In 1806, my ancestor rented a certain lot in Fredericksburg for a term
of seven years, at $25 per year, and agreed, in the same document, to
build a house on the lot.  After the seven-year term, the house was to
be valued by two disinterested persons, and the lessor was to pay my
ancestor the value of the house.

Has anyone seen such an agreement before?  Why would the parties have
entered into this arrangement?  Would my ancestor really have built a
house on that lot during the seven-year period, or is this some sort of
formula to get around legal requirements (much like a dead of lease and
release)?  Also, would the lessee probably have built the house himself
(presumably with some help), or might he have hired someone else to
handle it?

A transcription of the lease is at
http://va.genealogy.tripod.com/daniel_lease.txt

Thank you!

Scott


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