam EDGAR Homestead
• William EDGAR, Conveyance Witness, Adam's first son to live to adulthood
• Thomas DONNELLY, Conveyance Witness
• Elijah NUNN, Justice of the Peace
TRANSCRIPTION
Conveyance from Adam Edgar
to James McQuestion, Hugh McMillan and John Kell
for the Rocky Creek Reformed Presbyterian Church Congregation
Approx. Two Acres of Land and Meeting House
08 Nov 1791
Conveyance Witnesses:
Thomas DONNELLY and William EDGAR
Recording County Official:
Elijah Nunn, J.P.
Recorded in Deed Book B; pp 574-L576
Chester County, SOUTH CAROLINA
[editorial comment]
[Page 1 Top]
THIS INDENTURE made the eighth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety one [08
November 1791] between Adam Edgar of Rocky Creek in Chester County Camden District and State of South Carolina
(Taylor) of the one part and James McQuestion, Hugh Milling [s/b McMillan], and John Kell of the County, District and State
aforesaid Planters of the other part. Whereas in & by a certain Grant bearing date the fourth day of May anno domino one
thousand seven hundred and seventy five [04 May 1775, AD] under the hand of his excellency the right Honoble [s/b
Honorable] Wm. Bull Esquire Lieutenant Governor & Commander in Chief in and over the then Province now State of So.
Carolina and the great seal thereof for that purpose appointed and give and grant unto Benjamin Mitchell a tract of land
containing one hundred and fifty acres [150 acres] situate in then Craven now Chester County on the branches of Rockey [s/b
Rocky] Creek bounded South East on said Benjamin Mitchell’s land and on the other sides by Vacant Land and hath such form
shape & marks as appears by a Platt thereof to the said Grant annexed said Platt and Grant being duly recorded in the
Secretaries Office in Book XXX Page 345 referrence [s/b reference] had thereto will make appear &
[Page 1 Bottom]
the said Benjamin Mitchell having sold & conveyed the said Tract of one hundred & fifty acres of Land to the above said Adam
Edgar & confirmed the same by Lease & Release bearing date Feby the 3rd & 4th Anno Domino 1778 – Now this Indenture
Witnesseth – that I the aid Adam Edgar for and in consideration of the sum of one pound seventeen shillings & four
pence sterling current money the receipt whereby I do hereby acknowledge and to be satisfied and paid have granted
bargained sold aliened remised released conveyed & confirmed & by these presents do grant bargain sell alien remise release
convey & confirm unto the said James McQuestion Hugh McMilling [s/b McMillan] & John Kell two Acres & eighteen Poles &
Perches...
[As a unit of area, a square perch (the perch being standardized to equal 16.5 feet) is equal to a square rod, 30+1⁄4
square yards, 25.29 square metres or 0.00625 acres. There are 40 square perches to a rod, 160 square perches to
an acre. This unit was usually referred to as a perch or pole even though square perch and square pole were the
more precise terms. There are 160 perches (or “poles and perches”) per acre.
Thus, 2 acres and 18 perches = 2 18/160 acres = 2.1125 acres]
... more or less of land out of the above said Tract of one hundred & fifty on the So. East side Thereof Beginning at a pine
on James McKenna line & running thence to a white oak including the spring of water from thence to a Black Jack +
W & from thence to a Black Oak + including the Meeting House thence to the aforesaid Pine comes together with all [?]
singular the Meeting House & hay House, buildings, Woods, under Wood & Timber, & Timber Trees, Pastures, Ways, Water &
Water Courses, Paths, Passages, Liberties, Privileges, Profits, Hereditaments, Rights, Members & Appurtenances whatsoever
thereunto belonging or in [Note: commas added for clarity in the preceding list.]
[last line of first page unreadable]
... [Transcription in progress.]
LAND PRICE COMPARISON
between1778 Adam EDGAR Land Purchase {above) and
Adam EDGAR 1791 Land Sale to Rock Creek Reformed Presbyterian Church.
Prior to decimalisation,
• the pound was divided into 20 shillings; therefore, one shilling = 0.0500 pounds
• each shilling was divided into 12 pence; therefore, one pence = 0.0833 shillings
• making 240 pence to the pound; therefore one pence = 0.00417 pounds
When the EDGAR land was purchased in 1778, the price paid was 400 pounds for 150 acres or approx. 2.67 pounds per acre,
probably with no improvements on the land.
When 2.11 aces of the EDGAR Homestead was sold to the RCRPC in 1791 the price paid was one pound, seventeen shillings
and four pence or 1.87 pounds for 2.11 acres or approx. .89 pounds per acre, including the meeting house and the other
permanent structure (tent or out house).
Thus, the price charged in 1791 was deeply discounted to, at most, approximately one-third the value of the land and
structures on the land.