Beginning on December 16, 1846, Joseph Plunkett, the man William Leigh trusted to represent the freed slaves interests, began to sell the unclaimed land. Helen Gilmore has found evidence that when the former slaves inquired about the land that was rightfully theirs, it had been flooded by water temporarily released from Grand Lake St. Marys. Over a seven year period, Plunkett sold all the land for a total of over $7,700. Gilmore also states that the treacherous Plunkett, in selling the land, forged the name of William Leigh.

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