Tag Archives: Columbia Co. Pennsylvania

Letter of Attorney/ Isaiah McCartney to James Wilson Esq. 1814

While searching for a connection between Isaiah McCartney and whom we believe to be his parents John and Margaret Clyde McCartney, I found a document that proves Isaiah’s connection to his wife Lettice/Lettis/Leticia Hudders.

I  found at  the Chester County Pennsylvania website a Letter of Attorney. I ordered a copy for 5.00 and what I recieved was a Letter of Attorney drawn up for Isaiah McCartney and Lettis Hudders now McCartney his wife. This was written up to give their good friend James Wilson Esq. permission to handle this affair.

Lettice was to have recieved half of a property that her grandfather James Hudders Senr left to her in a will. The other half to her sister Mary. The stipulation of the will was that their father James Hudders Jr. would have use of the land through his natural life. I am not sure why the girls recieved this and not their father, but I am sure there must be a story in there somewhere.  James Jr. was not the only child, and usually grandchildren, especially girls,  didn’t get much mention in wills in that time period.

I now have proof of their marriage, somewhere between 1795 when James Hudders passed and his will proven and 1814 when this document was written. I have a birth date for whom I believe to be the oldest child of 1805 so that narrows it down a bit more.

My new question now is, why is she selling off her portion. I also have a letter of attorney for her sister Mary, wishing to sell her portion as well, during the same time period.
James Jr I believe  died after this document was drawn up, perhaps in the 1820’s.

Know all men by these present that We Isaiah McCartney of the township of Derry in the County of Columbia and State of Pennsylvania and Lettis his wife one of the Grand daughters and heirs of James Hudders Senr late of Chester County East Nottingham Township deceased made his last will and testament in writing where in and whereby amongst other things he did give and devise a certain track of land unto his son James Hudders, two daughters, Lettis and Mary Now know ye that we Isaiah McCartney and Lettis Hudders now McCartney his wife have made constituted and appoint in our place and stead put and dispute our trusty and loving friend James Wilson Esq of the town of Oxford Township Chester County and state of Pennsylvania our true and lawful Attorney for us and in our names places and steads to grant bargain and sell or rent do anything he should think proper for to do with our part of the messuage or tract of ninety one acres of land situate in Lower Oxford Township Chester County State aforesaid joining land of James Thomas and John Watt and others with the appurtenances and all our estate right title and interest there in unto such person and persons and for such price or prices as shall think proper and also for us and in our names places and heads and as our proper act and deed to sign seal and acknowledge all such deed or deeds of conveyance as shall be necessary for the absolute granting and a signing of the promises into the purchaser or purchasers in for simple giving and granting unto our said attorney by these presents our full and whole powers strength and authority in  and  about the premises to have use and to have use take all all lawful ways and means in our names for the purposes aforesaid and upon the receipts of the purchase money for the promises acquaintances or other sufficient discharge for us and in our names to make seal and deliver and generally all and every other act or acts things and things devise and (unreadable) the law what so ever needful and making to be done on and about the promises for us and in our names do execute and perform as fully largely and amply to all intents and purposes as if we ourselves might do or could do if personally present and attorneys one or more under him for the prupose aforesaid to make and constitute and again at pleasure to revoke, hereby ratifying allowing and holding firm and effected all and what so ever our said attorney shall lawfully do do in and about the premises by virtue here of I witness where of we have here unto set our hands and seals this 23 day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen Isaiah McCartney (seal) Lettice McCartney (seal) Witness present Thomas Laird Letty Miller Columbia County  be it remembered that on the day of the of the above written route letters of Attorney personally came before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in a and for the County of Columbia the above and within names Isaiah McCartney and Lettis his wife and acknowledge the above as and for their act and deed witness my hand and seal of office date aforesaid Thomas Laird (seal) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Columbia County I George A. Frick Prothonatory for said county do certify that Thomas Laird is duly commissioned as Justice of the Peace for said county witness my hand and seal of Office Know all me by these present that We Isaiah McCartney of the township of Derry in the County of Columbia and State of Pennsylvania and Lettis his wife one of the Grand daughters and heirs of James Hudders Senr late of Chester County East Nottingham Township deceased made his last will and testament in writing where in and whereby amongst other things he did give and devise a certain track of land unto his son James Hudders, two daughters, Lettis and Mary Now know ye that we Isaiah McCartney and Lettis Hudders now McCartney his wife have made constituted and appoint in our place and stead put and dispute our trusty and loving friend James Wilson Esq of the town of Oxford Township Chester County and state of Pennsylvania our true and lawful attorney for us and in our names places and steads to grant bargain and sell or rent do anything he should think proper for to do with our part of the messuage or tract of ninety one acres of land situate in Lower Oxford Township Chester County State aforesaid joining land of James Thomas and John Watt and others with the appurtenances and all our estate right title and interest there in unto such person and persons and for such price or prices as shall think proper and also for us and in our names places and heads and as our proper act and deed to sign seal and acknowledge all such deed or deeds of conveyance as shall be necessary for the absolute granting and a signing of the promises into the purchaser or purchasers in for simple giving and granting unto our said attorney by these presents our full and whole powers strength and authority in  and  about the premises to have use and to have use take all all lawful ways and means in our names for the purposes aforesaid and upon the receipts of the purchase money for the promises acquaintances or other sufficient discharge for us and in our names to make seal and deliver and generally all and every other act or acts things and things devise and (unreadable) the law what so ever needful and making to be done on and about the promises for us and in our names do execute and perform as fully largely and amply to all intents and purposes as if we ourselves might do or could do if personally present and attorneys one or more under him for the purpose aforesaid to make and constitute and again at pleasure to revoke, hereby ratifying allowing and holding firm and effected all and what so ever our said attorney shall lawfully do do in and about the premisses by virtue here of I witness where of we have here unto set our hands and seals this 23 day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen Isaiah McCartney (seal) Lettice McCartney (seal) Witness present Thomas Laird Letty Miller Columbia County  be it remembered that on the day of the of the above written route letters of Attorney personally came before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in a and for the County of Columbia the above and within names Isaiah McCartney and Lettis his wife and acknowledge the above as and for their act and deed witness my hand and seal of office date aforesaid Thomas Laird (seal) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Columbia County I George A. Frick Prothonotary for said county do certify that Thomas Laird is duly commissioned as Justice of the Peace for said county witness my hand and seal of Office

April 29 1814 George A. Frick

Recorded Aug 11 1815

I find it rather funny (odd) that I ordered this document in August, somewhere near the bi-centenial of it writing. Guess it was meant for me to find it then.

Happy Hunting!