The map on the right, from Tom Midlam's collection, should help you visualize the location of this property within Staunton township. Section 14 is in the middle, directly across the Troy-Piqua Pike from Raper Chapel.We believe this document represents the earliest land title awarded to our ancestors in Miami county, Ohio. The Careys, Clarks, Winans and other related families had settled in the area shortly after the beginning of the 19th Century.1 This patent issued to Rev.David Clark by the United States government confirmed their right to hold the lands on which they were living. The document was transcribed by cousin Kelly Conrad:
United States of America, Patent to David Clark for N/2 & SE/4, Sec. 14, R.11, T.1 [Staunton Township, nominally]; consideration not specified
Miami County Ohio Clerk, 1815
Deeds, Book 2 [Oct 1813 - Dec 1815], 494 pp.
Pg. 84
6 Mar 1812 [patented]; 10 Feb 1814 [recorded]
James Madison President of the United States of America
To all to Whom these presents shall come Greetings
Know ye that David Clark assignee of Andrew Hageman [?] having deposited in the Treasury a certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Cincinnati whereby it appearing that full payment has been made for the north half & the South East quarter of lot or section of Land number fourteen in the first Township of the eleventh Range (containing four hundred and eighty acres) of the land lying between the Great Miami River and the Virginia Reservation sold under the direction of the Register of the land office at Cincinnati by virtue of the right of preemption granted by law to certain persons who have contracted with John Cleves [sic] Symmes or his assigns there is granted by the United States in pursuance of the act of Congress in that case provided unto the said David Clark the tract of land above described to have and to hold the said tract of land with the appurtenances unto the said David Clark and his heirs and assigns forever -
In testimony whereof I have caused these letters to be made Patent and the seal of the Unites States to be hereunto affixed.-
{ L. S. } Given under my hand at the City of Washington the sixth day of March and in the year of our Lord one thousand and Eight hundred and twelve.-
And of the Independence of the United States of America the thirty sixth.
Bt the President James Madison
Jas. Monroe Secretary of State
Recorded February 10th A.D. 1814. -
Cornelius Westfall R. M. C. -
Transcriber comments:
The United States Congress, at President Madison's request, declared a state of war with Great Britain on 18 June 1812, more than three months after David Clark's patent was issued!
The map on the right, from Tom Midlam's collection, should help you visualize the location of this property within Staunton township. Section 14 is in the middle, directly across the Troy-Piqua Pike from Raper Chapel.