John Catron

“ That the complainants are entitled to the lands in two surveys, at the places described in the petition, is not questioned; the difficulty is, could the interested party elect to abandon his first locations, and then multiply the tracts?
By the 8th article of the Florida treaty, no grants made after the 24th of January 1818, were valid; nor could a survey be valid on lands other than those authorized by the grant; still, the power to survey in conformity to the concession existed up to the change of flags. ”

“ In 1819, a trade of 10,000 acres was surveyed at Trout creek. In February 1820, another of 4000 acres was surveyed thirty miles off at Turnbull's swamp; and the remaining 2000 acres at Bowleg's hammock, some thirty miles in a different direction. It was proved, that no more than 10,000 acres could be had at Trout creek, because of interfering elder claims, and injury to third persons. The court adjudged, in effect, that the equivalent referred to quantity rather than form of survey; and that the 6000 acres deficient, could be surveyed on any vacant lands in the province, and in several surveys ”

“ The claim was founded on a petition of George Atkinson, merchant, of Fernandina, dated October 8th, 1816; and a decree of Governor Coppinger thereon, dated October 20th, 1816. The petition stated many services rendered to government, and benefits conferred on the province; and prayed that his excellency would be pleased 'to grant him, in property, fifteen thousand acres of land in Cedar Swamp, and on the west of the lake named Upper Little Lake.' The governor's decree stated, that, in consideration of the merits cited, he granted him, in property, the lands he solicited in the petition ”