Headrights, Grants
Headrights (Republic of Texas,
1836-1845)
Headright grants were issued to individuals by
Boards of Land Commissioners in each county.
First Class Headright
Issued to those who arrived before March 2, 1836. Heads of families
received one league (4,428 acres) and one labor (177.1 acres), while
single men received 1/3 league (1,476.1 acres).
Second Class Headright
Issued to those who arrived between March 2, 1836
and October 1, 1837. Heads of families received 1,280 acres, while
single men received 640 acres.
Third Class Headright
Issued to those who arrived between October 1, 1837 and January 1,
1840. Heads of families
received 640 acres, while single men received 320 acres. Fourth Class
Headright
Issued to
those who arrived between January 1, 1840 and January 1, 1842. The
amounts issued were the same as for third class headrights, plus the
requirement of cultivation of 10 acres.
Pre-emption Grant
Similar to the
headright grants, pre-emption grants were made after statehood. From
1845 to 1854, homesteaders could claim 320 acres. From 1854 to 1856, and
1866 to 1898, up to 160 acres could be claimed. Homesteaders were
required to live on the land for three years and make improvements (such
as building a barn) in order to qualify for a pre-emption grant of 160
acres.
Impresario Colonies In The Republic Of Texas
Four colonies were established under contracts with the Republic of
Texas:
Peters' Colony (1841),
Fisher and Miller's Colony (1842),
Castro's Colony (1842)
Mercer's Colony (1844).
Heads of families were eligible for land grants of 640 acres while
single men were eligible for 320 acres. Settlers were required to
cultivate at least fifteen acres in order to receive the patent.
Military Land Grant
Bounty Grant
Grants for military service
during the Texas Revolution were provided by the Republic of Texas. Each
three months of service provided 320 acres up to a maximum of 1,280
acres. Bounty grants for guarding the frontier (1838-1842) were issued
by the Republic of Texas. Soldiers were issued certificates for 240
acres. 7,469 bounty grants were issued for 5,354,250 acres.
Donation Grant
Special headrights of one league were provided by the Republic of Texas
to: 1.soldiers who arrived in Texas between March 2 and August 1, 1836,
2.the heirs of soldiers who fell with Fannin, Travis, Grant and Johnson,
and 3.soldiers who were permanently disabled.
Republic Veterans Donation Grant
A grant was provided by the state of Texas to veterans of the Texas
Revolution and signers of the Declaration of Independence. The veteran
was required to have received a bounty grant or to be eligible for one.
A donation law in 1879 provided 640 acres and required proof of
indigence. A donation law passed in 1881 provided 1,280 acres and
dropped the indigency requirement. This grant was repealed in 1887 with
1,278 certificates issued for 1,377,920 acres.
Confederate Script
Certificates for 1280 acres were provided to confederate soldiers who
were permanently disabled or to the widows of confederate soldiers.
Passed in 1881, it was repealed in 1883 with 2,068 certificates issued.
Loan And Sales Script
Loan scrip was a land certificate issued to
provide for or repay loans made to the government of Texas. Sales scrip
was a land certificate directly sold to raise money for Texas. Most of
this scrip was issued to cover costs of the war. The following is a list
of the categories of scrip indicated with the name by which they were
known.
Bryan Script
Land scrip was issued to William Bryan
equal to the amount of debts owed to him for loans made during the war
for independence. December 6, 1836.
Sam Houston Script
The president (Sam Houston) was authorized
to negotiate a loan for $20,000 for the purpose of purchasing ammunition
and munitions of war. To do this, he was authorized to sell a sufficient
amount of land scrip at a minimum of $0.50 per acre to raise money for
the loan. December 10, 1836.
Toby Script
The president was authorized to issue scrip
to the amount of five hundred thousand acres of land. This scrip was to
be transmitted to Thomas Toby of New Orleans and sold at a minimum of
$0.50 per acre. December 10, 1836.
White Scrip
An
agency was established in the city of Mobile, and David White was
authorized as an agent of Texas to sell land scrip at a minimum rate of
$0.50 per acre for the benefit of the government. December 10, 1836.
James Erwin Scrip
On January 20, 1836, Stephen F. Austin,
Branch T. Archer and William Warton contracted with James Erwin and
others in New Orleans for a loan of $50,000. June 3, 1837.
First Loan Script
The president of the Republic was
authorized to issue land scrip to the stockholders as payment for the
first loan to Texas ". To fulfill and carry into effect the contract of
compromise made on April 1, 1836 between (the interim Texas government)
and the stockholders in the first loan (for $200,000) negotiated in New
Orleans on January 11, 1836." May 24, 1838.
Funded Debt Scrip
Any holder of promissory notes, bonds,
funded debt or any other liquidated claims against the government could
"surrender the same, and receive in lieu thereof, land scrip." The scrip
was issued at a rate equal to $2.00 per acre. February 5, 1841.
General Land Office Script
The
Commissioner of the General Land Office was authorized to issue land
scrip at $0.50 per acre for the liquidation of the public debt of the
late Republic of Texas. February 11, 1850.
Sales Script
The Commissioner of the General Land Office
was authorized to issue land scrip in certificates of not less than 160
acres at $1.00 per acre for the sale of the public domain. February 11,
1858.
Internal Improvement Script
Central National Road
Under a law
passed in 1844, various amounts were issued to road commissioners,
surveyors and contractors for building a road from the Red River to the
Trinity River in what is now Dallas. Certificates were issued for 27,716
acres.
Scrip for Building Steamboats, Steamships and Other Vessels
Certificates for 320 acres were issued for building a vessel of at least
50 tons, with 320 acres for each additional 25 tons. Sixteen ships were
built taking advantage of this 1854 law.
Railroad Script
Several laws
were passed beginning in 1854. The exact provisions varied, but
generally, an amount of land was offered for each mile of rail
constructed. The Constitution of 1876 provided 16 sections per mile.
Railroads were required to survey an equal amount of land to be set
aside for the public school fund. Certificates were issued for
35,777,038 acres.
Industry Scrip
For building
factories. 320 acres were offered for each $1,000 valuation. 1863 law.
Certificates were issued for 111,360 acres.
Navigation Scrip
Several acts were
passed beginning in 1854 for building ship channels, and improving
rivers and harbors for navigation. Certificates were issued for various
amounts of land for each mile completed. (For example, 320 certificates
for 640 acres each were issued for building a ship channel 8 feet deep
and 100 feet wide across Mustang Island). Certificates were issued for
4,261,760 acres.
Irrigation Canal Script
Sections of
land were provided based on the class of ditch as specified by acts
passed in 1874, 1875 and 1876. Certificates were issued for 584,000
acres.
School Land Sale of the school lands began in 1874. Until 1905, the
price, amount of land available, method of purchase, and eligibility
requirements varied greatly. Legislation passed in 1905 required that
the school lands be sold through competitive bidding. Purchasers could
buy a maximum of 4 sections with residence required in most counties, or
8 sections with no residence required in other designated (western)
counties