James McMahan and wife
of Westfield Chautauqua County,
to Samuel S. Seward.
Bond for $3000.
With guaranty by Austin Smith his
Son in law -
Payable in one year with semi an-
nual interest, at Florida.
To be secured by a Mortgage on 212 acres an improved farm
lying on the Great Main ^Lake^ west and three or four miles west of West-
field in Chautauqua County, highly improved with store house
&c - Sold in 1826 for $10.71h. 89 equal to something more than
$50. per acre. ^Reverted to Col. Mc Mahon and^ Now worth not less than $30 to $35 per acre.
$3000 loaned on 212 acres is equal to $18.75 per acre.
I wrote you some time since about such a loan which I think
would be one of the very best investments. I know the farm
well. It is one of the best and most desirable in Chautauqua
County. The title papers have been sent to me and
are singularly simple. The title having come from the Holland
Company so late as Dec. 11. 1835. There are no previous ques-
tions and none subsequent which if you make the loan I
cannot clear up before paying the money.
This much on the fair side of the question. Now for the other
I think you will recollect Col McMahan - the first
settler of Westfield an Irish Protestant, always a close careful
jealous testy man but meaning honestly. He lives in the village
of Westfield and has resources enough I believe independently
of the farm to pay the interest punctually besides support-
ing his small family. His son He is however an old

man not much short of eighty. His son in law Smith is a small
but close thrifty lawyer and is Surrogate of the County or lately was.
He has built a nice brick house which I suppose undoubtedly he
was able to do and I do not doubt that his prudence will al-
ways Keep him in good circumstances. The loan will ultimately
devolve upon him as I think his wife is the only heir of Col Mc
Mahan - Smith is a fair reasonable man with whom it is
not likely there would ever be any dispute and the loan would
probably remain some five six or seven years if you wish.
The receipt for it arrives from a litigation in which Col
McMahan became involved three or four years ago, but he has
property independently of the farm worth I suppose $6. or $7.⁰⁰⁰
The Col. is under obligation to pay the money before the first of
January, and I told him after receiving your reply to my previous letter
that you would probably be able to print it in December -
Presuming that it will be agreeable to you since I scarcely
Know when we shall find so safe and easy an investment I will
have the Bond and Mortgage sent to you in all the month of
December, you may ^When you shall Hrew have received the Bond Mortgage you may^ either deposit the money in the New Burgh
Bank or send me your note at three or four months payable
at the New Burgh Bank with interest, and I will make ^a stipulation that^ the
Bond and Mortgage draw interest from the receipt of the note
here by me - which will be the best way so as to lose no
interest.
I am engaging in clearing up the title, of the few small
Incumbrances I find against a few who think it passed in 1836 after
the McMahons sold it ^the land^ and before it reverted to him.
Please tell me what you wish about further Invest-

ments in this County. As there is always a risk of expense in making
searches or receiving properties for which applicants are unwill-
ing to pay if they fail in getting loans.
I have received your letter of the 25th. and am delighted to
hear that my dear mother remains as well as when I left her -
We will not forget Mr Christies business
Affectionately your son
William H. Seward.
Auburn November 29th 1844
The Honorable
Samuel S. Seward.

hDr Letter to S S Seward.
November 29th 1844