American State Papers Documents of the Congress of The United States In Relation To The Public Lands >From The First Session of the Eighteenth To The Second Session Of The Nineteenth Congress, Inclusive: Commencing December 1, 1823 and Ending March 3, 1827 Selected And Edited Under The Authority of Congress, By Asbury Dickens, Secretary Of The Senate, And James C. Allen, Clerk of The House of Representatives. Volume IV Washington: Published By Gales & Seaton 1859 Page 119 CLAIMS IN LOUISIANA 155. Andrew Bassam, of the parish of Natchitoches, filed his notice claiming, by virtue of occupation, habitation, and cultivation, a tract of land lying within the late neutral territory, situated on the Cany bayou, waters of the Bayou of the Three Prairies, bounded on all sides by vacant land, and containing 640 acres. The claim is supported by the following testimony taken before the board: "F. Gonzales and Martin Dios, being duly sworn, say that they know the land claimed by Andrew Bassam in his above notice; that the same is lying and situate as is therein described; that said land was habited, occupied, and cultivated by the claimant by his living and growing corn, & c., thereon, on and previous to February 22, 1819; that said inhabitation, occupation, and cultivation has been uninterruptedly continued by the claimant since that time to the present day; and that the claimant's improvements on the land claimed embrace about ten acres." We are of opinion this claim ought to be confirmed, and in the abstract have classed it with claims of the "third class." ----------------------------- 1820 Census for Louisiana Natchitoches Parish Jean B. Besson V. Tulicor Besson -------------------------------- Researched and Submitted by Gloria Bushong