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United States...Land Patents-Alabama, 1837; Mississippi, 1841

 Collection
Identifier: M143

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of three United States Land Patents dated March 10, 1837; March 30, 1837; and January 5, 1841. One patent conveys land in the south central part of Covington County, Mississippi, sold to William Watts through the Augusta, Mississippi, Land Office. The other two pertain to land lying within the state of Alabama, possibly in Sumter County, which was sold through the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Land Office. Blake Little received final title to the Alabama lands as the assignee of both Daniel Green and William Key.

All three documents contain the signature of President Martin Van Buren by his secretary; H.M. Garland signed two documents as the Recorder of the General Land Office and Samuel D. King signed as Acting Recorder on March 30, 1837.

Dates

  • Creation: Majority of material found within March 20, 1837; March 30, 1837; and January 5, 1841

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Noncirculating; available for research.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).

Biographical / Historical

Sale of public lands in Mississippi and Alabama was handled through a United States Land Office established in a fort or local population center. Land was first offered at public auction; then any land remaining unsold was available for "private-sale" or "private entry." A partial payment was made for a tract of land, and when final payment was received and the final certificate issued, a patent was recorded and sent to the land office to be given to the owner. Frequently, a settler making payments would assign his title to the land to another individual, noted on government documents as the "assignee."

Sumpter County is located in the west central part of Alabama. It was formed in 1832 from lands of the Choctaw Session of 1830.

Covington County, Mississippi, was formed in 1819, the fourteenth county to be organized from the lands of the original Mississippi Territory. It is located in the south central part of the state.

No other biographical information is available on William Watts or Blake Little.

Extent

1 Folder (3 items) : MC1/D5

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Patents for land in Alabama and Mississippi.

Provenance

Unknown. Donated by John Conner.

Related Materials

M83 United States Land Patent-Mississippi

M142 United States Land Patent-Alabama

M164 United States Land Patent-Mississippi

Title
United States...Land Patents-Alabama, 1837; Mississippi, 1841
Status
Completed
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Historical Manuscripts and Photographs Repository

Contact:
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