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Michigan was a public-domain 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 first federal and state transactions were recorded and the paperwork kept at the federal and state level, while all future transactions were recorded at the office of the county register of deeds. Family History researchers usually use land records from county offices, however, records from federal and state offices may also have genealogical value. For detailed descriptions of land record types see [[United States Land and Property|United States Land and Property]]. | Michigan was a public-domain 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 first federal and state transactions were recorded and the paperwork kept at the federal and state level, while all future transactions were recorded at the office of the county register of deeds. Family History researchers usually use land records from county offices, however, records from federal and state offices may also have genealogical value. For detailed descriptions of land record types see [[United States Land and Property|United States Land and Property]]. | ||
=== | === Early Settlers === | ||
Michigan was settled by the French in the early days. In 1702 Antoine de Lamothe Cadillac found the area we now call Detroit and took possession of the land for France. He built a fort called Fort Pontchartrain and encouraged agricultural development around the fort. By 1763, the British gained control of the land. One of the biggest attraction to the area was the availability of the Detroit river and Great lakes which provided ease of trade by water. Some of the earliest records in [[Michigan]], including lists of early voters, petitioners, taxpayers, and landowners, are recorded in The American state papers (see below). The following resources may be helpful as you search for these early land records. | |||
==== Resources ==== | |||
*United States Congress ''American State Papers: Documents, Legislative and Executive of the Congress of the United States'' La Crosse, Wisconsin: Brookhaven Press, 1959. 38 vols. On 29 films beginning with {{FHL|1631827}}; classes 8 and 9 are also on films {{FHL|899878}}–85. Volumes for classes 8 and 9 deal with public lands and claims for 1789 to 1837 and may name siblings or heirs of original claimants. Classes 8 and 9 have been republished in: | |||
United States | :*United States Congress. ''American State Papers, Class 8: Public Lands''; Class 9: Claims: Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States. {{FHL|973 R2ag}}1994). The American state papers include many of the private land claims for the early time period prior to statehood | ||
:*McMullin, Phillip W. and United States Congress ''Grassroots of America : a computerized index to the American state papers: land grants and claims (1789-1837) with other aids to research (Government document serial set numbers 28 through 36)'' Greenville, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1994, c1990. {{FHL|973 R2ag}}index 1990. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/369896 World Cat] | |||
*Michigan Circuit Court (Mackinac County) ''Miscellaneous records, 1805-1841'' Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1974. Contains oaths of office, deeds, wills, marriages, 1805-1820; court journal, 1823-1841. {{FHL|955819}}item 2. | |||
*Historical Records Survey (Michigan); Michigan State Library (Lansing, Michigan); Daughters of the American Revolution, Louisa St. Clair Chapter (Detroit, Michigan) ''Early land transfers, Detroit and Wayne County, Michigan ... 1703-1869 State Library and Daughters of the American Revolution, Louisa St. Clair Chapter, sponsors. (n. p.) 1936-1940.'' Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1973. {{FHL|926988}}items 2 - 3 through 926998. Includes index. | |||
*Wayne County (Michigan) Register of Deeds ''Deed records, 1766 - 1918'' Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Uth, 1974. {{FHL|926443}} | |||
=== Land Office Records === | === Land Office Records === | ||