Blackland TX · ← All the original surveys
William A. Morrell Survey, Abstract 551
- Granted to
- William A. Morrell
- Kind of grant
- Headright, third classLand for later settlers, including the colonists of Mercer’s Colony.
- Land Office file
- Robertson 3rd class, file 1173
- Certificate
- No. 170
- Acres
- 320
- Patented to
- William A. Morrell
- Patent
- 13 Mar 1854 · No. 144, Vol. 9
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What the file shows
William H. (or A.) Morrell held Mercer's Colony certificate No. 170 for 320 acres, issued at Corsicana in April 1850. Deputy surveyor D. R. Mitchell located it about 6 1/2 miles west of Corsicana in June 1850 next to Nancy Bragg's land, and the notes were recorded in Colony Book I. The papers reached the General Land Office in November 1853 and the patent issued on 13 March 1854.
The certificate
Mercer's Colony certificate (3rd class, Robertson), No. 170, 320 acres, John M. Crockett, Commissioner of Mercer's Colony, Corsicana, 18 Apr 1850.
Having taken the oath and made the proof required by law of his citizenship, William H. Morrell is entitled to 320 acres to be located on any vacant land within the limits of Charles Fenton Mercer's colony
The survey
1850-06-13 (certified 1850-08-04), David R. Mitchell, Deputy Surveyor, Robertson Land District.
Navarro County about 6 1/2 miles westward from Corsicana
Chain carriers: I. A. Johnson, T. Wilson.
Colony Book I, page 95
The patent
13 Mar 1854, No. 144, Vol. 9, to William A. Morrell, delivered to not stated.
Also in the file
- Index says patent 13 Mar 1854, No. 144, Vol. 9, 320 acres to William A. Morrell; the jacket gives 13 March, but the field-notes wrapper says 11 March 1854.
- The certificate and field notes name William H. Morrell; the index, jacket and patent name William A. Morrell.
- The papers were not filed at the Land Office until 23 November 1853, more than three years after the 1850 survey.
- The file holds no deed, so the patentee is the original grantee.
Timeline
- 18 Apr 1850Mercer's Colony certificate No. 170 for 320 acres issued to William H. Morrell at Corsicana
- 13 Jun 1850D. R. Mitchell surveys 320 acres 6 1/2 miles west of Corsicana
- 4 Aug 1850Mitchell certifies the survey
- 1 Nov 1850District surveyor Philpott examines and records the field notes, Colony Book I page 95
- 23 Nov 1853Certificate and field notes filed at the General Land Office
- 9 Mar 1854Checked correct on the map
- 13 Mar 1854Patent No. 144 Vol. 9 to William A. Morrell
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 jacketJacket for file 1173, William A. Morrell, 320 acres, patent No. 144 Vol. 9, 13 March 1854.General Land Office, file 1173, page 1 · in the scan
CertificateMercer's Colony certificate No. 170 for 320 acres to William H. Morrell, signed by Commissioner John M. Crockett at Corsicana.General Land Office, file 1173, page 2 · in the scan
Back of the certificateBack of the certificate, endorsed file 1173 and filed 23 November 1853.General Land Office, file 1173, page 3 · in the scan
Field notesD. R. Mitchell's field notes and plat for 320 acres 6 1/2 miles west of Corsicana near Nancy Bragg's corner.General Land Office, file 1173, page 4 · in the scan
Surveyor's certificateDistrict surveyor Philpott examines the notes and records them in Colony Book I page 95, 1 November 1850.General Land Office, file 1173, page 5 · in the scan
WrapperField-notes wrapper marked patented 11 March 1854, plat and field notes 320 acres, recorded Colony Book I page 95.General Land Office, file 1173, 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 551
- 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.