Natchitoches Parish Louisiana Archives Land Claim..... Nov 7, 1824 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deandra Norred Forrest norredinc@bellsouth.net April 19, 2010 Copy of Land Claims in the Late Neutral Territory between the Rio Hondo and Sabine Rivers Opelousas Office, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana Transcriber’s notes are in brackets [ ] Copy obtained from Donald W. Johnson, 1936-2004, former UsGenWeb Louisiana Archives contributor; Mr. Johnson obtained the copy from the Louisiana State Archives, Choctaw Road, Baton Rouge, LA Transcribed by Deandra L. Norred, April 2010 No. 12 John Baptiste Fenon Rombin of the Parish of Natchitoches has filed his claim to a tract of land containing 640 acres situated in the late Neutral Territory between the Rio Hondo and Sabine River and designated as Section No. 30 [could be No. 3 but there is an ‘o’ with a flourish behind the 3] in Township No. 14 North of Range No. 14 West. This claim is founded on habitation and cultivation on and prior the the 22nd of February 1819. The evidence of Pierre Saffile and Meaund [?] Lafitte taken on the 28th of April 1836 establishes fully the cultivation and occupation of the tract claimed by the said Rombin on and prior to the 22nd of February 1839 and the evidence of William S. Leivis establishes fully that the improvements of Rombin were made in the section claimed by the claimant. We are of opinion that this claim ought to be confirmed. No. 13 Walter B. Weathersby of the county Natchitoches assignee of Wyatt Singleton claims 640 acres of land situated on the right bank of Rio River in descending about 25 or 26 above the town of Natchitoches in the late Neutral Territory between the Rio Hondo and the Sabine River. This claim is founded on the settlement, habitation and cultivation of the said Wyatt Singleton who states on oath that he cultivated and occupied and inhabited the tract claimed on and prior to the 22nd of February 1819. The testimony of Tousaint Passinot taken before John McQutosh a justice of the peace and the testimony of James Andrews taken before Jacob Irvine a justice of the peace clearly establish the cultivation and habitation on and prior to the 22nd of February 1819 and afterwards. We are of the opinion that this claim ought to be confirmed. No. 14 Walter B. Weathersby of the county of Natchitoches assignee of James Andrews claims 640 acres of land situated on the right bank of Rio River in decinding [sic] about 25 or 26 miles above the town of Natchitoches in the late Neutral Terriroty in Section No. Six in Township No. 11 North of Range No. 9 West. This claim is founded on the habitation and cultivation and occupancy of James Andrews on and prior to the 22nd of February 1819, the facts of which are established by the testimony of Tousaint Passinot taken before John McQutosh a justice of the peace and the testimony of Wyatt Singleton taken before B. Leonard a justice of the peace. We are of opinion that this claim ought to be confirmed. No. 22 Peter Stockham of the County of Natchitoches filed his notice claiming by virtue of occupation, habitation and cultivation a tract of land lying within the late Neutral Territory and situated on the South West bank of the Red River bounded on all sides by vacant lands. Peter [illegible] contained [illegible] land claims by Baptiste [illegible] supported by the following testimony taken before the Board. Samuel Norris and John McLaughlin being sworn severally say that they know the land claimed by Peter Stockham in his above notice. That the same is situated and lying as is therein described. That said tract of land was occupied, inhabited and cultivated by the claimant by his living and growing corn there and previous to the 22nd of February 1819. That [illegible] occupation and cultivation has been continued by the claimant to the present time and that the claimants improvements on the land claimed embraces about six acres. We are of opinion from the proof of addinced [sic] that this claim ought to be confirmed and accordingly in the abstract it will be found without the “Third Class of Claims” [Signed] Land Office Opelousas La, March the 1st 1836 [The following is marked through with a large X] The foregoing is a true copy from the original [illegible] the original certificate report made by the Register and Receiver at this office on the first day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty four, to the Secretary of Treasury of United States, pursuant to the provisions of the several acts of Congress for the adjustment of claims in the lat Neutral Territory and the same has been confirmed by an Act of Congress entitled “An Act fo Confirm Claims to Lands in the District Between the Rio Hondo and the Sabine Rivers Founded on Habitation”, approved the 24th May 1828. And it is hereby certified that when the claim, the report of which the foregoing is a copy shall be for [illegible line] of Congress, the claimant on his legal representations shall be entitled to demand and have from this office, a patent certificate I nvirtue of which a patent or complete title will be given under the authority of the United States. Given under my hand and private seal of Office the day and date above writ. John I. Taylor, Register [Signed] This is one of the suspended claims. John I. Taylor, Register