What Does This Provide Evidence Of?

This is part of the documentation in a Bureau of Land Management Cash Land Sale file for Thomas J. Rampley. The land aquisition process was completed under an 1828 act, but Thomas' original payment was on 15 November 1817 for 83 acres. The document styles him as of Coshocton County, Ohio.

Does this document state that Thomas was "of" Coshocton County, Ohio, in 1817? Keep in mind that this record was dated in 1829.

It also turns out that Thomas was not even alive on 30 June 1829 when the final payment was made.

It is important to remember what a document provides evidence of and what it does not.

And it is always important to utilize more than one source.