Christopher Smith to Peter Smith, Ulysses 19, July 29, 1824
Tompkins County, N.Y., Clerk, Book K, Pages 270 -271
Date of Deed: July 29, 1824 Recorded: 1826

This indenture made the twenty-ninth day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty four between Christopher Smith in the town of Covert of the County of Tompkins and state of New York of the first part and Peter Smith of the town of Ulysses in the County and state aforesaid of of the second part Witnefseth that the said party of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of six hundred dollars current money of the United States to him in hand paid by the said party of the second part the receipt whereof is freely _____ and acknowledged _____ granted bargained reld, re_____ _____ alienated and _____ _____ By these presents dothe grant, bargain, f’ll, _____ _____ _____ and con___ unto the said party of the second part in his actual pofsefsion now being and to his heirs and afsigns forever all that certain tract piece or parcel of land situate lying and being in the town of Ulyfses in the County of Tompkins in the state of New York, _____ may be more particularly described as Being a part of lot No. Nineteen in Ulysses aforesaid and bounded as follows Beginning at the Southwest corner of fifty acres of land deeded to Peter Smith by Christopher Smith and runs from thence north Eighty nine degrees and forty minutes east twenty seven chains forty two and _____ Links thence South thirty minutes ____ East eighteen chains twenty three links thence South eighty _____ degrees forty minutes twenty seven chains Forty two and ____ half links thence north thirty Minutes unto the place of beginning containing Fifty acres of land. Together with all and singular the ________ and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wize appertaining …. [then a section of standard legal language] … the party of the first part has hereunto put his hand and seal the day and year first above written.
Christopher Smith X his mark L.S.

Sealed & delivered in presence of H.D. Barto

State of New York, Tompkins County: On the twelfth day of August eighteen hundred and twenty four me Henry D. Barto a Commifsioner of Tompkins County appeared Christopher Smith to me known to be the person described in ….. who executed the within Deed and acknowledged that he ____________ and delivered _________________
H.D. Barto
A true record entered _____ 14th 1826 ________

Transcribed by Lynn Stevenson Fisher, Oct. 5, 2008

Notes from Lynn Stevenson Fisher: It appears that Christopher Smith, who moved from New Jersey to the town of Covert (then Ovid), New York in the early 1800s, owned 200 to 300 acres in Ulysses 19 near Waterburg. Other researchers have indicated that Christopher’s son John first settled on Ulysses 19 and then was joined by his brothers Peter and Elias. John reportedly later moved to the nearby town of Hector.

Regarding the land Christopher Smith owned in Ulysses 19:
- Per a deed, in 1807 he sold 100 acres in Ulysses 19 to Frederick Bucklew or Burlew. (However, for some reason, Frederick Burlew is not shown as a property owner on the 1809 tax list* for the town of Ulysses.) Burlews are shown on an 1866 map in Ulysses 19 on Waterburg Road.
- Per deeds, in 1817 he sold 50 acres to his son Peter Smith, and 50 acres to his son Elias Smith.
- Per deeds, in 1824 he sold another 50 acres to Peter Smith (this deed), and another 50 acres to Elias Smith.

Regarding the land Peter Smith owned in Ulysses 19:
- In addition to the 100 acres he bought from his father in 1817 and 1824, he also bought in 1846 from Millen Burlew (probably a descendant of Frederick Burlew) two acres.
- After the death of Peter Smith, his son William S. Smith was the executor of his estate. In 1859, William S. Smith, as executor, sold to Peter’s son Fithen H. Smith 102 acres in Ulysses 19. Shortly thereafter, Stephen Paddock purchased this farm. Then, around 1900 Fred N. and Minnie Smith (of a different Smith family) purchased this farm; Fred N. Smith later gave the farm to his daughter Jennie L. (Smith) Stevenson, wife of Clinton Stevenson (great-grandson of Fithen H. Smith and great-great grandson of Peter Smith). The knowledge had not been passed down through the generations that this had once been the property of Clinton Stevenson’s great-great grandfather; my dad Jim Stevenson figured this out about ten years ago.

* The 1809 Town of Ulysses Tax List, shows the following in Ulysses 19: Peter Smith, 50 acres; Elias Smith, 50 acres; Christopher Smith, 100 acres; Burgoon Updike, 100 acres; Burgoon Updike Jr., 100 acres. From this and later maps, it appears that Christopher Smith and his sons may have owned the southern half of Ulysses 19 and that the Updikes may have owned the northern half.