The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-10-26

ing wife and children, or a widower, or an
unmarried person under twenty-one years OF
age, having a family, either of relatives Or
others depending upon him, or hired persons
or slaves
All the facts respecting the settlement in
person, inhabitancy or personal residence, the
tame of commencement, the manner and extent
of continuance, as well as those showing the
apparent objects, should be stated.
1t must be stated, that the claimant made
the settlement on the land in person ; that he
has erected a dwelling upon the land that
the claimant lived in it, and made it his home,
&c. By this means, you will be enabled to de-
termine whether Or not the requisites of the law
have been complied with in any given case.
Should you decide against claimant, who,
feeling dissatisfied with such decision. may re-
quest in writing, the opinion of this Office there
on, you will forthwith forward all the original
papers touching said claim, and a brief report
of your reasons for rejecting it; and, in the
mean time, will not permit the land claimed to
be entered or sold without an order from the
Department..
The affidavit of the claimant in reference to
the fact of settlement, &C., need not be required.
1t is in no case legal evidence on these points,
and therefore should not form part of the
proof in reference thereto. The onis affidavit
required of the claimant is that prescribed by
the 18th section of the act which is to be ia
ken before the Register or Receiver. See form
{, hereto annexed
No entry must be permitted until this af6-
davit is taken. Duplicates thereof must be
signed by the claimant, and the fact of the
oath being taken must be certified by the
Register or Receiver administering it, one copy
to be filed in your ofise, and the other to be
transmitted to this Office Each entry made,
by virtue Of this act, must be designated by
marking On the margin of your quarterly &C
counts and monthly abstracts opposite 10 the
tract, the abbreviation of Prem, 184l," and
On the face of the receipt and of the certificate,
"Pre-emption Act of lS41."
You will continue, unbroken, the regular Sc
ries of numbers and certificates. The original
proof, affidavit, and receipt, must be fled with
the certificate Of purchase, in each case; each
paper being appropriately endorsed, and trans
mitted to this Cfice, with your monthly alb
stract which must contain and show the sg-
gregate of lands cold, and the purchase money,
at the foot Of the abstract. Also, O separate
aggregate of the lands sold, and the purchase
money, under each Of the pre- emption acts by
virtue of which any entries in that month may
be made. No excuse can be allowed for neg
Ggence in observing this direction.
The forms for applications, receipts and GER
tihcatcs, will be the same as those used for pri-
vate entries-the distinct provision for land
subject to private entry rendering a separate
form for lands of the latter description unne-
cessary.
Very respectfully, gentlemen, your obedient
servant E. NJ. HUNTINGTON,
Commissioner.
The Register If the Land Office, and
Reesivsr Of Public Moneys, Land Office at
DecIarstory statements of settler on land subject
to private entry the date of settlement required
by the 18th section of tho act of 4th September,
lS4I.
Form A.
For cases uhere, at the date of the la,c the land
claimed Das subject to private entry.
l, A B., of -, being 1.-THE head of fam
lily, or widow, or single man over the age of
twenty-one years as the case may be- and a
citizen Of the United States, or having fled my
declaration to become a citizen, as required BY
the naturalization laws, as the case may be,
have, since the LIST day of June, 1910, to wit
on the - day Of -, A. D. 1874, set
tied and improved the - quarter section
number -, in township number
Of range number -, in the district of
lands subject to sale at the land office at -,
and containing - acres, which land acGs
subject to private entry at the passage of the act
Of 4th September, 1S4l; and do hereby de-
clare my intention to claim the said tract of
land as a presumption right under the provi-
sions of said act of 4th September, 184l.
Given under my hand, this -- day of
-, A. d. 1874.
(Signed) A. B.