>My great-grandmother, Susan (Susanna) Shaw came to Grayson County before >1853 with her family. Her husband was Napoleon B. Shaw, and they >brought several children with them from Missouri. >Napoleon died in August, 1858, according to a petition brought by Susan >Shaw in September, 1858. >On 7 January 1859, a deed was drawn to convey land Napoleon bought but >was not conveyed to him before his death, to his heirs, Susannah Shaw, >the widow and Nathan Franklin Shaw, Nero Shaw, Cordelia Shaw and >Napoleon B. Shaw, the children and heirs. Exactly what were the circumstances of this conveyance? If he was entitled to a land grant from the state of Texas and had not had it surveyed yet, they could have already been living on this land, long before legal ownership was filed. >It is my understanding that a married woman could not buy land >independent of her husband. The Napoleon Shaw family came to Grayson >County in the early 1850's and Napoleon died in 1858. >Yet, there are two documents in which Susanah (sic) made land >transactions prior to her husband's death. One is a bond involving 93 >acres and was signed on 6 March 1854. The deed for that land was >conveyed to Susanah Shaw on (no day) of January, A.D. 1856. >How did this come about? Is my assumption about a married woman buying >land correct? If so, what happened? Your assumption is wrong. If she inherited land from her parents, she could retain this as separate property. However, I would have to examine these deeds word for word to know exactly the circumstances. Things to look for.... If it was a purchase deeded to her, look at the amount. Is it very low in comparison for the same number of acres in the community? Then perhaps a brother or father were essentially giving her the land. If they were concerned that her husband would take the land and sell it, then they would deed it directly to her (usually in her married name though). I have seen woman head-of-household residents of the Republic of Texas receive land grants. If these were land grants take notice of which kind and the requirements of that type of grant. See http://www.glo.state.tx.us/archives/info.html This might give you a clue as to why and who you are looking for. (For instance maybe Susanna inherited from her father or brother that came during the Republic of Texas years). Be sure to back up in the deed records until you find the person that was granted the land originally. Take note of who were her witnesses. That could give you some clues also. Were these people near her on the census? Is this her madien name? Did someone of the same name entry a land grant or survey on the same day? Who was the surveyor and chain carriers? Usually at least one of the c.c. (also written s.c.c. for sworn chain carrier) was someone that the land owner trusted very much. Deed records in Texas are a wealth of information! You have done well to locate these transactions, they could definitely yield some exciting information. Good Luck! Jeri Steele, CGRS (Sepcialty North & East Texas Records)