EARLY ARKANSAS TERRITORY LAND DEEDS AND CORRESPONDENCE by [Americana - Arkansas]

A collection of documents dating from 1822 to 1843 concerning Arkansas Territory property ownership and taxes. The correspondence is mainly between the property owner William Murphy of Mason County, Kentucky and Charles Pelham (1790-1855), a member of a prominent family of land surveyors who helped chart westward expansion.

Before settling in Batesville, Arkansas, Pelham fought with the Kentucky militia during the War of 1812. He was among the earliest settlers of the Arkansas Territory, which was an incorporated territory of the United States on July 4, 1819 until June 15, 1836, when it was admitted into the Union. In 1821, Pelham was appointed Deputy Surveyor of the Arkansas Territory for the U.S. General Land Office, and he served on the first Board of Trustees for the Batesville Academy, the first incorporated institution of learning in Arkansas. He was also the older brother of William Pelham, who was appointed by President John Tyler as Surveyor General of Arkansas in 1841 and later appointed the first Surveyor General of New Mexico by President Franklin Pierce in 1854.

Among the 10 documents in this collection is a holographic deed of indenture dated May 24, 1825 detailing the sale of three sections of property, each consisting of 160 acres, by Pelham to Murphy for $30. The land in the territory of Arkansas was "set apart for military bounties." Three subsequent letters written and signed by Pelham in 1825-26 concern payment of taxes on the land. On Sept. 21, 1826, Pelham wrote: "I am on the eve of starting out to the woods on a surveying trip and cannot be in Laurence County sooner than March next at which time will try to rent for you or will pay the taxes on the 3 tracts until you instruct me to the contrary." He also mentioned that his brother William was "in the woods surveying" and inquired about property owned by a W. Haws in Arkansas that was sold in part to pay the taxes due and offered to purchase the remainder: "the tract which he has the this county is not worth the taxes and has never been taxed I think."

This group includes an incomplete letter from an unknown person dated 1837 indicating Mr. Murphy is deceased and seeking information about lands owned. The next letter, dated July 25, 1840, was written by Pelham's son to Murphy's heirs informing them that his father paid the taxes on one tract for six years and is owed $17.60, while the other two tracts were sold for taxes. He further explains that he was able to renew the ownership of some of the property and was owed a total of $117.14. An 1843 letter written on behalf of the heirs to one of Pelham's brothers seeks information about the amount of taxes due and possible value for selling the land.

The collection also includes a second deed of indenture dated April 29, 1822 between Murphy and Jepee Campbell, who sold him a 160-acre tract of land in the Arkansas Territory. The document notes that this property had been given to Campbell by President James Monroe for military bounties.

In addition, two letters to Murphy from A. Boswell written December 3, 1824 and December 3, 1826, respectively, also concern payment of taxes on other land he owns. The letters also provide a glimpse of the ruggedness of the region. "I expect the Captain and myself will eat our Christmas dinner together," Boswell wrote. "I go out in about a week on a bear hunt to get some most delicious meat for his dinner. He is 100 miles distant from me, but we call this, in this country, quite in the neighborhood." In his 1826 letter, Boswell reported that some of the land was sold for taxes: "I did not pay the taxes on your land last year in as much as you did not require me to do it and supposed that Mr. Pelham would do it for you."

The documents in this collection are toned with some sporadic staining, creasing from prior folds, general edgewear, and occasional chips. A few have been repaired with silk tape. All of the documents are legible and otherwise in very good condition.