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''Associated records''. Two types of records are closely associated with tract books: patents and case files. Patents are very reliable and represent the formal transfer of land from federal to private ownership. [[Land entry case files|Case files]] can include a variety of records such as applications, reports, affidavits, genealogical pages from family Bibles, letters from attorneys, or surveys which must be evaluated individually to assess their reliability. | ''Associated records''. Two types of records are closely associated with tract books: patents and case files. Patents are very reliable and represent the formal transfer of land from federal to private ownership. [[Land entry case files|Case files]] can include a variety of records such as applications, reports, affidavits, genealogical pages from family Bibles, letters from attorneys, or surveys which must be evaluated individually to assess their reliability. | ||
'''Coverage.''' These tract books document nearly 100 percent of the land transactions in 28 of 30 federal land states between 1820 and 1908. Every ancestor who applied to the federal government | '''Coverage.''' These tract books document nearly 100 percent of the land transactions in 28 of 30 federal land states between 1820 and 1908. Every ancestor who applied to the federal government to obtain federal land (except in Alaska or Missouri) should be entered in one of these tract books whether the application was approved (patented), or not. | ||
The availability of inexpensive land was one of the primary attractions for immigrants to America. As high as 80 percent of the population have owned property at some point in their life. However, only a small part of population obtained that land '''directly''' from the federal government. Therefore, only a small percentage of the land-owning population would be listed in federal tract books. Nevertheless, the remaining landowners would definitely be mentioned in county land and property records such as [[United States. United-States - Land and Property- Deeds|deeds]]. | The availability of inexpensive land was one of the primary attractions for immigrants to America. As high as 80 percent of the population have owned property at some point in their life. However, only a small part of population obtained that land '''directly''' from the federal government. Therefore, only a small percentage of the land-owning population would be listed in federal tract books. Nevertheless, the remaining landowners would definitely be mentioned in county land and property records such as [[United States. United-States - Land and Property- Deeds|deeds]]. | ||