This indenture made this 24th day of May in the year 1819. Alfred F. Douglass, Sheriff of Sumner County, Tennessee, of the one part and John Thurmond of the same county and state of the other part, witnessed that whereas two writs of vendition exporas or orders of sale issued on the 2nd March 1819, one at this instance of Washington C. Ballard vs. William Gregory the other at the instance of John Goodrum against said Gregory both of which writs issued from the County Court of Sumner on the day aforesaid by virtue of which said writs the thirty eight acres of land therein mentioned after advertising the same according to law was exposed to sale on the 15th May 1819, which tract of land the said John Thurmond purchased for the sum of forty dollars. Now know ye, that I Alfred H. Douglass Sheriff as aforesaid, in consideration of the said sum of forty dollars to me in hand paid by the said Thurmond and by virtue of the power in me vested by law, I do hereby sell ,convey and confirm unto the said John Thurmond his heirs and assigns forever said tract of thirty eight acres of land lying and being in the County aforesaid on the waters of Bledsoe's Creek bounded as follows: Beginning near Elm and dogwood marked B. W. S. in or near the West boundary of Bartholomew Stovall's tract of one hundred and four acres, running thence West forty poles to a buckeye and sugar tree; thence South eighty poles to a sugar tree and buckeye; thence East forty poles to a hickory and beech; thence South thirty poles to a white walnut; thence East sixty four poles to a sugar tree, on the South boundary of said Stovall's tract aforesaid on a ridge; thence one hundred and ten poles to the beginning. It being the same tract of land conveyed by said Bartholomew Stovall to said William Gregory by deed of bargain and sale dated 26th day of March 1818. To have and to hold the said tract of land unto the said John Thurmond, his heirs, and assigns forever, and I the said Alfred H. Douglass as sheriff aforesaid and so far as my authority will extend by virtue of said office warrant and defend the right, title, and interest of said thirty eight acres of land from the said William Gregory. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto as Sheriff aforesaid set my hand seal the day and date direct above written. A. H. Douglass, Sheriff (Seal) of Sumner County
Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of us.
State of Tennessee - Sumner County Court May Term 1819. This deed of bargain and sale between Alfred H. Douglass, Sheriff, of one part and John Thurmond of the other part for 38 acres of land was duly acknowledged in Open Court by the said Alfred H. Douglass the bargainor and ordered to be registered. A Copy Test. David Shelby, Clerk of said court.
Filed for registration 2 o'clock P. M. 19th January 1859. Thomas Donoho, Deputy Register
Registered and examined February the 9th 1859. R. D. Moore, Register S. County, by Thomas Donoho, Deputy Register.
* John Thurmond's second wife was Nancy Gregory Thurmond Crews, daughter of William and Mary Epperson Gregory. John Thurmond's will, 22 Jul 1824 - May 1828, lists to his mother-in-law: "Life estate in tract of land to Mrs. Mary Gregory, then to my daughter Mary Jane Thurmond." This is the same 38 acres as above. There has been no proof as to when William Gregory died or where he was during this time period.