[reposted from 2014]
This 1852 era military bounty land warrant was issued to James Kile for his service in an Ohio unit in the War of 1812. The illustrations serve political purposes and probably were included to make the warrants more difficult to reproduce and forge. That’s also probably why the blue ink was used in the middle of the document as well.
We’ve marked the seven images used on the warrant. I’m pretty certain I know what three of them are.
- 1-a shield with 13 stars and 13 stripes and a “40” to reference the fact that the warrant was for 40 acres
- 4-looks like George Washington
What are your thoughts on the other individuals pictured in this warrant?
It would have been nicer if they had put a picture of the man who received the warrant on the warrant. There are already enough pictures of George Washington (grin!).
Thomas Vilfroy says:
Michael
This is ONLY a guess mine, you but could images 3 and 4 be pictures of President and/or Vice President? They have that “feel” of someone important. Or maybe, if not US Presidents (since in 1852 would be Millard Fillmore..and neither appear to be “white hair” with his likeness), a picture of the secretary of interior at the time perhaps?!?
The image 3 LOOKS similiar to Alexander Hugh Holmes Stuart, the secretary of interior at that time of 1852
link:
https://www.doi.gov/whoweare/past_secretaries#stuart
perhaps 4 is maybe the undersecretary?!?
I’m guessing image #6 is just a general picture of nobody of importance. Image #2 maybe likewise (or a comissioner, since those words appear underneath it)