Help with Butler Co., PA document

[Barbara McLeod]

John POWELL was in Butler County 1820-1840. He disappeared from the
census and other Butler Co., PA records after that census of 1840.
Other researchers have found a John POWELL in the 1850 census of
Johnson Twp., Gibson Co., IN and claim this is the John POWELL of
Butler Co., PA. Certainly the age of the John POWELL of IN, and the
given name of his wife, fit with Butler County records.

Questions: 1. if this is the same man what does this record tell us?
Did John POWELL return to live in Butler Co., PA? Had he retained
his residence in IN, would not the document so reflect?

2. please explain the meaning and purpose of this court document
found in Register of Deeds office.

3. please view the census link below (Johnson Twp., Gibson Co., IN
ancestry p345) and tell me where John was born?

http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/Default.aspx?htx=3DView&r=3Dan&dbid=3D805=
4&iid=3DINM432_147-0249&fn=3DJohn&ln=3DPowell&st=3Dd&ssrc=3D&pid=3D1850672

My niece and I appreciate all help.

Barbara Mac

Recorded May 1st AD 1851
Butler Co., PA Deed Book S, p285
John POWELL to Joseph COOPER 22nd April 1851

Joseph COOPER
And
John POWELL

Whereas I purchased with Joseph COOPER fifty seven acres and four
perches of land situate in East Conoquennessing Township, Butler
County of John BREDIN the attorney in fact of the executors of Benj
CHEW deceased and the article for the purchase was drawn between the
executors of the said Benjamin CHEW, deceased, and The amount paid
on the article to this time has been paid by the heirs of Samuel
POWELL and whereas the deed for the said land has been made by the
executors of the said Benj CHEW, dec'd to me although it is not yet
delivered, being in the hands of John BREDIN until the balance of
the purchase money is paid or a bond given to secure the payment of
it, The said purchase was made for the heirs of Samuel POWELL and I
hereby declare that I hold the deed in Trust when it may be
delivered to me for the said heirs and also subject to whatever of
the balance of the purchase money they may have to pay that I ought
to pay for my part of. Witness my hand and seal this twenty second
day of April AD eighteen hundred and fifty one.

/s/ John Powell

Witness present
Jas JONES
Benjamin RICHARDSON

Barbara McLeod <1brow...@gmail.com>

[Keith Nuttle]

1. if this is the same man what does this record tell us? Did John

POWELL return to live in Butler Co., PA? Had he retained His

residence in IN, would not the document so reflect?

There is a another possibility. In the 1860 census in Rush County
Indiana, there is a John Powell (83 years old) living with a James A
Powell, Rachel Powell, and four children.

It is possible the John Powell and some of his children moved west
along the Ohio river, and, in old age, John went to live with a
grandson James Powell.

While this John Powell is listed as being from Maryland it is
possible that no one living new exactly where he was born and only
new it was back east.

(Don't fall into the trap of thinking that people were stationary
during this period. Even as early as the 1840 the canal system in
Ohio and Indiana was in commercial operation, make travel relatively
easy. I have one ancestor who grew up in Philadelphia, moved to
Indiana, then west to Kansas, and back to Indiana)

If this is the same John Powell, a possible scenario is that there
was a John Powell Jr. who stayed in Pennsylvania on the family farm.

2. please explain the meaning and purpose of this court document
found in Register of Deeds office.

(I am not versed in legal documents) This seems to be a document to
clear up a legal mess. The document is trying to provide a clear
title to property being purchased by John Powell and Joseph COOPER
from the heirs of Benj CHEW and Samuel POWELL. The arrangement is
being handled by John BREDIN the attorney.

Just a guess: John Powell, a grandson, and Joseph Cooper, a
grandson-in-law, are trying to get clear title to the family farm.
Son Samuel Powell and a son-in-law Benji Chew farmed the property
for years and did not worry about the legality of the situation.

3. please view the census link below (Johnson Twp., Gibson Co., IN
ancestry p345) and tell me where John was born?

As indexed in Ancestry and the way I would read it it is
Pennsylvania.