James Monroe Signed 1817 Military Bounty Land Patent — War of 1812 Veteran — Illinois
James Monroe Presidential Land Patent — 1817
Issued to Covington Mezzick, Private in the 38th Regiment of Infantry
An important original military bounty-land patent signed by President James Monroe during his first year in office, granting 160 acres in the Territory of Illinois to Covington Mezzick, a private in Rothrock's Company of the Thirty-Eighth Regiment of Infantry.
The patent grants:
160 acres — Southwest Quarter of Section 13, Township 2 North, Range 6 West, Territory of Illinois
The grant was issued under the Acts of Congress appropriating and granting land to soldiers of the late Army of the United States. It represents the federal government's compensation of veterans of the War of 1812 through military bounty land.
The document bears the original presidential signature of James Monroe, fifth President of the United States, together with the signature of Josiah Meigs, Commissioner of the General Land Office. The official government seal remains attached.
The patent is identified as Warrant No. 13,691. The surviving index to the Illinois Military Patent Book records Covington Mezzick on page 64, providing important documentary confirmation of the grant.
The unusual name of Covington Mezzick is also of particular historical interest. Contemporary genealogical records identify a Covington Messick in the Delaware/Maryland Eastern Shore region, and War of 1812 muster records contain the name “Coventon Mezzick.” Further research may establish the veteran's family and military history.
This document is especially desirable because it combines an original James Monroe presidential signature, first-year-of-presidency dating, War of 1812 military service, an Illinois military bounty-land grant, an identified veteran, and an original federal government seal.
President: James Monroe (1758–1831)
Office: President of the United States
Date: 1817
Recipient: Covington Mezzick
Military Rank: Private
Unit: Rothrock's Company, 38th Regiment of Infantry
Warrant: No. 13,691
Land: 160 acres
Location: Southwest Quarter, Section 13, Township 2 North, Range 6 West, Territory of Illinois
Commissioner: Josiah Meigs, Commissioner of the General Land Office
Historical Period: War of 1812 / Early American Republic
Condition: Original with substantial period folds, toning, foxing, edge wear and losses, and wear surrounding the paper seal. Monroe's signature remains clearly visible.
A highly collectible piece of presidential, military, and early Illinois history, documenting the federal government's compensation of a War of 1812 veteran during the opening year of James Monroe's presidency.
More info...
Covington Mezzick
described as a private in Rothrock's Company, 38th Regiment of Infantry.
It grants him:
160 acres
the Southwest Quarter of Section 13, Township 2 North, Range 6 West, in the Territory of Illinois.
The patent is Warrant No. 13,691.
The document is signed:
- James Monroe, President of the United States
- Josiah Meigs, Commissioner of the General Land Office
The printed text specifically states that the grant is made pursuant to the acts of Congress appropriating land to the late Army of the United States—the federal military bounty-land program for veterans of the War of 1812.
The surviving index to the Illinois military patent book confirms “Mezzick, Covington” on page 64, providing particularly useful documentary corroboration for this exact recipient.
An important additional discovery
Covington Mezzick was associated with the Delaware/Maryland Eastern Shore Messick family.
A genealogical history records a Covington Messick who married Hannah Tindal in 1816, and the family was established in Delaware.
Even more interestingly, a War of 1812 muster compilation contains the name “Coventon Mezzick” among Maryland Eastern Shore militia personnel in 1813.
We do not yet state that the two records are definitively the same man, because the patent identifies him as a federal 38th Regiment infantryman rather than simply a Maryland militia soldier. But the unusual name makes the connection quite plausible and worth pursuing through the National Archives pension/military records.
Date
The patent is clearly a 1817 Monroe document, and the handwritten date appears to be in November 1817. The wording visible on the document reads:
“Washington, this ___ day of November in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen…”
This places it in Monroe's first year as President, which adds substantially to its desirability.
James Monroe Presidential Land Patent — 1817
Issued to Covington Mezzick, Private in the 38th Regiment of Infantry
An important original military bounty-land patent signed by President James Monroe during his first year in office, granting 160 acres in the Territory of Illinois to Covington Mezzick, a private in Rothrock's Company of the Thirty-Eighth Regiment of Infantry.
The patent grants:
160 acres — Southwest Quarter of Section 13, Township 2 North, Range 6 West, Territory of Illinois
The grant was issued under the Acts of Congress appropriating and granting land to soldiers of the late Army of the United States. It represents the federal government's compensation of veterans of the War of 1812 through military bounty land.
The document bears the original presidential signature of James Monroe, fifth President of the United States, together with the signature of Josiah Meigs, Commissioner of the General Land Office. The official government seal remains attached.
The patent is identified as Warrant No. 13,691. The surviving index to the Illinois Military Patent Book records Covington Mezzick on page 64, providing important documentary confirmation of the grant.
The unusual name of Covington Mezzick is also of particular historical interest. Contemporary genealogical records identify a Covington Messick in the Delaware/Maryland Eastern Shore region, and War of 1812 muster records contain the name “Coventon Mezzick.” Further research may establish the veteran's family and military history.
This document is especially desirable because it combines an original James Monroe presidential signature, first-year-of-presidency dating, War of 1812 military service, an Illinois military bounty-land grant, an identified veteran, and an original federal government seal.
President: James Monroe (1758–1831)
Office: President of the United States
Date: 1817
Recipient: Covington Mezzick
Military Rank: Private
Unit: Rothrock's Company, 38th Regiment of Infantry
Warrant: No. 13,691
Land: 160 acres
Location: Southwest Quarter, Section 13, Township 2 North, Range 6 West, Territory of Illinois
Commissioner: Josiah Meigs, Commissioner of the General Land Office
Historical Period: War of 1812 / Early American Republic
Condition: Original with substantial period folds, toning, foxing, edge wear and losses, and wear surrounding the paper seal. Monroe's signature remains clearly visible.
A highly collectible piece of presidential, military, and early Illinois history, documenting the federal government's compensation of a War of 1812 veteran during the opening year of James Monroe's presidency.
More info...
Covington Mezzick
described as a private in Rothrock's Company, 38th Regiment of Infantry.
It grants him:
160 acres
the Southwest Quarter of Section 13, Township 2 North, Range 6 West, in the Territory of Illinois.
The patent is Warrant No. 13,691.
The document is signed:
- James Monroe, President of the United States
- Josiah Meigs, Commissioner of the General Land Office
The printed text specifically states that the grant is made pursuant to the acts of Congress appropriating land to the late Army of the United States—the federal military bounty-land program for veterans of the War of 1812.
The surviving index to the Illinois military patent book confirms “Mezzick, Covington” on page 64, providing particularly useful documentary corroboration for this exact recipient.
An important additional discovery
Covington Mezzick was associated with the Delaware/Maryland Eastern Shore Messick family.
A genealogical history records a Covington Messick who married Hannah Tindal in 1816, and the family was established in Delaware.
Even more interestingly, a War of 1812 muster compilation contains the name “Coventon Mezzick” among Maryland Eastern Shore militia personnel in 1813.
We do not yet state that the two records are definitively the same man, because the patent identifies him as a federal 38th Regiment infantryman rather than simply a Maryland militia soldier. But the unusual name makes the connection quite plausible and worth pursuing through the National Archives pension/military records.
Date
The patent is clearly a 1817 Monroe document, and the handwritten date appears to be in November 1817. The wording visible on the document reads:
“Washington, this ___ day of November in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen…”
This places it in Monroe's first year as President, which adds substantially to its desirability.
