Land Grants, Walton County 1828, 1829 Original Research by Brenda Rees, Shaping Flori

Premier Blog event and presentation of early Walton County Land Grants from the research files of Brenda Rees - Shaping Florida. Early land grants for Walton County include the 1828 grants of Hardy Wood, in the Alaqua area, and Catherine McLennon, in the Big Branch area. The following year, 1829, there were a number of land grants issued for Walton County. The 1828 land grants are signed by President John Quincy Adams and the 1829 land grants are signed by President Andrew Jackson.

This list was presented at the Walton County Heritage Association's History Fair in 2008, but the event was virtually rained out. Very few saw the presentation and fewer still realized the significance of the information presented. Besides Wood and McLennon in 1828, the Henry Brackenridge grant in 1829 in Alaqua is also significant as he was a prominent judge in early Florida Territorial days. Later, Territorial Governor Andrew Jackson and Brackenridge had serious political differences. Brackenridge and George Walton, Jr, Walton County 's namesake, didn't hit it off at first, but Brackenridge later eased his feelings about George Walton, Jr. Judge Brackenridge was also Octavia Walton's tutor and later dear friend and correspondent. Pictures and some grants to be posted.

All pictures (c) Brenda Rees All Rights Reserved



Hardy Wood, 1828 Walton County Florida Land Grant in the Alaqua area, signed by President John Quincy Adams.


There were a number of women who received early land grants in Florida, including this grant in the Big Branch area of Walton County by Catherine McLennon. This was one of two of the earliest land grants in Walton County, Florida. Dorothy Walton, George Walton, Jr.'s mother, received a land grant in 1826 in Leon county (probably where the current capital is). Original research note by Brenda Rees


Catherine McLennon's Land Grant in Walton County, Florida, 1828, in the Big Branch area.

Notes posted on bulletin board at Walton County 2008 History Fair



1828 - First Two Land Grants in Walton County
(original research by Brenda Rees – please use proper citation)

Hardy Wood in Alaqua
Catherine McLennon in Big Branch

1829 Walton County Land Grants
Daniel Anderson
John Anderson
Henry M. Breckinridge, Judge, Land Grant in Alaqua (also sp. w/a)
Christian Campbell
Daniel D. Campbell
Samuel Davis
David Evans
John Folkes
Zachariah Godbold
Alexander Gordon
Ephraim Gordon
Charles S. Jones
John E. Jones
William T. Kilbee
Alexander McCaskill
Finley McCaskill
Peter McCaskill
Angus McDonald
Laughlin McDonald
Peter McDonald
John L. McKinnon
Daniel McLain
John McLain
Daniel McLean
Donald McLean
Hugh McLean
Locklin McLennon
Duncan McQuaig
Malcolm McSween
Allen Morrison
Henry G. Ramsay
Samuel Reid
Green Wood
(original research by Brenda Rees – please use proper citation)


We are fortunate that the Walton County Commission on April 23, 2002, had the vision to vote and fund a GPS system that would enable better location of our historic landmarks. Lane Rees was Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners at this time. By taking the land grants I've uncovered, we can now begin to plot the locations.

I'll add some of the 1829 grants today. 4-19-09 As you can see there were quite a number.

(DON'T KNOW WHAT PROBLEM IS, BUT SOME OF THE LAND GRANTS ARE NOT SHOWING UP TODAY, THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2009. I'll try to add them back in as time allows.)


Peter McDonald, 1829, Walton County Land Grant. Notice the land grants in 1829 are signed by President Andrew Jackson versus the two 1828 land grants of Hardy Wood and Catherine McLennon signed by President John Quincy Adams.


Laughlin McDonald, 1829 Land Grant. One of many issued that year to Walton County residents by President Andrew Jackson. President Jackson had left Florida in 1821 and named Walton County, Florida namesake, George Walton, Jr., acting governor in West Florida.


Henry Brackenridge, 1829 Land Grant. Very significant land grant in early Walton County, Florida history. Earlier, Brackenridge and Richard Keith Call, handled legal matters for Andrew Jackson. At first he and George Walton, Jr., were at odds, but later became friends. Judge Brackenridge grant is near Hardy Wood's land grant and many early Walton County government actions probably took place near here in Alaqua. Jackson later was at political odds with Brackenridge and questioned Brackenridge's early environmental efforts (more on this later and probably another blog).


Octavia wrote Henry M. Brackenridge many letters.


Christian Campbell, 1829, Walton County, Florida Land Grant.


Angus McDonald, 1829, Walton County, Florida Land Grant.


Peter McCaskill, 1829, Walton County, Florida.


John Anderson, 1829 Walton County, Florida Land Grant.

I'll post more land grants soon.


Here's a copy of a John L. McKinnon land grant signed by President Andrew Jackson in 1829. This joins about 33 other Walton County, Florida land grants signed by President Jackson in 1829, his first year as President of the United States of America. There were two Walton County, Florida land grants in 1828 signed by then President John Quincy Adams that I am aware of. This is the record I have on this land grant.




DOROTHY WALTON AND GEORGE WALTON, JR. FLORIDA LAND GRANTS IN 1826

Dorothy Walton and her son George Walton, Jr. (Walton County's namesake) also had significant land grants in Florida. It didn't hurt that George Walton, Jr. was Secretary of State in picking up some prime land grants. Dorothy's were in Leon County, including key Tallahassee areas, and George, Jr., had Jefferson County land grants. Together, they had over 1000 acres. While they were suffering bad press in 1826 about their finances, they were also obviously doing quite well in the land acquisition department. Walton County, Florida had been named for George Walton, Jr. in 1824, just two years before these land grants. Tallahassee was also named the capital of Florida in 1824. Very handy. Octavia Walton (Le Vert) is said to have selected the name Tallahassee, although it was the legislative council that officially designated the name for Florida's new capital. Dorothy Walton was the wife of George Walton, signer, Declaration of Independence, Georgia. George, the signer had died in 1804. Only Dorothy moved to Florida to be with her son, George Walton, Jr. Dorothy's personal stories during the American Revolution were exciting and kept her granddaughter, Octavia, entertained.


One of George Walton, Jr.'s Land Grants of 1826. Believe this one is in Jefferson County. Will check later.


Here is one of Dorothy Walton's 1826 Land Grants. She had a number in Leon County. Of course, John Quincy Adams was President of the United States at this time and signed her grants. They would have known of each other as her husband, George Walton, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Perhaps they attended a soiree and talked about Walton County? Will need to confirm, but believe her land grants were associated with the early capital grounds.


The Dorothy Walton Museum display now at the T.T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum. Uncle Tom once owned the Dorothy Walton home in Pensacola and later sold it to the city for $1. The Dorothy Walton house is within the Historic District in Pensacola. Visit the Wentworth museum and other Pensacola historic sites to enhance your understanding of Florida and Walton County's early history. It was while living in Pensacola, Florida, in 1826 that Dorothy Walton gained a number of Florida Land Grants. Her son, George Walton, Jr., was Secretary of State for West Florida, Florida, and Acting Governor of Florida between 1821 and 1826. George lived and travelled between Pensacola and Tallahassee. The Waltons lived in Pensacola between 1821 - 1835. Dorothy died in 1832. The Walton family moved to Mobile in 1836 where George was soon elected Mayor and continued with land acquisition.