{"value"=>"<p>(Bronson Land Papers, No. Carolina, p 3). The North Carolina Land Papers include Rutherford, Mecklenburgh, & Buncombe Counties as bounded in 1825. The same territory is now comprised in union, Mecklenburgh, Cleveland, Rutherford, Mc Dowe11, Henderson, & Buncombe counties.</p> <p>These lands, commonly known as the \"speculation Lands\" and comprising about 400,000 acres, were acquired by James Thomson, Goold Hoyt, James B. Murray, and Arthur Bronson, all of New York City, in the year 1825. Isaac Bronson later bought the interest of his son, Arthur, and of his son-in-law, James B. Murray. (See letter of Arthur Bronson to James Stevens, 16 November, 1826). Although title to the lands passed through various forms of corporate ownership and many tracts were sold, the Bronson family was still interested in this property at the time of the death of Frederic Bronson, son and executor of Isaac Bronson, in 1868.</p>"}