land warrant

A warrant for land under the Virginia system may strictly be termed a chose in action. It is the mere evidence of executory contract between the State and a citizen. Bounties in land had been promised to the army, by various laws, as a reward for military services. Where the services were performed, the relation between the parties was that of debtor and creditor.

A transferable government certificate entitling its holder to be put in possession of a designated quantity of public land, under a land grant or other appropriation of land by congress. The possession of a warrant at the land office is sufficient authority to make locations under it, and letters of attorney are unnecessary; Galt V. Galloway, 4 Pet. (U. S.) 332. 7 L. Ed. 876. The locator of a warrant undertakes himself to find waste and unappropriated land, and his patent Issues under his information to the government and at his own risk; he cannot be considered as a purchaser without notice; Taylor v. Brown, 5 Cra. (U. S.) 234, 3 L. Ed. 88. A power of attorney given by the holder of a land warrant from the general court authorities, the attorney to locate the land for his own sole use and benefit, and to sell the same and receive payment therefor, is manifestly designed to transfer the Interest of the holder of the warrant in violation of the act of congress in that respect, and is void; Nichols V. Nichols, 3 Chand. (Wis.) 189. Evidence of the payment of the purchase money due the state of Pennsylvania on a land warrant clothes the person paying it with the ownership of the warrant and with the right to maintain ejectment for the land; Murphy V. Packer, 152 U. S. 398, 14 Sup. Ct. 636, 38 L. Ed. 489. Land warrants are not to be regarded as real estate in a probate settlement; Moody V. Hutchinson, 44 Me. 67. See Lands, Public; Land Patent.

A warrant issued at the local land offices of the United States to purchasers of public lands, on the surrender of which at the general land office at Washington, they receive a conveyance from the general government.

Defined under Warrant in Black's Law Dictionary.

The evidence which the state, on good consideration, givea that the person therein named is entitled to the quantity of land therein specilied, the bounds and description of which the owner of the warrant may fix by entry and survey, in the section of country set apart for its location and satisfaction. 6 Yerg. 205,