A.M. Decker to James Cooper, 14 Mar 1861

There is no indication given to how Andrew Decker became so indebted to James Cooper as the below document illustrates. In 1861 Cooper was 32 years old and had just began to aquire land. The only substantial holdings he had by then was actually a gift of land from his step-father Tilman Duncan.

Andew received six land grants, five in Pulaski, one in Rockcastle, mostly on Line Creek. The last one was in 1866. In the 1860 Pulaski County census Andrew was listed as "merchant."


"Whereas I am indebted to James Cooper by note in the sum of two thousand dollars ($2000) of even date herewith and to secure in the payment of the same I do hereby sell and convey to him the following property, to wit:

"A lot a store goods in my storehouse in this Pulaski consisting in groceries, dry goods of various descriptions, barter also my store accounts on my books in said store house, two stoves (one a cook stove), two wagons (one a large two-horse wagon and the other a small), one set of blacksmith tools, twenty-five head of cattle, five head of horses, twenty head of hogs, seven head of sheep, two hundred barrels of corn, forty bushels of oats, six set knives and forks, seven stacks fodder, ten feather beds, one cupboard, one book case, one p[undreadable], two fall leaf tables, fory dollars worth cupboard ware, six hoses, four common plows, one turning plow, seven large bed steads, three [unreadable], five rifle guns, two shotguns, 1 wheat fan, two silver watches, one wooden clock, three hundred lbs lard, one thousand lbs bacon, one cutting knife & the following tracts of land, to wit:

"Fifty acres waters of Line Creek patented to the same by the Comth of Ky, one tract in same county & on same waters containing fifty acres deed to me by John Crawford, Comr of the Pulaski Circuit on behalf of Martha Warren, fifty acres in said county adjoining the above mentioned tracts patented to me by the Comth of Ky., one hundred acres in same county adjoining the above tracts patented to Amos Chaney and deeded to me by William Reynolds, fifty acres in same county adjoining the above patented by said Chaney and deeded to me, fifty acres in same county & on same waters patented to me by said Chaney and deeded to me by Chaney, twenty-five acres adjoining the above for which I hold Holbert McClure Sen. bond for laying in same county.

"The said James Cooper to have and to hold the above described property and lands himself, his heirs, assigns & c., forever, and the said A. Decker agrees to warrant and defend the title to the same free from the claim of all persons whomsoever, but the above obligation to be void upon the condition that the said Decker pay and satisfies the above note of two thousand dollars.

"Given under my hand this the 14th March 1861, A.M. Decker"

Pulaski County Deed Book 19, p. 338