Two land warrants in favor of Edward Mease. Signed by Governor Peter Chester and Secretary Ph. Livingston, Jr. Each includes plot plan for 400 acres.

Controlling lands became a necessity for the British Crown following the French and Indian War. From 1764 through 1775, land surveyors swarmed across Native territories mapping the territories and boundaries beyond the thirteen mainland British American colonies. This massive project was called the “General Survey of British North America.” Peter Chester, the governor of West Florida, commissioned surveys along the Mississippi River to create detailed maps. The hand-drawn map highlighted the natural features of the assigned land. Land grants were given as political favors to help populate the area and gain access to Indian trade routes.

From the exhibition: Indigenous Independence: America 250 at Gilcrease, June, 2026. Curated by Dr. William Smith, Dr. Kristen Oertel, & Crawford Alexander Mann III, 2026.