The history of Texas land grants is a deep and complex one. When researching land records, historical land grants can affect the records one may uncover. Between 1716 and 1836, both Spain and Mexico gave out land grants for settlers to travel and start colonies in the state of Texas. Afterward, Mexico continued to offer grants for colonization purposes. Eventually, the State of Texas began giving grants to single families and single men, which were categorized into "classes" based on time frame. As you can see, searching for land records may take some understanding of the history of land grants in Texas. Those who are researching land grants should be aware of the various changes in time frames, grantors, and grant purposes. Spanish Land Grants From 1720 to 1836, over 4200 land grants were issued by Spain and Mexico. These grants covered almost 26 million acres of land. The grants allowed for Spain and Mexico to encourage building and populating large tracts of land in Texas. In 1835, the government of Texas shut down the land offices and the act of giving grants because the revolution was on the horizon. When researching land grants, it is important to note, Spanish grant records hold valuable information on land distribution before 1836. Records include documents like family registers, field notes, certificates, official contracts, correspondence, and more. These are a great resource for researching early family history and are some of the most thorough and organized documents available. Republic and State Land Grants After winning independence from Mexico in 1836, the Republic of Texas resumed the process of giving land grants. Many grants were given to soldiers who served in the Texan war as an honor for their efforts. The General Land Office was established in Austin in 1837, and was responsible for granting land, settling disputes over previous grants, and recognizing previous grants. The grants that were given to settlers were categorized into 4 classes: Class 1 - Settlers who were given land grants by Spain and Mexico prior to 1836. Class 2 - Settlers who were given land between March 1836 and October 1837 Class 3 - Settlers who were given land between October 1837 and January 1840. Class 4 - Settlers who were given land between January 1840 and January 1842. These class designations may be helpful when researching grants in a certain time period. Even after Texas was annexed from the U.S in 1845, it still retained control of its land and continued to issue land grants. Because Texas was a poor state during this time, land was used as the primary way to pay off debt, reward military personnel, develop economically, and finance municipal construction. Land was the predominant currency of Texas until the early 1900s. In addition to these widely issued grants, the republic of Texas also issued other, more uncommon land grants. Until the late 1800s, Texas gave preemption grants to settlers who lived on a land tract for three years. The German Emigration Company also gave out grants to German emigrants who wanted to move to and settle in Texas. It's important to note these records are written in German. The End of Land Grants Finally, in 1898, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that was nolonger vacant land to be granted. In the subsequent audit that occurred, it was actually found that the public school system had been shorted over 5 million acres of land it had been promised. Two years later, an act was passed to make up for the school fund shortage. All remaining public land that was available was given to the school fund. The fund still exists today as public lands can still be sold to provide revenue for schools. These records will be indexed between April 1874 and current.
FAQs
What was the purpose of land grants in Texas? ›
In order to build a tax base and encourage settlement in the new Republic of Texas, immigrants were granted land by the government. The amount of acreage issued was based on the time period in which an immigrant arrived in Texas.
Who received the right to land grants in Texas? ›The act also established acreage amounts for land grants. Single men who arrived in Texas between March 2, 1836 and October 1, 1837 were eligible to receive 640 acres of land. Families who arrived between those dates could receive 4,605 acres of land.
Where were the most successful land grants in Texas located? ›Only a handful of rural land grant documents survive, most along the San Antonio River valley and in East Texas around Nacogdoches. These grants took up long stretches along river and creek banks and ranged in size from approximately 5,000 to more than 60,000 acres.
How did the government decide which people received the largest land grants in Texas? ›The main criterion the government used to determine which people received the largest land grants in Texas was the person's willingness and ability to settle and develop the land.
How does a land grant work? ›A land grant is a gift of real estate—land or its use privileges—made by a government or other authority as an incentive, means of enabling works, or as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service.
What is the land grant concept? ›The land-grant concept was established to offer advanced instruction to the working class, to educate farmers and assist with the success and growth of agriculture as well as to educate future engineers to assist industry and encourage economic development through scientific research.
What was the largest land grant in Texas? ›The largest land grant in what is today Texas, the 601,657-acre “San Juan de Carricitos” tract titled to José Narciso Cabazos in 1793 is a notable example. The area of south Texas comprises about 170 porciones grants and 33 larger land grants issued by Spain.
What are three types of land grants? ›- Private Grants. Entire grant is owned by one (or a few) individuals as their private property. ...
- Community Grants. Large tracts of land granted to a substantial number of people (usually from 10 to 100. ...
- Hybrid or Quasi-Community grants.
Various royal, colonial, state, and federal governments established the first claims to land in what is now the United States. These governments have since sold or given much of this land to individuals. The person who obtains title to the land from the government receives a land grant.
How did Texas receive a land grant? ›The earliest grant was made by the Spanish crown to establish a mission and presidio in East Texas in 1716. In 1731 town lots in San Antonio de Béxar were granted to Canary Islanders, and by the mid-1700s larger livestock grants were being made along the San Antonio River valley.
Why does Texas have so much private land? ›
Because Texas was an independent nation before joining the Union, it retained control of its land. The federal government never controlled large swaths, as in other Western states.
Who was the first person to secure a land grant to colonize Texas? ›| Moses Austin | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, empresario |
| Known for | Being awarded the first land grant to settle Anglo-Americans in Spanish Texas |
| Spouse | Mary Brown Austin |
| Children | Stephen F. Austin, Emily Austin Perry, James Elijah Brown Austin |
Six hundred and forty acres of land will be granted to the head of each family, and in addition to that, three hundred and twenty acres to a man's wife, one hundred and sixty acres for each child, and eighty acres for each slave; which land will be laid off in two equal tracts, one on the river in an oblong, the other ...
Who originally owned Texas? ›Colonized in the eighteenth century by the Spanish, the Republic of Texas declared its independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836.
What were the 3 requirements to live in Austin's colony? ›Moses and Stephen Austin contracted to bring "500 families on the vacant lands remaining within the limits of the colony already established." The contract stipulates that "The families which are to compose this Colony besides being industrious as he offers in his petition must be Cat[ho]lics, and of good morals." ...
Why were land grants created? ›In California, the land grant provided the state with the funds to establish a public university, giving rise to the creation of the University of California in 1868. Further legislation created the University Farm at Davis and the Citrus Experiment Station at Riverside.
What are the land grants in Texas? ›Original land grants are defined as grants of land issued by the sovereign of the soil—that is, one of the governments of Texas: Spain, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, and the State of Texas. The Land Grant Database also contains listings for many of the record groups that make up our Special Collection.
What was the main purpose of the 1890 land grants? ›The 1890 Facilities Grant Program is intended for the acquisition and improvement of agricultural and food sciences facilities and equipment, including libraries, so that the 1890 land-grant institutions, including Tuskegee University, West Virginia State University and Central State University may participate fully in ...
Why was land grant important? ›Through teaching, research and Extension, the Land-Grant institutions steward a timeless responsibility: to raise successive generations of servant-leaders; to engage as vital members of their communities; to bring research and new knowledge to bear to prepare students for the world they will enter; and to extend ...