As published (expect where formatting was web prohibitive) in Cass County Connections. Cass County Connections is a quarterly publication put out by the Cass County Genealogical Society of Cass County, Texas. Permission granted by Cass County Genealogical Society to Dana Thomas for publishing on The Cass County, TXGenWeb Project Pages.


This information was taken from the 1975 Cass County Genealogical Society, Vol. II #2, pg. 8-10.

The following information was secured from the SURVEYOR'S RECORDS on file in the County Clerk's office in Linden, Texas. All of these surveys are headed "Republic of Texas, Red River County," but apply to those areas which were in and around what is now Cass County.

NOTE: The dictionary describes a "vara" as a Spanish, Portuguese or Latin American unit of linear measure, varing in different countries from 32 to 43 inches.

Mr. D.H. Boon in his book Monterey describes a vara as 33 1/3 inches. He further refers to it as a Spanish yard.

Volume A-1 (dated 1839-1842)

Page 14: "A Survey made for Daniel W. Alley of 640 acres of land situated on Alley's Creek, a branch of Big Cypress, he being entitled to the same by virtue of Cert. No. 12 granted by the Board of Land Comms. for Red River County and dated the 15th day of April 1839.: An exact description of the land follows. Samuel B. Orton and J.H. Johnson were the chainers and the survey was filed with T.R. Wilson in Clarksville on 2 Nov. 1839.

Pages 15-16: "Surveyed for David Sample 640 acres of land to which he is entitled by virtue of Cert. No. 504 issued by the Board of Land Commissioners for the County of Red River to W. Bedford and by him transferred legally to David Sample. Certificate dated 22nd day of March 1838." An exact description of the land follows. J.W. Lane and D. Watson were the chairmen: W.S. McClure was the surveyor; the survey was filed with John T. Harmon, District Surveyor for Red River County. The only date gives in " since 1 August 1838."

Pages 16-17: "A survey made for John B. Denton of 640 acres of land being the quantity to which he is entitled by virtue of Cert. No. 303 of the 2nd class issued by the Board of Land Commissioners for the County of Red River the 23rd day of March 1838." An exact description of the land follows. James Brown and Jesse Brothers were the chainers; W.S. McClure made the survey on 5 Oct. 1838; it was filed with Jno. T. Harmon in Clarksville on 7 June 1839. The following addendum was noted: "Relocated according to law this 22 Sept., J.B. McReynolds, County Surveyor of Cass County."

Page 18: " A survey made for Cynthia Latimer of 952 2/3 acres of land it being a part of the land she is entitled to by virtue of Cert. No. 177 issued by the Board of Land Commissioners for the County of Red River. Situated on the south side of the Sulphur Fork of Red River." G.Milligan and F. Ritchie were the chiners; A.H. Latimer was the surveyor; the survey was filed with John T. Harmon in Clarksville on 10 June 1839.

Page 19: "A survey made for William Price of 640 acres of land made 19th June 1839 situated on the Black Cypress 5 miles east from Tramel's trace to which he is entitled to by virtue of Cert. No. 142, second Class." Legal description of land follows. Lewis Neadham and C.B. Hutchins were the chainers; W.J. Hamilton made the survey on 19 June 1839; the field notes were dated 15 July 1839; the survey was filed on 26 Feb. 1840 with John T. Harmon, County Surveyor of Red River County.

Page 20: "A survey of 320 acres of land made for Gilbert Raegan on Cert. No. 5 granted by the board of Land Comms. for Red River County and dated the 7th day of March 1839. Situated on Alley's Creek, a branch of the Big Cypress." Legal description of the land follows. Isaac Bruton and Jas. M. Gray were the chainmen; Thos. R. Wilson, District Surveyor, made the survey on 4 Nov. 1839; it was filed in Clarksville with J.T. Harmon, C.R.R.R.C. on 6 March 1840.

Page 21: "18 October 1838. A survey for John M. Bourland of 354 acres of land being a part of the quantity of land to which he is entitled by virture of Cert. No. 297 issued by the Board of Land Commissioners for Red River County and dated the 22nd of March 1838. Near the William Knight Survey." An exact description of the land follows. James Brown and J.W. Lane were the chainmen; W.S. McClure, District Surveyor, made the survey; it was filed on 3 April 1840 with J.T. Harmon, C.S.R.R.C.

Page 22: "A survey of 640 acres of land made for James H. Johnson, assignee of John S. Williams, being a part of the quantity to which he is entitled to by virtue of Cert. No. 412 granted by the Board of Land Commissioners for Red River County and dated 7 February 1839. Situated on the Cypress, a branch of the Ferry Lank." William Walker and James B. Jones were the chainers; District Surveyor Thos. R. Wilson made the survey; it was filed with J.T. Harmon in Clarksville on 9 May 1840.

Page 23: "A survey of 640 acres of land for Reece Hughes, assignee of Wm. M. Burriss, a part of the quantity to which he is entitled to by virtue of Cert. No. 291 Class 2nd issued by the Board of Land Commissioners for Red River County situated on the head waters of the Black Cypress and about 4 miles west of Tramels trace." Complete description of the land follows. Robert Hughes and Joes Hughes were the chainmen; Wm. J. Hamilton, District Surveyor, made the survey on 16 Dec. 1839; it was filed the County Surveyor J.T. Harmon in Clarksville on 11 May 1840.

Page 24: "A survey of 640 acres of land for Reece Hughhis (Hughes) assignee of wm. M. Burris for the remaining quantity of land to which he is entitled to by virtue of the Board of Land Commissioners for Red River County. Situated about 13 miles north of Cypress and 1 1/4 miles west of Tramels Trace." Complete description follows. Joel Hughes and Robert Hughes were the chainmen; the survey was made by W.J. Hamilton - "since 1 August 1838" - and it was filed in Clarksville with J.T. Harmon, County Surveyor, on 11 May 1840.

Page 25: "A survey for Ephriam D.L. Moon of 160 acres situated on the South side of the Sulphur Fork of Red River and West of Tramels trace being a part of the quantity he is entitled to by virtue of Cert. No. 105 issued to him by the Board of Land Comms. for Red River County and being dated the 7th day of November 1839." Daniel Sinclair and Jas. W. Collins were the chainmen; the survey was made by S.W. McClure on 23 Dec. 1839; it was filed with J.T. Harmon in Clarksville on 14 July 1840.

Page 26: "A survey for John Myars of 640 acres of land being part of the quantity to which he is entitled by the virtue of Cert. No. 159 dated the 3rd day of August 1838 issued by the Board of Land Comms. for Red River County sittuated on the South side of the Sulphur Fork and on the waters thereof." James Brown and Michael Andes were the chainmen; W.S. McClure made the survey on 22 Aug. 1838; it was filed in Clarksville on 24 July 1840 with J.T. Harmon.

Page 27: "A survey for Wm. S. Grace 397 59/100 acres of land it being part of the remaining quantity of land he is entitled to by virtue of Cert. N. 106 of the 3rd Class issued for 604 acres of land by the Board of Comms. for Red River County and dated the 7th day of November 1839." James W. Collins and James Ellet were the chainmen; W.S. McClure made the survey on 17 Dec. 1839; it was filed with J.T. Harmon in Clarksville on 7 May 1840.

VOLUME F (Dated 1838-1848)

Page 1: "June 27, 1838. Survey for Albert D. Duncan of one third of a league of Land founded on Cert. No. 486 granted by the Board of Land Comms. for Red River County to William Davis dated the 15th day of March 1838 and by said Davis legally transferred to said Duncan."

Page 4: "No date. "Survey for David Lane on Ferry Lake. 12 Labors and 146960 (?) vars of land. Cert. No. 347 issued by Board of Land Comms. for Red River County for one league and a labor of land beginning at ?? southwest corner of the Bank of Ferry Lake." Wm. H. Moors and B.F. Lane were chainmen and Ja. Baker was the surveyor.

Page 5: "Mar. 1838. Surveyed for the heirs of Henry L. Lane. 8 (?) labors of land or 1476 acres (?) on Cert. No. 350 issued by the Board of Land Comms. of Red River County and bearing date of 14 Feb. 1838. East of fork of Chocktaw Creek - north branch of Cypress." The land description contains the following: "the above survey including the Old Choctaw Village on Tramels trace on the south side of Sulphur Fork of the Red River." Wm. H. Moors and Berry F. Lin were the chainmen. James Baker, Districk Surveyor, made the survey. It was filed on 18 Oct. 1838.

Page 6: "Surveyed for Isaac N. Jones, twelve Labors 405928 (?) vars of land situated on Ferry Lake it being a part of Cert. No. 474 issued by the Board of Land Comms. for Red River County for a League and a labor of land beginning at a stake the south east corner of a survey made in the name of David Lane." A complete diescription of the land follows including "Thense down Ferry Lake with its meanders." Wm. F. Moors and B.F. Lane were the chainers; James Baker was the District Surbeyor.

Page 7: "Mar. 27, 1838. Survey for David Lane. 12 labors. 544.648 var of land situated on Ferry Lake it being a part of Cert. No. 347 issued by the Board of Land Commissioners for Red River County for a league and a labor of land beginning on a pine tree on the northeast fork of said lake which tree is marked R.P. being the southeast corner of a survey made in the name of Isaac N. Jones for a half league of land from which stands a water oak." W. H. Moors and B.F. Lane were the chainmen. James Baker was the District Surveyor.

Page 8: "Surveyed for Isaac N. Jones on Ferry Lake 12 labors and 589968 (?) var of land situated on Ferry Lake it being a part of Cert. No. 474 issued by the Board of Land Comms. for Red River County for a league and a labor of land beginning on a stake near the old Cushatty Village from which stands a water oak." B.F. Land and Wm. Moors were the chainmen; James Baker made the survey on 24 March 1839. It was read, examined and recorded on 6 April 1838, by I.Miller.

Page 9 skips to 1842.