Claims to land in the St. Helena District, Louisiana
Treasury Department, December
28, 1825.
Sir:
I have the honor to transmit hearwith a copy of the report of the
register andreceiver of the land office of the district of St. Helena, prepared
in obedience to an act of Congress of May 26, 1824.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
RICHARD RUSH
Hon.
John C. Calhoun, President of the Senate
Register A
contains complete Spanish patents, which we recommend for confirmation on the
principle recognized by the acts of Congress of March 3, 1819, and May 8, 1822
Register B,
first class, contains incomplete titles derived from the Spanish authority,
accompanied with such proof of settlement and cultivation as induces us to
recommend them for confirmation to the same extent and under the same restraints
that such claims have been confirmed by the former laws for adjusting similar
claims in this district.
The second class
on this register comprehends claims that have been sold for taxes, and the only
titles the present claimants have to these lands are the collector’s bills of
sale or transfer. Many of these
claims we believe to be as fairly entitled to confirmation as those on the first
class; but the doubt with us is
weather sales for taxes are valid until the claimant have a more valid title o
the land.
There are on
this register (first class) three
claims, to wit: Henry Flower for
eight hundred and eighty-six arpents;
Luther L. Smith, for one hundred arpents;
and Robert Young, for eight hundred and twenty arpents;
all of which are in the same situation, being a swamp land, and no part
of it susceptible of either habitation or cultivation.
This land was granted to the claimants, or those under whom they claim,
for the purpose of getting timber, and the claimants have proved that they have
regularly used the said tracts of land for that purpose since the time of their
respective grants from the Spanish government; and we are of opinion that the
use the claimants have made of these lands, (it being the only use of which they
are susceptible,) although it amounts neither to habitation nor cultivation, may
be fairly considered equal to either or both, and on this ground we recommend
them for confirmation.
Register C
contains British patents on which the claimants have not proven either
habitation or cultivation. These we
beg to leave to the consideration of Congress without any remarks.
Register D
contains incomplete titles, which, in the opinion of the commissioners, ought
not to be confirmed, the claimants not having complied with the requisitions of
the law as regards either habitation or cultivation.
Register E
contains settlement claims on which satisfactory proof has been adduced of
cultivation or habitation as early as is represented on the register opposite
each claim. We therefore recommend
them for confirmation.
Sam’l J. Rannells, Register
Wm. Kinchin, Receiver
Land Office, St. Helena Court-house, January 19, 1825
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