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==== Rectangular Survey Land Records ==== | ==== Rectangular Survey Land Records ==== | ||
'''Access.''' The [[National Archives and Records Administration]] (NARA) is the repository for records documenting the transfer of public (federal) lands to private ownership. They preserve the case files of over 10 million individual land transactions called land entries in [[United States Land and Property#United_States|30 federal land states]]. They also preserve tract books and various name indexes to help access the case files. NARA has '''all''' the land entry files for all 30 of the federal land states.<ref>Hawkins, 1.</ref> NARA has the successful land entries that received patents (original private titles) before 1908. For the same period they also have the unsuccessful entries that did not finish the process, cancelled, or relinquished their claims and did not receive a patent.<ref name="Haw4">Hawkins, 4.</ref> | '''Access.''' The [[National Archives and Records Administration]] (NARA) is the repository for records documenting the transfer of public (federal) lands to private ownership. They preserve the case files of over 10 million individual land transactions called land entries in [[United States Land and Property#United_States|30 federal land states]]. They also preserve tract books and various name indexes to help access the case files. NARA has '''all''' the land entry files for all 30 of the federal land states.<ref>Hawkins, 1.</ref> NARA has the '''''successful land entries ''''' that received patents (original private titles) before 1908. For the same period they also have the '''''unsuccessful land entries ''''' that did not finish the process, cancelled, or relinquished their claims and did not receive a patent.<ref name="Haw4">Hawkins, 4.</ref> | ||
'''Content.''' Land records, depending on the time period, may show an applicant settler's (entryman's) age, birthplace, citizenship, military service, economic status, and family members. They could also show land title, land use, rights of way, land surveys, crops, improvements, and conflicting claims.<ref>Hawkins, 1-2.</ref> | '''Content.''' Land records, depending on the time period, may show an applicant settler's (entryman's) age, birthplace, citizenship, military service, economic status, and family members. They could also show land title, land use, rights of way, land surveys, crops, improvements, and conflicting claims.<ref>Hawkins, 1-2.</ref> | ||
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All the land entry case files are indexed for ancestors who completed the application process and obtained a patent (original title) for their land. The indexes provide the information needed to request a copy of the case file. | All the land entry case files are indexed for ancestors who completed the application process and obtained a patent (original title) for their land. The indexes provide the information needed to request a copy of the case file. | ||
For $50 the National Archives will copy a land entry case file if you properly complete [http://www.archives.gov/forms/pdf/natf-84.pdf form NATF-084] (pdf) and submit it. They prefer online orders but will accept mail orders. Instructions are on the form. | For $50 the National Archives will copy a land entry case file if you properly complete [http://www.archives.gov/forms/pdf/natf-84.pdf form NATF-084] (pdf) and submit it. They prefer online orders but will accept mail orders. Instructions are on the form. | ||
===== Obtaining unindexed case files ===== | ===== Obtaining unindexed case files ===== | ||
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An unfinished, rejected, or otherwise cancelled claim will nevertheless have a land entry case file. These files, especially when contested, can provide more detailed genealogical information than cases which were readily accepted. Unfinished, rejected, or cancelled files are indexed for ''only a few states''. Nevertheless, they still can be found by researching '''tract books''' for the area where an ancestor started the claim. Tract books can also be used to find information for pre-1820 cases.<ref name="Hone">E. Wade Hone, ''Land and Property Research in the United States'' (Salt Lake City, Utah : Ancestry Pub., c1997), 113. {{WorldCat|483096407|item|disp=At various repositories (WorldCat)}}; {{FHL|766994|item|disp=FHL Book 973 R27h}}.</ref> The information from the tract book and a land entry in that tract book is usually enough to allow the National Archives to pull an otherwise unindexed case file for you. | An unfinished, rejected, or otherwise cancelled claim will nevertheless have a land entry case file. These files, especially when contested, can provide more detailed genealogical information than cases which were readily accepted. Unfinished, rejected, or cancelled files are indexed for ''only a few states''. Nevertheless, they still can be found by researching '''tract books''' for the area where an ancestor started the claim. Tract books can also be used to find information for pre-1820 cases.<ref name="Hone">E. Wade Hone, ''Land and Property Research in the United States'' (Salt Lake City, Utah : Ancestry Pub., c1997), 113. {{WorldCat|483096407|item|disp=At various repositories (WorldCat)}}; {{FHL|766994|item|disp=FHL Book 973 R27h}}.</ref> The information from the tract book and a land entry in that tract book is usually enough to allow the National Archives to pull an otherwise unindexed case file for you. | ||
The [http://www.archives.gov/forms/pdf/natf-84.pdf form NATF-084] (pdf) instructions assume a researcher has a patent number (or final certificate number), which will not exist for unfinished, rejected or cancelled land entries. Therefore, you must provide '''''as much information as possible ''''' including tract book page photocopies, and cite the tract book title, volume, and page number for the ancestor's entry. Explain that the case never received a patent, and any relevant information you know about why it failed. These will help, but the National Archives may still have difficulty pulling a file without a patent number (or final certificate number). | The [http://www.archives.gov/forms/pdf/natf-84.pdf form NATF-084] (pdf) instructions assume a researcher has a patent number (or final certificate number), which will not exist for unfinished, rejected or cancelled land entries. Therefore, you must provide '''''as much information as possible ''''' including tract book page photocopies, and cite the tract book title, volume, and page number for the ancestor's entry. Explain that the case never received a patent, and any relevant information you know about why it failed. These will help, but the National Archives may still have difficulty pulling a file without a patent number (or final certificate number). | ||
===== Tract books ===== | ===== Tract books ===== | ||