ANDERSON COUNTY - LAND - Peter Teal’s Appeal for Land Grant *************************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Scott Fitzgerald – scottfitzgerald@tyler.net East Texas Genealogical Society, President 18 January 2005 *************************************************************************** Originally published in The Tracings, Volume 5, No. 1, Winter 1986 by the Anderson County Genealogical Society, copyright assigned to the East Texas Genealogical Society. [Transciber’s Note: A photocopy of the original handwritten appeal is included in this issue.] To the Honorable Legislature of the State of Texas: Your memorialist, Peter Teal, would respectfully represent unto your Honorable Body, that heretofore to wit, in the year 1835, he emigrated to the State of Texas, with full purpose and intent of becoming a permanent citizen, thereof. He would further represent, that with the view of obtaining a permanent home, for his family, he applied on the 25 day of May 1835, to the proper officer of the Land Office of Nacogdoches, and obtained from George Antonio Nita (?), Commissioner of the State of Coahula and Texas, a ticket for one liter of land, after the issuance of the proper commission of location and survey. He would further represent that in order to comply with the conditions of said grant, (for reference to all the particulars of which, the said grant and all accompanying documents are herewith filed) he returned to the State of Illinois for the remaining portion of his family and farming implements & C. In due time he started with his family and goods for the place of his future abode in Texas. After having performed a portion of the journey, the wife of your memorialist, was taken seriously ill, and her affliction was of such a character and of such long duration, as to compel him to abandon the journey until the restoration of her health. A long and permanent affliction settled upon her, so that your memorialist could neither return to his former home nor proceed to his new one. He further states that before the restoration of the health of his wife, so that he could proceed to the possession of his lands in Texas, he received by a fall from a building, a severe concussion of the brain, which threatened his life for a great while and which wholly disqualified him for business of every description, the affects of which remain with him to this day, a cause of frequent and sore affliction. He would further represent that not being able to comply strictly with the provisions of said grant, by cultivation of the land & c, and his afflictions rendering it impossible to take actual personal possession thereof. The said lands aforesaid were entered upon and held by diverse claims and claimants to the damage of his rights, lie would represent that said lands have been the subjects of various suits in the District Court of Walker County, and that his rights have been sustained and recognized by said court in every trial that has been had, until the trial of the last Spring Term, in which by the judgment of said court, he has been deprived of his land entire and his claim thereto declared void. He further represents that he is now far advanced in life, that the consequences of his afflictions formerly referred to, still render him, to a great extent, incompetent to bodily or mental labors, that he has a large and dependant family, and that he is possessed of but little financial means, and is consequently unable to prosecute his rights further in the Courts of Justice. He does not assume even an intimation that the injudication of his rights, may not be consonant to the technical provisions of the law, but he does feel that he has grievances, in the premises, that address themselves to the known magnanimity of the people of Texas. He therefore ventures to make this appeal to your Honorable Body and pray that the premises considered, you will take some action for his benefit. May he venture to hope that his present circumstances and personal and family condition (together with the loss of the homes of himself and family which he has always intended to occupy and still so intends, should your Honorable Body grant him other lands in their State) will address themselves to the judgment and favorable action of your Body and that you will authorize him to locate upon the unappropriated lands of the state, the amount that he has lost or so much thereof as to your Honorable Body may seem proper and right and, is dutybound with efficiency. Peter Teal We, the undersigned have been for many years acquainted with Peter Teal, and knowed many of the statements in this memorial to be true, and believe the others to be so. Mr. Teal is a most worthy, upright citizen, of the sincerest integrity and veracity and we are thoroughly convinced that this grievances are such as should be favorably recognized by the Legislature, and we hereby unite in the prayer of his memorial and hope the Honorable Legislature will grant him the relief he seeks. Given under our hands at Palestine, Anderson County, Texas 16th day of Jan. 1834 Wm. P. Anglin A. J. Phenix Jno. Teel Emsley Teel John N. Tourney(?) S. Walker V. L. (?)Anglin P. C. Dunbar(?) Hearne, Tx Sept. 10th 1891 This is to certify that Mrs.(?) Jon Angling to being subject to heart disease and has died from paralysis of the heart. C. P. Darring(?)MD Sworn to and subscribed before me at Hearn Sept. 10 1891 John Sailors Justice of Peace