____________________________________________________________________________ Preemption Proof Be it remembered, that on the third day of March, 1836, Francis Bittick of Pike County, Arkansas Territory, personally came and appeared before the undersigned, an acting justice of the peace, within and for the County of Hempstead, in the Territory of Arkansas, and being first duly sworn, deposeth and says: That, in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and thirty-three, he cultivated a portion of the public lands of the United States known and designated as the west half of the southeast quarter of section numbered seven, and the east half of the southwest quarter of said section, in township numbered nine, south of the base line range, numbered twenty-three, west of the fifth principle meridian, in the district of lands subject to sale at Washington, Arkansas; and, that in said year he had in cultivation and under fence on said tract, about twenty-five acres, and that he resided thereon and had possession of the same on the nineteenth day of Jan., 1834. Francis Bittick Sworn to and subcribed before me, this 3rd. day of March, 1836. G.W. Conway, J.P. ____________________________________________________________________________ Territory of Arkansas, County of Hempstead, This day, John Speer, Samuel Hasley and Thomas Milson, personally appeared before me, the undersigned, an acting justice of the peace, within and for the county, aforesaid, and being duly sworn, depose and say, that they believe the matters and things stated and set forth, in the foregoing affidavit of Francis Bittick, to be true in substance and fact. John Speer Samuel Hasley Thomas Milson Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 3rd. day of March, 1836. G.W. Conway, J.P. ____________________________________________________________________________ The Preemption in this case has been approved and this office advised thereof by letter of the Comr., G. L. Office, of the 15th. Decr., 1837, and repayment ordered to be made to the original purchaser, which has been done long since. Saml. C. Wheat, Regr. D.T. Witter, Recr. ____________________________________________________________________________ Certificate 1947, Washington, Arkansas Land Office, Record Group 49, National Arhives, Washington, D.C. ____________________________________________________________________________ HTML file and design by David Kelley, 1997. All rights reserved.