Before the United States Printing Office was created, the U.S. Congress had not yet established any legal provisions for the printing of official government documents. There were no guidelines to define which documents should be printed or how the printed texts would be distributed. Among the early documents that were reproduced, many were likely annihilated in the fire that destroyed the Capitol building in 1814.
But in 1821 Congress passed a bill that authorized all existing government documents to be printed. Two private printing companies were contracted, and 750 total copies were made. The printed documents are called the American State Papers and are divided into nine content categories: foreign affairs, Indian affairs, finance, commerce and navigation, military affairs, naval affairs, post office department business, public land, and claims. The last two categories–public lands and claims–are relevant to family historians.
Author Clifford Neal Smith has compiled a valuable book for those researching the earliest land grants and claims in the Vincennes area. This volume is titled Selections from the American State Papers, Monograph Numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4, French and British Land Grants in the Post Vincennes (Indiana) District, 1750-1784. This book combines the four monographs which Smith had previously published as individual works.
The book contains the names of roughly 3,000 early pioneers of the Indiana District, both French and British. In some cases, a researcher can at least establish that an ancestor was present in the area at a particular time, and, in other instances, a researcher can actually learn about the specific land claim, the spouse’s or another relative’s name, and the names of surrounding neighbors who also had claims.
The four sections cover such subjects as: heads of families settled at Post Vincennes on or before 1783 and residents here at this time (1790), ancient French or British grants, claims under court deeds, claims in right of improvements, claims for the donations as heads of families, claims to the donation as militiamen, claims rejected for want of evidence, cases not embraced by any act of Congress (these include claims of the Wabash and Illinois Land Companies, a claim by the French inhabitants of Vincennes, claims to the “upper Prairie,” and claims of the heirs of Francois Bosseron and Ambrose Dagenet), special cases, list of lands confirmed by the different governors in virtue of French or British grants and of court and commandant deeds, and list of lands confirmed by the different governors in virtue of militia rights (surveyed on the White River).
All of these sources are brought together in the four sections of this publication, each with its own index of names. The text is very easy to search, as all names are in boldface.
This book is published by the Clearfield Company and is printed through the Genealogical Publishing Company. It sells for $32.50 plus $4 shipping and handling. It can be ordered by calling 1-800-296-6687 or at www.genealogical.com.
Look for this book in the Vigo County Public Library as well as other publications by Clifford Neal Smith, who is a specialist in the area of federal land policy. Check out information in his Federal land series; a calendar of archival materials on the land patents issued by the United States government, with subject, tract, and name indexes. This has four volumes: v. 1, 1788-1810; v. 2, Federal bounty-land warrants of the American Revolution, 1799-1835; v. 3, 1810-1814; v. 4, Grants in the Virginia Military District of Ohio
History
Genealogy: Book helps with earliest land grant research of Vincennes area
- History
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Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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When it first began broadcasting in 1927, station WRPI (Rose Polytechnic Institute) focused on educational programing.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: This little-known compromise may have saved the union
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Traveling Civil War exhibit makes history personal
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GENEALOGY: Virginia Historical Society takes on ambitious project
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: The Legacy of ‘The Old Silkworm House’
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: A blast from valentines past
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Flu outbreak forces Schulte closed
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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Original copy of 13th Amendment at Lincoln Library & Museum
A fully signed and recently restored copy of the Congressional resolution for a 13th Amendment to the Constitution, the official act that would abolish slavery in the United States, will be on display in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum’s Treasures Gallery.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: Freedom of religion — beliefs and actions
Because religious faith is, arguably, the quintessential example of our right to privacy, to say nothing of its prominent place in our First Amendment, throughout our history court cases involving the free exercise of religion have been handled with great trepidation and with particular care. One of the milestone “free exercise” religion cases, Davis v. Beason, was decided by the Supreme Court this week (Feb. 3) in 1890.
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GENEALOGY: SoCal Genealogical Jamboree coming up in June
The Southern California Genealogical Society announces its 43rd Annual Jamboree, to be staged for three days on June 8-10, at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel in Burbank, Calif.
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LOOKING BACK: 2002: Disco Ernie featured on Maury
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Flashing the mayor's badge
This mayoral badge was presented to the Vigo County Historical Society by Elizabeth K. Schultz, the granddaughter of Samuel E. Beecher Sr., who served as mayor of Terre Haute from 1936 to 1940.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Deadly tornado devastates York in 1907
John T. Staff loved water and, particularly, the Wabash River.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Notorious Western desperado Ellsworth Wyatt captured in Clay County
In October 1892, Terre Haute police received a circular from the State of Kansas containing a description of Ellsworth Wyatt and offering a $1,200 reward for his capture.
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LOOKING BACK: 2002: ISU students honor Martin Luther King Jr.
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: News letter filled with wonderful local news
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GENEALOGY: Peyton, Downey, Fifer queries and a plea for help from Scotland
This week, we have several queries.
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Extension plans seminar on land use
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: Kennedy, Camelot, and other myths
This week (Jan. 20) in 1961, John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as our 35th president, and his tragic death by assassination notwithstanding, his was a mediocre presidency that, undeservedly, became the stuff of legend — in part because of his assassination.
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Actor to portray Lincoln at dinner for historical society
A special program, “And Lincoln Wrote,” is coming to Harlan Hall in Marshall, Ill., with a featured presentation by Dick Benach as Abraham Lincoln and Chuck Hand as the publisher of the Prairie Beacon.
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GENEALOGY: Celebrate MLK Day with the Indiana Historical Society
On Monday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Indiana Historical Society will offer free admission to celebrate Martin Luther King Day.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Light Guards savor military and social experiences
Never during the Civil War was there a time when the City of Terre Haute was in danger of hosting an armed conflict involving one or more armies.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: 87 high school hoops teams compete in 47th annual Wabash Valley Tournament
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: A bottle of clove oil at the pharmacy
The Historical Treasure for today is a bottle of Clove Oil.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: St. Mary’s Parish congregation celebrates 150th anniversary
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Fire up the jukebox for a great night
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GENEALOGY: 1752 is one memorable year for genealogists
The year 1752 is one to remember if you have ancestors who lived in areas controlled by Great Britain; and this includes the American colonies.
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