Morgan vs. McDowell, depositon, Troutman - Bullitt Co Morgan vs. McDowell's admr. & heirs (v.8a, pg. 321-322) RDN MORGAN vs. John MCDOWELL's Admr. & Heirs Bullitt Circuit Court Decrees # 174 Paper # 14 Depositions: of William CONGROVE, Richard B. SIMCOE, Jacob TROUTMAN, John D. Colmisnil, & J.D. S. Peacock, taken 9 Apr 1841 at the clerk's office in Shepherdsville, KY. (personal note- my copies do include Colmisnil or Peacock) Deposition of William CONGROVE; taken 9 Apr 1841 at the clerk's office in Shepherdsville, KY Q. (by deft) Were you acquainted with the Paroquette Spring tract of land lying near Shepherdsvile upon (which) R.D.N. MORGAN once resided? A. I have frequently been on it. Q. (by deft.) Did you know it before Mr. MORGAN moved on it. A. I have known it for fifteen or sixteen years. I don't know the boundary of the tract. There was some cleared land on it next to town. It was in woods where Mr. MORGAN lived when I first knew it. Q. (by deft) Did you know it from the time Mr. MORGAN moved upon it until he left it? A. I think so pretty much. I don't know the time he left there. Q. (by deft.)How much more, if any, was that tract of land worth when Mr. MORGAN left, than when he moved on the tract? A. That is more than I amble to say, what the tract of land was worth when he left more than when he went on it. Q. (by deft.) If that tract of land had been in the woods at the time Mr. MORGAN moved from it, as it was when he went upon it, would it or not have been worth as much, or near as much, as it was with the improvements put on my MORGAN? A. My opinion is, the house was worth something. There is some of the land I would rather have had as it was, a hickory grove probably. Q. (by deft.) If the ground had continued in timber from the time Mr. MORGAN went upon it up to the time he left, would or not the tract been worth as much, or near as much, as it was with Mr. MORGAN's improvements when he left? A. There was a hickory grove cut off there, as I told you. I would rather have had it standing. The balance of the land I do know how much he did improve. Q. (by deft.) Do you recollect the condition of the buildings when Mr. MORGAN left? A. I don't know how long it had been since I was there when Mr. MORGAN left. (signed) William CONGROVE Deposition of Richard B. SIMCOE; taken 9 Apr 1841 at the clerks office in Shepherdsville, KY Q. (by deft.) How long have you known the tract of land called Paroquette Springs tract on which R.D.N. MORGAN lived in Bullitt County? A. The first time I ever knew the tract I think was in 1833. I moved here in 1834. I think Mr. MORGAN had left. I did not know the place until the year before. Mr. Robert MCDOWELL lived on the place when I moved here. Q. (by deft.) Do you or not think the tract, as you first knew it, of as much value as if it had been in the woods? A. I would rather have had it in the woods, if it had been mine, as near town as it was. I never knew it when was in the woods. A part of the land was cleared when I first knew it. Q. (by deft.) What was the condition of the buildings and improvements generally when you first knew it? A. As to the fencing, it's condition was very bad. The house, I believe, is not finished to this day. Q. ( by deft.) When did John MCDOWELL die? A. I just now heard Woodford MDDOWELL and R.D.N. MORGAN say he died on the 16th day of Sept. 1838. (signed) R.B. SIMCOE Deposition of Jacob TROUTMAN; taken 9 Apr 1841 at the Clerk's office in Shepherdsville, KY Q. (by Woodford MDDOWELL) Did you know the tract of land near Shepherdsville called the Paroquette Spring Tract, upon (which) R.D.N. MORGAN once resided. A. Yes, I knew the tract of land, but it is a great while ago when they made salt upon it in 1807, 1808 or 1809. That is the first time I recollet being upon it. Q. (by deft.) Have you known it ever since? A. I have never been out of the county. I have generally been about here. Q. (by deft.) Did you know the tract of land from time Mr. MORGAN moved upon it until he moved off of it? A. I knew it when he lived there. I was there once. MORGAN came after me to go after a runaway negro. That was the first time I ever was in the house after Mr. MORGAN moved upon it. I have been past the place often. That was in 1832, as was I recollect. Q. (by deft.) How much would you consider that tract of land was increased in value by the lasting improvements put on it by Mr. MORGAN? A. I don't know. That is a hard questions to answer. Q. (by deft.) Give your best impression on that subject. A. I think I could take six hundred dollars and do all the improving upon the place when I was there in 1832. The house was not finished then. Q. (by deft.) Do you or not believe that the wood cut off the tract and the rent of the place for seven years, a fair equivalent for all improvements made upon it? A. If the timber was in the same situation that it was when I saw first the tract in 1807, 1808 or 1809, I would suppose it was. I do not know the situation of the timber was when Mr. MORGAN moved upon it. Q. (by deft) Have you or not worked at the business of building frame houses and furnishing lumber for that purpose A. I have bought the lumber and put it together. (signed) Jacob TROUTMAN From: Maria Troutman Date: 26 Jan 1998