Clare wrote >Elizabeth City Co. (VA) Court, 24 March 1845 issued Exchange Warrant 522 to Solomon Russell, Robert Russell, William P. Russell and Betsey Russell. These warrants were issued in exchange of 7250. Recorded Book 3, Page 516, Va. L. Off.< I don't know how the Elizabeth City Court could issue an Exchange Warrant unless it were intended for use within Elizabeth City. "in exchange of 7250"--??? was this the number of the original Land Warrant issued to (or supposed to be issued to) Bonwell? A Land Warrant was authorization for a surveyor to lay out a pretty specific acreage of land within a specified jurisdiction under control of the issuing authority. An exchange warrant was issued when there was some impediment to timely use of the original Land Warrant, such as loss by fire, death, etc. There were usually time limits within which the land should be claimed and settled. Was Bonwell's service in the War of 1812? I know some Arkansas land was set aside for redemption of War of 1812 Bounty Land, but am not sure where else VA's land warrants were to be used. In any event, the Land Warrants were not for specific parcels (except for much earlier ones issued "in right of settlement" and their collateral pre-emption warrants). Usually the persons issued such Warrants sold them, often to speculators who would collect a bunch and then use them in a group to claim a large enough parcel of land to make the travel to claim far-off land, have it surveyed, pay the surveyor, and then pay a sum per acre to have the Grant issued by the Land Office. Often when the Warrants were sold, a simple assignment was written and signed on the back of the Warrant document itself. In your case, there might be a deed selling the Warrant recorded in Elizabeth City Deeds. This would also be the place to look for any land owned by the Russells and sold by them. Wish I could come up with something more definitive, but hope this helps. Further queries on a message board or Mailing List for Elizabeth City might prompt some real assistance. Good hunting, Judy</HTML>

Judy, Thank you so very much for responding. Your info was helpful. Thomas Bonwell was in the VA State Navy and a court document dated 1831 said that he went to sea about 40 years ago and has not been heard from since. His only heirs would be 6 brothers and sisters or their children. In reading the info from "VA Soldiers of 1776" it appears that "in exchange of 7250" this was the total amount of land to be distributed among the heirs. The sentence was not clear nor did it say 7285 of what. It just states "Warrant 7285 was issued, 16 Nov., 1832". Added to that, some of the info is from Accomack Co. Court and some is from Elizabeth City Co., Court. To add to the confusion, I don't understand how a warrant could be issued in 1832 and the heirs sign for the distribution Aug. 1831. Va. Soldiers of 1776 states "The original certificate of allowance was as follows: - Exec. Dept. May 1st., 1832. Thomas Bonwell is allowed L.B. for his services as a Master in the Va. state navy. John Floyd, Gov." It doesn't say which county. Where would the Exec. Dept. be located? Sorry I am so stupid about this. I can't determine if he was in the Rev. War or the War of 1812. I know our ancestor got something but I would like to know what and where. Thanks again ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 8:07 PM Subject: Re: [LDR] Elizabeth City Court, Va. 1845 exchange warrant > Clare wrote >Elizabeth City Co. (VA) Court, 24 March 1845 issued Exchange > Warrant 522 to Solomon Russell, Robert Russell, William P. Russell and > Betsey > Russell. These warrants were issued in exchange of 7250. Recorded Book 3, > Page 516, Va. L. Off.< > > I don't know how the Elizabeth City Court could issue an Exchange Warrant > unless it were intended for use within Elizabeth City. > > "in exchange of 7250"--??? was this the number of the original Land > Warrant > issued to (or supposed to be issued to) Bonwell? > > A Land Warrant was authorization for a surveyor to lay out a pretty > specific acreage of land within a specified jurisdiction under control of > the > issuing authority. > > An exchange warrant was issued when there was some impediment to timely > use > of the original Land Warrant, such as loss by fire, death, etc. There > were > usually time limits within which the land should be claimed and settled. > > Was Bonwell's service in the War of 1812? I know some Arkansas land was > set aside for redemption of War of 1812 Bounty Land, but am not sure where > else VA's land warrants were to be used. > > In any event, the Land Warrants were not for specific parcels (except for > much earlier ones issued "in right of settlement" and their collateral > pre-emption warrants). Usually the persons issued such Warrants sold > them, often > to speculators who would collect a bunch and then use them in a group to > claim a large enough parcel of land to make the travel to claim far-off > land, > have it surveyed, pay the surveyor, and then pay a sum per acre to have > the > Grant issued by the Land Office. > > Often when the Warrants were sold, a simple assignment was written and > signed on the back of the Warrant document itself. > > In your case, there might be a deed selling the Warrant recorded in > Elizabeth City Deeds. This would also be the place to look for any land > owned by > the Russells and sold by them. > > Wish I could come up with something more definitive, but hope this helps. > Further queries on a message board or Mailing List for Elizabeth City > might > prompt some real assistance. > > Good hunting, > Judy</HTML> > *************************************** > QUESTIONS about POSTING GUIDELINES, SUBSCRIBING or UNSUBSCRIBING? > Visit The Lower DelMarVa Roots Mailing List FAQ: > http://www.tyaskin.com/handley/ldrfaq.htm > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message