Alabama Land and Property: Difference between revisions

== Online Resources ==

*''See [[United States Land and Property|United States Land and Property]] for more databases and resources.''

*'''Pre-1908''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2069 Alabama, Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908] Abstracts ($)  

*'''1820-1908''' {{RecordSearch|2074276|U.S., Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1820-1908}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, Bureau of Land Management Tract Books - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; images only

*[https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx?searchTabIndex=0&searchByTypeIndex=1 Survey Plats and Field Notes] at Bureau of Land Management - index  

*[https://historygeo.com/ Land Owner Search] at Historygeo.com ($), index to maps of original land owners

== Alabama Land Records  ==

Depending on when a person bought land, the records may be recorded under the following governments:  

The original records are at the Archives Nationales in Paris. Volume one of the American State Papers contains some references to persons who lived in the area before 1763:  

*''Grassroots of America: A Computerized Index to American State Papers: Land Grants and Claims 1789–1837, with other Aids to Research.'' Government Document Serial Set Numbers 28 Through 36. Salt Lake City, Utah: Gendex, 1972. {{FSC|286182|item|disp=FS Library fiche 6051323; book 973 R2ag index}}

The records are at the Public Record Office in London. Transcripts of the records are on microfilms:  

*''First Settlers of the Mississippi Territory.'' Nacogdoches, Texas: Ericson Books, 19–?. {{FSC|50642|item|disp=FS Library film 1421793 item 22; fiche 6051448; book 976 R2f}} {{Worldcat|945128|disp= At various libraries (WorldCat)}}This lists grants taken from the American State Papers, class 8, Public Lands, volume one, 1789 to 1809.

The area north of the 31st parallel (the mouth of the Yazoo River) was controlled by Spain from 1783 to1795. The area south of the 31st parallel, including Mobile, was controlled by Spain from 1783 until 1813.   

The records are at the Archivo General De Indias in Seville, Spain. Some of the Spanish land records, 1763 to 1809, are listed in chapter one of:  

These records are also included in volume one of the American State Papers (see above), pages 598–908, under "Land Claims in the Mississippi Territory, 1809."  

An index to the Archives of Spanish West Florida is:  

Many claims that go back to the Spanish period are also listed in ''First Settlers of the Mississippi Territory'' cited above under "England (1763–1783)."  

If there is an indication that your ancestors were from Georgia, it may be useful to search the various statewide indexes to Georgia land grants.  

South Carolina claimed lands in what is now northern Alabama. This was known as the "twelve-mile strip." There do not appear to be many records concerning land sales by South Carolina.  

If records indicate that your ancestor may have come from South Carolina, it may be helpful to search South Carolina statewide land grant indexes mentioned in [[South Carolina Land and Property]].  

In 1783, after the Revolutionary War, the United States gained control of the Mississippi and Alabama Territories. Those holding land at that time were required to file proof of ownership. The land claims for the Mississippi Territory are published in volume one of the ''American State Papers'', pages 594–908, and indexed in ''Grassroots of America'', cited above under "France."  

When the United States acquired the area, unsettled land in the public domain became available and was eventually sold by the Federal government. Thirteen land offices were established, the first in 1806. When the land offices were closed, records were forwarded to Washington, DC. Copies were sent to the Alabama Department of Archives and History.  

Pre-1908 General Land Office records have been indexed:  

:Telephone: 703-440-1600 <br>  

:Fax: 703-440-1701 <br>  

Land entry case files from 1785 to 1908 consist of the papers created during the process of transferring public land to individuals. They are often rich in genealogical information and may include depositions, receipts, affidavits, citizenship records, evidence of military service, and more. It is important to obtain the land entry file if you can. The files are arranged by the name of the land office and the type of certificate, certificate number, name of the certificate holder, and legal description of the land (township and range.) A completed NATF Form 84 must accompany requests for the case files. Files are available from:  

The records of the following land offices have been abstracted and published by Marilyn Davis Hahn Barefield: Cahaba, Centre, Demopolis, Elba, Huntsville, Lebanon, Mardisville, Montgomery, St. Stephen’s, Sparta, and Tuscaloosa. Each book covers varying years between 1768 and 1888. Military warrant records are also included. To find these books, use the Author Information Search of the [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&query=%2Bauthor%3AMarilyn%20%2Bauthor%3ABarefield&subjectsOpen=1114-50 FamilySearch Catalog] under Marilyn Barefield’s name. Each volume is well indexed.  

== County Land Records  ==

The Choctaw Indians who chose to remain in the east could receive land allotments or, later, scrip for public lands in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, or Arkansas. The records are in the National Archives, Records Group 75. These are the records of the claims commission connected with the 1830 Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. The records of scrip certificates surrendered for land are in the Bureau of Land Management, Records Group 49. Most of these records have been microfilmed. A book that lists those who filed for land allotments or scrip is:  

A helpful history of the Choctaw people from the 1500s to about 1930 is:  

Land and property records are listed in the Place Search of the FamilySearch Catalog under:  

{{U.S. Land and Property}}