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Description

José Miguel de Arciniega: Austin Colonial Grant "Step Three" Signed "Miguel de Arciniega," two pages, 8.5" x 11.75", front and verso. San Felipe de Austin, April, 29, 1831. Partly printed, completed in manuscript by Samuel May Williams, Stephen F. Austin's secretary, who has signed "30y31/Williams" in the upper right of the first page. [Printed by G. B. Cotton, 1829.] Upon colonists' arrival to the part of Mexico known as Coahuila and Texas, there were four legal steps in the process of issuing grants of land to these early immigrants. This document is the third step in the process. It is the "Sello Segundo" (second seal), the certified copy of the original land deed. The original was required to be filed at the Land Office and the certified copy was kept by the grantee. This deed grants Leonard W. Groce "one sitio" of land, approximately 4,400 acres, on the Brazos River. In Spanish, in part, "Citizen Miguel Arciniega, Commissioner named by the Supreme Government of this State, for the distribution and possession of lands, and the issuance of titles to the new Colonists of the colonization company of Empresario Citizen Estevan F. Austin, outside of the ten leagues Coastal region: = Inasmuch as Leonard W Groce has been received as a colonist with the colonization company contracted by the Government of the State of Coahuila and Texas on the Fourth of June of 1825, as recorded in page 927 of this book, and Leonard W Groce, having proved that he/she is single and that he/she complies with the requirements set forth in the Law of Colonization of the State of March 24, 1825...I grant, confer and give real and personal possession of un sitio of land..." Leonard Waller Groce was an early settler from Georgia who was active in supplying corn and beef to the war effort. Groce's sister married William H. Wharton, first Texas Minister to the United States. Printed on the second page is the warning that within one year, permanent boundary markers must be built on each angle of the plot of land and that it must be populated and cultivated in accordance with the provisions of the law. At the bottom is the certification that the copy agrees with the original and the signature of Land Commissioner Arciniega and the two attending witnesses, "Robert Taylor, Jr." and "C.C. Givens." The left half of the document is lightly soiled and there are small portions missing in two areas at the blank left edge. The document is in apparent fine condition. The first page has been matted and framed with a color photocopy of its verso, the second page, to 26.25" x 27.5". A color photocopy of the docket on verso of the integral sheet is in a pocket affixed to the back of the frame. From the collection of Darrel Brown.

Reference: Streeter 14, ref. 13


Auction Info

Auction Dates
December, 2007
1st-3rd Saturday-Monday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 2
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 2,961

Buyer's Premium per Lot:
19.5% of the successful bid per lot.

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Sold on Dec 1, 2007 for: $1,075.50
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