Credit for title image: Selection from a sketch entitled "The Scotch Hermitage the Residence of R. Robson near Montgomery Texas" Ayer_Art_Bollaert_00030_o2. William Bollaert pencil sketches of Texas 1836/1844. Edward E. Ayer Digital Collection (Newberry Library)
Early Town of Montgomery Texas, 1831-1835
|
|
1831 The Tale of Two LeaguesAccording to the Montgomery County Clerk Returns (Texas GLO), Owen Shannon (north land grant) had been in Texas since 1821, John Corner (south land grant) since 1829.
Owen Shannon was married to Margaret Montgomery and they had a daughter Nancy Shannon who was married to Charles Garrett. |
Image from Texas GLO
|
|
|
|
1835 Will of Owen Shannon:
Owen Shannon and Margaret Montgomery- as well as Charles Garrett- had been living on William Clark's land Owen Shannon dies in 1835, leaving a will. He discusses his land, where he has been living, and what he has improved- wishing his widow to be able to live there.
One Quarter League of Land being in the neighbor hood of Lake Creek a part of which tract I have agreed to let Wm. Clarke have for somuch as I wish for from him of the tract, on which I now live and have improved say not more than two hundred Acres. Now to the Intent that this my will may have full Effect I heare unto set my hand and seal this 12 April 1835. Owen Shannon Result: Owen Shannon has been living on/improved 200 acres that he wishes from William Clark. Owen Shannon then has been living on land owned by William Clark. Owen Shannon will exchange 200 acres from his land grant for 200 acres from William Clark's land. Where is this land that Owen Shannon has been working, improving, and living prior to 1835? It turns out to be in the John Corner League, just south of Owen Shannon's League. We see this in Owen Shannon's widow's (Margaret Montgomery) September 1835 purchase. |
|
|
September 1835 W. W. Shepperd purchases 200 acres from William Clark in the Corner league
This is where Montgomery supposedly began- where a trading post was....however.... This land was first improved/lived upon by Charles Garrett, husband of Nancy Shannon, daughter of Owen Shannon and Margaret Montgomery See next, the proof of this. |
|
1835 Wm. C. Clark to
Margaret Montgomery Shannon 200 acres in John Corner League Sello Tercero cuatio Reales--Habetetade por el Estado de Coahuila y Texas pard el Ateo 1835 Pago el interesado en esta recepting de mi cargo los cuateo realis valor del Seleo Antice dente In the town of Washington on the 24 day of September 1835 before me Judge of the first Instance of the Jurisdiction of the same name and before the Instrumental witness whose names are signed at the end of this instrument in proof together with those of my assistance with whom I authenticate Appeared the citizen William C. Clark whom I know and to whose act I give faith, who declares that for himself and in the name of his children heirs and successors He sells grants and conveys in public and real sale and perpetual alienation by way of succession right unto Margaret Shannon also a citizen two Hundred and twenty acres of land which are a part of the Six Hundred acre tract of land bought by him of John Corner and a part of the league of land granted to the said Corner by the State of Coahuila and Texas and which two Hundred and Twenty acres are contained within the following limits and boundaries, to wit- Beginning at the South East corner of Charles Garretts 200 acre corner tract off of the same league and sold by him to W. W. Shepperd and title made by said Clark to said Shepperd direct (in September 1835) (Note: Charles Garrett improved/lived upon the land that was sold directly from Clark to Shepperd) Thence East Fifty five chain English Measure or 220 poles-Thence North forty chains or 150 pole to the East and West line the Northern The Northern boundary of the league to a Pin Oak 20 inches in diameter 52 links from the corner or the bank of the Creek bearing North 43° West the corner of the survey being inaccessable in the Creek- Thence West along the Northern boundary line of the league Fifty Five Chain to the North East corner of the said tract sold w. w. Shepperd- Thence south along the line of the aforesaid tract to the place of beginning- Including Two Hundred and Twenty acres as the survey made by Wm. Robinson hereto sold will show and which He the said Clarks declares to be his in property and possession |
Margaret Montgomery Shannon
and her son-in-law Charles Garrett both had 200 tracts from the 600 owned by Clark in the John Corner League 
Image of "Charles Garrett's 200 acre corner tract"
Sold to W. W. Shepperd in 1835 by William Clark. Charles Garrett lived on this "200 acre corner tract" prior to W. W. Shepperd in 1835. |
Bessie Owen and her discussion of the
Owen Shannon and Margaret Montgomery Shannon Trading Post
It can be seen now that this post was indeed, considering the improvements by Owen Shannon, Margaret Montgomery Shannon and his son-in-law, Charles Garrett.
This trading post was in the John Corner League right in the Old Town of Montgomery.
This was before W. W. Shepperd purchased a store in September of 1835 on the Charles Garrett 200 acre tract
Owen Shannon and Margaret Montgomery Shannon Trading Post
It can be seen now that this post was indeed, considering the improvements by Owen Shannon, Margaret Montgomery Shannon and his son-in-law, Charles Garrett.
This trading post was in the John Corner League right in the Old Town of Montgomery.
This was before W. W. Shepperd purchased a store in September of 1835 on the Charles Garrett 200 acre tract
| owen-and-margaret-montgomery-shannon-trading-post-by-bessie-owens-circa-1991.pdf |