1803 Land indenture on vellum between John Marshall and his wife Mary Willis Ambler Marshall and Richard Adams and his wife Elizabeth Adams of the first part, John Brown, John Wickham, a law partner of Marshall's, and John Cringan of the second part, and Charles Copeland of the third part, Richmond, VA, dated May 1, 1803. The document details nine large tracts of land, the first through third belonging to the Marshalls and fourth through ninth belong to Richard Adams and his wife, in Richmond and the surrounding Henrico County and Chickahominy Swamp, for which Copeland has lent and paid the sum of six thousand pounds to Marshall and Adams who in return "...have executed three several bonds payable to the said Charles Copeland each of the said bonds is in the penalty of Four thousand pounds conditioned to be discharged by the payment of Two thousand pounds, at the several periods herein after mentioned...the fourteenth day of March [1805]...the thirteenth day of September [1806]...and...the twentieth day of July [1808]...Therefore this Indenture witne[s]seth that the said John Marshall and Mary Willis his wife for and in consideration of the aforesaid sum of six thousand pounds so as aforesaid lent by the said Charles Copeland to the said John Marshall and Richard Adams, as also for the further consideration of five shillings in hand paid by the said John Brown, John Wickham, and John Cringan, to the said John Marshall, before the sealing and delivery of this Indenture, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, they the said John Marshall and Mary Willis his wife, have granted, bargained, and sold, and by these present do grant, bargain, and sell, unto the said John Brown, John Wickham, and John Cringan...the following Estates, Lands, and tenements; and for which greater certainty are distinguished by the numberes one, two, and three...". The same language and terms are used to designate that the fourth through ninth tracts of lands belonged to the Richard Adams and his wife have also been sold to John Brown, John Wickham, and John Cringan. Signed and sealed by John Marshall, Richard Adams, Elizabeth Adams, John Brown, John Wickham, John Cringan, and Charles Copeland. Witnessed by John B. Nicholson, George D. Nicholson, James Willeroy, Thomas Nicholson. Entered into the record at Richmond by Wilson Allen, Clerk, June 1803. 25 3/8" H x 29" W. Biography: Charles Copeland, lawyer, was born in 1756; figured in the courts of Virginia as the rival of John Wickham and William Wirt. Nothing is known of his ancestry. He married (first) Rebecca, daughter of Robert Nicholson, a merchant of Williamsburg, (second) Henningham Bernard. He died November 24, 1836, and there is a monument to his memory in St. John's churchyard. Richmond, Virginia. From "Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography" Volume II, by Lyon Gardiner Tyler, LL. D., Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York, 1915. Note: John Wickham (1763-1839) was an American Loyalist and attorney. He was one of the very few Loyalists to achieve any sort of national prominence in the United States after the American Revolution, and is best remembered for his role in the treason trial of former Vice President Aaron Burr in 1807. Provenance: The Estate of Charles Boyd Coleman, Jr., Chattanooga, TN. Note: Descended in the family of Lewis Minor Coleman, Jr., son of CSA Lt. Col. Lewis M. Coleman and Mary Ambler Marshall, daughter of James K. Marshall and granddaughter of John Marshall (1755-1835). John Marshall was the Fourth Chief Justice of the United States and also served as Secretary of State under John Adams (1800-1801). (Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.caseantiques.com.)

Overall good condition with foxing spots, toning, and areas of dampstaining to be expected from age. Marshall and other signatures in good condition. Areas of insect damage, largest 5/8", surface of document.