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Tract Books: Difference between revisions
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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 | Likewise, '''county''' governments keep their own separate land records usually in the form of deeds and plat maps in order to track ownership and status of real estate AFTER it left federal control. | ||
In most cases the federal tract books are more | In most cases the federal tract books are more authoratative than copies, if any, kept by the state or county for the same area.<ref>Hawkins, 5.</ref> | ||
=== Federal tract books 1820-1908 === | === Federal tract books 1820-1908 === | ||
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*Date of patent | *Date of patent | ||
Additional items of information included in the tract books are as follows: number of acres, date of sale, purchase price, land office, entry number, final Certificate of Purchase number, and notes on relinquishments and conversions. | Additional items of information included in the tract books are as follows: number of acres, date of sale, purchase price, land office, entry number, final Certificate of Purchase number, and notes on relinquishments and conversions. | ||
[[Image:{{tractbks}}]] | [[Image:{{tractbks}}]] | ||
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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. | ||
=== Arrangement === | === Arrangement === | ||
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Tract book volumes are organized by state, in some states by land offices, and then by [[Rectangular surveys#Numbered_Townships_and_Ranges|township number and range number]]. Within each tract book volume, the land entries are in order by their legal land description<ref name="Hone" /><ref>Hawkins, front inside cover, and page 6.</ref> (section, township, and range); terms from the [[Rectangular surveys|rectangular surveys]] used in the Public Land Survey System used for most parts of [[United States Land and Property#United_States|30 federal land states]]. Typical tract books list the land entries for anywhere from one to 30 townships; about five townships per tract book seems to be the most common. Within most townships the order is usually by [[Rectangular surveys#Numbered_Sections|section number]]. | Tract book volumes are organized by state, in some states by land offices, and then by [[Rectangular surveys#Numbered_Townships_and_Ranges|township number and range number]]. Within each tract book volume, the land entries are in order by their legal land description<ref name="Hone" /><ref>Hawkins, front inside cover, and page 6.</ref> (section, township, and range); terms from the [[Rectangular surveys|rectangular surveys]] used in the Public Land Survey System used for most parts of [[United States Land and Property#United_States|30 federal land states]]. Typical tract books list the land entries for anywhere from one to 30 townships; about five townships per tract book seems to be the most common. Within most townships the order is usually by [[Rectangular surveys#Numbered_Sections|section number]]. | ||
Each land entry in a tract book was recorded across two pages.<ref>Hawkins, 6.</ref> Each page set covers part or all of one township; tract books rarely have two different townships listed on the same page. The townships usually only change one range number or one township number at a time after several pages within a tract book volume listing several townships. | Each land entry in a tract book was recorded across two pages.<ref>Hawkins, 6.</ref> Each page set covers part or all of one township; tract books rarely have two different townships listed on the same page. The townships usually only change one range number or one township number at a time after several pages within a tract book volume listing several townships. | ||
=== How to use tract books === | === How to use tract books === | ||
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:*'''Land patent.''' If your family still has the patent (original title) for a piece of property, that patent will show the land description. | :*'''Land patent.''' If your family still has the patent (original title) for a piece of property, that patent will show the land description. | ||
:*'''[http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/ BLM land patent search].''' The online index to eight million land patents 1820-1908 and military bounty land shows each entry's land description. However, this index does '''not''' include the two million case files which were never finished, forfeited, relinquished, or cancelled. | :*'''[http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/ BLM land patent search].''' The online index to eight million land patents 1820-1908 and military bounty land shows each entry's land description. However, this index does '''not''' include the two million case files which were never finished, forfeited, relinquished, or cancelled. | ||
:*'''Seven states index.''' The ''seven states index '' at the [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives in Washington, DC]], also gives each entry's land description. The index covers Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada and Utah for pre-1908 case files both patented and unpatented.<ref>Hawkins, 3-4.</ref> | :*'''Seven states index.''' The ''seven states index '' at the [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives in Washington, DC]], also gives each entry's land description. The index covers Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada and Utah for pre-1908 case files both patented and unpatented.<ref>Hawkins, 3-4.</ref> | ||
:*'''Use search engines like Google to identify state land record indexes that could reveal land descriptions. | :*'''Use search engines like Google to identify state land record indexes that could reveal land descriptions.''' | ||
'''2. Search tract books page-by-page.''' Alternatively, '''''IF ''''' you cannot find the section, township number, and range number, you could search page-by-page through the tract books for the county where an ancestor lived until you find his or her name. | '''2. Search tract books page-by-page.''' Alternatively, '''''IF ''''' you cannot find the section, township number, and range number, you could search page-by-page through the tract books for the county where an ancestor lived until you find his or her name. | ||
==== Select the tract books to search ==== | ==== Select the tract books to search ==== | ||
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::*United States Bureau of Land Management, ''Tract Books'' (Washington, District of Columbia : Records Improvement, Bureau of Land Management, 1957). {{WorldCat|866217989|item|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}} {{FHL|607931|item|disp=1,265 FHL Films starting with 1445277}}. | ::*United States Bureau of Land Management, ''Tract Books'' (Washington, District of Columbia : Records Improvement, Bureau of Land Management, 1957). {{WorldCat|866217989|item|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}} {{FHL|607931|item|disp=1,265 FHL Films starting with 1445277}}. | ||
'''Storage of the originals.''' The [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives in Washington, DC]] has the original tract books for 16 western states. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Eastern State Office, 7450 Boston Blvd, Springfield, VA 22153 has custody of the tract books for the 12 eastern federal land states (AL, AR, FL, IL, IN, IA, LA, MI, MN, MS, OH, and WI).<ref>Hawkins, 4-5.</ref> The tract books for Alaska and Missouri are lost.<ref name="Hone" /> | '''Storage of the originals.''' The [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives in Washington, DC]] has the original tract books for 16 western states. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Eastern State Office, 7450 Boston Blvd, Springfield, VA 22153 has custody of the tract books for the 12 eastern federal land states (AL, AR, FL, IL, IN, IA, LA, MI, MN, MS, OH, and WI).<ref>Hawkins, 4-5.</ref> The tract books for Alaska and Missouri are lost.<ref name="Hone" /> | ||
=== Related Wiki Articles === | === Related Wiki Articles === | ||