On that same date, Amy Sled assigned the bond to Basdel [sic] Sled.
One might wonder if John Sled was really alive on 25 February since his wife, Amy (Ann) signed the assignment of the debt.
 |
| James Clegg vs. John Sledd, Senr., etal, Bedford County Chancery Court Records, Case 1827-013, bond from James Clagg to John Sledd, 25 February 1807, front; digital image from Library of Virginia. |
Until one reads the flip side of the bond wherein there appears an assignment dated 16 April 1807 signed by John Sledd transferring the debt to Barksdale Sledd.
 |
| James Clegg vs. John Sledd, Senr., etal, Bedford County Chancery Court Records, Case 1827-013, bond from James Clagg to John Sledd, 25 February 1807, back; digital image from Library of Virginia. |
If only the front of the document had been read, the assignment by John Sledd would not have been seen and the assignment of the debt six years later by Barksdale would have been missed as well. One might have assumed John Sledd was dead on the original bond date which he apparently wasn't.
The one occasional drawback to using digital images of records is that it is not always apparent when using digital images that there is a "flip side" to a document or which image pairs up with another. Sometimes one can compare tears and edges of images (if the entire page is digitized) to determine which image pairs with another. Sometimes that is not possible.
The bond doesn't provide a reason as to why Amy assigned the debt before John.
Fortunately that reason is hinted at in one of the depositions in the case--which we will save for a later post.
