Land Patent Search: Difference between revisions

Changed wording and spacing to make more understandable
(changed the wording to make it more understandable, removed a broken external link, added an external link)
(Changed wording and spacing to make more understandable)
Line 37: Line 37:
Open the Land Patent Search on the Internet at [http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx#searchTabIndex=0&searchByTypeIndex=0 General Land Office Patent Search]. You may be asked to enter your zip code. Select the State where the land is located or select -- Any State --  Enter the last name of the person receiving the Land Patent. More advanced users can also enter the Land Description and other Miscellaneous information. Then click the '''Search Patents''' button at the bottom.  
Open the Land Patent Search on the Internet at [http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx#searchTabIndex=0&searchByTypeIndex=0 General Land Office Patent Search]. You may be asked to enter your zip code. Select the State where the land is located or select -- Any State --  Enter the last name of the person receiving the Land Patent. More advanced users can also enter the Land Description and other Miscellaneous information. Then click the '''Search Patents''' button at the bottom.  


'''If the results list is too long''' redo the search
'''If the results list is too long''' redo the search with one or more of the following


*with a particular state or a particular state and county
*a particular state
*with a first name or the first name and middle name
*a particular state and county  
*a first name
*a first name and middle name


I'''f the results list is too short''' redo the search and try these:<br>  
I'''f the results list is too short''' redo the search with one or more of the following<br>  


*Delete a name, state (change to -- Any State --), county, or other detail. The fewer the search parameters, the larger the search will be.  
*delete a name
*Search using wildcard symbols in the names:&nbsp;% = multiple wild card characters; _ = a single wildcard character.  
*change a particular state to -- Any State --
*change a particular county to --Any County --
*delete other details. The fewer the search parameters, the larger the results will be.  
*use wildcard symbols in the names:&nbsp;% = multiple characters; _ = a single character.  
*Look for a spelling variation of the patentee’s name. For ideas see [[Guessing a Name Variation|Guessing a Name Variation]].
*Look for a spelling variation of the patentee’s name. For ideas see [[Guessing a Name Variation|Guessing a Name Variation]].


'''If an ancestor is on the results list'''&nbsp;print out the page
'''If an ancestor is on the results list'''&nbsp;print out the page  


*Click the ancestor’s name
*Click the ancestor’s name  
*Click the '''Printer Friendly''' icon
*Click the '''Printer Friendly''' icon  
*Click the '''Print''' icon.
*Click the '''Print''' icon.  
*In many cases you can also view an image of the patent or download the image file.
*In many cases you can also view an image of the patent or download the image file.


'''To obtain the patent application paper''''''s (case files''')
'''To obtain the patent application paper''''''s, known as the case file '''check out the following


*Check out the&nbsp;[http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/reference/default.aspx#id=04_Document_Requests|02_Land_Entry_Case_File National Archives and Records Administration Land Entry Case Files]&nbsp;page at BLM.
*The&nbsp;[http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/reference/default.aspx#id=04_Document_Requests%7C02_Land_Entry_Case_File Land Entry Case Files]&nbsp;page at BLM.  
*Check out also the&nbsp;[http://www.archives.gov/research/land/ Land Records]&nbsp;page at NARA.
*The&nbsp;[http://www.archives.gov/research/land/ Land Records]&nbsp;page at NARA.


== Other Sources for Finding Land Patents  ==
== Other Sources for Finding Land Patents  ==
3,065

edits