Spanish Land Grants

Series Number:

S 990

Creator:

United States. Board of Land Commissioners

Title:

Confirmed Spanish land grant claims, 1763-1821

Quantity:

17.00 cubic ft. 1806.00 microfiche 7.00 microfilm reel

Arrangement:

Alphabetical

Description:

The Board of Land Commissioners was established in 1822 (3 U.S. Statute 709, May 8) to settle all outstanding Spanish land grant claims in the territory that Spain ceded to the United States in 1821. It set up offices in Pensacola and St. Augustine to ascertain the validity of all titles and private claims to lands in East Florida and West Florida. The Board either supported or rejected the land claims by studying the documents supplied by claimants.

The series consists of "dossiers" containing those papers which were filed in evidence and confirmed as valid claims before the Board of Land Commissioners. Each land claim with its supporting documents was later encased in a manila jacket on which appears the name of the applicant, the number of acres claimed, disposition of the claim, and page reference to the American State Papers. The supporting documents include petitions or memorials to a governor for land; surveys or plats; attests; deeds of sale, gifts, wills, bequests, and exchanges; applications; and translations of Spanish documents. Most of the documents for claims in West Florida are missing.

Series Number:

S 991

Creator:

United States. Board of Land Commissioners

Title:

Unconfirmed Spanish land grant claims, 1763-1821

Quantity:

5.00 cubic ft.

565.00 microfiche

Arrangement:

Alphabetical

Description:

The Board of Land Commissioners was established in 1822 (3 U.S. Statute 709, May 8) to settle all outstanding Spanish land grant claims in the territory that Spain ceded to the United States in 1821. It set up offices in Pensacola and St. Augustine to ascertain the validity of all titles and private claims to lands in East Florida and West Florida. The Board either supported or rejected the land claims by studying the documents supplied by claimants.

The series consists of "dossiers" containing those papers which were filed in evidence and confirmed as valid claims before the Board of Land Commissioners. Each land claim with its supporting documents was later encased in a manila jacket on which appears the name of the applicant, the number of acres claimed, disposition of the claim, and page reference to the American State Papers. The supporting documents include petitions or memorials to a governor for land; surveys or plats; attests; deeds of sale, gifts, wills, bequests, and exchanges; applications; and translations of Spanish documents. Most of the documents for claims in West Florida are missing.