Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-02-14
WAR DEPARTMENT.
SECTION CT BOUNTY LANDS

ocS tlON tt sfSUNlH LANDS.
Whereas by documents exhibited 1t this Office il,
support OF applications for land Warrants, it an
pears that many persons isserard or misco,,strues
the information heretofore published relative 10
the proceedings requisite in all Cases where tie
Original Claimant does not personally apply at this
Department; il is therefore deemed expedent TO
eiuridate the several points alluded to above by
the following observations
l. In regard to The Power of Attorney directed
to be executed in the cases above mentioned, it
Is deemed OF primary imp ,,tance, that it DE for.
paiy acknowledged before Magistrate, and That
this acknowledgment be subscribed by The Person
who thus delegates his authority to another. as
well IS confirmed by oath or aGrrmat;on, in pre-
sence Of the said Magistrate who then attes,s the
execution of this Formality.
2. Every Deposition or .4trdarii ought To be
subscribed by the Debone,it, or Person making
well as confirmed by his oath or Affirmation
and should then be attested in due form by the
Magistrate before whom it is made 1t is iarti
cularly required that those individuals who de-
Pose to the identity of another, should subscribe
their deposition TO render the identification valid
3. substitution ola Power of Attorney NAV
be made authentic m very few words and may be
incribed Oil the original Power, il sufficient
space for the purpose be there found if execu
ted on separate paper is to be attached 90 the
original instrument in the usual manner, and sc
ciged by the .No.aTidt Seal. In applications for
Land Warrants, the following simple form viii
be admitted, viz:
Know all men by theses Presents, that 7, A. n.
Attorney of ID, by the annexed Power duiy con,
stituted and appointed, do, byvirtue of the pow
er OF substitution with which 1 am thereby ex-
pressly invested, make, constitute and appoint z
4 of,-&c. my lawful Substitute and Attorney.
for purposes therein mentioned and do hereby
authorize him TO do and perform all acts and
things necessary in and about the premises. as
largely and amply as might or could do if
were personally present.
In witness whereofI have hereunto set my
hand and sel at-thls--day OLA D..
(sgned) Alb. rSeall
/, Fl, Notary Public, &c.
DO hereby declare and make known, that the a.
oove substitution was duly executed by the ..
foresaid B, before me- in Testimony whereof
have hereunio affixed my Official Seal and Sig
nature, at--this--day Of, A. d. 49,.
n. Is. As there are many Sections of the u
States where Notary Public does not commonly
otcia,e-the aforesaid substitution shall be there
legalized by the Official attestation of the Clerk
of the County Court
4. In the information heretofore published re-
latye to ascertalnng "Leg9fimate heir at La,v''
who may apply for Military Bounty Land in
Right of deceased Soldier, the expression,
F" Certificates from competent authority" has
been thought by some, not sufficiently explicit
Ito remove, therefore, all doubt oil this point in
future, be it known that this insertion oft term
" competent authority" arose from representa-
tons oflong standing at this office, conrmatve of
the fact that in component parts of
ofthe American Union, the legal mode of proving
(" Heirship" for the purposes of inheritine. Real
Estate, is different from that practsed in other
States it is obvious, therefore, that the meaning
and intention of the Secretary of War in sancti-
oning the term " competent authority" is, that
the Person 50 pretending to be " legitimate
heir at Law" should be required first to exhibit
his proof of it to that Tribunal, or Civil Officer,
that authorised by the Constitution and Laws
of the State wherein he resides to take cognizance
OF the point III question, for local or other purpo
Ses. A duly authenticated Certificate from that
Tribunal, or Public Officer, has ever been, and
viii continue to be deemed at this Office conclu-
sive Evidence in such Case. Thus, an Official
Certificate declaratye of tina fact that such an
one is a" legitimate Heir at Law" Of such an one
issued by CoURr Of RECORD, Az ORnISARY, A
jUDeE or Notwithstanding 70 the Laws and
lsages of different States, have been deemed
equally admissible at this Office.
1t should be observed, however, that in cases O |
'osthumous Claims TO the Military Bounty LaDdf
b. an Act Of Congress OF the 10th of
December, 1914, it is essential that tfe Claimant
should estb sh, not only that he Is va legitimate
Heir at Law, but also the particular degree of |
he bore to the deceased Soldier in |
whose Right he CLAIMS.
5. Although the Rules will be adhered to, not I
% isste a Land Warrant to an Executor, nor to |
IN ADMINISTRATOR, yet in all cases where the
legitimate Heirs at Law" are Minors, Guardian
constituted and appointed in conformity with the
laws of the State where the seid Minors reside.
nay obtain Land Warrant in Trust for them, on
his exhibiting at this Office Official Credentials
'rOving his said quality.
.VsOe7nber %, 1915.
GTfhe Printers authorised to publish the
avs OF the U. States arerequested to insert the
hoye three tunes
Dec g. 81.