There is probably a very interesting story behind this deed!
ONE PEPPERCORN PER ACRE
(The Guntersville Democrat, Guntersville, Alabama April 06, 1899)
The record of deeds for the year 1847 for Marshall county shows a curious land trade.
It is a deed, or more properly a lease, of eighty acres of land on Pine Island. The conditions set forth show that Ansil Barnes of Marshall county leased the tract of land to Alvah Finley of Jackson county for a term of ninety years for the sum of $135.00, and a renewal of the lease for the same period was stipulated for, if desired by Finley or his heirs “at the rate of one peppercorn per acre.”
Webster’s Unabridged defines a peppercorn: (1) a dried berry of black pepper; (2) anything insignificant.”
The ninety years will not expire until 1937. It is more than probable, however, that the parties had subsequently changed the trade to a straight deed, as the land described has changed hands several times, now being owned, we believe, by W. M. Gunter.
Vinegar of the Four Thieves was a recipe that was known for its antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic and antifungal properties for years. It was even used to cure the Bubonic Plague. See Thomas Jefferson’s recipe in
![PATRON + Old photographs and history of Marshall County, Alabama [see old photographs]](https://www.alabamapioneers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/main-street-Guntersville-Alabama-postcard.jpg "PATRON + Old photographs and history of Marshall County, Alabama [see old photographs]")
