| BLM LAND RECORDS.
Information contained was found in the land entry
files of the BLM obtained through the National Archives. Sarah [Swinney] Harris (maiden name in brackets my comment) Nov. 7, 1834 Receipt # 11720 Sarah Harris of Jefferson County, AL., do hereby apply to purchase the S ½ NE ¼ section 5 township 26 range 1 West containing 79 acres according to the returns to the Surveyor General for which I have agreed with the Register to give at the rate of one dollar and twenty five cents per acre. For Sarah Harris, (signed) Blake Little. Affidavit found in land entry file: Personally come before me Jesse Turner a Justice of the piece for said County, Moses Lastly and John Clayton who being dully sworn deposes and say that they have no interest in the within claim and that the facts testified to by the widdow Sarry Harris in the within answers are of there own knowledge true. Sworn and subscribed to before me this 29th day of October 1834. Jesse Turner, Justice of the peace. (Signed) Moses Lastly and John Clayton Sarah Harris Nov. 7 1834 Receipt # 11721 Sarah Harris of Jefferson County, AL. do hereby apply to purchase the East ½ NW ¼ section 11 township 23 range 3 West containing 79 acres according to the Surveyor General for which I have agreed with the register to give at the rate of one dollar and twenty five cents per acre. For Sarah Harris (signed) Blake Little. My comment. Both properties were purchased at the same time, the first of which was located in Jefferson County, AL., and the second one was in Sumter County, AL. Notice that the receipt numbers were consecutive along with two other properties bought by John Swinney --- thought to be Sarah’s father. (I didn’t include the Swinney properties), also purchased at the same time having identical witness and signatures. The properties located in Jefferson County were adjoining. The land in Sumter County was subsequently sold. Joel Harris Receipt # 9704 October 17, 1833 It is hereby certified that in pursuance of Law, Joel Harris of Shelby County on this day purchased of the Register of this office, the lot or South east quarter of the south west quarter of section number ten, of township number eighteen, in range number one west containing [39.88] acres at the rate of one dollar twenty five cents amounting to 49. 86 for which the said J Harris has made payment in full, as required by law. Now therefore be it known, That on presentation of this certificate to the commissioner of the General Land Office, the said Joel Harris shall be entitled to receive a patent for the lot above described. Joel Harris Receipt # 28084 October 25, 1853 It is hereby certified that in pursuance of law, Joel Harris Shelby County, State of Alabama on this day purchased of the register of this office, the lot or North West Quarter of the North East Quarter of Section No. Twenty eight in Township No. Eighteen of Range No. One West containing 39.78 acres at the rate of one dollar and twenty five cents per acre amounting to Forty nine dollars and Seventy three cents, for which the said Joel Harris has made payment in full as required by law. Now therefore be it known, That on presentation of this certificate to the commissioner of the General Land Office, The said Joel Harris shall be entitled to receive a Patent lot above described. William M. Harris Receipt # 31781 January 30, 1855 It is hereby certified that in pursuance of law, William Harris of Jefferson County, State of Alabama on this day purchased of the register of this office, the lot or south west quarter of south east quarter of section no. five in township no. sixteen of range one west containing thirty nine and 97 hundreds acres at the rate of 12 ½ cents per acre for which the said William Harris has made payment in full as required by law. Now therefore be it known, That on presentation of this certificate to the commissioner of the general land office, the said William Harris shall be entitled to receive a patent for the lot above described. [Cover Sheet:] Patent sent to Judge of Probate, Birmingham, AL., June 9, 1931 Next time: Sarah sells part of her land to William M Harris; Daniel Harris sells (or whatever) the property originally purchased by the elusive Joel Harris. I’m not sure of the legal jargon or even what exactly happened, whether the land was lost due to satisfy a debt or just sold. I will also include the land records of James Harris who was most likely Sarah’s first husband. He was deceased by 1834. Note that some of the misspelled words were taken directly out of the actual records. I also didn’t go back and check so my typing isn’t 100 % accurate. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sarah Harris to Wm M. Harris This indenture made and entered into this 4th day of August AD one thousand eight hundred and fifty nine between Sarah Harris of the County of Jefferson and State of Alabama of the first part and Wm M Harris of the county and state aforesaid of the second part witnesseth that for and in consideration of the sum of ten dollars to her in hand paid the recipt whereof is hereby acknowledged the the said Sarah Harris hath this day bargained and sold and doth by these presents bargain sell and convey unto the said Wm M Harris a certain tract or parcel of land to wit SE ¼ of NE ¼ of S 5 Township 16 R 1 West in the district of Tuscaloosa and state of Ala. To have and to hold the above described promises with the appurtenances there unto belonging unto the said Wm M Harris his heirs, executors and administrators and assigns forever and the said Sarah Harris doth by these presents warrant and will forever defend the title to the above described premises unto the said Wm M. Harris his heirs and against the claims of herself her heirs executors administrators and assigns jointly and severally and against the claims of the General Government of the United States, in Testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the day and date first above written. (signed) Sarah Harris (her mark) I H. B. Chambless in acting justice of the Jefferson County peace in and for said county certify that Sarah Harris whose name is signed to the foregoing deed and who is known to me acknowledged before me on this day that being informed of the contents of the conveyance she executed the same voluntarily on day the same bears date. Given under my hand and seal this 5th day of Dec. 1859. Harris to Cameron This indenture made this 29th day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven between Daniel Harris of the first part and Hugh Coupland Trustee of the second part and J.M. Cameron of the third part whereas the said Daniel Harris is jointly indebted to the said I. M Cameron in the sum of three hundred and forty on dollars and forty four cents to be paid in two payment two hundred dollars to be paid on the fifteenth day of January AD 1838 the second payment to be made on the 25th day of December AD 1838 as by two promissory notes one bearing date February 1, 1836 for eighty dollars and sixty eight cents with interest from date due Jon. M Cameron Adm. Of William Cameron jr. dec. est. also one other for two hundred and sixty dollars and twenty six cents bearing even date herewith with legal interest from date as ???? appears which debt with the legal interest thereon accruing the said Daniel Harris is willing and desirous to secure. Now this indenture witnesseth that for and in consideration of the premises also for the further consideration of one dollar to the said Hugh Coupland at and before the sealing and delivery of these presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged by the said Daniel Harris hath given, granted bargained sold aliened ens ? released and confirmed and by these presents to doth give grant bargain sell alien and en ? release and confirm to the said Hugh Coupland his heirs and assigns forever all that tract or parcel of land lying and being in the County of Jefferson and State of Alabama containing forty acres more or less and situation as follows two wit: SE ¼ of Section 10 township eighteen Range one West also the following personal property to wit; two mares and colts one wagon and six oxen, six cows and calves with all and singular the appurtenances to the said tract of land belonging in any wise appertaining and all the estate right title and interest of the said Daniel Harris in and to the said granted promises intended to be hereby granted tract of parcel of land and premises to have and to hold the said hereby granted or interest to be hereby granted tract of parcel of land and premises….. [The document is two pages long; although Daniel Harris’s name is on the title, the property originally was patented by Joel Harris. Also note in yesterdays post that Joel Harris later patented a property in Shelby County, in 1853. At the present time, I do not know whether both properties were patented by the same man; i.e. Joel Harris or if they were different men. The fact that Daniel Harris had possession of the property indicates that there was a familial relationship between the two men. ] The Following Harris men were listed in early Jefferson County Probate records. Please note that these references were in other individual files. There were no individual records of these Harris men. (Exception: John Harris) Joel Harris Daniel Harris Hiram Harris Thomas Harris These entries were found in the probate records of William Cameron Jun. dec. Kristina Harris harris220@charter.net |
