Land Entry Case Files: Difference between revisions

Land Entry Case Files (view source)

Revision as of 17:22, 5 December 2014

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 :'''A.''' in an index under an ancestor's name, or <br>
 :'''B.''' by searching appropriate tract books page-by-page for an ancestor's name.<br>
+'''1A. Find the land description.''' The best strategy is to first find an ancestor's land description.
+:'''Sources which 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 [[US Military Bounty Land Warrants|military bounty land]] shows each entry's land description. However, this index does '''not''' include the two million [[Land_entry_case_files|case files]] which were never finished, forfeited, relinquished, or cancelled.
+:*'''Seven states index.''' The ''seven states index&nbsp;'' 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 [[Land_entry_case_files|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.'''
+'''1B. Search tract books page-by-page.''' Alternatively, '''''IF&nbsp;''''' 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.''' Submit a land entry case file request Form NATF-84, and $50 to the National Archives.
-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.
+To obtain a land entry case file you will need information about the ancestor's state, county, land office, and land description listing the section, township number, and range number. The form also requests the patent number, but if that is lacking, you can substitute copies of the tract book entry.
 '''What it helps to know.''' To begin your search of federal tract books it is helpful to know (or guess) the following:
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 :*County
 :*Land description (section, townhsip, and range) ''See [[Rectangular surveys]]'' for an explanation of these terms.
-==== Search strategies  ====
-'''1. Find the land description.''' The best strategy is to first find an ancestor's land description.
-:'''Sources which 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 [[US Military Bounty Land Warrants|military bounty land]] shows each entry's land description. However, this index does '''not''' include the two million [[Land_entry_case_files|case files]] which were never finished, forfeited, relinquished, or cancelled.
-:*'''Seven states index.''' The ''seven states index&nbsp;'' 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 [[Land_entry_case_files|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.'''
-'''2. Search tract books page-by-page.''' Alternatively, '''''IF&nbsp;''''' 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.
 === Availablity  ===