Geneabloggers Amanuensis Monday - Ferguson Land Purchases

An Amanuensis is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. Amanuensis Monday is a daily blogging theme which encourages the family historian to transcribe family letters, journals, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Amanuensis Monday is a popular ongoing series created by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.


For February, my concentration will be on my husband's Ferguson line.  After migrating over the years from Virginia to Southern Illinois, they finally setteled in Jasper County, Illinois and remained there for over 100 years.  The following is a discription of their first land purchase there.


Jeremiah Ferguson was 37 years old at the time, married, and the father of 9 children.  As indicated in the document, Jeremiah was then living in Decatur County, Indiana.  By 1850, the family had moved to Jasper County since their 10th child was born in Illinois in March of 1850.



In November of 1849, Jeremiah Ferguson purchased land in Jasper County, Illinois according to the U.S. General Land Office.  I am reproducing this record with the transaction specific information in Blue.  Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization are as shown.


                                     THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
CERTIFICATE
No. 17109
                                    To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:
WHEREAS        Jeremiah Ferguson, of Decatur county, Indiana


has deposited in the GENERAL LAND OFFICE of the United States, a certificate of the REGISTER OF THE LAND OFFICE at     Palestine    whereby it appears that full payment  has been by the said 


Jeremiah Ferguson     according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820 entitled "An act making further provision for the sale of the Public Lands," for  the South East Quarter of the North West Quarter of Section Thirty-six, in Township Seven, North of Range Ten, East, in the District of Lands subject to sale at Palestine, Illinois, containing Forty acres.


according to the official plat of the survey of the said Lands, returned to the General Land Office by the SURVEYOR GENERAL, which said tract has been purchased by the said  Jeremiah Ferguson


                NOW KNOW YE, That the United States of America, in consideration of the Premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress, in such case made and provided, HAVE GIVEN AND GRANTED, and by these presents DO GOVE AND GRANT, unto the said    Jeremiah Ferguson
and to  his  heirs, the said tract above described: TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging, unto the said  Jeremiah Ferguson  
                                                                                                      and to   his  heirs and assigns forever.


                     IN TESTAMONY WHEREOF, I,      Zachary Taylor     PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, have caused these Letters to be made PATENT, and the SEAL of the GENERAL LAND OFFICE to be hereunto affixed.


      Given under my hand, at the CITY OF WASHINGTON, the  first         day of  November   in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and     forty-nine    and of the Independence of the United States the Seventy - fourth  . 


                   BY THE PRESIDENT:                             Z. Taylor
                                                     By         Tho. Ewing, Jr.      Sec'y
             N. Sargent  ,         RECORDER of the General Land Office.