MySource:Samples 59/"Keep Tryst" Iron Works Furnace (Maryland & Virginia)

John Semple Jr. In Prince William Co., VA

• 29 Apr 1762 - Prince William County, Virginia Deeds {Antient Press}: Liber P; 1761 - 1764; pp 201-210

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT Indented and Sealed the twenty ninth day of April in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven hundred and Sixty two Between JOHN BALLANDINE of the County of Prince William and Colony of Virginia Gentleman of one part and JOHN SEMPLE of the County of CHARLES in the Province of MARYLAND Merchant of other part Witnesseth that the said JOHN BALLANDINE now being seised of the following lands and slaves to wit, one parcel of land containing twenty acres situate on Occoquan River in the County of Prince William granted to the said JOHN BALLANDINE by Deed from the Right Honorable THOMAS LORD FAIRFAX PROPRIETOR of the NORTHERN NECK of Virginia whereon stands erected one FORGE, one WATER MERCHANT MILL with two pairs of Stones, one other WATER GRIST MILL with two pair of Stones, two BOULTING MILLS, one BAKE HOUSE with two Ovens, and sundrie other Houses and Improvements, one other Tract of land on the said RIVER OCCOQUAN purchased by the said JOHN BALLANDINE of HENRY PEYTON containing Two hundred & Eighty acres of land whereon stands erected & built one SAW MILL with sundrie dwelling houses & storehouses and other buildings and improvements and also the residue of a Term yet to come on a piece of land in a Lease Hold Estate granted by BERTRAND EWELL for himself and as Executor to his Deceased Brother CHARLES EWELL unto the said JOHN BALLANDINE by Lease bearing date the third day of February One thousand seven hundred & Fifty five for Two thousand seven hundred & fifty acres of land whereon stands one FORGE, one SAW MILL and one WATER GRIST MILL, together with all the stocks of Horses. Cattle & Hoggs, Waggons, carts and other utensils and Tools, Servants and Slaves as by the said Agreement or Lease may more fully appear, And in his own right possessed of Sundrie Slaves, to wit, Robin a Forgeman, Ceasar a Collier, Phil a Foregman & Sawyer, Tom a Foregman, Will a Miller, Glen a Blacksmith by Trade, together with sundrie Waggons & Carts, Teams of Horses & Oxen & divers other utensils & tools proper & necessary for carrying on and working the aforesaid FORGES, SAW MILLS, GRIST MILLS, BOLTING MILLS, SMITH SHOP and all other the Business and imploymen ts heretofore and at this time carried on and followed by the said JOHN BALLANDINE his Agents & Managers in or about the aforesaid FORGES, SAW & GRIST MILLS, BOLTING MILLS, BAKEHOUSES, SMITH SHOPS or otherwise in any sort manner or kind on the before mentioned Two tracts of land and Lease Hold Estate as by an Inventory taken thereof signed by the parties to these presents and hereunto annexed may more fully and at large appear; And the said JOHN BALLANDINE being so thereof seised & possessed in consideration that the said JOHN SEMPLE hath undertaken & bound himself to advance to and for the said JOHN BALLANDINE the Sum of Five hundred pounds Current money of Virginia and hath actually paid for the said JOHN BALLANDINE unto the Honorable JOHN TAYLOE & PRESLEY THORNTON Esquires the sum of One thousand and Thirty three pounds Five shillings & six pence half penny of the like current money and for and in consideration of the agreements hereinafter contained and expressed on the part of the said JOHN SEMPLE to be performed and done he the said JOHN BALLANDINE for himself his heirs doth promise with said JOHN SEMPLE his heirs and assigns to give immediately upon the Sealing and Delivery of these presents unto the said JOHN SEMPLE full possession of all and Singular the before recited lands, Lease, Forges, Mills, Houses, Slaves, Stocks, Waggons, Carts, Teams and Utensils of Trade belonging or otherwise appertaining thereto and to permit the said JOHN SEMPLE his Agents and Managers at all times dureing the full term of Twelve years to take and use at his pleasure Wood, Timber, Stone, Earth or any thing on the aforesaid Lands for Sale for Merchandize or for the Erection of new or Reparation Support and Maintenance of the said Forges, Mills, Houses, Damms, Cannels, Pastures, Gardens or other improvements already built or made on the said Lands to all purposes as he the said JOHN BALLENDINE ought to do (except as hereinafter is acepted) And the said JOHN BALLANDINE for himself and his heirs doth promise with JOHN SEMPLE that said JOHN SEMPLE shall have a good right and absolute authority to erect on any part of the said Lands or on the Streams of Water Running along or through the same any other Forge, Chafery, Bloomery or other works for the Casting, heating, beating out or Manufacturing of Iron allowable by Act of Parliament or for the Building or erecting of other House or Houses Gardens Pastures Wharfs, Kays, Bridges, Craines or Dams, Cannels or passages for Water to be led or conveyed to any such Work or Works as to him the said JOHN SEMPLE or his heirs or assigns shall seem necessary and expedient so as that he be not permitted to divert the Streams of Water now leading to the Forges and Mills already built for the same in prejudice thereto, and further that it may be lawful for said JOHN SEMPLE his heirs and and assigns during the term of Twelve years to have egress & regress through all the said lands for himself his Servants & Managers, Waggons, Carts and Horses and for all i persons coming to or returning from the said Works or Houses and to set apart in any part of the said Lands a Yard for the BUILDING OF SHIPS or other Vessels and to take, fell, carry away and use any Wood or SHIP BUILDING or other uses at his discretion without the denial of the said JOHN BALLANDINE his heirs whatsoever, and the said JOHN BALLANDINE for himself doth agree with said JOHN SEMPLE that if at any time during the said Twelve years the said JOHN SEMPLE shall build on either of the aforesaid two parcels of land to wit the tract of Twenty or of Two hundred & Eighty acres any Forge or other Ironworks that said JOHN BALLANDINE his heirs immediately upon the Request of the said JOHN SEMPLE or his heirs shall pay unto said JOHN SEMPLE one full moiety or half of the money so laid out and expending in building such Forge or Forges or other Iron Works and all necessaries for the same or pay Interest for money untill paid & suffer them to remain in the possession of the said JOHN SEMPLE as a Security for the payment and said JOHN BALLANDINE doth further agree that forasmuch as JOHN SEMPLE hath already advanced for him and in all probability must yet advance more that he will allow and pay unto the said JOHN SEMPLE Five per Centum per Annum for the aforesaid sum of money already advanced and upon every future sum to be advanced until! same is fully paid and that he will permit the said JOHN SEMPLE to receive the whole profits arising from all and every the said appurtenances untill the same money advanced or to be advanced is fully paid with Interest and that as it necessarily will happen that said JOHN SEMPLE must in like manner lay out and expend divers sums of money of Repavis of the Forges, Mills, Houses, Waggons, Teams & Tooles as well as for the purchasing of Horses, Servants, Slaves, Wheat, Corn, Coal, Pig Iron and other things to keep the Works & Mills employed the said JOHN BALLANDINE doth also agree to allow Interest upon such sums And the said JOHN BALLANDINE for himself doth further promise that during the continuance of the Lease above mentioned he will have nothing to do with the said Lease & other things nor with the said two other Tracks of land or anything belonging Except as herein after is Excepted and Except as a Manager & Superintendant of the Workmen and Labourers under the Direction of the said JOHN SEMPLE at his will and at the Stake Wages hereinafter expressed and that he shall at all times during the said Twelve years enlarge, extend, and carry on or contract the Trade and Business of the said Forges, Mills, Shops or Bakehouse at his pleasure & that if he choose to carry on any other Trade for the vending European West Indian or other goods, Wares or Merchanizes in any Storehouse already Built or to be build on the aforesaid two tracts of land of Twenty and Two hundred & Eighty acres it shall and may be lawful! for said JOHN SEMPLE to do it and carry on such Trade by himself his Agents or Managers as his or their sole Expence without being accountable to the said JOHN BALLENDINE or any part of the Profits thereof and said JOHN SEMPLE for himself doth granted unto said JOHN BALLENDINE that he will permit the said JOHN BALLENDINE his heirs during the Twelve years quietly to continue and dwell in the House the said JOHN BALLENDINE and his family at present lives in and to use the Gardens, Stables and outhouses to the said Dwelling House belonging without being accountable to JOHN SEMPLE for any rent or Gratuity and the said JOHN SEMPLE doth also grant that said JOHN SEMPLE shall be answerable to JOHN BALLENDINE annually for the hire of the before mentioned Negros after the rate of Twelve pounds Ten shillings Current money and the profits arising from their Labour be joint Profits and accounted for in like manner said JOHN SEMPLE doth agree with said JOHN BALLENDINE to allow the sum of One hundred pounds Sterling for his Wages as a Superintendant or Manager of the Labourers, Workmen, Teams, Waggons and other the Mechanical part of the said Forges & Mills which said pay or wages is to be a joint charge as well against said JOHN BALLENDINE as said JOHN SEMPLE, And Lastly the said JOHN BALLENDINE on his part doth grant with said JOHN SEMPLE that he as a Manager for said JOHN SEMPLE will well and truly exert himself in the discharge of his Duty to the utmost of his power and ability. In Witness whereof the said JOHN SEMPLE & JOHN BALLENDINE have set their hands and seals

JOHN BALLENDINE

JOHN SEMPLE

Memorandum that what remains of the Perishable things delivered by the Schedule hereunto annexed at the end of the Twelve years

JOHN BALLENDINE is to have again

JOHN HUNTER RICHARD STANFIELD & JESSE EWELL

At a Court continued and held for Prince William County the 7th day of July 1762

These Articles of Agreement between JOHN SEMPLE & JOHN BALLENDINE was acknowledged by the parties & admitted to record

• 07 Oct 1764 - Prince William County, Virginia Deeds {Antient Press}: Liber Q; 1763 - 1766; pp 243-249

THIS INDENTURE TRIPARTITE made the (in Lease Seventh)(in Release Eighth) day of October Annoque Domini One thousand seven hundred and sixty four Between JAMES CRAICK of CHARLES COUNTY in PROVINCE of MARYLAND, Surgeon, & MARIANNE his Wife of one part and JESSE EWELL of County of Prince William & Colony of Virginia of second part and JOHN SEMPLE of County and Province aforesaid, Mercht., of the other Witnesseth that JAMES CRAICK and MARIANNE his Wife for sum of five hundred & twenty five pounds Sterling money of Great Britain to said JAMES in hand paid, and the said JESSE EWELL, in consideration of Twelve hundred pounds Virginia Current money paid by JOHN SEMPLE, the Receipt said JAMES & JESSE do acknowledge, have granted and sold unto JOHN SEMPLE (in his actual possession now being by virtue of a Bargain and Sale for one year and by force of Statute for Transferring uses into possession) and to his heirs forever two sixth parts of the lands called the FORGE LANDS which consist in the whole of the four following Tracts purchased at different times of the several persons herein after are mentioned by CHARLES EWELL as Agent & Manager for RALPH FALKNER, EDWARD NEALE, JOHN TRIPLETT and the said CHARLES EWELL, Merchts. & partners in the name of said CHARLES EWELL but on the Joint Account of the said Company, and after the death of CHARLES EWELL sold by the Surviveing Partners unto BERTRAND EWELL and the heirs of CHARLES EWELL by Deeds bearing date the second & third days of August in year One thousand seven hundred & forty nine, to wit, One parcel of land containing One hundred &Eighty eight acres situate on South side of Occoquan River and on a branch called HOOE's CREEK and purchased by CHARLES EWELL of a certain JAMES CARTER whose Deed bears date the tenth day of August One thousand seven hundred & forty four; One other parcel of land purchased by JOHN GREGG in his lifetime and conveyed by ELIZABETH GREGG, Executrix of the Last Will and Testament of said JOHN, pursuant to said Last Will, by Deed bearing date the Twelfth day of November One thousand seven hundred & forty three and recorded amongst the records of County Court of Prince William situate on the branches of HOOES CREEK in the County of Prince Wm. containing One thousand & seventy acres, One other tract purchased in like manner of WILLIAM FITZHUGH containing fifty acres (part of a larger tract) & conveyed by Deeds recorded in the General Court and Lastly one other tract granted to CHARLES EWELL by the Proprietor of the Northern Neck of Virginia by Deed bearing date the Twenty ninth day of September One thousand seven hundred & forty three for two hundred and twelve acres, which four Tracts contain in the whole Fifteen hundred & twenty acres more or less according to the Courses of the Original Deeds and were not only purchased & taken by CHARLES EWELL for the purpose aforesd. but were put by the aforesaid Company into one Joint stock by Articles of Copartnership bearing date the Nineteenth day of September in year One thousand seven hundred & forty four and recorded among the records of Prince William County, and also two Sixth parts of one other tract of land not purchased by said CHARLES EWELL or entered in the Articles of Copartnership aforesaid but purchased since the death of said CHARLES EWELL by BERTRAND EWELL & the heirs of the said CHARLES EWELL of WILLIAM FITZHUGH of the PROVINCE of MARYLAND Esquire bearing date the Sixth day of March One thousand seven hundred and fifty nine, containing Nine hundred & fifty acres situate on the MAIN RUN of OCCOQUAN & is the Residue of a Proprietors Deed for One thousand acres granted unto WILLIAM FITZHUGH of STAFFORD COUNTY by Deed bearing date the first day of October One thousand Six hundred & Ninety four, And all houses, buildings, orchards, Forges, Mills, Water Courses & appurtenances whatsoever to the said land belonging and all Estate right & demand whatsoever of them said JAMES CRAICK & MARIANNE his Wife and JESSE EWELL his heirs and assigns to the said premises To have and to hold the said sixth part of all the several tracts of land to JOHN SEMPLE and his heirs and assigns forever; And further that JAMES CRAICK and MARIANNE his Wife and their heirs and JESSE EWELL and his heirs will at all times hereafter the said Two Sixths parts of said Five tracts of land above described and every part thereof against them and their heirs & all other persons whatsoever will warrant & forever defend In Witness whereof said parties have set their hands & Seals in presence of

JAMES KEY,

JAMES CRAICK

JNO, WOOD.

WM. LAUDER,

MARIANNE CRAICK

ALEXR. LITHGOW,

JNO. MATTHEWS,

JESSE EWELL

WILL. STONE JUNR,

"Keep Tryst" Iron Works Furnace (Maryland & Virginia)

• 1764 - Began Operating an Iron Works Furnace - Potomac River, Maryland side - The name of the Maryland patent, "Keep Tryst."

1765 - Aquired over 20,000 acres of land in Maryland and Virginia - on credit with Scottish Merchants, to construct mills, furnaces and forges. The 10,000 acres on the Maryland side was known as the "Keep Triste," patent which was the Semple family motto.

1765 - Mar. - Charles County Land Record Book L#3, 1761-1765; Page 625. I, Francis Spong of CC, barber and wig maker, for 57 £ 3 shillings and 8 pence to me in hand paid or at least due by me to John Semple, merchant & Co of Portobacco, have sold to sd Semple & Co, all my household furniture, working utensils, tools &c, as more particularly contained in an inventory of them, taken by John & Wm Theobalds, dated Jul 14, 1763. I also hereby sell to sd Semple & Co, all claim I have to an indented servant woman named Margarett Kenny, bought by me from John Theobalds and whose indentures I now have in my possession, having received the same from John Theobalds, sd Margaret having at this time to serve me, 2 years and 2 months. Signed Mar 30, 1765 - Francis Spong. Wit - Alexr Lithgow, Jno Matthews, Henry Winsatt. Recorded Mar 30, 1765.

• Charles County Land Record Book O#3, 1765-1770; Page 86. Instrument of writing.

This present contract of copartnership is agreed upon among John Semple Jr., merchant in Portobacco in Maryland, son to the decd John Semple Sr., merchant in Hamilton, James Lawson, merchant in Glasgow, and John Hamilton, writer in Maihline {Mouchline). Sd persons have agreed to be in company together, to carry on a joint trade to and from Virginia or Maryland. To do so, they have already purchased a ship called the Sallie and goods to send to Portobacco, to the value of 3000 £ The goods are to be under the trust and management of sd John Semple. It is hereby declared that sd Semple [have] 6 12th parts, being the one half of the sd trade, and sd Lawson in 5 12th parts, and sd Hamilton the other 12th of the same, with the option to add another 12th to the capitol stock, and trade when he sees fit, [by] next Jan 1. It is agreed that the capitol stock shall be 3000 £ This is a 3 year agreement, starting May 20, 1757 years, and SO long thereafter as the partners shall see fit. Lawson is to have the management and disposal for the company, of all the tobacco or other effects or sums that shall be transmitted by sd Semple to him on the company account, and is to keep exact books. Each partner will receive profit in proportion to his investment.

Signed -

Jo. Hamilton,

James Lawson.

James Montgomery, master of the ship Sally, and

Joseph Marten, his mate, are witnesses to this agreement, at Maryland, on Aug 29, in the year afd [sic].

Signed -

James Lawson,

Jo. Hamilton,

John Semple.

Wit - James Montgomerie,

Joseph Martin,

David Templeton,

John Hamilton.

Recorded Jul 15, 1766.

• 1766 - John Semple is also noted as a promoter of the C & O Canal. He had frequent meetings with George Washington about making the Potomac River navigable. Semple’s company even opened a channel at one gravel shoal in order to ship ore to Antietam.
• John Hamilton in Mauchline, Scotland, to his brother, John Semple, merchant, letter, February 17, 1769

http://hdl.handle.net/1903.1/6653

• 1769 - Bankrupt - Semples debts exceeded 24,000 pounds of British, Virginia and Maryland currency and 114,000 pounds of crop tobacco. His debts were not settled until 1793. Lawson was his brother-in-law.
• 1772 - Nov. - Charles County Land Record Book S#3, 1770-1775; Page 317.

Power of attorney. I, John Semple, late of CC, merchant, but now of Prince William County, Virginia, ironmaster, hereby appoint John Matthews of CC, my true and lawful attorney, for me and in my name to assign over to Jezreel Penn, a certain tract of land in CC called part of Linskin, containing about 100 acres by deed, which land was this day signed and executed by me to Jezreel Penn afd.

Signed Oct 6, 1772 - John Semple. Wit - Rob H: (Hanson) Harrison, Robert Lawson, Walter Hanson*, Jo H: Harrison*. Recorded Nov 14, 1772.

Oct 6, 1772 from John Semple, late of CC but now of Prince William County, Virginia, merchant, to Jezriel Penn of CC, planter, for 40 £, part of a tract of land in CC called Linskin, bounded by Langoes Point near Potomack River Bank, containing about 100 acres, according to the certificate of survey thereof. Signed - John Semple. Wit - James Lawson, Rob H. Harrison.

John Matthews, by virtue of a power of attorney dated the same day as this deed, to him directed by sd John Semple, acknowledged this deed. Recorded Nov 14, 1772.

• 1773 - Semple’s holdings went through foreclosure in 1786 and the successor owners built a second furnace at the Orebank about 1788. One of the successor owners was Henry Lee, father of Robert E. Lee. Keep Triste Furnace was rebuilt in 1792. Fifty employees.