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Pennsylvania Land and Property (view source)
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Some records for this time period are in Pennsylvania Archives, series 2. vol. 5 and vol. 7 pp. 485-873. {{FHL|485590|item}} book 974.8 A39p ser. 2 v. 5; also film 823995 item 1. [http://www.worldcat.org/title/pennsylvania-archives-second-series/oclc/2905093&referer=brief_results Other libraries with this book]. | Some records for this time period are in Pennsylvania Archives, series 2. vol. 5 and vol. 7 pp. 485-873. {{FHL|485590|item}} book 974.8 A39p ser. 2 v. 5; also film 823995 item 1. [http://www.worldcat.org/title/pennsylvania-archives-second-series/oclc/2905093&referer=brief_results Other libraries with this book]. | ||
=== 1682 to | === 1682 to 1776 - Proprietorship of William Penn and his Heirs === | ||
In 1681, William Penn received a charter from King Charles II declaring him absolute owner of the land that is now Pennsylvania. As such, he had the authority to dispose of the land with little restriction. He recognized the claims to the land held by the Native Americans and maintained a policy of purchasing land from them before selling land for settlement. This same policy was mostly adhered to by his heirs. William Penn also purchased the area that is now Delaware, and he and his sons distributed land in Delaware during their entire proprietary period. | In 1681, William Penn received a charter from King Charles II declaring him absolute owner of the land that is now Pennsylvania. As such, he had the authority to dispose of the land with little restriction. He recognized the claims to the land held by the Native Americans and maintained a policy of purchasing land from them before selling land for settlement. This same policy was mostly adhered to by his heirs. William Penn also purchased the area that is now Delaware, and he and his sons distributed land in Delaware during their entire proprietary period. | ||
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A major portion of the proprietor's work was to attempt to resolve Indian concerns and persuade the squatters (settlers with no title to the land) to obtain title to the land. They met with some success. The Revolutionary War brought an end to the proprietary period in Pennsylvania. | A major portion of the proprietor's work was to attempt to resolve Indian concerns and persuade the squatters (settlers with no title to the land) to obtain title to the land. They met with some success. The Revolutionary War brought an end to the proprietary period in Pennsylvania. | ||
=== 1776 to 1990 - The Commonwealth === | === 1776 to 1990 - The Commonwealth === | ||
With the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, Pennsylvania became owner of all unsold land in the state. It was unprepared for this, so it continued the proprietary land distribution practices for many years afterwards. | With the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, Pennsylvania became owner of all unsold land in the state. It was unprepared for this, so it continued the proprietary land distribution practices for many years afterwards. | ||
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The state land office is now called the Bureau of Land Records. Extensive files of the bureau's records have been transferred to the State Archives. Many records have been scanned and are now searchable on the [http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=1592&&PageID=259963&mode=2 Pennsylvania Historial and Museum Commission website]. The Family History Library has copies of many of these records (on over 1,000 microfilms), including: | The state land office is now called the Bureau of Land Records. Extensive files of the bureau's records have been transferred to the State Archives. Many records have been scanned and are now searchable on the [http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=1592&&PageID=259963&mode=2 Pennsylvania Historial and Museum Commission website]. The Family History Library has copies of many of these records (on over 1,000 microfilms), including: | ||
*Pennsylvania. Board of Property. ''Board of Property Papers, 1682-1850''. ( | *Pennsylvania. Board of Property. ''Board of Property Papers, 1682-1850''. ({{FHL|8571|item}} on 19 films beginning with 988274.) These loose papers involving land disputes are mostly in chronological order. They can contain valuable genealogical and historical information. There is no index to these records, but some of the documents have been extracted in ''Pennsylvania Archives'', series 3, vols. 1. (1681-1739, 1765-1791) and 2 (1792-1795). (see [[Pennsylvania Genealogy|Pennsylvania Genealogy]]). ({{FHL|481905|item}} book 974.8 A39p ser. 3, vol. 1 and 2 and film 824426 items 1-2). There are documents on the films that are not in the books and visa-versa, so both books and films should be used together. The indexes in the books may be used to access the records on the films with a little bit of searching. For example, finding a name in the book index may lead to records in the films covering the same time period. The books contain mistakes. | ||
*''Early Pennsylvania Land Records: Minutes of The Board of Property '' | *''Early Pennsylvania Land Records: Minutes of The Board of Property ''(Baltimore, Maryland.: Genealogical Publishing, 1976) is a published source that lists the names of many early settlers. ({{FHL|171386|item}} book 974.8 A39p, ser. 2 vol. 19). This was originally published as part of ''Pennsylvania Archives'', second series (see [[Pennsylvania Genealogy|Pennsylvania Genealogy]])], which covers the era 1687 to 1732. | ||
*Pennsylvania, Board of Property, ''Board of Property Petitions, Undated 1682-1815''. {{FHL|8587|item}}films 988269-73. These and the Board of Property records above can be some of the most valuable land records available for providing family history information. Because of the way land was distributed in Pennsylvania, there were many opportunities for disputes. | *Pennsylvania, Board of Property, ''Board of Property Petitions, Undated 1682-1815''. ({{FHL|8587|item}}films 988269-73). These and the Board of Property records above can be some of the most valuable land records available for providing family history information. Because of the way land was distributed in Pennsylvania, there were many opportunities for disputes. | ||
*Pennsylvania, Bureau of Land Records, ''Warrant Register, 1682- 1950'' is an important index to land records. ( | *Pennsylvania, Bureau of Land Records, ''Warrant Register, 1682- 1950'' is an important index to land records. ({{FHL|23738|item}} films 1003194-99). Munger, ''Pennsylvania Land Records'', p. 202, states this index includes records beginning in 1733. This is an index to the warrants, patents and surveys listed immediately below. For an index to the earliest warrants and surveys, see Weinberg and Slattery, ''Warrants and Surveys of the Province of Pennsylvania'', also listed below. | ||
*The State Archives has digital images of the [http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/Bah/DAM/rg/di/r17-88WarrantRegisters/r17-88AllCountiesInterface.htm Warrant Registers 1733-1957] for each county in Pennsylvania. The registers are alphabetical by surname of the warrantee (the person who got the warrant). | *The State Archives has digital images of the [http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/Bah/DAM/rg/di/r17-88WarrantRegisters/r17-88AllCountiesInterface.htm Warrant Registers 1733-1957] for each county in Pennsylvania. The registers are alphabetical by surname of the warrantee (the person who got the warrant). | ||
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*A description of the Bureau of Land Records is in Pennsylvania Bureau of Land Records, in ''Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Quarterly,'' vol. 8, no. 4, May 1982 (Family History Library book 974.8 B2wg; film [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlefilmnotes&columns=*%2C0%2C0&titleno=151821&disp=Western+Pennsylvania+Genealogical+Societ++ 2024355]). | *A description of the Bureau of Land Records is in Pennsylvania Bureau of Land Records, in ''Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Quarterly,'' vol. 8, no. 4, May 1982 (Family History Library book 974.8 B2wg; film [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlefilmnotes&columns=*%2C0%2C0&titleno=151821&disp=Western+Pennsylvania+Genealogical+Societ++ 2024355]). | ||
The State Archives sells warrantee township maps. These show the original land grants within present-day township boundaries. The maps include the names of the original warrantee and patentee, the number of acres, and the dates of warrant, survey, and patent. | The State Archives sells warrantee township maps. These show the original land grants within present-day township boundaries. The maps include the names of the original warrantee and patentee, the number of acres, and the dates of warrant, survey, and patent. | ||
=== Indexes of Colonial and State Records === | === Indexes of Colonial and State Records === | ||