Land Grants

 August 8, 1767

On said day, upon the depand of Jean Cambas and Jean Ortes, we have granted, and do grant, to them, in fee, a tract of land of two arpens in front, in the prairie lying south of the little river, of the ordinary depth of forty arens, adjoining on the south side to one gervais, and on the north side to lands not yet granted, on condition that the said land shall be improved in one year and a day, and liable to public charges.   ST. ANGE LABUXIERE

(Given in St. Louis the said day and year. Truly translated from livre terrien, no 1, page 13  /  St louis nov 3, 1834)

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Records show that they obtained the land for the purpose of cutting timber to build houses in St Louis, and also used the land to make hay.  After being owned and possessed by them for many years, the land was divided, and Jean B. Ortez sold his arpen to pierre Chouteau.

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e xcerpt from page 45  (unable to view complete section on Jean Ortes) of:

Colonial St. Louis:  building a Creole Capital   by Charles E. Peterson

 Two joiners early associated in business — Jean Baptiste Ortes and Jean B. Cambas — who were granted a double lot as partners ("menuisiers associez") in 176 733 on which they built a frame house together.   Ortes, the better known of the two was contracted to build a poteaux en terre house, 18' x 22' in 1768

From http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/53261165/story/27?pg=32817

No. 248.—Jean Cambas, Claiming 40 Arpens.

August 8, 1767.

On said day, upon the demand of Jean Cambas and Jean Ortes, we have granted, and do grant, to them, in fee, a tract of land of two arpens in front, in the prairie lying south of the Little river, of the ordinary depth of forty arpens, adjoining on the south side to one Gervais, and on the north side to lands not yet granted, on condition that the said land shall be improved in one year and a day, and liable to public charges.

ST. ANGE. LABUXIEKE.

Given in St. Louis the said day and year.

Truly translated from livre terrien, No. 1, page 13.

JULIUS DE MUN, T. B. C.

St. Louis, November 3, 1834.

Evidence , with reference to viinutes and records.

Tuesday, April 29, 1834.

F. R. Conway, Esq., appeared pursuant to adjournment.

Jean Cambas, by his legal representatives, claiming one by forty arpens of land, it being the north half of a concession granted to Jean Cambas and Jean Ortez, for two by forty arpens of land, situate in the Little prairie south of St. Louis.

See livre terrien, No. 1, page 12; recorder's minutes, book No. 2, page 5; No. 3, page 104; book F, page 151.

Pierre Chouteau, duly sworn, says that Jean Cambas was a carpenter by trade, who obtained said concession in partnership with Jean Ortez, for the purpose of cutting timber to build houses in St. Louis; that Cambas and Ortez used to make their hay on said piece of land; that to his knowledge they did make hay and cut timber thereon for upwards of fifteen consecutive years, under the French and Spanish governments, and before the Americans took possession of the country; that it was known generally, by all the people in St. Louis, that said piece of land was the property of said Cambas and»Ortcz. Witness further says that he has no kind of interest in the claim of Cambas, a division having bf.en made between Cambas and Ortez's representatives, about eight or nine years ago. See book No. 6, page 519. The following testimony was taken before Theodore Hunt, recorder of land titles, Missouri: Auguste Chouteau, being duly sworn, says about sixty years ago St. Ange, the then French commandant, granted to J. Cambas and J. Ortex, a field lot, containing two arpens in front by forty in depth, in the Little prairie; that it was owned and possessed by them for many years; that they used to cut their hay on the same, and it was always known to belong to these men; that afterwards it was divided, and J. Ortez sold his arpen to Pierre Chouteau.

AUGUSTE CHOUTEAU.

Sworn to before me, June 1, 1825.

THEODORE HUNT, Recorder L. T.

See recorder's minutes, book No. 2, page 5.

Baptiste Riviere and Rene Dodicr, being duly sworn as relates to the situation of the claim of Ortez and Cambas, in the Little prairie below St. Louis, say that thoy are well acquainted with the situation of the same, and that they have repeatedly seen Ortez hewing timber on this same land, and they do both know that the spring branch ran through the middle of said land of Ortez and Cambas, and that these deponents believe that the said land was granted to them in partnership; that is, two arpens in front by forty in depth; that they afterwards divided the same, each taking one arpen by forty arpens, and that the spring they speak of as having seen Ortez at work at, is situated opposite the present residence of John Baptiste Lammi.

RENE X DODIER.

mark.

his

BAPTISTE X RIVIERE.

Mark