John Winter and Others, Answer, 21 November 1850 [United States v. Joseph Smith III et al.]
Source Note
John Winter, Maria Winter, Casamire Winter, Lewis Stutts, Hiram Griffin, Siegmund M. Walther, Isabella Hickox, and Benjamin P. Van Court, Answer, [], Hancock Co., IL, 21 Nov. 1850, U.S. v. Joseph Smith III et al. (United States Circuit Court for the District of IL 1852). Copied [ca. 17 July 1852] in Transcript of Proceedings, U.S. District Court for the District of Illinois, Complete Records, 1837–1856, vol. 4, pp. 535–548; handwriting of ; Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21, National Archives at Chicago, Chicago.
they have in the premises in said Bill described except as to Lot 1 and 4 on Block 117, Lots 2 and 3 on Block 119, Lots 1 and 3 S 1/2 N 1/2 of 2 on Block 125, Lots 2, 3 and 4 on Block 140 and Lot 3 Block 120, Lot 4 on Block 121, and Lot 4 on Block 116, in said City of in the County of and aforesaid.
And situated on said South East quarter of section (2) two, and as to which said premises these respondants answering say, that the following are the facts thereto.
Respondants removed to said , Illinois some time in the year A. D. 1846, then being strangers and having no knowledge of titles to Real Estate in said :
This paragraph relates to respondant Hiram Griffin.
The said respondant Hiram Griffin then about the 14th. day of May A. D. 1846 purchased of one , the South 1/3 of said lot 3 Block 119 for the consideration of two hundred (200) dollars then paid and obtained his deed therefore,
That said on the 4th. day of August A. D. 1843 purchased of said Joseph Smith deceased for the consideration of three hundred and thirty dollars the same premises and obtained his deed therefor, which deed is hereto attached and marked exhibits “A” and made a part of this answer and that this respondant H. Griffin on said purchase from said obtained the possession thereof.
That on the 20th. day of August 1847 the said then being sole conveyed the said lot 3 Block 119 among tracts to one Benjamin P. VanCourt for the consideration of fifty dollars then paid and obtained her deed therefor, which deed is herewith filed marked exhibit “B” and made part of this answer.
That said VanCourt on the 24th. 2th. of March A. D. 1848 by his deed conveyed the same premises together with others, to one Jonathan T. Wilbur for the consideration of fifty dollars by his deed of that date, which is herewith filed marked exhibit “C” and made a part of this answer.
That said J. T. Wilbur on the 17th. day of March A. D. 1849 conveyed the North 2/3 of said lot to said Respondant Hiram Griffin by his deed of that date for the consideration of fifty dollars, then paid which said deed is herewith filed mark “D” and made a part of this answer.
That on the 22nd. of February 1849 said Wilbur conveyed to said VanCourt the South one third of said lot together with other lots for the consideration of five hundred dollars in said deed expressed, which said deed is herewith filed marked exhibit “O” and made a part of this answer. [p. 536]