Petition for acquiring money or land to make up for land lost in Mineral Point

Petition to the Legislature, Wisconsin of Matilda Hoad for [illegible] to Congress asking for money or grant of land

to the Hon. The Senate and House of Assembly of the State of Wisconsin:

Your Petitioners, Matilda Hoad, widow of John Hoad, respectrully sheweth: That her husband, John Hoad, deceased, did apply for the purchase of the South East quarter of Section number 31, in Township No. 5 north, Range Wo. 3, east of the fourth prinipal meridian, in the Wisconsin Land District, by virtue of a right of pre-emption granted to settlers upon the public lands, previous to the 19th June, 1834; made the necessary proof, tendered his money, and submitted the same to the Register and Reviewers of the Land office at Mineral Point, who decided, contrary to Law, and without the authority of the Commissioners of the General Land Office, that the aforesaid tract was mineral ground therefore not subject to entry.

Your petitioner, for herself, and for the heirs of the said John Hoad,

deceased, prays your honorable body to examine the accompaying documents, in which these facts are set forth by affidavits, copied from the files of the office of Register of Lands in the village of Mineral Point, St. of Wisconsin; and further, it will appear thus the sections of land mentioned in this petition embraces that upon which the said village of Mineral Point now stands; and your petitioner believes this is the reason why the said Hoad, deceased, was debarred of his right in the Land - your petitioner, for herself and the heirs of the said Hoad deceased is, further showeth: that the tract of land mentioned in this petition has since been given to the inhabitants thereof, by the General Government, which conclusively shows, as your petitioner believes, that the decision of the land officers before mentioned was not in accordance with the views of Congress. Your petitioner further showeth, that with her husband, John Hoad, deceased, she settled at Mineral Point in the year 1828 - and is still a resident of said place, - and furhter, that she has a large family to

support, and thus in consequence of their property being thus taken away, they have been, to a great extent, deprived of the means of support that they ought to have.

Therefore, in consideration of the loss she has sustained, and the heirs of the said John Hoad, deceased, in her own and their behalf, she prays your Honorable Body to Memorialize Congress asking for an appropriation of money or of land in the State of Wisconsin, which in a measure will compensate for the loss she has sustained through the injustice done to her husband, John Hood, deceased, and to his heirs.

And your petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray.

Matilda Hood

Mineral Point Wisconsin, June 7, 1848

Petition of Matilda Hoad for a Memorial to Congress asking for money or a grant of land and accompanying documents.

Presented by Mr. Billing & referred to a Select Com. Consisting of Messrs Billings, Wellinger and Fenton June 14