Friday Find

While working with a BURKE court case, I started digging around in my Burke and BLAND files and uncovered photocopies of pages from the book, Platte County, Missouri Records 1839-1849. While it is likely that I missed some members of my Burke / Bland fan club, my photocopies place several members of these families in Platte County, Missouri prior to 1850.

1839 Platte County Tax List

• Henry F. Burk
• Several ANDERSONs – while I haven’t researched these Andersons, they likely should be in my Burke/Bland fan club since Henry F. Burk’s wife was a daughter of Sarah Susan Anderson.

1847 Platte County Tax List

• Burk Elizabeth – wife of Henry Burke who died in 1845

1849 Platte County Tax List

• Wm P Bland – with 10 taxable property – likely brother of Elizabeth (Bland) Burke
• M. M. Bland – with 2146 taxable property – likely brother of Elizabeth (Bland) Burke
• Elizabeth Burk – with 305 taxable property
• Alfred Kirkpatrick – with 639 taxable property – likly husband of Elizabeth (Bland) Burke’s sister, Mahala P. Bland

Unfortunately, the original tax records for Platte County, Missouri are not listed in the FamilySearch catalog. Thus, I wasn’t able to verify the information in the book with the original records.

In addition to the tax records, my photocopy includes a map of the land owners in Township No 54 North of Range 36 West in Platte County, Missouri. This map shows Henry F. Burke with land in section 27 and Alfred Kirkpatrick with land in section 34.

A search of the First Landowner’s Project (History Geo.com) revealed that both Henry Burke and Alfred Kirkpatrick were original land owners.

While M. M. Bland owned a large portion of land in 1849, the Bland surname was not found in the First Landowner’s Project in Platte County. While I have a deed for the sale of some Platte county, Missouri land, I don’t have a Platte County deed for the purchase of the land. Unfortunately, the early deeds for Platte County have not been digitized. Thus, I will need to dig thru my files to see if I already have a copy of such deed. Otherwise, a trip to Platte City, may be in order next spring.

Since Henry Burke was listed in the First Landowners Project, I also searched the Bureau of Land Management Records for Henry Burke. I found a patent dated 1 April 1846 (after his death) for the land in section 27.

359

Preemption Certificate
No. 927

The United States of America
To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting:
Whereas Henry F Burke of Platte County Missouri

has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States, a Certificate of the Register of the
Land Office at Plattsburg whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said
Henry F Burke
according to the provisions of the
Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled u8220“An Act making further provisions for the sale of the Public Lands,u8221” for
the North East quarter of section twenty seven, in township
fifty four of Range thirty six in the District of Lands subject
to sale at Plattsburg Missouri, containing one hundred
and sixty acres

according to the official plat of survey of said Lands, returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor
General, which said tract has been purchased by the said Henry F Burke
Now know ye, that the
United States of America, in consideration of the Premises, and in conformity with the several acts of congress,
in such case made and provided, Have Given and Granted, and by these presents Do Give and Grant
unto the said Henry F Burke
and to his heirs, the said tract above described: To have and to hold the same, together with all the rights,
privileges, immunities, and appurtenances of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging unto the said Henry
F Burke
and to his heirs and assigns forever.
In Testimony whereof, I, James K Polk
President of the United States of America, have caused these Letters to be made Patent, and
the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the first day of April
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty six and of the
Independence of the United States the seventieth
By the President: James K Polk
By J [?non] Walker Secu8217’y
J M [Lamphin] Recorder of the General Land Office

United States Bureau of Land Management, “General Land Office Records,” database with images, BLM.Gov (: viewed online 2 September 2022), Henry F Burke.

The pages from this book are like an index to other records. Thus, I’m thankful I took the time to use this resource and to copy pages for at least some of my Burke / Bland fan club.