Hurley Family Tree

Used in the Hurley Family Tree for the 1858 petition of W. J. (Johnson) Bowers for the headright due him as a citizen of Texas in 1836.

Petition to the Commissioner of Claims, Falls County, 18 Aug 1858, Texas General Land Office Court of Claims file 000827. The petitioner's own statement of where he lived from the 1820s to 1840; dates are from memory. Dashes mark words not read.

Transcription:
1858 To the Honorable to the Commissioner for the State of Texas

The Petition of Right J Bowers a citizen of the State Texas County of falls would respectfully show unto your honor -

That he was a citizen of Texas, having settled in that portion of the country known at this time as Red River County. That he was order to leave his home at about that time by a Proclamation of his Excellency Mr. Pope Governor of Arkansas who claied that portion of the country for the United States as the Chickasaw reserve. That in obedience to the said Proclamation he removed to the State of Arkansas where he remained until 1835. When Petitioner removed --- his family consisting of his wie and several children to Red River County, which he made his home until 1840.

Petitioner would successfully show to further unto your honor, that being an being an uneducated frontier man, and unaccustomed to business of this kind, he employed John H Fowler of Lamar County to obtain his headright for him and to locate the sme.

Petitioner would further represent, that same left that region of the country, he wrote frequently to the said John H Fowler and secured --- anyway, and did not know until April 4th 1854, when he received a letter from CK Holman Esq to whom Petitiner had addressed a letter of ---, that he had not received the quantity of land to which he was entitled.

Having made the above explanation, Petitioner can take the oath --- by the Statute, that he was a citizen of Texas at the date of the Declaration of Independence, that he did not leave the country during the campaign of the Spring of 1836, to avod a participation in the struggle, that he did not refrain to participate in the war, that he did not aid or assist the enemy and that he has not received the quantity of land to which he was --- himself duly entitled and for which now makes thispplication.

Petitioner asks to be allowed to refer to an affidavit made by him before John H Pierson Notary public for the County of Falls which he --- made a portion of this petition. Said Affiant --- filed --- ---.

Petitioner further asks your Honor to be allowed to take the declaration of the following named individuals in evidence of the fact --- --- in the foregoing petition. Viz Samuel Wilson --- Co. JM Rice Titus Co. JC Pool Falls Co. Benjamin Groce Wiliamson Co. John Robbins Red River Co. James Ward RR Co. John H Fowler Lamar George Wright Lamar Co Andrew Montgomery Grimes Co.

Petitioner in conclusion --- for --- relief of his case --- as in --- duly bound petitioner will ever pray.