Family business.

by Lisa Y. Henderson

This indenture made this 29th day of September 1855 between Adam Artis of the County of Wayne & State of North Carolina of the one part and John Wilson of the county and state aforesaid of the other part witnesseth — that the said Adam Artis for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and twenty four dollars to him on hand paid by him the said John Wilson at and before the sealing and delivering of these presents the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged the said Adam Artis has given, granted, bargained and sold and will by these presents grant, bargain and sell unto the said John Wilson his heirs and assigns forever one certain piece of land in said county it being the ten acres of land the said John Wilson sold to the said Adam Artis to have and to hold the above described land and improvements to him the said John Artis [sic] to him and his heirs and assigns — provided nevertheless that said Adam Artis pays or causes to be paid to the said John Wilson one certain note and interest that may accrue thereon said note given for one hundred and twenty four dollars bearing date even with these presents now then if the said Adam Artis pays said note interest within twelve months from the date of this presents then the above obligation to be void otherwise to be in full force and virtue —

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written — Adam X Artis

Signed and delivered the presence of W. Thompson

Wayne County Octo. 2nd 1855. Then was the above deed of Mortgage from Adam Artis to John Wilson duly proved before me by the oath of William Thompson a subscribing witness thereto — and let it be registered   — Benj. Aycock, Clk

Deeds, Register of Deeds Office, Wayne County.

In the 1850 census of Greene County NC, Adam “Artess” and his sisters Charity and Jane appear in the household of white farmer Silas Bryant.  They were probably apprentices, though no apprentice bonds have been found.  Their mother Vicy Artess was next door with additional children.  Adam’s sister Zilpha Artis married John “Jack” Wilson in the mid-1850s.  Adam and John apparently never recorded a deed for the herein-referenced sale that preceded this one.