Texas Land Grants, 1750-1900 : A Documentary History by John Martin, Jr. Davis ebook MOBI
9781476665498 English 1476665494 The Texas land grants were one of the largest public land distributions in American history. Induced by titles and estates, Spanish adventurers ventured into the frontier, followed by traders and artisans. West Texas was described as Great Space of Land Unknown and Spanish sovereigns wanted to fill that void. Gaining independence from Spain, Mexico launched a land grant program with contractors who recruited emigrants. After the Texas Revolution in 1835, a system of Castilian edicts and English common law came into use. Lacking hard currency, land became the coin of the realm and the Republic gave generous grants to loyal first families and veterans. Through multiple homestead programs, more than 200 million acres had been deeded by the end of the 19th century. The author has relied on close examination of special acts, charters and litigation, including many previously overlooked documents., This history of Texas land grants reveals details of one of the largest public land distributions in American history. Induced by titles and estates, Spanish adventurers ventured into the frontier, followed by traders and artisans. West Texas was described as Great Space of Land Unknown and Spanish sovereigns wanted to fill that void. Gaining independence from Spain, Mexico launched a land grant program with contractors who recruited emigrants to settle their holdings. Survey costs and land dues were all required for deeds. After the Revolution, a provisional system of Castilian edicts and English common law formed the basis of Texas land distribution. Lacking hard currency, land became the coin of the realm and the Republic gave generous grants to loyal first families and veterans. Through multiple homestead programs, more than 200 million acres were deeded by the end of the 19th century. Speculation and fraud were sometimes involved but seldom proved. Through close examination of special acts, charters and litigation--including many previously overlooked documents--land system is revealed, This history of Texas land grants reveals details of one of the largest state land distributions in American history. Induced by titles and estates, Spanish adventurers established themselves in the frontier, followed by traders and artisans. West Texas was described as Great Space of Land Unknown and Spanish sovereigns encouraged filling that void. Gaining independence from Spain, Mexico launched a land grant program through contractors who recruited emigrants to settle on their holdings and pay survey costs and land dues. After the Texas Revolution, a provisional system of Castilian edicts and English common law formed the basis of state land distribution. There being a lack of hard currency, land became the coin of the realm and the Republic gave generous grants to loyal first families and veterans. Through multiple homestead programs, more than 200 million acres were claimed by the end of the 19th century. Speculation and fraud were sometimes involved but seldom proved. Through close examination of special acts, charters and litigation--including many previously overlooked documents--these schemes are revealed., [The roots of Texas spring forth from the soil. That heritage harkens back to royal devises in recognition of conquests, exploration and colonization. Prompted by titles and lands, adventurers established Spanish enclaves in the New World. Others ventured beyond the outposts into the frontier. Close behind were traders and opportunist. Land east of the Rio Grande was often described simply as Great Space of Land Unknown. A Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office once reminded lawmakers that land unsettled was wilderness. Policies of all sovereigns in Texas encouraged filling that void. After its independence from Spain, Mexico launched a generous land grant program through contractors agreeing to recruit emigrants to settle in their concessions. Mexican, European and Anglo colonist responded to the offer. Emigrants before receiving a grant had to swear allegiance to Mexico, convert to the state religion and pay survey costs and land dues. After the Texas Revolution, a system of Castilian edicts and English common law formed the basis of the Texas land system. The General Land Office oversaw surveys, patents and issuance of marketable titles. Because of the absence of hard currency, Texas land became the coin of the realm. Like the sovereigns before it, the Republic gave generous grants to loyal first families and veterans. Multiple homestead programs were available until the public domain was appropriated. Over two hundred million acres were patented before the end of the century. Texas schools, railroads and war veterans benefitted from other land grants. Some military warrants and land scrip went awry. Speculation, schemes and fraud were sometimes present but seldom proved. By close examination of special acts, charters and subsequent litigation, schemes were revealed. These Texas family secrets have long been closeted. This documented legal and fiscal history of Texas land grants reveals the good, bad and ugly of the greatest state distribution of land in the United States.]
9781476665498 English 1476665494 The Texas land grants were one of the largest public land distributions in American history. Induced by titles and estates, Spanish adventurers ventured into the frontier, followed by traders and artisans. West Texas was described as Great Space of Land Unknown and Spanish sovereigns wanted to fill that void. Gaining independence from Spain, Mexico launched a land grant program with contractors who recruited emigrants. After the Texas Revolution in 1835, a system of Castilian edicts and English common law came into use. Lacking hard currency, land became the coin of the realm and the Republic gave generous grants to loyal first families and veterans. Through multiple homestead programs, more than 200 million acres had been deeded by the end of the 19th century. The author has relied on close examination of special acts, charters and litigation, including many previously overlooked documents., This history of Texas land grants reveals details of one of the largest public land distributions in American history. Induced by titles and estates, Spanish adventurers ventured into the frontier, followed by traders and artisans. West Texas was described as Great Space of Land Unknown and Spanish sovereigns wanted to fill that void. Gaining independence from Spain, Mexico launched a land grant program with contractors who recruited emigrants to settle their holdings. Survey costs and land dues were all required for deeds. After the Revolution, a provisional system of Castilian edicts and English common law formed the basis of Texas land distribution. Lacking hard currency, land became the coin of the realm and the Republic gave generous grants to loyal first families and veterans. Through multiple homestead programs, more than 200 million acres were deeded by the end of the 19th century. Speculation and fraud were sometimes involved but seldom proved. Through close examination of special acts, charters and litigation--including many previously overlooked documents--land system is revealed, This history of Texas land grants reveals details of one of the largest state land distributions in American history. Induced by titles and estates, Spanish adventurers established themselves in the frontier, followed by traders and artisans. West Texas was described as Great Space of Land Unknown and Spanish sovereigns encouraged filling that void. Gaining independence from Spain, Mexico launched a land grant program through contractors who recruited emigrants to settle on their holdings and pay survey costs and land dues. After the Texas Revolution, a provisional system of Castilian edicts and English common law formed the basis of state land distribution. There being a lack of hard currency, land became the coin of the realm and the Republic gave generous grants to loyal first families and veterans. Through multiple homestead programs, more than 200 million acres were claimed by the end of the 19th century. Speculation and fraud were sometimes involved but seldom proved. Through close examination of special acts, charters and litigation--including many previously overlooked documents--these schemes are revealed., [The roots of Texas spring forth from the soil. That heritage harkens back to royal devises in recognition of conquests, exploration and colonization. Prompted by titles and lands, adventurers established Spanish enclaves in the New World. Others ventured beyond the outposts into the frontier. Close behind were traders and opportunist. Land east of the Rio Grande was often described simply as Great Space of Land Unknown. A Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office once reminded lawmakers that land unsettled was wilderness. Policies of all sovereigns in Texas encouraged filling that void. After its independence from Spain, Mexico launched a generous land grant program through contractors agreeing to recruit emigrants to settle in their concessions. Mexican, European and Anglo colonist responded to the offer. Emigrants before receiving a grant had to swear allegiance to Mexico, convert to the state religion and pay survey costs and land dues. After the Texas Revolution, a system of Castilian edicts and English common law formed the basis of the Texas land system. The General Land Office oversaw surveys, patents and issuance of marketable titles. Because of the absence of hard currency, Texas land became the coin of the realm. Like the sovereigns before it, the Republic gave generous grants to loyal first families and veterans. Multiple homestead programs were available until the public domain was appropriated. Over two hundred million acres were patented before the end of the century. Texas schools, railroads and war veterans benefitted from other land grants. Some military warrants and land scrip went awry. Speculation, schemes and fraud were sometimes present but seldom proved. By close examination of special acts, charters and subsequent litigation, schemes were revealed. These Texas family secrets have long been closeted. This documented legal and fiscal history of Texas land grants reveals the good, bad and ugly of the greatest state distribution of land in the United States.]