{"product_id":"1847-virginia-land-grant-signed-by-governor-william-extra-billy-smith-augusta-county-original-commonwealth-seal","title":"1847 Virginia Land Grant Signed by Governor William \"Extra Billy\" Smith – Augusta County – Original Commonwealth Seal","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"3052\" data-end=\"3424\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eAn original Commonwealth of Virginia land grant signed by \u003cstrong data-start=\"3110\" data-end=\"3162\"\u003eGovernor William \"Extra Billy\" Smith (1797–1887)\u003c\/strong\u003e, dated \u003cstrong data-start=\"3170\" data-end=\"3187\"\u003eMarch 1, 1847\u003c\/strong\u003e, during his first term as Governor of Virginia. Smith later became one of the oldest Confederate field commanders during the Civil War before returning to serve a second term as Virginia's governor. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3426\" data-end=\"3741\"\u003eThis official grant conveys \u003cstrong data-start=\"3454\" data-end=\"3477\"\u003e62 acres and 2 rods\u003c\/strong\u003e to \u003cstrong data-start=\"3481\" data-end=\"3499\"\u003eJames A. Brown\u003c\/strong\u003e in \u003cstrong data-start=\"3503\" data-end=\"3531\"\u003eAugusta County, Virginia\u003c\/strong\u003e, located on the \u003cstrong data-start=\"3548\" data-end=\"3575\"\u003eeast side of Back Creek\u003c\/strong\u003e. The property is described by an extensive handwritten metes-and-bounds survey prepared from an August 17, 1846 survey under Land Office Treasury Warrant No. 16,134.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3743\" data-end=\"4071\"\u003eA particularly desirable feature is the \u003cstrong data-start=\"3783\" data-end=\"3847\"\u003eoriginal embossed paper seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia\u003c\/strong\u003e, displaying the iconic image of \u003cstrong data-start=\"3880\" data-end=\"3912\"\u003eVirtus standing over Tyranny\u003c\/strong\u003e with the state motto \u003cstrong data-start=\"3934\" data-end=\"3960\"\u003e\"Sic Semper Tyrannis.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e The seal is exceptionally well preserved and greatly enhances the document's visual appeal and collectability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4073\" data-end=\"4437\"\u003ePrinted on laid paper with extensive manuscript entries, the grant retains contemporary docketing on the reverse and is boldly signed by Governor William Smith. Documents from Smith's first gubernatorial administration are increasingly sought by collectors of Virginia history, the Mexican-American War era, Civil War figures, and early American legal manuscripts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"417\" data-end=\"444\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"417\" data-end=\"426\"\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong data-start=\"427\" data-end=\"444\"\u003eMarch 1, 1847\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"446\" data-end=\"473\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"446\" data-end=\"459\"\u003eGovernor:\u003c\/strong\u003e William Smith\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"475\" data-end=\"506\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"475\" data-end=\"487\"\u003eGrantee:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong data-start=\"488\" data-end=\"506\"\u003eJames A. Brown\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"508\" data-end=\"540\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"508\" data-end=\"524\"\u003eSurvey Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e August 17, 1846\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"542\" data-end=\"574\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"542\" data-end=\"563\"\u003eTreasury Warrant:\u003c\/strong\u003e No. 16,134\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"576\" data-end=\"613\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"576\" data-end=\"589\"\u003eProperty:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong data-start=\"590\" data-end=\"613\"\u003e62 acres and 2 rods\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"615\" data-end=\"693\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"615\" data-end=\"628\"\u003eLocation:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong data-start=\"629\" data-end=\"657\"\u003eAugusta County, Virginia\u003c\/strong\u003e, on the \u003cstrong data-start=\"666\" data-end=\"693\"\u003eeast side of Back Creek\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"695\" data-end=\"906\"\u003eThe tract is described by a complete metes-and-bounds survey, referencing neighboring landowners, white oak, pine stumps, chestnut oak, ridges, gullies, and survey lines typical of Shenandoah Valley land grants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"908\" data-end=\"911\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"lcwffk\" data-start=\"913\" data-end=\"936\"\u003eOutstanding Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"938\" data-end=\"1049\"\u003eThis example is considerably more desirable than an average mid-19th century Virginia grant because it retains:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"1051\" data-end=\"1371\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1y07i3x\" data-start=\"1051\" data-end=\"1099\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1053\" data-end=\"1099\"\u003eWilliam Smith's large manuscript signature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1er4btm\" data-start=\"1100\" data-end=\"1159\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1102\" data-end=\"1159\"\u003eOriginal embossed Commonwealth of Virginia paper seal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"gx8p6z\" data-start=\"1160\" data-end=\"1268\"\u003eThe beautifully preserved \u003cstrong data-start=\"1188\" data-end=\"1213\"\u003e\"Virtus over Tyranny\"\u003c\/strong\u003e design with the state motto \u003cstrong data-start=\"1242\" data-end=\"1268\"\u003e\"Sic Semper Tyrannis.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1glnfq0\" data-start=\"1269\" data-end=\"1331\"\u003eOriginal docketing and recording endorsements on the reverse\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"scfd8x\" data-start=\"1332\" data-end=\"1371\"\u003eComplete legal description and survey\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1373\" data-end=\"1492\"\u003eCollectors strongly prefer grants retaining their original paper seals, as many have been removed or damaged over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"1494\" data-end=\"1497\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"ery58m\" data-start=\"1499\" data-end=\"1520\"\u003eHistorical Context\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1522\" data-end=\"2011\"\u003eGovernor William \"Extra Billy\" Smith issued this grant during his \u003cstrong data-start=\"1588\" data-end=\"1616\"\u003efirst gubernatorial term\u003c\/strong\u003e, only one year after taking office. His administration coincided with the \u003cstrong data-start=\"1691\" data-end=\"1727\"\u003eMexican-American War (1846–1848)\u003c\/strong\u003e, a period of continued westward settlement and land development throughout Virginia. Smith later returned to public prominence as one of the oldest Confederate generals to command troops in the Civil War before serving a second term as governor. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"2013\" data-end=\"2016\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"hrykuu\" data-start=\"2018\" data-end=\"2030\"\u003eCondition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"2059\" data-end=\"2337\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"13ydfv6\" data-start=\"2059\" data-end=\"2091\"\u003eVery good original laid paper.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"3luqix\" data-start=\"2092\" data-end=\"2122\"\u003eStrong manuscript signature.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"195zmsq\" data-start=\"2123\" data-end=\"2170\"\u003eOriginal embossed Virginia seal fully intact.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1kst1my\" data-start=\"2171\" data-end=\"2218\"\u003eTypical horizontal and vertical filing folds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"17705pj\" data-start=\"2219\" data-end=\"2238\"\u003eMinor age toning.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1r8hpgd\" data-start=\"2239\" data-end=\"2257\"\u003eLight wrinkling.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"melrkn\" data-start=\"2258\" data-end=\"2305\"\u003eReverse docketing and recording endorsements.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1xtoie5\" data-start=\"2306\" data-end=\"2337\"\u003eExcellent overall eye appeal.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2339\" data-end=\"2373\"\u003eOverall condition: \u003cstrong data-start=\"2358\" data-end=\"2372\"\u003eVery Good+\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52581708955930,"sku":null,"price":995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_1783.jpg?v=1784999224","url":"https:\/\/princetonaudubonprints.com\/products\/1847-virginia-land-grant-signed-by-governor-william-extra-billy-smith-augusta-county-original-commonwealth-seal","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}