In an attempt to figure out whether I was working with one or two men named Thurston Wells, I ordered land entry records from the National Archives. As it turns out, the records I ordered were not for my ancestor, but for the ‘other’ Thurston Wells. The major clue to the difference is that these papers were filed by a single man and my ancestor was married in 1851.

Sworn Declaration and Corroborating Affidavit

To Perfect Titles to Lands Entered for Actual Settlement and Cultivation Under
the Graduation Act of August 4, 1854

Declaration
County of Genesee
State of Michigan

On this 12th day of April 1856, personally
appeared before me, the undersigned R. Bishop Receiver
Genesee Mich for the county and State aforesaid Thurston
Wells, who being duly sworn by me according to law
deposes and says, in relation to the land entered by him the 12th
day of December 1856, per certificate of purchase No. 6047
that the same was for his own use and for the purpose of actual
settlement and cultivation under the provisions of the act of Congress
of 4th August 1854, “to graduate and reduce the price of the public
lands to actual settlers and cultivators,” that he is at this time in the
occupancy of said land, and has been residing thereon since the first
day of May 1855; that he has improved the
same by clearing and fencing about one
acre of the same and that he has erected
a dwelling house thereon and now re
sides in the same
that he has made or entered no contract or agreement, either directly
or indirectly, for the sale or transfer of said land, and that he was
twenty-one years of age at the time he entered the same.
Thurston Wells
Sworn to and subscribed before me, on the day and year first
above written.
R Bishop
Receiver

Corroborating Affidavit
County of Genesee
State of Michigan
Before me, R. Bishop Receiver Genesee Mich
personally appeared John McIntyre who, being duly
sworn according to law, deposes and says, that he is well acquainted
with Thurston Wells who subscribed the foregoing
declaration and knows him to be the identical person who entered the
land described therein, and that he is now, and has been residing on
said land since the first day of May 1855 and that
his statement in regard to the improvements on the land he well
knows from personal observation to be true.
John McIntyre
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 12th day
of April 1856
R. Bishop
Receiver

No. 6047 Receiver’s Office at Genesee, Decr 12 1854
Received form Thurston Wells
of Tuscola County Michigan the sum of Thirty
dollars and _ cents; being in full for the Southwest 1/4 of Southwest quarter of section no. three in Township No. 10 N of Range No 10 E containing forty acres and __ hundredths, at $.75 per acre
$30
R Bishop Receiver

6047
United States Land Office, at Genesee, Michigan
December 12th, 1854
I, Thurston Wells of Tuscola County, State of
Michigan, being a single man, and over twenty-one years of age, and
having applied to enter the South west Quarter of the
South west Quarter of Section Num
ber Three (3)
in Township No. Ten (10) North of Range No. Ten (10)
East, containing forty (40) acres
under the act entitled “An act to graduate and reduce the price of the public lands to actual settlers and
cultivators,” approved 4th August, 1854, do solemnly swear that I enter the same for my own use, for the
purpose of actual settlement and cultivation, and that, together with said entry, I have not acquired form the
United States, under provisions of said act, more than three hundred and twenty acres, according to the
established surveys; and further that that the said land is not now in the occupancy of any settler whose
settlement thereon existed at the date of said law.
Thurston Wells
Sworn to and subscribed before me on
the 12th day of December 1854
R Bishop Receiver

No 6047 Land Office at Genesee December 12 1854
It is hereby certified, that, in pursuance of law, Thurston Wells
Tuscola County, State of Michigan on this day purchased of the Register
of this Office, the lot or South West qr of South West qr
of Section No. Three (3) in Township No. Ten N of Range No. Ten E
containing forty acres, at the rate of
twenty five cents per acres, amounting to Thirty (30
dollars, for which the said Thurston Wells
has made payment in full as required by law.
Now therefore be it known, that on presentation of this Certificate to the
Commissioner of he General Land Office, the said Thurston Wells
shall be entitled to receive a Patent for the lot above described.
Wm M Fenton Register