Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-02-21
WAR DEPARTMENT.
SECTION OF BOUNTY LANES

Whereas, by documents exhibited 1t this Office IN
support OF applications for Land Warrants il an
pears that many persons disregard or n,iscsns.rtes
the information heretofore published, relative to
the proceedings requisite in all Cases where the
Original Clainnt does not personally apply at this
Department; it is therefore deemed expedient to
elucidate the several points alluded 20 above By
the following observations
l. In regard to the Power OF Attorney directed
to be executed in the cases above mentioned. Il
is deemed of PRIMARY importance, that it be for
uaRy acknowledged before Magistrate. and That
this acknowledgement be subscribed by the Person
Who thus delegates his authority to another. "a
we'll as confirmed by oath or affirmation, in pre-.
sence OF the said Magistrate, who then attes.s the
execution of this forlnality
2. Every Deposition or .96rdapis Ought to be
subscribed by the DeponeIif, or Person making
as 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 psrti
cularly required that those individuals who de-
pose to the identity of another, sho,ld subscribe
their deposition to render the identification valid
5. A substitution ola Power of Attorney NAV
be made authentic in very few words, and may be
incribed on the original Power, ii a sufficient
space for the purpose be there found if execu
ted on separate paper, it is to be attached to the
original instrument in the usual manner, and Sc
cured by the Nofariai Seal In applications for
Land Warrants, the following Simple form will
be admitted, viz:
Know all nien by theses Presents, that 7. A. II.
Attorney of G ID, by the annexed Power duly CON
stituted and appointed, do, byvirtue of the pow
er OF Substitution with which / am thereby ex
pressly invested, make, constitute and appoint Il
of-SSc. 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 I
were personally present.
In witness wfereofI have hereunto set nv
hand and seal at-this-day OLA. d..
(Signed) Alb. Iseall
J., q III, Notary Public, &c.
dohereby declare and make known, that the a.
eove substitution was duly executed by the a.
toresaid A Il, before me. In Testimony whereof
have hereunto affixed my Official Seal and Sig.
nature, at-this-day Of, A. ID. 49,.
N. Is. AS there are many Sections of the u
States where Notary Public does not commonly
oihciate-the aforesaid substitution shall be there
legalized by the Official attestation Of the Clerk
OF the County Court.
a. In the information heretofore published re-
iative to ascertaning Legitimate heir at Lazvr
who may apply for Military Bounty Land in
Right of deceased Soldier, the expressica,
" Certificates from competent authority has
been thought by some, not sufficiently explicit
Ito remove, therefore, all doubt on this point in
future, be it known that this Insertion of the term
competent authority" arose from representa-
lions ofiong standing at this office, conrmatIve of
the fact that in dierentStates component parts of
ofthe American Union, the legal mode of proving
Heirship" for the purposes of inheriting Real
Estate, is different from that practised 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 SO pretending, TO be " legitimate
Heir at Law" should be required first to exhibit
his proof of it to that Tribunal, or Civil Officer
that is authorised by the Constitution and Laws
OF the State wherein he resides to take cognizance
of the point i'll question: for local other purpo-
SEES. duly authenticated Certificate from that
Tribunal, or Public Officer, has ever been, and
will continue to be deemed at this Office concu-
sive Evidence in such Case Thus, an Official
Certificate declarative of the fact that such an
one is /" Legitimate Heir at Law Of such an one
issued by A Court of RECORD, An Ordinary, 4
JUICE oP PnoDATE-according to the Laws and
usages of different States, have been deemed
equally admissible at this Office.
IL should be observed, however, that in cases
Postbumous Claims to the Military Bounty Landf
authorised by an Act of Congress Of the 10th of
December, 1914, it Is essential that the Claimant
should estnblish, not only that he is "a legitimate
Heir at Law" but also the particular degree of
consanguinity he bore to the deceased Soldier in
whose Right ne claims.
S. Although the Rules viii be adhered to, not
to issue LAID Warrant to an Executor, nor to
al Admins trator, yet in all cases where {" the
legitimate Heirs at Law" are Minors, a Guardian
constituted and appointed in conformity with the
Laws of the State where the seid Minors reside,
may obtain Land, Warrant in Trust for them, ON
his exhibiting at this Office Official Credentials
proving his sad quality.
.NoDem6er %, 1915.
GTThc Pointers authorised to publish the
Laws of the U. States arerequested to insert the
above three times