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History of the Collins Tract January 25, 1707- As recited in the March 16, 1797, deed described below, Cooper Fish “departed this life” on this date and left to his son, also named Cooper, 180 acres of land that eventually became Collins Farm and, later, Collins Tract. Because the land records do not go back any further (see note below), there is no way to tell how Cooper Fish, Sr. acquired the property. September 5, 1732- Cooper Fish, Jr., dies and in his will leaves the property to his son, Isaac Fish. March 16, 1797- Date of the deed by which Isaac Fish sold the property to Job Coles. • Price: 506 pounds, 5 shillings. • Boundaries are defined in the deed by fences, rock piles, and trees. • Lengths of the boundaries are stated in an old English form of measurement known as “chains and links.” A “chain” is made up of 100 “links.” In modern terms, a “chain” equals 66 feet. The phrase “chains and links” is the source of our chain-link fences of today. Note: This is the oldest deed on record for the property because all prior transfers were between British subjects and the property was held under the British crown. Records in America were started only as the colonies became an independent country. November 13, 1811- Property sold by Job Coles to Aaron Engle and Hugh Hatch for undisclosed price. July 15, 1816- Property sold by Hugh Hatch to David Horner (Aaron Engle must have “departed this life”). April 9, 1849- With David Horner having died without an heir, the property was sold at auction. The Commissioners supervising the auction were: Lawrence Browing Benjamin Cooper Jacob Roland • A small portion of the property went to Joseph Hatch (it’s not known whether he was related to Hugh Hatch). • The larger portion of the property was purchased by John Horner. • On the same day, John Horner transferred his portion in two parts to his sons, Benjamin and William. • William Horner’s portion, totaling 80 acres, is the property that became Collins Tract! November 22, 1865- Transfer from William Horner to Benjamin Horner for $100. Obviously a family transfer! (It’s not known whether this Benjamin Horner is William’s brother.) November 22, 1865- Transfer from Benjamin Horner to “William Horner and wife” for $100. Another family transfer, but did William transfer to Benjamin and then marry and repurchase as “husband and wife”? If so, why? March 23, 1866- Transfer from “William Horner and wife” to John S. Collins for $16,060.00. April 5, 1876- Transfer from John S. Collins to Isaac Collins for $8,000. (Property back in the hands of an “Isaac”!) December 14, 1885- Transfer from Isaac Collins to John S. Collins for $8,000. (It’s not known whether this is the same “John S. Collins” who purchased the property in 1866 and sold it in 1876.) July 16, 1886- Proposal filed to “break up” the “Collins Farm” to sell building lots. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
