Blackland TX · ← All the original surveys
John Carpenter Survey, Abstract 187
- Granted to
- John Carpenter
- Kind of grant
- Bounty warrantLand paid for service in the army of the Republic.
- Land Office file
- Robertson Bounty, file 86
- Certificate
- No. 254
- Acres
- 960
- Patented to
- John T. Lawrence
- Patent
- 17 Sep 1845 · No. 659, Vol. 1
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What the file shows
John Carpenter, a Texas army soldier from May 1836 to November 1837, received a 960-acre bounty certificate on 11 November 1837 and sold it ten days later at Houston to John T. Lawrence for $200. B. J. Chambers surveyed the land on Chambers' Creek in Robertson County in October 1840, and the patent issued to Lawrence as assignee in September 1845.
The certificate
bounty, No. 254, 960 acres, Barnard E. Bee, Secretary of War; approved by B. T. Archer, Secretary of War and Navy (June 12, 1841(?)); paymaster endorsement M. C. Hamilton(?), Houston(?), Republic of Texas (printed by McKean, New Orleans), 11 Nov 1837.
Served faithfully and honorably eighteen months from 18 May 1836 until 8 November 1837 and honourably discharged from the Army of Texas
Changes of hand
- 21 Nov 1837John Carpenter (by his mark) → John T. Lawrence, $200, Houston, Texas. Endorsement on certificate and separate deed of the same date; Lawrence may select, locate and survey the land himself or by substitute
The survey
1840-10-12 (declaration 1840-11-06 at Franklin), B. J. Chambers, Deputy Surveyor (Robertson County).
Robertson County, on Chambers' Creek, a branch of Trinity River (later Navarro County)
Chain carriers: Ebenezer Donnoldson, John Hardisty.
Book B p. 133
The patent
17 Sep 1845, No. 659, Vol. 1, to John T. Lawrence, assignee, delivered to not stated.
Also in the file
- The survey was made in Robertson County in 1840, before Navarro County existed (1846), and the land later fell in Navarro.
- The wrapper date of patenting is hard to read: 'Sept 9th(?) 1845' written beside a 17; the index says 17 Sep 1845.
- The grantee never held the land: Carpenter sold his certificate ten days after it was issued, signing only by mark.
- Abstract number 187 and certificate '254' appear on the jacket in a later hand.
Timeline
- 18 May 1836John Carpenter's army service begins
- 8 Nov 1837Service ends with honourable discharge
- 11 Nov 1837Bounty certificate No. 254 issued
- 21 Nov 1837Carpenter sells to John T. Lawrence for $200 at Houston
- 25 Nov 1837Witnesses swear to the deed before the Chief Justice of Harrisburg County
- 12 Oct 1840B. J. Chambers surveys 960 acres on Chambers' Creek
- 10 Dec 1840Survey examined and recorded Book B p. 133
- 17 Sep 1845Patent No. 659 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, file 86 Robertson County Bounty, John Carpenter 960 acres, with patent entry No. 659 Vol. 1 to John T. Lawrence, assignee, September 1845.General Land Office, file 86, page 1 · in the scan
CertificateRepublic of Texas bounty land certificate No. 254 for 960 acres to John Carpenter for service 18 May 1836 to 8 November 1837, signed Barnard E. Bee, Secretary of War.General Land Office, file 86, page 2 · in the scan
Back of the certificateEndorsement on the certificate: John Carpenter transfers all his right to the 960 acres to John T. Lawrence at Houston, 21 November 1837, by his mark.General Land Office, file 86, page 3 · in the scan
WrapperWrapper for the Carpenter certificate, file 86 Robertson Co. Bounty, endorsed 'Reg'd Mgl 5769(?)' by Rondeau.General Land Office, file 86, page 4 · in the scan
Field notesSurvey of 960 acres on Chambers' Creek for John Carpenter, made 12 October 1840 by B. J. Chambers, examined at Franklin by Edwin LeRoy Patton, 10 December 1840, Book B p. 133.General Land Office, file 86, page 5 · in the scan
WrapperWrapper for the field notes of 960 acres for John Carpenter, recorded Book B p. 133, patented September 1845.General Land Office, file 86, page 6 · in the scan
TransferDeed: John Carpenter, late a soldier, sells his 960-acre bounty right to John T. Lawrence for $200, 21 November 1837, signed by mark and witnessed.General Land Office, file 86, page 7 · in the scan
AffidavitWitnesses George W. Hoover and John McHenry swear before Chief Justice A. Briscoe of Harrisburg County to the deed, Houston, 25 November 1837; wrapper of the conveyance.General Land Office, file 86, page 8 · 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 187
- 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.