The Munsons of Texas — an American Saga

republic of texas land records from texas general land office (tglo)

"To encourage the established settlers to remain in Texas during a time of instability, the Constitution of 1836 established a first class headright act. Every head of a household, male or female, living in Texas on March 2, 1836, would receive a league and a labor of land (4,605 acres), while single men at least 17 years old would be given a third of a league (1,476 acres). The act excluded Indians, Blacks, anyone who had left Texas to avoid military service, and anyone who had already received the same amount of land from Mexico. Those who had received a smaller amount from Mexico were entitled to the difference. Grantees were not required to live on the land, as they had been under Mexico...."

"To obtain a headright grant, individuals applied to the board of land commissioners in the county of residence. Applicants could choose land in that county or in another county where land was available. (The county boards had been created in December 1837 to review all claims for headrights. A board consisted of the chief justice, associate justices and clerk of the county.) Two witnesses were needed to prove the applicant had been in Texas by the required date and to attest to marital status. The applicants paid the board $5.00 for a certificate." —TGLO, "History of Texas Public Lands."

James P. Caldwell was issued three first class headright certificates, one by his own right, one by right of his deceased sister for his nephew who was a minor (see entries highlighted in green), and one to him and Ann B., his wife, by right of Henry W. Munson, deceased (highlighted yellow). The latter (Certificate 30) was a one labor (177.1 acre) augmentation to the league granted Henry William by the Mexican government in 1830. This certificate was probably sold because TGLO has no record of any Munson or Caldwell as the original grantee or patentee of land granted by virtue of Certificate 30.