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Tract Books: Difference between revisions
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''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United States Land and Property|Land and Property]]'' [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] '''Tract books''' | ''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United States Land and Property|Land and Property]]'' [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] '''Tract books''' | ||
{{TOC right}}Tract books were originally maintained by the '''federal''' government for each parcel of land obtained from the federal government. Family historians use tract books to help locate the property of ancestors and their neighbors, and for clues to find associated land records.<br><br> | {{TOC right}}Tract books were originally maintained by the '''federal''' government for each parcel of land obtained from the federal government. Family historians use tract books to help locate the property of ancestors and their neighbors, and for clues to find associated land records.<br><br> | ||
These ledgers (tract books) were used to record entries, leases, withdrawals and other actions affecting the disposition of lands in the public domain. This information allowed federal land officials to determine the status of lands and minerals. For further details about federal tract books available on the Internet, '''''see also ''''' [[United States, Bureau of Land Management Tract Books (FamilySearch Historical Records)|United States, Bureau of Land Management Tract Books (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]. | These ledgers (tract books) were used to record entries, leases, withdrawals and other actions affecting the disposition of lands in the public domain. This information allowed federal land officials to determine the status of lands and minerals. For further details about federal tract books available on the Internet, '''''see also ''''' [[United States, Bureau of Land Management Tract Books (FamilySearch Historical Records)|United States, Bureau of Land Management Tract Books (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]. | ||
Likewise, '''county''' governments keep their own separate land records usually in the form of deeds and plat maps. Counties keep deeds and plat maps for each parcel of real property in their jurisdiction in order to track ownership and status of real estate AFTER it left federal control. | Likewise, '''county''' governments keep their own separate land records usually in the form of deeds and plat maps. Counties keep deeds and plat maps for each parcel of real property in their jurisdiction in order to track ownership and status of real estate AFTER it left federal control. | ||
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Because of homestead laws, a higher percentage of the land owning population in the Great Plains states after 1862 are likely to be in tract books than in other western states. On the other hand, it is likely mining and mineral rights claims in tract books would be more common in the Mountain West states. | Because of homestead laws, a higher percentage of the land owning population in the Great Plains states after 1862 are likely to be in tract books than in other western states. On the other hand, it is likely mining and mineral rights claims in tract books would be more common in the Mountain West states. | ||
There are over ten million land entry case files (applications) in the National Archives most of which would have a corresponding entry in a tract book. About eight million land patents have been indexed in the BLM [[Land Patent Search]] for successfully completed federal land applications. This suggests about two million applications were left unfinished or were rejected—the best remaining access point to such unpatented case files is through page-by-page tract book searches. | There are over ten million land entry case files (applications) in the National Archives most of which would have a corresponding entry in a tract book. About eight million land patents have been indexed in the BLM [[Land Patent Search]] for successfully completed federal land applications. This suggests about two million applications were left unfinished or were rejected—the best remaining access point to such unpatented case files is through page-by-page tract book searches. | ||
=== | === How to use tract books === | ||
Tract books are easiest to use if you have an ancestor's land description with the section, township number, and range number to help you quickly turn to the page where an ancestor should be listed. | |||
==== Search strategies ==== | |||
So a good strategy is to first find an ancestor's land description. These are normally found on the land patent (usually a family heirloom), or in one of the indexes such as the BLM [[Land Patent Search]]. | |||
If you cannot find the section, township number, and range number, an alternative strategy is to search page-by-page the tract books for the county where an ancestor lived until you find his or her name. | |||
==== Preparation ==== | |||
Use the description of the townships and ranges covered in each tract book as described in the [[United States, Bureau of Land Management Tract Books Coverage Table (FamilySearch Historical Records)|'''Tract Books Coverage Table''']] to narrow down the volumes you will need to view to find an ancestor's land entry. | Use the description of the townships and ranges covered in each tract book as described in the [[United States, Bureau of Land Management Tract Books Coverage Table (FamilySearch Historical Records)|'''Tract Books Coverage Table''']] to narrow down the volumes you will need to view to find an ancestor's land entry. | ||
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In addition, "Appendix A" in ''Land and Property Research in the United States '' lists each present-day federal land state and county together with its farthest north-, east-, south-, and west- township and range for that county, and the meridian(s) that applies.<ref>Hone, ????????</ref> This information can help you narrow down the number of tract books you will need to search. | In addition, "Appendix A" in ''Land and Property Research in the United States '' lists each present-day federal land state and county together with its farthest north-, east-, south-, and west- township and range for that county, and the meridian(s) that applies.<ref>Hone, ????????</ref> This information can help you narrow down the number of tract books you will need to search. | ||
Federal tract books for some states, such as Alabama and Ohio are organized by land office. Others are organized for the whole state. "Appendix B" in ''Land and Property Research in the United States '' shows the varying land office boundaries in each state over many years.<ref>Hone, ????????</ref> | Federal tract books for some states, such as Alabama and Ohio are organized by land office. Others are organized for the whole state. "Appendix B" in ''Land and Property Research in the United States '' shows the varying land office boundaries in each state over many years.<ref>Hone, ????????</ref> | ||
=== Tract book arrangement === | === Tract book arrangement === | ||