Blackland TX · ← All the original surveys
John Richardson Survey, Abstract 702
- Granted to
- John Richardson
- Kind of grant
- Headright, third classLand for later settlers, including the colonists of Mercer’s Colony.
- Land Office file
- Robertson 3rd class, file 666
- Certificate
- No. 154
- Acres
- 640
- Patented to
- William H. Beeman
- Patent
- 06 Oct 1852 · No. 722, Vol. 8
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What the file shows
John Richardson received Mercer's Colony certificate No. 154 for 640 acres from Commissioner John M. Crockett at Corsicana on 17 April 1850. Deputy surveyor D. R. Mitchell laid it off about 3 miles from Corsicana in May 1850, and Richardson sold it to William H. Beeman for $25 in June 1851. The land was patented to Beeman as assignee on 6 October 1852.
The certificate
Mercer's Colony certificate (3rd class), No. 154, 640 acres, John M. Crockett, Commissioner of Mercer's Colony, Corsicana, Navarro County, 17 Apr 1850.
Printed form: John Richardson, having taken the oath and made the proof required by law of his citizenship, is entitled to 640 acres to be located on vacant land within the limits of the colony of Charles Fenton Mercer and his associates; he may locate, transfer or donate the certificate
Changes of hand
- 25 Jun 1851John Richardson → William H. Beeman, of Navarro County, $25, Navarro County, Texas. Sells his headright certificate for 640 acres, Mercer's Colony No. 154 dated 17 April 1850, and authorizes the General Land Office commissioner to issue the patent in Beeman's name
The survey
1850-05-18 (certified 1850-06-05), D. R. Mitchell, Deputy Surveyor, Robertson Land District.
Navarro County, N of Richland, about three miles S.W. from Corsicana; red-ink additions make it '5 1/2(?)' miles and 'S 50 W'
Chain carriers: I. Highnale(?), J. B. Collins.
Colony Book I, page 38
The patent
6 Oct 1852, No. 722, Vol. 8, to William H. Beeman, assignee, delivered to Patent surrendered to W. H. Beeman, Oct 7/52.
Also in the file
- Wrapper on the transfer calls it a 320-acre Mercer's Colony certificate, but the certificate and the survey are for 640 acres.
- The last document in the file is an 1854 Travis County certificate that M. T. Johnson is administrator of H. G. Catlett (Catlett?), deceased, which post-dates the 1852 patent and has no apparent link to John Richardson or William H. Beeman; it was probably added to the file later.
- Index says patent no. 722, Vol. 8, patent date 6 Oct 1852, 640 acres - agrees with the file.
- Survey was made a year before Richardson sold the certificate, and the transfer is proved before the county clerk, not a notary.
Timeline
- 17 Apr 1850Mercer's Colony certificate No. 154 issued to John Richardson at Corsicana for 640 acres
- 18 May 1850D. R. Mitchell surveys 640 acres near Corsicana
- 5 Jun 1850Mitchell certifies the survey
- 3 Sep 1850J. P. Philpott examines and records it, Colony Book I p. 38
- 25 Jun 1851Richardson sells certificate to William H. Beeman for $25
- 27 Sep 1852Checked correct on map
- 6 Oct 1852Patent No. 722 Vol. 8 to W. H. Beeman, assignee
- 7 Oct 1852Patent surrendered to W. H. Beeman
The papers in the file
Every page of the Land Office file, in the order the Land Office keeps them (10 pages). Tap a page to see it larger.
File jacketFile jacket for John Richardson's 640 acres, certificate 154, patented to William H. Beeman, assignee, 6 Oct 1852, No. 722 Vol. 8.General Land Office, file 666, page 1 · in the scan
CertificateMercer's Colony certificate No. 154 for 640 acres to John Richardson, signed by Commissioner John M. Crockett at Corsicana.General Land Office, file 666, page 2 · in the scan
Back of the certificateBack of the certificate docketed 'No. 154, J. Richardson, 640 A 3'.General Land Office, file 666, page 3 · in the scan
TransferJohn Richardson sells his Mercer's Colony certificate No. 154 to William H. Beeman for $25, acknowledged before County Clerk R. N. White, 25 June 1851.General Land Office, file 666, page 4 · in the scan
WrapperWrapper for the transfer, file 666, John Richardson to William H. Beeman.General Land Office, file 666, page 5 · in the scan
Field notesField notes of 640 acres surveyed for John Richardson near Corsicana by D. R. Mitchell, with chain carriers and plat sketch.General Land Office, file 666, page 6 · in the scan
Surveyor's certificateMitchell certifies the survey of 18 May 1850 and J. P. Philpott records it in Colony Book I page 38.General Land Office, file 666, page 7 · in the scan
WrapperWrapper for the field notes: recorded Colony Book I page 38, signed W. H. Beeman, patented Oct 6/52.General Land Office, file 666, page 8 · in the scan
AffidavitTravis County clerk Ashford B. McGill certifies M. T. Johnson was appointed administrator of H. G. Catlett(?) deceased, 8 Nov 1854.General Land Office, file 666, page 9 · in the scan
WrapperWrapper for the certificate of appointment of M. T. Johnson as administrator, filed with file 666.General Land Office, file 666, page 10 · in the scan
Scans courtesy of the Texas General Land Office, Austin, from its Land Grant Database.
On this ground today
- CemeteryCunningham
Places that stand inside this survey’s lines as the state’s survey map draws them.
Neighbouring surveys
Sources
- Texas General Land Office, Land Grant Database: Navarro County, Abstract 702
- 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.