Note 70 — JOURNAL.
Reading edition
Land warrants were granted by the Crown, by the Legislature or its authorized agent, and by the governors of the provinces. A warrant had the character of a commission and guaranteed title. Land warrants issued in accordance with law were negotiable, and when laid and the survey plotted by a licensed surveyor and recorded in the land office, were maintained by the courts as against all other claimants.
The following is an exact copy of an order from G. W. Fairfax, agent of Lord Fairfax, for the sale of unseated lands in the "Northern Neck of Virginia" to George Washington a licensed surveyor in Virginia as his warrant to survey a particular parcel of land. The original document was in the possession of J. A. Russell, Esq., of New York city, in 1869, and is published in the Historical Magazine for March of that year, p. 197:—
"To Mr. G. Washington
"Whereas, Barthalamore Anderson, of Frederick County hath Informed that there are about Four hundred 50 Acres of Waste and Ungranted Land in the said County, formerly granted to Thomas Morgan by Jost Hite as p. Bond for the same & by Assignment to the sd Anderson, on Arnold's Run a branch of Shenandoah.
"And Desiring a Warrant to survey the same in order to obtain a Deed, being ready to Pay the Composition and Office Charges.
"These are therefore to Empower You the sd G. Washington to survey the sd Waste Land.
"Provided this be the first Warrant that hath Issued for the same and you are to make a just, true and Acurate survey thereof, Describing the courses and distances p. Pole, also the Buttings and Boundings of the several Persons Lands adjoining, and where you cannot Join on any known Lines, you are to make Breadth of the tract to bear at least the proportion of one-third part of the length as the Law of Virginia Directs, you are also to Insert the Names of the Pilot and Chain Carriers made use of and Employed, a Plat of which sd Survey with this Warrant you are to give into this Office any time before the twenty-fifth Day of March next ensuing. Given under my Hand and Seal of the Proprietors Office this thirteenth day of Oct. 1750 in the Twenty-Fourth year of His Majesty King George the Second's Reign.
"G. W. FAIRFAX."
[ENDORSED.]
"Barthalamore Anderson's Warr for 450 Acres
"Mr Washington's Retur'd the 8th Feby 1750-1. "To be paid p Ld Fx "61"