Laura Ann Elliott

Laura Ann Elliott was Emory A. Walling's mother and Thomas Walling's second wife. The documents below concerning her, presented in chronological order, were found by Esther Lennertz and Harriet Sawdey, and transcribed and sent to me by Scott Coyle. The first two seem to have the effect of transferring some land from Thomas to Laura, then allowing Thomas to live on the land. The second document, the lease agreement, was made two days before they were married. Why they would arrange it like that is not clear to me. And it's not easy to figure out whose handwriting they are in. The first says "Recorded June 19^th 1845"; so it's probably in the handwriting of the county recorder. They used to make handwritten copies of deeds then at the county courthouse so there would be more than one copy; but why the copy would wind up back in the hands of the family is not too clear. Scott's guess is that the cover of the Quit Claim Deed was written and signed by Erie County Recorder Ebenezer Merry Jr., and the Quit Claim Deed itself was written and signed by Justice of the Peace Dr. Waitstill Hastings with the actual signature of Thomas Walling. The second one is probably in the handwriting of Laura Ann Elliott. Lastly, there is a letter Emory Walling wrote to his mother shortly before her death.

Thomas Walling
To
Lury Ann Elliot
Q.C. Deed

The State of Ohio Erie Cnty.
Received June 18^th 1845 and
Recorded June 19^th 1845 in
Erie County Records Vol. 4,
Page 491. E. Merry Jr. Recorder.

fee 25 paid

Know all men by these Presents that I Thomas Walling, do
in Consideration of the sum of three thousand dollars in hand
paid by Laury Ann Elliot, do hereby Remiss, Release, + forever quitclaim
unto the said Laury Ann Elliot her heirs and assigns forever, my title
Interest + Estate, legal + equitable in the following premises + appur-
tenances thereunto belonging, situate in the fourth section of
the Township of Groton, all of the lots N^o 8 + 9, Containing two
hundred + twenty three acres, being the same more or less of Land,
all of which is in the State of Ohio__

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand + seal this
19 day of May 1845
In presence of Thomas Walling LS
W. Hastings
Matilda Metcalf
The State of Ohio Before me W. Hastings a Justice of the Peace, in +
Erie County SS for said County, personally appeared Thomas
Walling, + acknowledged the signing + sealing of
the above Instrument + conveyance, to be his free act and deed, for
the purposes therein expressed, this 19^th day of May 1845
W. Hastings J. P.

Thomas Walling - Thomas A. Walling
Lury Ann Elliot - Laura Ann Elliott
E. Merry Jr. - Ebenezer Merry Jr.
Laury Ann Elliot - Laura Ann Elliott
W. Hastings - Dr. Waitstill Hastings
Matilda Metcalf -

Thomas A. Walling and Laura Ann Elliott were married six days after this deed was signed.

Dr. Waitstill Hastings was residing in Springfield Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania when he was appointed a Justice of the Peace on April 12, 1810 by Pennsylvania Governor Simon Snyder.

Article of an agreement made and entred into
this 23 day of may 1845 between Laura Ann Elliot
of Groton township Erie County State of Ohio of
the first part and Thomas Walling of the same
place of the second part as follows viz the party of
the first part dose agree to leace one piece or parsle
of land known as lots No 8 + 9 in the forth section
of the above township containing 223 acres unto
the party of the second part during his natural life
for and in consideration of which the party of the second
part is to pay one dollar anually and manage the
same according to rules of good husbandry

Laura Ann Elliot

THEO. A. LAMB E. A. WALLING
Lamb & Walling,
Attorneys at Law,
714 State Street.
Erie, Pa., January 12 1895

Dear Mother
As requested in your letter,
I paid C. H. Durham for the insurance
on your house + barn. $200 on the house
and $300 on the barn. I paid him $6.50
It is not necessary, I think, to have
any insurance on the contents of the
house. Harry can get the contents of
the barn insured if he wishes.
Mr. Durham sent me the policy and
I put it in my safe - If you wish I will
send it to you but I guess it is safer
where it is. The policy runs for three
years from January 8, 1895.
If you need any money at any time
for your own use write me and I will
send it to you. We are all well.
Very Truly Yours
E. A. Walling

Theo. A. Lamb - Theodore A. Lamb of Erie, Pennsylvania
E. A. Walling - Emory Andrew Scott Walling - son of Laura
Mother - Laura Ann Elliott Walling - mother of Emory
C. H. Durham - Charles H. Durham of Harmony, New York
Harry - Harry James Kress - soon to be married to Myrtle May Wilkinson (granddaughter of Laura)