The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-09
GAZE THEIR LAND 10 COP.
The Taxes Were Not Paid aud IL was 20"
by the sheriff.

by the sheriff.
-Four square miles OF land in Sullivan
county. whose title was vested in Al
mlehty God" has been sold FOR taxes.
| The deed I'm which the conveyance OF the
| lend In question was made by an old far
mer near Celestia Sullivan county 10
Almighty God and 70 his heirs IN Jesus
/ Messiah" is on record in the County
/ Court 20 LapOrtc, where II mas vi
looked upon as @ great curiosity ever
since it was executed IN lsJi' ana Where
a was recently seen by George i. Carr,
the wel-Snown Philadelphia lawyer
who was taking jaunt through sulil-
van county with a party Of friends.
Mr.. carr was so deeply Interested IN
tho deed and story connected with u
that he ordered a certified copy OF the
instrument 20 be taken and forwarded
TO him in this city. This certified copy
has Just arrived and the following copy
/ Of II was Transcribed yesterday aitet-
noon. That the certified copy is authentic
/ is vouched for beyond a doubt by the
/ signature OF the Recorder OF Deeds OF
Sullivan county and his seal, which
| accompanies the certihcation upon us
back.
The deed is endorsed Peter +. Arm
/ Cod" IT read as follows;
| Know all men by these presents: That
| I. Peter Il. Armstrong. and Hannah my
/ wife, Of the county OF sullivan, ana
/ state Of Pennsylvania, having redeemed
/ from the inhabitants Of earth by iaW-
\ ful purchase. a certain tract OF lahu
| within the boundaries herein described
| and being fully impressed and taught py
! the insured word Of God and His Holy
10 own property Of any Kind as moi
viduals but that they should render and
| consecrate unto God all things they pos
| sess. for the common good Of His people
who are waiting for His son from hea-
1 ven and who are willing TO live together
! i'm holy fellowship, relying upon Ills Word
/ and bounty, and TO the end that Ills SAINTS
may be fully separated from the Wofid
/ and gather together and enjoy that light
and liberty which they did in the once
| faithful days Of their theocracy' we 30
make and establish this deed or convey
| ance this fourteenth day Of June. in the
| year Of our Lord, one thousand elSht
! hundred and sixty-four.
WHEREAS In consideration OF the
| kind protecting care Of Almighty God IN
! the past and present, which we do hereby
| humbly acknowledge, and for the eN-
| ceeding great and precious promise OF
unendine life 10 those who In holy falth
! and patience wait for the coming OF hlS
anonted Son to Judge the world; which
promise We have received from Him who
| is Creator and original granter OF earth
! territory TO the children OF men,
| We do by these presents, deed. grant
and convey to Almighty God, who In
| habitcth eternity. and to his heirs Ia
! Jesus Messiah. 10 the intent that 1t snail
| be subjected 10 bargain and sale by man
! cupidity no moro forever, all our right
and title Cby human laws. interest ana
claim Of any nature Boever In or 10 All
that certain tract of ladn and improve
ments thereof lying sud being In me
county Of Sullivan. and State OF Fehh-
sylvania, being our part Of a parcel OF
land. containing four square miles or
land OF which we have redeemed ABOUT
600 acres: and we do hereby set apart
by boundary with intent 10 redeem the
balance Of said tract at or before the
REDEMPTION of the world. as the pur-
chase possession OF Jesus Messiah, to-
eether with all rights. liberties, privilie-
ges and appurtenances whatsoever there
unto belonging to us.
We do grant deed and convey to said
| Creator and God of Heaven and earth.
| and to His heirs in Jesus Messiah for
! their proper use and behOOVe ( reYer.
| In witness Wherein We nave iiNi 'Nii''
set our hands and seals the day and year
! above written.
(Signed PeterE Armstrong.
| Hannah Armstrong.
IT Is said that Mr.. Armstrong and his
| wife were most devout and pious people
during their lifetime. and the deed was
executed in n paroXysm Of religious ma
! MIA, I'm which the grantor believed that
| the human race were not individual own
| ers Of property. but the trustees OF God
After the deed was placed on record on
! August 4. 1864. the property II conveyed
| was allowed TO go 10 rack and ruin Tor
! a number Of years Mr.. Armstrong lived
| in n hut upon the ground which was prac-
ticaHy g. wilderness adjacent 10 the de-
| ISOLATE little village Of Celestia. There
no died I'm abject poverty tn 1881 his
wife. Hannah. dying in 1863. For oil
/ these years that the property lay neg
/ lected no taxes were paid upon Il, and
| these claims Of the county and Common
| wealth gradually accumulated until IT
| was found necessary TO sell the land
! - satisfy them. Then arose the din
! Guilty Of making the sale according TO
! law. The title vested in"Almighty God
and the impossibility OF serving the tax
| claims was at once realized, but this
| obstacle was overcome nv the posting oi
| notices I'm the various parts Of the pro-
nertv. stating that the land thus owned
| nv almighty God" would Ice sold un-
less the possessor Of title satisfied the
claims within a certain date. Their
came the ale OF tho property and u was
bought in by Harry Armstrong. the sor
Of the couple who took and stih holds
tax title to it.-Phfadephia Times
Sept. nth