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J, H. BONNER
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW
WASHINGTON, N.C.
8/15/'58.
Edmund:
Not entirely satisfied with my report as to the Marsh house, at Bath (Aug 12 58), I have gone beyond the deed from the Lockharts to Robert Palmer, July 11, 1764, 4/48.
On the 13th inst, I reported the deed from John Freeman to Michael Coutanch, 3/5/1739, 2/331; but I could not conclude that Coutanch actually lived on these lots, or that he built the Marsh house.
Looking at random in these old records today; I find a deed from "Richard Evans and wife, Susannah, daughter and heir of Michael Coutanch, to Lillington and James Lockhart; June 16, 1763, 4/3.
Conveys same lots described in the deed from Lockhart to Robert Palmer, 7/11/64; 4/48; with this addendum:
"Lots 24 and 25 in the plan of said town (Bath); being the lots and houses whereon the said Michael Coutanch lived in his life-time", etc.
Coutanch bought in 1739. It appears that his daughter sold in 1764, to Robert Palmer.
There is still a "break" in this chain of title between Robert Palmer and Jonathan Marsh, which I cannot connect up.
The Marsh house is on Lots 24 and 25.
Lockharts gave 958 pounds for the property ( $ 4,655.68 proclamation money).
It appears that Coutanch lived there from 1739 to or about 1763.
No record evidence that he built the Marsh house[.] The assumption is that he did!
Cordially:
[signature] John HB
John H. B.
Trial practice limited to:
Admiralty; land titles and boundaries;
Actions devistavit vel non [devisavit vel non: a type of practice dealing with determination of validity of wills].
Office practice limited to:
Conveyancing; abstracting; probates of
wills; infant, estates; administrations.