Hiram Currey’s Bounty Land Warrant
In a recent post, I wrote about my 3rd-great-grandfather, Hiram M. Currey, who disappeared from records before 1850. I followed that mystery with an AI-generated research plan to help me track down new clues. One of the discoveries from that plan was a Bounty Land Warrant issued to a Hiram M. Currey who assigned land in Iowa to John Beyer.
According to that warrant, Hiram Currey had served as a private in Captain Beall’s Company of Louisiana Volunteers during the Mexican-American War. Naturally, my first thought was that this could be my Hiram Currey—but as every genealogist knows, names can be deceiving. There were other men named Hiram Currey (and Curry) living at the time, so I can’t yet claim this soldier as my ancestor.
The FamilySearch database “Mexican War Index and Service Records, 1846–1848” confirms that a Hiram Curry served in the 3rd Louisiana Regiment. My ancestor, however, had earlier military experience in the Black Hawk War and was known as a lawyer in Peoria County, Illinois—with no evidence linking him to Louisiana or to Captain Beall’s command.
So, while this bounty land record is an intriguing lead, the connection remains unproven. More research—perhaps through pension files, land assignments, or Louisiana enlistment rolls—will be needed to determine whether this soldier was indeed the same Hiram M. Currey who once practiced law in Peoria.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:
WHEREAS, In pursuance of the Act of Congress, approved March 3, 1855, entitled an “An Act in addition to certain Acts granting Bounty Land to certain Officers and Soldiers who have been engaged in the military service of the United States,” there has been deposited in the GENERAL LAND OFFICE,
Warrant No. 11052 for 120 acres, in favor of Hiram Currey,
a Private in Captain Beall’s Company of Louisiana Volunteers
War with Mexico,
with evidence that the same has been duly located upon the West fractional half of the South West quarter and the North East quarter of the South West fractional quarter of Section Seven in Township Eighty-three North of Range Thirteen West, in the District of Lands formerly subject to sale at Iowa City now Fort Des Moines Iowa, containing one hundred and thirty four acres and thirteen hundredths of an acre,
according to the Official Plat of the Survey of said Lands returned to the GENERAL LAND OFFICE by the SURVEYOR GENERAL. The said warrant having been assigned by the said Hiram Currey to John Beyer in whose favor the said tract has been located.
NOW KNOW YE, That there is therefore granted by the UNITED STATES unto the said John Beyer as assignee as aforesaid and to his heirs
the tract of Land above described: TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said tract of Land with the appurtenances thereof, unto the said John Beyer as assignee as aforesaid and to his heirs and assigns forever.
In testimony whereof, I, Franklin Pierce,
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 Twentieth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty seven, and of the INDEPENDENCE OF THE UNITED STATES the Eighty first.
BY THE PRESIDENT:
Franklin Pierce
By G. G. Greene Sec’y
J. N. Granger
Recorder of the General Land Office