Gen 1: Mary Jane Beal - 1854 Deed

 What are the origins of Johann Nicholas Biehl?

 

Last week we continued our Biehl research project with the end goal of identifying the German origins of Johann Nicholas Biehl. I continued research on the first generation, which is Mary Jane Beal. You can find that post here. 

 

Researching a female requires researching her associated males, in this case, her husband, James Henry. We have not exhausted research on this couple. From the census enumerations, we know that James Henry owned real estate. This week we begin searching for land records for James Henry. We want to how when he acquired the land and when he disposed of it.

 

1854 Deed

 

FamilySearch has Washington County, Arkansas, deed records online. Below is the abstract of the deed and I included the image in this post.

 

James Henry et ux to William Covington

Washington County, Arkansas

Deed Book I: 521

Written 16 October 1854, Recorded 15 January 1855[1]

 

[Transcription] “We James Henry and Mary Jane his wife of the county of Washington and State of Arkansas have this day bargained and Sold and do hereby transfer and convey unto William Covington of the County of Crawford & State of aforesaid for and in consideration of the sum of fifty Dollars lawful money of the United States to us in hand paid the receipt of which we hereby acknowledge and their hiers [sic] forever the following described parcels or tracts of Land, towit, the North West frl [fractional] quarter of the South West frl [fractional] quarter of Section N^o Six in township No thirteen N of Range N^o twenty nine West containing forty acres & hundredths all of which said tracts of land or parcels are Situated lying and being in the county of Washington in the State of Arkansas in the district of land subject to sale at Fayetteville in said State we the said James Henry and Mary Jane Henry his wife covenant to and with the said William Covington & his heirs and assigns that we are lawfully possessed of said tract or parcel of land & have a good right to convey the same and that it is unincumbered and further we warrant the title to the above described tract or parcel of land to the said William Covington his heirs and assigns forever against the lawful claims of all persons whatsoever. In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 16th day of October AD 1854. [Signed] James Henry {seal} Mary Jane Henry {seal}

Signed in presence of us Jonathan Stout[,] Madison Panter”

State of Arkansas[,] County of Washington } Be it remembered that on this 16th day of October AD 1854 personally appeared before me Jonathan Stout an acting and duly commissioned Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid the before named James Henry and Mary Jane Henry his wife to me personally well known and being by me made acquainted with the contents of the foregoing Deed acknowledged that they assigned the same for the purposes and consideration therein set forth and expressed, the within named Mary Jane Henry being by me examined without the hearing of her husband acknowledged that she assigned the same voluntarily without compulsion of her said husband and desired the same to be certified. [Signed] Jonathan Stout J. P.

The foregoing Deed was filed in my office for record on the 15th day of January 1855, and was duly recorded on the same day with the words ,twenty fourteen, ,each, ,grantors, Eraced, [sic] [Signed] Presly R. Smith clerk & Exofficio Recorder”

 

Analysis

 

The above is a grantor deed for James and Mary Jane Henry written on 16 October 1854. Analyzing this record provides the following:

 

·      As this is the deed where James Henry sold the land, we need to determine how he acquired the property. The 1850 census noted that James Henry owned $300 in real estate. This property was sold for $50, so it is likely James may own additional property.

·      The legal land description is NW ¼ of the SW ¼ of Section 6 in Township 13N of Range 29W containing 40 acres. Should locate the land on a map.

·      This is the first source found so far that provides Mary Jane’s full name. The tombstone noted her name as “Jane M.” and the census records recorded her as Mary. The previous posts contain the citations for those sources.

·      Mary Jane Henry released her dower rights on 16 October 1854. 

·      The witnesses were Jonathan Stout and Madison Panter. Jonathan Stout was noted as the Justice of the Peace. Madison Panter is likely the same as Madison Painter, who was a neighbor of James Henry, who we noted  enumerated near James Henry in the 1850 census. He is notable as Mary Jane (Beal) Henry’s mother’s maiden name is alleged to be Painter. Researching him may lead to confirming her maiden name and identifying her parents.

 

Future Research

 

Future research will include:

 

·      Create a timeline for James and Mary Jane (Beal) Henry. This tool helps guide research.

·      Continue search for all real estate that James Henry owned in Washington County, Arkansas. He owned $300 in 1850 and $1,000 in 1870. Start a table showing the land transactions, both in and out, to ensure all transactions are captured.

·      Determine if there are records for Friendship Baptist Church in Springdale, Arkansas.

·      Locate James Henry in the 1880, 1900, and 1910 Federal censuses.

·      Locate the extant applicable agricultural censuses for Arkansas.

·      Add Madison Painter/Panter to the “FAN Club” for James and Mary Jane (Beal) Henry to research further.

 

Next up: Continuing the research on Mary Jane Henry and her husband, James, as noted in “Future Research” above.

---

[1] Washington County, Arkansas, Deeds, Liber I: 521, deed, James Henry et ux to William Covington, 15 January 1855; digital images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 2025), image 289 of 635, DGS no. 8,197,821, item 1; FamilySearch Library, Salt Lake City.