Original Highland Township Landowner William Beckley SW 1/4 of NE 1/4 of Section 11
SE 1/4 of SE
1/4 of Section 11 Little is known about this man beyond his name and the fact his patents give his residence as Oakland County, Michigan. First Land Owners of Oakland County gives his last name as both "Beckley" and "Bickley." A William Beckley, age 52, born in England, appears on the 1860 Census for Avon, Oakland County. The fact his oldest daughter Jane, age 16, was born in Michigan suggests he had been residing in the state since at least 1844 and so could be the one that purchased land in Highland Township in 1853. Of interest is the fact each of Beckley's purchases was as the assignee of a "bounty land" warrant originally issued to a veteran or his widow. Thus: Warrant No. 32629 for 40 acres, originally issued to Joseph Parshall, Sergeant in Captain Markam's Company of New York Militia, War of 1812, used to make entry on the SE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 11, Highland Township, and assigned to William Beckley. NOTE: First Land Owners of Oakland County combines this entry with that for Warrant 68166, but the Bureau of Land Management - Government Land Office treats each separately. Warrant No. 68166 for 40 acres, originally issued to William Frost, Lieutenant in Captain Wateron's Company, Twelfth New York Cavalry, War of 1812, used to make entry on the NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 11, Highland Township, and assigned to William Beckley. NOTE: First Land Owners of Oakland County combines this entry with that for Warrant 32629, but the Bureau of Land Management - Government Land Office treats each separately. Warrant No. 92184 for 40 acres, originally issued to Mary C Donald, widow of William B. Donald, Lieutenant in Captain Dixon's Company, Virginia Militia, War of 1812, used to make entry on the SW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 11, Highland Township, and assigned to William Beckley. NOTE: First Land Owners of Oakland County erroneously gives the number of this warrant as 92185. Warrant No. 1409 for 40 acres, originally issued to Daniel W. Applegate, Private in Capt. Conover's Company, Colonel Felinghugen's Regiment, New Jersey Militia, War of 1812, used to make entry on the NW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 12, Highland Township, and assigned to William Beckley. Just how Beckley became assignee of such warrants is unknown. It was quite common, however, for veterans and their widows to apply for bounty land, obtain the warrant, and then sale, trade or otherwise dispose of it; often at a "discount" to the actual value of the land it might be used to acquire. |
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