Blackland TX · ← All the original surveys
William M. Harris Survey, Abstract 378
- Granted to
- William M. Harris
- Kind of grant
- Headright, third classLand for later settlers, including the colonists of Mercer’s Colony.
- Land Office file
- Robertson 3rd class, file 714 1/2
- Certificate
- No. 171
- Acres
- 320
- Patented to
- William M. Harris
- Patent
- 16 Nov 1852 · No. 759, Vol. 8
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What the file shows
William M. Harris proved his citizenship as a Mercer's Colony settler and received certificate No. 171 for 320 acres from colony commissioner John M. Crockett at Corsicana on April 18, 1850. D. R. Mitchell surveyed it on June 14, 1850 on Cottonwood, a north branch of Richland Creek about ten miles west-southwest of Corsicana, against a 640-acre tract on the west. With no assignment recorded, Harris himself received the patent (No. 759, Vol. 8) on November 16, 1852.
The certificate
other (Mercer's Colony certificate; filed by GLO as Robertson 3rd class), No. 171, 320 acres, John M. Crockett, Commissioner of Mercer's Colony, Corsicana, Navarro County, 1850-04-18 (printed form reads '185_'; field notes give 'April 18th 1850').
Colonist in the colony of Charles Fenton Mercer and Associates who had taken the oath and made proof of his citizenship; 320 acres to be located on any vacant land within the colony limits
The survey
1850-06-14 (certified 1850-08-09), D. R. (David R.) Mitchell, Deputy Surveyor, Robertson Land District.
Navarro County, on Cottonwood, a north branch of Richland (Creek); red-ink addition 'about 10 miles S. 75 W. from Corsicana'
Chain carriers: J. Wilson(?), E. Carroll.
Book I, page 354
The patent
16 Nov 1852, No. 759, Vol. 8, to William M. Harris, delivered to not stated ('No assignment' noted).
Also in the file
- A Mercer's Colony certificate — issued under the Peters/Mercer colony contracts — ended up filed and patented in the GLO's Robertson Land District 3rd-class series.
- The neighbour's name was corrected in red ink: the surveyor wrote 'Moore's' corner and a later hand changed it to 'McLeod's(?)', but the little plat still says 'L. Moore 640'.
Timeline
- 18 Apr 1850John M. Crockett, Mercer's Colony commissioner, issues certificate No. 171 at Corsicana
- 14 Jun 1850D. R. Mitchell surveys 320 acres on Cottonwood, a north branch of Richland Creek
- 9 Aug 1850Mitchell certifies the survey
- 13 Feb 1851District surveyor examines and records it in Book I p. 354
- 12 Nov 1852Checked correct on the GLO map (Creuzbaur)
- 16 Nov 1852Patent No. 759, Vol. 8, to William M. Harris
The papers in the file
Every page of the Land Office file, in the order the Land Office keeps them (5 pages). Tap a page to see it larger.
File jacketFile jacket for the Mercer's Colony certificate of William M. Harris, 320 acres, listing the certificate and field notes.General Land Office, file 714 1/2, page 1 · in the scan
CertificateMercer's Colony certificate No. 171 issued at Corsicana, 18 April 1850, to William M. Harris for 320 acres.General Land Office, file 714 1/2, page 2 · in the scan
WrapperFiling wrapper for the Harris colony certificate.General Land Office, file 714 1/2, page 3 · in the scan
Field notesField notes with a plat for 320 acres on Cottonwood Creek, Navarro County, surveyed for William M. Harris by deputy surveyor David R. Mitchell, 14 June 1850.General Land Office, file 714 1/2, page 4 · in the scan
Surveyor's certificateDistrict surveyor's certificate of 13 February 1851 that the Harris field notes were examined and recorded in Book I, page 354, with the filing wrapper.General Land Office, file 714 1/2, page 5 · 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 378
- 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.