Whereas, a petition has been presented to me, signed by a number of citizens of the said territory, requesting at the boundaries of the new County and his seat of justice thereof may be established by the act of an executive, we shall not take effect until the arrival of a period When it’s population will be probably require such measure;

Now, therefore, believing that a compliance with this request will have a tendency to increase the population of such part of the territory is may be Included within these boundaries, and to prevent those difficulties which sometimes arise from the establishment of counties where the settlements are formed and conflicting opinions and interests are to be reconciled, I do, by virtue of these presents in conformity with provisions of the ordinance of July 13, in the year of our Lord 1787, layout that part of the said territory included with in the following boundaries, viz.: beginning at the southeast corner of Township number one, in range number 11 north of the baseline; thence north to the northeastern corner of the Township number six, in the same range; thence west to the Indian boundary line, thence south to the baseline, thence east to the place of the beginning, into a new county, to be called the county of Oakland.

And I do hereby appoint John L. Leib, Charles Larned, Phillip Lecuyer, John Whipple, and Thomas Roland, Esquires, commissioners for the purpose of examining this accounting and of reporting to me the most eligible site for the seat of justice thereof.

And so much of this proclamation as relates to the establishment organization and boundaries of the said county, shall take effect and be in force from and after the 31st day of December, which will be in the year of our Lord 1822, unless the governor of the said territory, or other competent authority, for the time being, shall think proper sooner to determine this limitation; and so much of this proclamation as relates to the appointment of the said commissioners, and to their examination and report, shall take effect and be in force from and after the date thereof.

In testimony whereof I have caused these letters to be made patent, and the great seal of the said territory to be hereunto affixed.

Done at the city of Detroit this 12th day of January, in the year of our Lord 1819, and of the Independence of the United States the 43rd. Signed Lewis Cass. By the governor: William Woodbridge, secretary of the Michigan territory.

Whereas, the inhabitants residing within that part of the territory included in the County of Oakland, as the same was laid off by an act of the governor of this territory, bearing the date 12th day of January, in the year of our Lord 1819, have requested that the said County should be organized.

Now, therefore, I do, by virtue of the provisions of the ordinance of Congress, passed July 13, 1787, determine the limitation in the said act of the governor of this territory, and do hereby declare that the tract of the company included with in the said boundaries to be the County of Oakland, and the inhabitants thereof henceforth entitled to all rights and privileges to which by law the inhabitants of the other counties of this territory are entitled.

And I do, in conformity to the report of the commissioners appointed by the act aforesaid, establish the seat of justice of the said County at the town of Pontiac.

In testimony whereof, I have caused these letters to be made patent, and the great seal of the said territory to be hereunto affixed. Done at the city of Detroit, this 28th day of March, in the year of our Lord 1820, and in the Independence of the United States the 44th. Signed Lewis Cass. By the governor: William Woodbridge, secretary of Michigan territory

The County of Oakland, established by an executive act of January 12, 1819, Shelby bounded as follows:

Beginning on the baseline, between the 11th and 12th ranges, east of the principal Meridian, and running thence West, to the line between the sixth and seventh ranges, east of the principal Meridian; thence North, the line between townships numbered five and six, north of the baseline; thence east, to the line between the 11th and 12th ranges, east of the principal Meridian thence south to the place of the beginning.

The counties of Lapeer, Sanilac, Saginaw, Shiawassee, shall be attached to, and compose a part of the County of Oakland.

All of the country, not included within the boundaries of any of the before described counties, to which the Indian title was extinguished by the Treaty of Saginaw, shall be attached to, and compose a part of, the County of Oakland.

In testimony whereof, I have caused these letters patent, and the great seal the said territory to be here undo affixed.

Given under my hand a Detroit, this 10th day of September, in the year of our Lord, 1822, and of the Independence of the United States the 47th.

Signed Lewis Cass. By the governor: Sec. of Michigan territory

Oakland, name from the prevalence of “Oak Openings.”

County seat, Pontiac. First settled in 1818, by the Pontiac land company. Became a village by charter in 1857, and in 1861 was incorporated as a city.