Blackland TX · ← All the original surveys
John B. Boyer Survey, Abstract 123
- Granted to
- John B. Boyer
- Kind of grant
- Bounty warrantLand paid for service in the army of the Republic.
- Land Office file
- Robertson Bounty, file 81
- Certificate
- No. 463
- Acres
- 1280
- Patented to
- John T. Lawrence
- Patent
- 15 Sep 1845 · No. 641, Vol. 1
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What the file shows
John B. Boyer, who signed by his mark, received a 1280-acre Republic of Texas bounty certificate in Houston in November 1837 for eighteen months' army service and sold it the next day to John T. Lawrence for $400. Deputy surveyor B. J. Chambers laid out the land on Chambers' Creek in October 1840, and the patent issued to Lawrence on 15 September 1845.
The certificate
bounty land certificate (Republic of Texas), No. 463, 1280 acres, Barnard E. Bee, Secretary of War, Republic of Texas; countersigned B. T. Archer, Secretary of War and Navy (approved June 12th 1841(?)), Houston, 22 Nov 1837.
John B. Boyer served faithfully and honorably for eighteen months, from 23 May 1836 until 17 October 1837, and was honorably discharged from the Army of Texas; entitled to 1280 acres of bounty land. Certificate transferable by endorsement with a deed before competent authority with witnesses.
Changes of hand
- 23 Nov 1837John B. Boyer (his mark), late a soldier → John T. Lawrence, $400, Houston. Deed selling 1280 acres of bounty land 'to be hereafter selected, located and surveyed' by Lawrence; the same day Boyer signs a transfer endorsed on the back of the certificate, authorising Lawrence to locate, survey and perfect title in his own name or in Boyer's.
The survey
1840-10-16 (certified 1840-11-08), B. J. Chambers, Deputy Surveyor, Robertson County.
Robertson County (now Navarro), on Chambers' Creek, a branch of the Trinity River; at Franklin when certified
Chain carriers: Ebenezer Donaldson, John Hardisty.
Book B, page 131
The patent
15 Sep 1845, No. 641, Vol. 1, to John T. Lawrence, assignee, delivered to not stated.
Also in the file
- Boyer signs by his mark, yet is described as 'late a soldier' discharged after eighteen months' service.
- Certificate was sold the day after it issued, and not located until 1840 — the survey is dated three years after the transfer.
- The certificate bears the added date 'approved June 12th 1841' by B. T. Archer, after the survey date of 1840(?).
- The patent in 1845 went to Lawrence as assignee, not Boyer.
- Index says patent 15 Sep 1845, No. 641 Vol 1; agrees with the jacket.
Timeline
- 23 May 1836John B. Boyer begins the eighteen months' army service
- 17 Oct 1837Boyer honorably discharged
- 22 Nov 1837Secretary of War Bee issues bounty certificate No. 463 for 1280 acres at Houston
- 23 Nov 1837Boyer, by his mark, sells the certificate to John T. Lawrence for $400
- 25 Nov 1837Witnesses Hoover and McHenry swear to the signatures before Judge Briscoe
- 16 Oct 1840B. J. Chambers surveys 1280 acres on Chambers' Creek
- 9 Dec 1840County Surveyor Patton examines and records the survey, Book B p131
- 15 Sep 1845Patent No. 641 Vol. 1 to John T. Lawrence, assignee
The papers in the file
Every page of the Land Office file, in the order the Land Office keeps them (8 pages). Tap a page to see it larger.
File jacketFile jacket 81, Robertson County Bounty, abst 123, John B. Boyer 1280 acres, patented to John T. Lawrence assignee 15 Sept 1845, No. 641 Vol 1.General Land Office, file 81, page 1 · in the scan
CertificateRepublic of Texas bounty certificate for 1280 acres to John B. Boyer for eighteen months' army service, 23 May 1836 to 17 Oct 1837, signed Barnard E. Bee.General Land Office, file 81, page 2 · in the scan
Back of the certificateBack of the certificate: Boyer, by his mark, transfers the 1280 acres to John T. Lawrence at Houston on 23 Nov 1837, proved 25 Nov by witnesses before A. Briscoe.General Land Office, file 81, page 3 · in the scan
WrapperWrapper for the Boyer certificate, file 81 Robertson Co Bounty, with Reg. Mgl 5764.General Land Office, file 81, page 4 · in the scan
Field notesField notes and sketch of 1280 acres for John B. Boyer on Chambers' Creek, surveyed by B. J. Chambers with chain men Ebenezer Donaldson and John Hardisty.General Land Office, file 81, page 5 · in the scan
Surveyor's certificateCounty Surveyor Edwin LeRoy Patton examines the Boyer field notes at Franklin on 9 Dec 1840, recorded Book B page 131, with wrapper note.General Land Office, file 81, page 6 · in the scan
TransferDeed in which John B. Boyer, late a soldier, sells his 1280 acres of bounty land to John T. Lawrence for $400, 23 Nov 1837.General Land Office, file 81, page 7 · in the scan
TransferWitnesses G. W. Hoover and John McHenry swear before Chief Justice Andrew Briscoe of Harrisburg County to the Boyer deed, 25 Nov 1837, with wrapper.General Land Office, file 81, page 8 · in the scan
Scans courtesy of the Texas General Land Office, Austin, from its Land Grant Database.
On this ground today
- CemeteryDixon Cemetery
Places that stand inside this survey’s lines as the state’s survey map draws them.
Neighbouring surveys
Sources
- Texas General Land Office, Land Grant Database: Navarro County, Abstract 123
- The Land Office file, scanned (PDF, at the General Land Office)
- 1924 map: courtesy of the Texas General Land Office, Austin, Map 73249, used under licence. Topo: U.S. Geological Survey, The National Map. Aerial photographs: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agriculture Imagery Program, 2012, 2018 and 2022. Survey outlines: Railroad Commission of Texas, Original Texas Land Survey. Grant records and files: Texas General Land Office.