The Mary Polk Survey
The Mary Polk Survey
According to Denton County land records, the Mary Polk Survey covered an area beginning around what is now Lone Star Drive, extending south toward Sam Reynolds Road and Cindy’s Lane, and east toward Harmonson Road.
Today, much of this area looks very different from the landscape the original landowner would have known. Roads, homes and development have transformed Justin over the years.
But one clue remains:
Mary Polk’s name is still on the map.
Mary Polk Road serves as a reminder that someone named Mary Polk was connected to this piece of Texas history. The question is figuring out exactly who she was.
Two Possible Mary Polks
Our research has uncovered two women who could potentially fit the story: Mary Polk Hardeman and Mary Polk Bryan.
Mary Polk Hardeman
Mary Polk Hardeman caught our attention because the Hardeman family was deeply connected to early Texas history, including the broader North Texas story.
There are compelling pieces that make her worth investigating. However, there is also a significant gap in the evidence.
The land associated with the Mary Polk Survey was granted by the Republic of Texas in 1838, with the headright certificate issued in Shelby County.
The timeline and available records surrounding Mary Polk Hardeman don’t currently give us a direct connection to this particular tract of land.
Could there still be a connection?
Possibly.
But at this point, we don’t have the documentation to say that she was the Mary Polk of the survey.
Mary Polk Bryan
The second possibility we’ve uncovered is Mary Polk Bryan, who died in San Augustine County in the 1850s.
Her connection is interesting because the original land certificate was issued in Shelby County, in East Texas. The geographic connection makes her worth further investigation.
The problem?
We simply don’t know enough about Mary Polk Bryan yet to establish that she was the woman behind the survey.
And that’s where our research continues.
So, Who Was Mary Polk?
That’s the mystery.
Was the Mary Polk Survey named for Mary Polk Hardeman?
Was it Mary Polk Bryan?
Or was Mary Polk someone else entirely?
At this point, we’re not going to fill in the blanks with assumptions. Local history deserves better than that.
Instead, we’re following the records and looking for the connection that can turn a possibility into a documented piece of Justin history.
Help Us Solve the Mystery
This investigation was sparked in part by Karrisa Moseley, genealogist and paralegal, who led us down this particular historical rabbit hole.
And we’re glad she did.
Because sometimes the most interesting stories in a community aren’t found in the big landmarks. They’re hiding in the names we’ve driven past a hundred times.
Do you know who Mary Polk was?
Do you have Polk family connections, old documents, family histories, land records or stories that might help us identify the woman behind Mary Polk Road?
We’d love to hear from you.
You just might have the missing piece of Justin’s history.
A Note About Our Research
This is an ongoing local history investigation. At this point, Mary Polk Hardeman and Mary Polk Bryan are possibilities we’re researching, not confirmed identities of the woman associated with the Mary Polk Survey.
As we uncover additional records and documentation, we’ll update the story.
Because history isn’t just about what we know. Sometimes it’s about asking the right questions—and being willing to keep digging.
Research & Resources
We’re still researching the history of the Mary Polk Survey and the woman behind the name. This story is based on land records, historical research and genealogical investigation, and we’ll continue updating it as new information comes to light.
Special thanks to Karrisa Moseley, genealogist and paralegal, for helping lead us down this historical rabbit hole and encouraging us to dig deeper.
Sources & Further Research
- Denton County land and property records
- Republic of Texas land grant and headright records
- Historical and genealogical records related to the Polk, Hardeman and Bryan families
- Additional historical records and documents consulted during our research
Research is ongoing. The identity of the Mary Polk associated with this survey has not yet been conclusively established. If you have information or primary-source documentation that could help, we’d love to hear from you.
Have something to add to the story? Contact Justin Journal
