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Illinois Land and Property (view source)
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The value of land records lies in the fact that because land was highly sought after and the transactions were recorded from the time settlers began to arrive, it is a consistent and continuous record of many ancestors lives. Land records can be used to learn where and when an individual lived in certain areas, as well as often revealing useful and interesting family information. | The value of land records lies in the fact that because land was highly sought after and the transactions were recorded from the time settlers began to arrive, it is a consistent and continuous record of many ancestors lives. Land records can be used to learn where and when an individual lived in certain areas, as well as often revealing useful and interesting family information. | ||
Illinois was a [[ | Illinois was a [[Grants from the Federal Government (Public Domain)|“federal-land” state]], where unclaimed land was surveyed, then granted or sold by the government through federal and state land offices. The first sale of a piece of land from the government was called a land patent and the first owner of the land was called a patentee. Later when the land was sold or mortgaged by private owners the document was called a deed. The transactions were recorded at the office of the county register of deeds. Family history researchers usually use land records from county offices. Records from federal and state offices can also have genealogical value. For detailed descriptions of land record types see [[United States Land and Property|United States Land and Property]]. | ||
If you are new to land research, you may wish to read the Beginner’s corner and other articles included on the [[ | If you are new to land research, you may wish to read the Beginner’s corner and other articles included on the [[United States Land and Property|United States Land and Property]] page. | ||
=== Early Settlers === | === Early Settlers === | ||
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:*McMullin, Phillip W., editor. ''Grassroots of America''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Gendex Corporation, 1972. (Book {{FHL|973 R2ag index}}; Fiche {{FHL|6051323}}.) [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/369896 WorldCat entry]. | :*McMullin, Phillip W., editor. ''Grassroots of America''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Gendex Corporation, 1972. (Book {{FHL|973 R2ag index}}; Fiche {{FHL|6051323}}.) [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/369896 WorldCat entry]. | ||
*Indexes to land, pension, bounty land, and other claims presented to Congress from 1789 to 1909 are found in published summaries or digests (tables) at the [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives]] and federal repository libraries (at major university libraries). The [[Family History Library|Family History Library]] has the alphabetical digests for 1789 to 1871: | *Indexes to land, pension, bounty land, and other claims presented to Congress from 1789 to 1909 are found in published summaries or digests (tables) at the [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives]] and federal repository libraries (at major university libraries). The [[Family History Library|Family History Library]] has the alphabetical digests for 1789 to 1871: | ||
:*United States Congress. House. ''Digested Summary and Alphabetical List of Private Claims Which Have Been Presented to the House of Representatives''. 1873; reprint Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1970. ({{FHL|899874}}-77.) [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/140368 WorldCat entry]. | :*United States Congress. House. ''Digested Summary and Alphabetical List of Private Claims Which Have Been Presented to the House of Representatives''. 1873; reprint Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1970. ({{FHL|899874}}-77.) [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/140368 WorldCat entry]. | ||
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==== '''Case Files''' ==== | ==== '''Case Files''' ==== | ||
The Case File is the accumulation of paperwork gathered during the Federal land transactions when the land is transferred from the U.S. Government to private ownership. These files are kept at the National Archives. Some of these files may contain valuable family information such as prove of citizenship, former residences, birthplaces and more. While not all files have pertinent information for the researcher, they are often worth obtaining. For further information regarding case files and how to order them, you may wish to read the article [[Grants from the Federal Government (Public Domain)#Locating_the_Land_and_it.27s_Associated_Records|''Locating the Land and it's Associated Records'']] at the United States Land and Property wiki page. | The Case File is the accumulation of paperwork gathered during the Federal land transactions when the land is transferred from the U.S. Government to private ownership. These files are kept at the National Archives. Some of these files may contain valuable family information such as prove of citizenship, former residences, birthplaces and more. While not all files have pertinent information for the researcher, they are often worth obtaining. For further information regarding case files and how to order them, you may wish to read the article [[Grants from the Federal Government (Public Domain)#Locating_the_Land_and_it.27s_Associated_Records|''Locating the Land and it's Associated Records'']] at the United States Land and Property wiki page. | ||
==== '''Helpful Publications''' ==== | ==== '''Helpful Publications''' ==== | ||