Kentucky Land and Property: Difference between revisions

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*'''1773-1780''' [http://genealogytrails.com/vir/fincastle/fincastlecommissionerland.html Genealogy Trails History Group, Early Kentucky Land Records, 1773-1780], index.

*[https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/48581/ Kentucky Court and Other Records, Vol. I] at Ancestry ($); {{FSC|86046|item|disp=FS Library Book 976.9 D2a 1969}}

*[https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/48031/ Kentucky Court and Other Records, Vol. II] at Ancestry ($); {{FSC|86046|item|disp=FS Library Book 976.9 D2a 1969}}

*[https://www.sos.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx The Kentucky Land Office] has information and links to many land record collections. Select Land Office from menu, then Military Registers & Land Records and Non-Military Registers & Land Records. Some of these collections with additional links are also listed below under '''Land Grants'''.

The availability of land attracted many immigrants to America and encouraged westward expansion. Land ownership was generally recorded in an area as soon as settlers began to arrive. Land records are primarily used to learn where an individual lived and when he or she lived there. They often reveal other family information such as the name of a spouse, heirs, other relatives, and neighbors.  

#A person selected a piece of vacant land. They applied for it by entering a claim that described its features to a government official or entry-taker who recorded it. Entries/applications list the name of the person seeking the land, a description of the land, the number of acres, the name of adjacent land owners, and the date the entry was made.

#Finally after officals received the necessary papers and fee a grant or patent was issued that entitled applicatant to the land.

'''Virginia Grants (1773–1792)'''. These grants were issued to men who served in the French and Indian War and in the Revolutionary War or their heirs.  

*Kentucky. Governor. ''County Court Orders, 1836–1955''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1962. {{FSC|242323|item|disp=FS Library films 272875–938}}. Films 272875–6 are indexes to this record. Due to the numerous disputes and litigations concerning Kentucky lands, consult the Court of Appeal deed books:

*Kentucky, Court of Appeals. ''Deed Books, 1780–1909''. Frankfort, KY: Kentucky Historical Society, 1966. {{FSC|135818|item|disp=FS Library films 551280–92}}. Film 551280 is an index to these records.

*[https://www.sos.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx The Kentucky Land Office] also has links to many of the above record collections, and additional information and collections. Select Land Office from menu, then Military Registers & Land Records and Non-Military Registers & Land Records.

*Brookes-Smith, Joan E. ''Master Index: Virginia Surveys and Grants 1774–1791''. Frankfort, KY: Kentucky Historical Society, 1976. {{FSC|193613|item|disp=FS Library film 1320833 item 6}}. This index is alphabetical by name and shows the county, number of acres, dates of the survey and grant, volume and page number of the original documents, and Kentucky Historical Society volume number.

*Jillson, Willard Rouse. ''Old Kentucky Entries and Deeds: A Complete Index to All of the Earliest Land Entries, Military Warrants, Deeds and Wills of the Commonwealth of Kentucky''. 1926. This is a name index that is alphabetical within the name of the county, military warrant, deed, or will. Online at:  [https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/526299-old-kentucky-entries-and-deeds-a-complete-index-to-all-of-the-earliest-land-entries-military-warrants-deeds-and-wills-of-the-commonwealth-of-kentucky?offset=1 FamilySearch Digital Library]. 1978, c1969 reprint at {{FSC|489197|item|disp=FS Library fiche 6051260; book 976.9 R22j.}}

*''Index for Old Kentucky Survey’s and Grants; Index for Tellico Surveys and Grants''. Frankfort, KY: Kentucky Historical Society, 1975. {{FSC|286811|item|disp=FS Library film 1402856}}. This index shows the name of the person receiving the land, survey number, county, acreage, survey and grant dates, volume and page numbers of original documents, and Kentucky Historical Society volume number.

'''Land Holders'''

*''Early Kentucky landholders, 1787-1811''. Compiled by James F. Sutherland. {{FSC|481476|item|disp=FS Library Book 976.9 R2su}}

Once a parcel of land was transferred from the government to private ownership, it may have stayed in the family for generations or for only a few months. It may have been subdivided, sold, and resold, with each transaction creating new records. These person-to-person transactions are an important resource to the genealogist since the potential for an ancestor to be recorded is high. These records may offer genealogical clues such as the given name of the wife, a previous residence, names of children, or death information. Land records also offer clues to maiden names if a father deeded property to his daughter upon her marriage. Witnesses and neighbors may also be in-laws or relatives.  

Some films are digitized and can be viewed online. Films can be viewed at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City and at various FamilySearch Centers. Do the following steps in the FS Library online catalog to locate film numbers:  

#Click on “Place Search.”

#Enter the locality where your ancestor lived. Hint: Grants are cataloged under the state or federal government while deeds are cataloged under the county.

#Once you have the film number, you should be given the information to locate the film at various FamilySearch Centers.

In the early days land disputes were common and so deeds ended up appealed to the STATE court level. These are abstracted in Michael L. and Bettie A. Cook's ''Kentucky Court of Appeals Deed Books Vol VI (Deed Books A-G, 1796-1803), Vol VII (Deed Books H-N, 1803-1811), Vol VIII (Deed Books O-U, 1811-1821) and Vol IV (Deed Books V-Z, 1821-1835)'' of the Kentucky Record Series. Vol IV includes the District of Kentucky (1783-1789) state supreme court records.

<br> {{Kentucky|Kentucky}} {{U.S. Land and Property}}