Blackland TX · ← All the original surveys
Thomas Crabb Survey, Abstract 176
- Granted to
- Thomas Crabb
- Kind of grant
- Headright, third classLand for later settlers, including the colonists of Mercer’s Colony.
- Land Office file
- Robertson 3rd class, file 774
- Certificate
- No. 124
- Acres
- 640
- Patented to
- William Milton
- Patent
- 14 Mar 1854 · No. 148, Vol. 9
Tap a survey to open its page.
What the file shows
Thomas Crabb received a 640-acre Mercer's Colony certificate at Corsicana in April 1850. David R. Mitchell surveyed a square section for him on Richland and Brier creek in June 1850. In December 1852 Crabb, signing with his mark, sold the certificate to William Melton for $100, and the land was patented to Melton on 14 March 1854.
The certificate
headright, Mercer's Colony certificate, No. 124, 640 acres, John M. Crockett, Commissioner of Mercer's Colony, Corsicana, Navarro County, 17 Apr 1850.
Entitles Thomas Crabb to 640 acres within the colony of Charles Fenton Mercer and his Associates, he having taken the oath and made the proof of his citizenship; he may locate, transfer or donate it.
Changes of hand
- 14 Dec 1852Thomas Crabb (his mark), of Navarro County → William Melton, of Navarro County, $100, Navarro County, Texas. Assigns his headright certificate No. 124 for 640 acres, issued 17 April 1850, and authorises Melton to apply for and obtain the patent in his own name.
The survey
1850-06-12 (certified 1850-08-03), David R. Mitchell, Deputy Surveyor, Robertson Land District.
Navarro County, about 7 miles south westward from Corsicana on the N side of Richland and Brier creek
Chain carriers: J. D. Johnson, J. Wilson.
Colony Book F(?) (wrapper reads Book I(?)), page 98(?)
The patent
14 Mar 1854, No. 148, Vol. 9, to William Melton, assignee, delivered to not stated.
Also in the file
- Crabb signed the 1852 transfer with his mark, yet his survey was made two years earlier; the land followed the certificate.
- The sketch of Nov 1853 was added to show how the Crabb survey connects with its neighbours, suggesting the Land Office wanted the location confirmed before patent.
- Page 10 and p5 carry heavy mirror bleed-through that makes some lines hard to read.
- Patentee is Melton, but the index spells him 'Milton, William'.
Timeline
- 17 Apr 1850Mercer's Colony certificate No. 124 for 640 acres issued to Thomas Crabb at Corsicana
- 12 Jun 1850David R. Mitchell surveys 640 acres on Richland and Brier creek
- 3 Aug 1850Mitchell certifies the survey
- 22 Aug 1850District Surveyor Philpott examines and records the field notes
- 14 Dec 1852Crabb sells his certificate to William Melton for $100
- 15 Nov 1853District surveyor A. Chambers(?) certifies a sketch of the Crabb survey's connections
- 5 Dec 1853Sketch filed in the General Land Office
- 14 Mar 1854Patent No. 148 Vol. 9 to William Melton, assignee
The papers in the file
Every page of the Land Office file, in the order the Land Office keeps them (10 pages). Tap a page to see it larger.
File jacketFile jacket 774, Robertson 3rd Class, Thomas Crabb by assignee, 640 acres, abst 176, patented to William Melton 14 March 1854, No. 148 Vol 9.General Land Office, file 774, page 1 · in the scan
CertificateMercer's Colony certificate No. 124 entitling Thomas Crabb to 640 acres, signed John M. Crockett at Corsicana, 17 April 1850.General Land Office, file 774, page 2 · in the scan
Back of the certificateBack of the certificate endorsed Robertson 3 Class, Mercer's Colony Cert 640 acres, Thomas Crabb, No. 124.General Land Office, file 774, page 3 · in the scan
Field notesPlat and field notes for 640 acres for Thomas Crabb on Richland and Brier creek, surveyed 12 June 1850 by David R. Mitchell.General Land Office, file 774, page 4 · in the scan
Surveyor's certificateDistrict Surveyor J. P. Philpott examines the Crabb field notes and records them on 22 August 1850; page is faint with bleed-through.General Land Office, file 774, page 5 · in the scan
WrapperWrapper for the Crabb 640-acre plat and field notes, recorded in colony book, patented March 14 1854.General Land Office, file 774, page 6 · in the scan
TransferThomas Crabb transfers his headright certificate No. 124 to William Melton for $100 and authorises him to take the patent.General Land Office, file 774, page 7 · in the scan
TransferCrabb signs by his mark on 14 Dec 1852 before Alex. Beaton, who acknowledges the transfer as notary public of Navarro County.General Land Office, file 774, page 8 · in the scan
PlatSketch of the Crabb survey and its neighbours in Navarro County, certified by district surveyor A. Chambers(?) on 15 Nov 1853.General Land Office, file 774, page 9 · in the scan
WrapperWrapper for the Crabb sketch, filed Dec 5 1853, with an upside-down note 'Sketch representing Thomas Crabb's ... for W. Melton'.General Land Office, file 774, page 10 · in the scan
Scans courtesy of the Texas General Land Office, Austin, from its Land Grant Database.
Neighbouring surveys
Sources
- Texas General Land Office, Land Grant Database: Navarro County, Abstract 176
- 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.