In 1816 the United States Land Office sent representatives to
Natchitoches, although previously representatives had been in
Natchitoches in 1806 to register land claims within the Neutral Strip
area. Proof was demanded of people settling land in the Neutral Strip,
referring to either French or Spanish grants.
In 1730 Zavallez, then Governor of Los Adais, granted three square
leagues of land to Manuel Sanchez on Los Pedro Creek (Bayou Pierre), the
grant was listed as La Nana de Los Rio Pedro. (Note: The wife of St.
Denis was a Sanchez, her mother being Maria Esperrillo Sanchez before
her marriage to Don Diago Ramone). The Sanchez Grant is also referred to
as Los Tres Llanos (Three Plains) was approved again in 1742 by Governor
Larros in the name of Governor Winthusin. The son of Manuel Sanchez was
eighty two years of age when in 1832 a clear title was issued by the
United States Land Office. The Sanchez family had lived on the land 102
years before they obtained a clear title to it.
Juan de Mora was granted one league square of land on Bayou Dupont at
Los Adais by Zavallez which is the land located in an area known today
as “Fish Pond Bottom.”
Testimony of Gregoria Mora before the land office officials shows: “This
is a receipt of tithes I collected on land west of the Calcasieu River,
West of Bayou Kisachey and west of Arroyo Hondo. Also west of Bayou
Pedro (Bayou Pierre) dated in Nacogdoches, Feb. 27, 1797, and signed by
Jose Maria Guadiana (Rubric)