Summary
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This commonplace book centers on a theme of veterans and land grant information. The book contains sections organized by military unit or battle. There are transcriptions of legislation relating to land, the legislative history of Texas counties and a section listing the fees of the General Land Office. It may have been used by Texas Ranger Captain James E. Lucy to investigate land-title fraud in Texas during the 1870s.
Biographical Note
The "Land Office Commonplace Book" is a GLO staff imposed title for this volume with no title. A commonplace book is a compilation of different kinds of information centered around a theme or subject. In the case of this book, the theme appears to be Veterans and lands granted to them. It is unknown what the specific purpose of this book was. However, written in the inside cover is "James E. Lucy, " a captain in the Texas Rangers assigned to investigate land-title fraud cases. It is possible that this book was created for his use or modified for his use. There are a number of pages missing near the end with the final pages having nothing to do with veterans or land grants.
Scope and Content
The Land Office Commonplace Book is a compilation of information related to Texas Revolution and Republic military veterans and lands granted to them. The sections of the book are broken up by military group or by battle fought in. Each section lists a soldier's name and some information; many entries are blank, some note where and when the soldier died, and some list land holdings. Towards the end of the book, there are transcriptions of legislation relating to land, a section about the legislative history of Texas Counties, and a section on the fees of the General Land Office. The scope of information in the volume lends itself to the theory that this commonplace book was used as a means of investigating land claims.
Date
1876
Extent
1.30 Linear feet (1 oversized bound volume)
Language
English
Arrangement
There is a brief and incomplete index in the front of the volume. In the main body of the volume, veterans are listed by military unit or battle. Each name entry is given a unique number that is referred to throughout. There is no order to sections.
Preferred Citation
Land Office Commonplace Book (LGR.LOC). Archives and Records Program, Texas General Land Office, Austin.
Access Restrictions
Unrestricted access.
Use Restrictions
Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted and may be freely used in any way. State records also include materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).