Blackland TX · ← All the original surveys
James George Survey, Abstract 316
- Granted to
- James George
- Kind of grant
- Headright, third classLand for later settlers, including the colonists of Mercer’s Colony.
- Land Office file
- Robertson 3rd class, file 865
- Certificate
- No. 65
- Acres
- 640
- Patented to
- James George
- Patent
- 08 Aug 1854 · No. 411, Vol. 10
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What the file shows
James George claimed 640 acres on Cottonwood Creek, a branch of Richland Creek about 13 miles west-southwest of Corsicana, as a pre-emption, and deputy surveyor D. R. Mitchell ran its lines on 10 March 1846 with John South and P. S. George carrying chain. In April 1850 John M. Crockett, commissioner of Mercer's Colony at Corsicana, issued George Certificate No. 65 for 640 acres on proof of his citizenship, and the 1846 survey was laid under it. The field notes, which start from a Melton corner on Knott's line, were recorded in November 1850 and filed in Austin in July 1853. George was patented in his own name on 8 August 1854 (No. 411, Vol. 10).
The certificate
other (Mercer's Colony certificate; filed by GLO as Robertson 3rd class), No. 65, 640 acres, John M. Crockett, Commissioner of Mercer's Colony, Corsicana, Navarro County, 15 Apr 1850.
Printed form: entitles James George to 640 acres on any vacant land within the limits of the colony of Charles Fenton Mercer and his associates not otherwise appropriated, he having taken the oath and made the proof required by law of his citizenship; may locate, transfer or donate it
The survey
1846-03-10 (survey made); surveyor's oath undated; certificate of application to colony certificate 1850-10-03, D. R. Mitchell.
Headed 'Robertson County'; in Navarro County [red-ink interlineation over 'said county'], west of the Trinity River on Cottonwood Creek, a branch of Richland Creek; red-ink addition 'and about 13¼ miles S 79° W from Corsicana'
Chain carriers: John South, P. S. George.
Colony Book I(?) page 94
The patent
8 Aug 1854, No. 411, Vol. 10, to James George, delivered to C. [H. or M.] Winkler (?), 12 Aug 1854.
Also in the file
- The land was surveyed in March 1846, four years before the colony certificate existed; the surveyor later explained it had been made as a pre-emption claim and was then made to rest on the 1850 certificate.
- One of the two chain carriers was P. S. George — presumably kin to the grantee — the same name that later came up as a suspected conflicting claim on Richland Creek in the Wiley Beasley file (Abstract 98).
- The neighbouring tract called on the south side was described as 'a former survey', and those words were later struck through.
Timeline
- 10 Mar 1846D. R. Mitchell surveys 640 acres on Cottonwood Creek for James George as a pre-emption
- 15 Apr 1850John M. Crockett, Mercer's Colony commissioner at Corsicana, issues Certificate No. 65 for 640 acres
- 3 Oct 1850Mitchell certifies the 1846 survey was made as a pre-emption in view of the colony certificate
- 1 Nov 1850J. P. Philpott examines and records field notes in Colony Book I, p. 94
- 1 Jul 1853Certificate and field notes filed in the General Land Office
- 4 Aug 1854Checked correct on map
- 8 Aug 1854Patent No. 411, Vol. 10, to James George
- 12 Aug 1854Patent delivered to C. [H. or M.] Winkler (?)
The papers in the file
Every page of the Land Office file, in the order the Land Office keeps them (6 pages). Tap a page to see it larger.
File jacketFile jacket for James George's 640-acre Mercer's Colony survey, with the patent of 8 August 1854.General Land Office, file 865, page 1 · in the scan
CertificateMercer's Colony certificate No. 65 for 640 acres issued to James George at Corsicana, 15 April 1850.General Land Office, file 865, page 2 · in the scan
WrapperBack of the certificate, with the docket naming James George and the Land Office filing note of 1 July 1853.General Land Office, file 865, page 3 · in the scan
Field notesField notes for 640 acres on Cottonwood Creek, surveyed for James George by deputy surveyor D. R. Mitchell, 10 March 1846, with a small plat.General Land Office, file 865, page 4 · in the scan
Surveyor's certificateDistrict surveyor J. P. Philpott's certificate of 1 November 1850 that the George plat and field notes are correct and recorded in the colony book.General Land Office, file 865, page 5 · in the scan
WrapperField notes jacket for James George's 640 acres, recorded in Book I, page 94, with the filing note of 1 July 1853.General Land Office, file 865, page 6 · 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 316
- 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.