William Rector was appointed Principal Deputy Surveyor of the Missouri Territory in 1813. In 1816 he was elevated to the newly created position of Surveyor of the Public Lands (aka Surveyor General) of the Territories of Missouri and Illinois. In 1815 he began contracting with deputy surveyors to commence the surveys of the United States Public Lands. Those to whom he granted contracts tended to be relatives and fellow military veterans. The following is a list of some of those to whom contracts were granted and their relationship to Rector.
Thomas C. Rector - brother of William Rector.
Stephen Rector - brother of William Rector.
Elias Rector - brother of William Rector.
Wharton Rector - brother of William Rector.
William Vance Rector - son of William Rector's brother, Wharton Rector.
Henry Wharton Conway - son of William Rector's sister, Nancy Ann Rector, who married Thomas B. Conway.
James Sevier Conway - son of William Rector's sister, Nancy Ann Rector, who married Thomas B. Conway.
Frederick Rector Conway - son of William Rector's sister, Nancy Ann Rector, who married Thomas B. Conway.
Joseph C. Brown - fellow veteran of the War of 1812.
Prospect K. Robbins - fellow veteran of the War of 1812.
Jenifer T. Sprigg - fellow veteran of the War of 1812.
William H. Ashley - fellow veteran of the War of 1812.
Angus Lewis Langham - fellow veteran of the War of 1812; his sister married William Rector's nephew.
Elias Barcroft - was an assistant to Rector in 1809; in 1818 he married Margaret Mary (Vance) Rector, the widow of William Rector's brother, Wharton Rector.
Joseph Kimber Barton - married William Rector's sister, Elizabeth Rector.
Kimber W. Barton - brother of Joseph Kimber Barton.
Charles Lockhart - married Catherine Wise Barton, the sister of Joseph Kimber Barton and Kimber W. Barton.
Enoch Steen - married William Rector's sister, Polly Mary Rector.
Lucius F. Thruston - brother of Fannie Bardella Thruston, who married William Rector's brother, Elias Rector; also uncle to William Rector's wife.
Thomas W. Thruston - brother of Fannie Bardella Thruston, who married William Rector's brother, Elias Rector; also uncle to William Rector's wife.
Mr. January - brother of William Rector's wife.
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Information compiled by Steven E. Weible
