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.
North of lot 4 Block 117, lots 2 and 3 Block 119, lot 1 Block 125, lots 2 and 4 in Block 140, and also by her other deed made as aforesaid on the 21st. day of December 1847 conveyed all her interest in the following premises, to wit:—
Lot 4 Block 117, Lot 3 Block 120, Lot 3 Block 125, Lot 3 Block 140, to Respondant Benjamin P. VanCourt, which said last mentioned deed is herewith filed and marked exhibit “H” and made a part of this answer, for the consideration of one hundred dollars, then paid by the said Benjamin P. VanCourt to the said ,
Whereby as Respondants are advised that said VanCourt became seized of whatever interest the said had at the time of the execution of said deeds in the said premises, to wit:
Lots 1 and 4 Block 117, Lots 2 and 3 in block 119, Lot 3 Block 120, Lots 1 and 3 Block 125, Lots 2, 3 and 4 in block 140, in said ,
And Respondants say that, the said Benjamin P. VanCourt, did on the 24th. of March 1848 convey all of said Lots except, the South 1/2 of the South 1/2 of Lot 1 Block 117 to said Jonathan T. Wilbur by his deed of that, which said deed is herein before referred to as exhibit “C”.
And that afterwards to wit:— on the 22nd.July February 1849 he purchased from the said J. T. Wilbur a portion of said lots to wit:—
Lots 4 and the North 1/2 of the South 1/2 of Lot 1 in Block 117, Lots 2 and the South 1/3 of 3 Block 119, Lot 3 Block 120, Lots 1 and 3 Block 125, lots 2, 3 and 4 in Block 140 by his deed of that date and herein before referred to as exhibit “E” and paid therefor the valuable consideration of to wit, of five hundred dollars bona fide at the time of such conveyance.
And these Respondants further state that said while sole on the 21st. day of December A. D. 1847 by her deed of that date, conveyed to said Benjamin P. VanCourt the whole of said lot three in Block 125 for a valuable consideration in said deed named.
Which said deed is herein before referred to as filed marked exhibit “H” and made a part of this answer
This paragraph relates to respondant Isabella Hickox, Leonard her husband.
That said VanCourt, afterwards on the 23rd. day of July A. D. 1849 by his deed of that date conveyed the West 2/3 of said lot to Respondant Isabella Hickox for the consideration of one hundred dollars, then paid,
Which said deed is herewith filed and marked exhibit “J” and made a part of this answer. [p. 538]