Arthur Bronson (Jan. 14, 1801- Nov. 19, 1844) |
| Relationship to the Speculation Lands: |
| Peter Stephen DuPonceau, as an appointed trustee for the estate of Tench Coxe, assigned the Augustus Sacket mortgage, known as the 'Speculation Lands,' to a group of investors on July 12, 1825. Included among the investors were Arthur Bronson's father, Isaac Bronson, a wealthy banker and land speculator from New York, Gould Hoyt, another banker, James Thompson, and James B. Murray. The investors remained in New York, and sent Jacob Hyatt and Joshua Forman to western North Carolina in 1825 and 1829 to manage and oversee the lands. |
| Biography: |
| Son of Isaac and Anna Olcott Bronson, Arthur was born January 14th in the year 1801. Arthur died of pneumonia November 19th, 1844. In between he married Anna Eliza Bailey, daughter of General Theodorus Bailey of New York, on November 20, 1823. They had three children. Arthur along with his father, Isaac, were instrumental in the creation of both the New York and Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Companies. Both Arthur and his father, Isaac, co-wrote the charters for these two companies along with securing the approvals from both the state of Ohio and New York legislatures. It can be inferred that the Bronsons held considerable political influence. Both Arthur and Isaac also participated in the creation of the Southern Life Insurance and Trust Company and the Alabama Life and Insurance Trust Company. |
| On-Site Links: |
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0125 - Indenture and Conveyance for Patent 1041, Rutherford County, dated December 1829. Between Throderick Birchett, Clerk Master of Rutherford County and Arthur Bronson, Goold Hoyt and James B. Murray. Concerns a Court of Equity hearing of April 7, 1828. Case between Bronson et al, executors of the Estate of James Thompson and David B. Ogden, the latter for non-payment of $3,978.70, for land owned in the amount of 6,324 acres. 0126 - Revocation of powers assigned to James Stevens by Goold Hoyt, James B. Murray, and Arthur Bronson, dated August 1, 1829. Stevens was an agent for the Speculation Land Company. 0163 - This document lists the heirs of Gould Hoyt and Isaac Bronson. 0192 - True and Perfect Copy of the Proceedings of the Superior Courts in Rutherford and Lincoln Counties, signed by John Michael, Clerk of the Court, dated April 12, 1841. The case began in April 1828 in Rutherford County and was transferred to Lincoln County in 1832 as in the judge's opinion a fair and impartial trial could not be held in Rutherford County due to the number of interested parties. The case was not concluded until 1835, in part due to the number of continuances. The case began as a Breach of Contract against Richard Roe brought by John Doe over use of land for a contract period of ten years, beginning January 1, 1828. The land in question was located on the waters of the Broad River and Buffalo Creek. 1. John Doe was physically removed from his farm and the land and sued for $1,200 for "mental anguish". 2. It evolved into a case of who actually owned the land - Richard Roe or Bronson et al. 3. Affidavits filed by Arthur Bronson, Joshua Forman, Agent, and Samuel L. Gidney stated that Bronson, Hoyt, et al owned the land. 4. Two surveys of the land are included in the Court records. 5. A jury trial was held with twelve jurors seated. 6. The jury awarded $6.00 to the defendant and ordered Peter Stephen Du Ponceau (one of two trustees of Tench Coxe's land holdings) to pay court costs of $83.50. (It is unclear if Du Ponceau or his agent was in fact Richard Roe.) Also see Item 77/294 in this Section. 0473 - Extract of Letters sent by the owners of the "Speculation Land Company" - signed by James Thompson, Goold Hoyt, James B. Murray, and Arthur Bronson. 0776 - Chronology of events of Patents 1050 and 1045: 1. August 12, 1819, Augustus Sacket conveyed a Deed of Mortgage to the Trustees of Tench Coxe. 2. August 17, 1819, the Trustees conveyed lands to Augustus Sacket. 3. March 15, 1822, Abraham Kintzing released his Trusteeship to Peter S. Du Ponceau. 4. February 12, 1825, Peter S. Du Ponceau assigned the Mortgage of Augustus Sacket to Thompson, Hoyt, Bronson et al. 5. 1826, Thompson et al file suit against Augustus Sacket. 6. October 20, 1826, Report and sales are given to James Stevens. 7. May 1827, ___ assigns to James Stevens. 8. May 6, 1827, Stevens assigns his rights to Hoyt, Murray, and Arthur Bronson. 9. March 24, 1828, James Murray assigns his rights to Isaac Bronson. 10. March 6, 1830, Arthur Bronson assigns his rights to Isaac Bronson and Gould Hoyt. |