Blackland TX · ← All the original surveys
A. J. Ensworth Survey, Abstract 254
- Granted to
- A. J. Ensworth
- Kind of grant
- Bounty warrantLand paid for service in the army of the Republic.
- Land Office file
- Robertson Bounty, file 85
- Certificate
- No. 268
- Acres
- 640
- Patented to
- John T. Lawrence
- Patent
- 18 Sep 1845 · No. 670, Vol. 1
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What the file shows
Augustus S. Ensworth, discharged from twelve months in the Army of Texas on 11 November 1837, received bounty certificate No. 268 for 640 acres dated 12 November and sold it to John T. Lawrence at Houston two days later for $100. Deputy surveyor B. J. Chambers located it on Chambers Creek in Robertson County, adjoining James O. Rice's survey, in late 1840, and it was patented to Lawrence as assignee in September 1845.
The certificate
bounty land certificate (military service, Republic of Texas), No. 268, 640 acres, Barnard E. Bee, Secretary of War (countersigned B. T. Archer, Secretary of War and Navy(?), on a later endorsement); printed by McKean, New Orleans, Houston, Republic of Texas, 1837-11-12 (survey and deed call it 12 Nov 1837; certificate face reads 'November 1?th 1837'); re-endorsed 12 June 1841(?).
Augustus S. Ensworth, having served faithfully and honorably for twelve months from 3 November 1836 until 11 November 1837 and been honorably discharged from the Army of Texas, is entitled to 640 acres of bounty land
Changes of hand
- 14 Nov 1837Augustus S. Ensworth, late a soldier → John T. Lawrence, $100 (on the deed); 'for value received' on the endorsement, Houston, Republic of Texas. Two instruments: an endorsement on the back of the certificate transferring all interest and empowering Lawrence to locate, survey and perfect title; and a separate deed of sale and feoffment of the 640 acres, both 14 Nov 1837
The survey
1840-10-1?(?) (heading 'Robertson County, Texas, 18th(?) Oct. 1840'; certified at Franklin 10 Nov 1840), B. J. Chambers, Deputy Surveyor, Robertson County.
Robertson County (now Navarro), Texas, on Chambers Creek, a branch of the Trinity River
Chain carriers: Ebenezer Donaldson, John Hardesty.
Book B, page 147
The patent
1845-09-18 (index; jacket reads 'Sept. 18th(?)', the 1 run into the 8; field-notes wrapper reads 'Sept 9th 1845'), No. 670, Vol. 1, to John T. Lawrence, assignee, delivered to Certificate sent for patent for Wm. Croft(?).
Also in the file
- Patent date: index says 18 Sep 1845; the jacket reads 18th(?) with the 1 crowded into the 8, while the field-notes wrapper reads Sept 9th 1845.
- The certificate was sold in November 1837 within days of being issued, three years before the survey.
- The certificate face shows an added later date 'June 12th(?) 1841' and an endorsement by B. T. Archer, probably the re-registration of old bounty certificates.
- The survey heading date (18 Oct 1840) differs from the certification at Franklin (10 Nov 1840); examined 14 Dec 1840.
- Deputy swears the survey was made 'since the 1st day of August 1838', a standard phrase for the survey lines.
- Name spelled Ensworth, Enswoth, Ensworth throughout; index writes 'Ensworth'.
Timeline
- 3 Nov 1836Ensworth begins twelve months' service in the Army of Texas
- 11 Nov 1837Honorably discharged
- 12 Nov 1837Bounty certificate No. 268 for 640 acres issued by Secretary of War Barnard E. Bee
- 14 Nov 1837Ensworth sells and transfers the certificate to John T. Lawrence at Houston for $100
- 25 Nov 1837Witnesses sworn before Chief Justice Briscoe of Harrisburg County
- 10 Nov 1840B. J. Chambers certifies the survey on Chambers Creek
- 14 Dec 1840County Surveyor examines the notes, recorded Book B p. 147
- 18 Sep 1845Patent No. 670 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 for Augustus S. Ensworth's 640-acre bounty land, patented to J. T. Lawrence, assignee, Sept 1845, No. 670 Vol. 1.General Land Office, file 85, page 1 · in the scan
Field notesField notes of 640 acres for Augustus S. Ensworth on Chambers Creek, surveyed by deputy B. J. Chambers, chain carriers Ebenezer Donaldson and John Hardesty.General Land Office, file 85, page 2 · in the scan
WrapperWrapper for the field notes: patented Sept 1845, recorded Book B page 147, and the county surveyor's certificate of 14 Dec 1840.General Land Office, file 85, page 3 · in the scan
CertificateRepublic of Texas bounty certificate for Augustus S. Ensworth, twelve months' service 3 Nov 1836 to 11 Nov 1837, 640 acres, signed Barnard E. Bee.General Land Office, file 85, page 4 · in the scan
Back of the certificateEnsworth transfers all his right in the 640-acre bounty certificate to John T. Lawrence at Houston, 14 Nov 1837, proved 25 Nov 1837.General Land Office, file 85, page 5 · in the scan
WrapperWrapper docketed file 85 Robertson County Bounty, Certificate, Augustus S. Ensworth, Reg. Mgl 5168.General Land Office, file 85, page 6 · in the scan
TransferDeed of Augustus S. Ensworth, late a soldier, selling his 640-acre bounty land to John T. Lawrence for $100.General Land Office, file 85, page 7 · in the scan
AffidavitHarrisburg County Chief Justice A. Briscoe certifies that witnesses Henry Trott and George W. Hoover swore they saw the Ensworth deed signed, 25 Nov 1837.General Land Office, file 85, 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 254
- 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.