United States Statutes at Large/Volume 3/17th Congress/1st Session/Chapter 122
Chap. CXXII.—An Act confirming claims to lots in the town of Mobile, and to land in the former province of West Florida, which claims have been reported favourably on by the commissioners appointed by the United States.
Claims to lots in Mobile, founded on complete grants from the French, British, and Spanish authorities, reported, &c. recognised as valid.
Act of April 25, 1812, ch. 67.
Act of March 3, 1819, ch. 100.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all the claims to lots in the town of Mobile, founded on complete grants derived from either the French, British, or Spanish, authorities, reported to the Secretary of the Treasury by the commissioner for the district east of Pearl river, appointed under the authority of “An act for ascertaining the titles and claims to land in that part of Louisiana which lies east of the island of New Orleans,” or which were so reported by the register and receiver, acting as commissioners, under the act of the third of March, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, entitled “An act for adjusting claims to land, and establishing land offices, in the districts east of the island of New Orleans,” which are contained in the reports of the commissioner, or of the register and receiver acting as commissioners, and which are, in their opinion, valid, agreeably to the laws, usages, and customs, of the said government, be, and the same are hereby, recognised as valid.
Certain claims to lots in Mobile confirmed.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That all the claims to lots in the town aforesaid, reported as aforesaid, and contained in the reports of the commissioner, or of the register and receiver acting as commissioners, founded on orders of survey, requettes, permissions to settle, or other written evidences of claims, derived from either the French, British, or Spanish authorities, and bearing date prior to the twentieth of December, one thousand eight hundred and three, and which ought, in the opinion of the commissioner, to be confirmed, shall be confirmed in the same manner as if the title had been completed.
All claims to lots in Mobile, reported by the commissioner, &c. founded on private conveyances, &c. confirmed, &c.
Proviso.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That all the claims to lots in the town aforesaid, reported as aforesaid, and contained in the reports of the commissioner, or of the register and receiver acting as commissioners, founded on private conveyances which have passed through the office of the commandant, or other evidence, but founded, as the claimants allege, on grants lost by time and accident, and which ought, in the opinion of the commissioner, to be confirmed, shall be confirmed in the same manner as if the titles were in existence: Provided, That, in all such claims where the quantity claimed is not ascertained, no one claim shall be confirmed for a quantity exceeding seven thousand two hundred square feet.
For all other claims to lots in Mobile, contained in the report of the register and receiver, built upon, &c. on or before April 15, 1813, grants to issue as donations.
Proviso.Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That for all the other claims to lots in the town aforesaid, reported as aforesaid, which are contained in the report of the register and receiver, and which, by the said report, appear to have been built upon or improved and occupied, on or before the fifteenth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and thirteen, the claimants shall be entitled to grants therefor as donations: Provided, That in all such claims, where the quantity claimed is not ascertained, no one claim shall be confirmed for a quantity exceeding seven thousand two hundred square feet; And provided also, That all the confirmations and grants provided to be made by this act, shall amount only to a relinquishment for ever, on the part of the United States, of all right and title whatever to the lots of land so confirmed or granted.
Registers and receivers of the land offices at St. Helena and Jackson Courthouses, to have the same powers, &c. as are given by the act supplementary, &c.
Act of May 8, 1822, ch. 128.Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the registers and receivers of the land offices at St. Helena Courthouse and at Jackson Courthouse, respectively, shall have the same powers to direct the manner in which all lands confirmed by this act shall be located and surveyed, and also to decide between the parties in all conflicting and interfering claims, as are given by the act, entitled “An act supplementary to the several acts for adjusting the claims to land, and establishing land offices, in the districts east of the island of New Orleans.”
Approved, May 8, 1822.