Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-01-25
DEEDS And
BONDS In
OLD HEARTH
WOrkmen Find liz Year Old
Papers in ShipIey Street
Residence
PAPERS REPRESENT
MICH PROPERTY VALUE

While tearing out an old brick
hearth in the building, No. $50 Ship
ley street, formerly occupied by
George Wolf the printer, and before
him, used as a residence for many
years, workmen in the employ of
John P. Reardon, contractor, No. 8
West Seventh street, yesterday found
concealed among the bricks nearly a
dozen old deeds, bonds, leases and
other papers, some of which are more
than one hundred years old, and have
passed title to property which Is worth
many times more than the stated con-
sideration in the deeds. The papers
were of course covered with sand and
mortar, and were brown with age, but
otherwise were remarkably well pre-
served, and every word OF the writing
can be read as easily as if it were
written yesterday In fact the hand
writing is much better and more
legible than one usually sees in these
days.
The Oldest paper is a bond, executed
on April -. 1900, by Joseph Robinson,
of Brandywine hundred, to Cornelius
Derrickson, of the same place, for the
sum of seventy-two pounds, twelve
shilling and four pence, lawful money
of Delaware. It is witnesseth by
Joseph Weldin and Isaac Stevenson.
On the back appears the Endorsement
of Cornelius DerricksOn, for the
amount of the bond and interest. IL
is dated September 8, 1902. The pa
per is very old looking. but is in a
good state of preservation. The next
Oldest paper is a bond executed in
1905 to the Postmaster-General of the
United States by William Haughey,
who had been appointed postmaster
of New Castle, and James W. CallmOnt
and William Aull, of that town. 1t
is sealed and is for the sum of $1,000.
1t was signed and sealed in the pres
ence of William Daniel and Thomas
Haughey
Another bond to the Postmaster
General is executed by John Sutton,
postmaster of St. Georges, and Joseph
Higgins, of the same place for the
sum of $500. This bears the date,
January q. 1907, and was signed in
the presence of w. Carpenter and
Isaac Cannon. The form OF the bond
has been changed from that of the
early ones, and the spelling is more
modern The bond of James Goskins,
postmaster of Milford, TO the Post
master-General for the sum Of $500,
also was found It was executed in
1907. and was signed by Jacob Biddle,
of the same place. The witnesses
were Thomas Winsmore and James
Mitlechop. Other bonds are those Of
Isaac Atkins, postmaster Of Milton, TO
the Postmaster-General of the United
States. executed in 1919. and Peter
Humphrey, Of New Castle county. TO
/ Sebilla Ann Stone, Of the same county,
/ for $3.50. It was signed in the pres
ence of Samuel Morris On the back
OF the paper appears the notation OF
the clerk of the court, Judgment
entered in Sep. court. NOV. 1, 1907.
l. j. r. b."
Among the deeds was one executed
in 1929. by Peter A. HUMPHREYS and
wife. Mary Ann HUMPHREYS, of the Dor
ough OF Wilmington, 20 Latitia Ann
Stone, for the sum Of 5000. 1t was
executed on the first day Of January,
1929. On the back is the signature
Of Matthew Kean
Another mortgage is that OF Thomas
/ Mckee, of Brandywine hundred TO
Mary Mckee, Of the same place, for
$40 on his plantation in Brandywine
/ hundred. IL was executed in 1928,
and was signed in the presence OF J.
/ T. and Susan Fairlamb. There are
quite a number of signatures on the
back of this paper. The paper of the
most recent date is a lease between
Francis Harley, ST., of Philadelphia,
and James Tucker, a farmer of the
county Of Philadelphia. IL was exc
cuted in 1885 and was for a planta-
ton in Brandywine hundred.
Mr. RcardOn loaned the papers to a
reporter for THE EVENING JOUR
NAL, and those who saw them yes
terday, advanced many theories as to
where they came from and how long
they had been secreted in the hearth
of the old house. Mr. Reardon thinks
that they have been there since the
date of the last paper, and has in
structed his men to be on the lookout
for other papers and valuables that
might have been secreted in the build
ing. As soon as the work is finished
Mr. Reardon will try 10 learn where
the papers came from Any one in
terested in the names that appear on
the papers or any information regard
ing them may obtain il from Mr.
Reardon, who will cheerfully tell then
all that he knows regarding the
papers.
Alfred Downward, the local contrac-
tor, is remodeling the store at No. 62i
Market street. for George Bright. The
store room viii be enlarged by tearing
out the partitions between il and two
back rooms The interior Will also be
reprinted and decorated
w. H. Jones has received the con.
tract to erect ten small garages on
the southeast side Of Concord venu,
between Washington and Market
streets, for Joseph H. Baugher The
buildings will be built Of brick with
concrete floors and will contain cleo,
trio lights and running water. The,
will cost about $1,000