Maryland Land and Property: Difference between revisions

(Importing text file)
 
m (Added Full-Text Search Database - project)
 
(86 intermediate revisions by 20 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
=== Proprietary Land ===
{{MD-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
| link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]]
| link2=[[United States Land and Property|U.S. Land and Property]]
| link3=[[Maryland, United States Genealogy|Maryland]]
| link4=
| link5=[[Maryland Land and Property|Land and Property]]
}}
{| style="float:right; margin-right:200px"
|-
| style="padding-right:0px"|
|[[Image:Maryland land.jpg|thumb|right|300px|<center>Maryland Land<center>]]
|}


All Maryland land was first owned by the Calvert family proprietors who obtained it from the Crown. From 1633 to 1683 they issued headrights, or land grants, in return for immigrants transporting themselves and others to Maryland. The names of individuals receiving land through the headright system and later through cash sales are found in:
==Online Resources==
*[http://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/viewer.aspx?page=landrecords Land Records] at Maryland State Archives
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/full-text Full-Text Search - Land Records] at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P00oMDsAsSw How to Search]


Skordas, Gust. ''Early Settlers of Maryland: An Index to Names of Immigrants Compiled from Records of Land Patents, 1633-1680''. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1968. (FHL book 975.2 W2s.) This source lists the settler's name, immigration date, and the source of the information.
== Maryland Land Records ==


Coldham, Peter Wilson. ''Settlers of Maryland. [1679- 1783'']. Five Volumes. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1995-1996. (FHL book 975.2 R28c.) This series is a continuation of the work started by Gust Skordas. It may include county, name of tract, acreage, date, and references. In the late 1600s, the headright system was replaced by cash sales of proprietary lands. The series covers 1679 to 1783.
Early Maryland land records are available at the [[Maryland State Archives|Maryland State Archives]] with copies and indexes to many of them available in other libraries and archives. A joint Government service of the Maryland Judiciary and the Maryland State Archives provides a digital image retrieval system ([http://mdlandrec.net/ MDLandRec.net] - requires free registration) to Maryland land records. This includes digital scans of Maryland county deed indexes and deed books, an index to land patents (land transferred from the government to individuals), and digital scans of survey certificates. This site allows you to conduct the majority of your Maryland deed research online.


=== Military Land ===
=== Proprietary Land ===


During the Revolutionary War, Maryland offered land grant lots as a bounty to entice recruits to fill Maryland's enlistment quotas. These lots, located "Westward of Fort Cumberland" in present day Allegany and Garrett counties, are described in indexed land records and maps available at the Maryland State Archives. Those men receiving this land are mentioned in two publications, both of which are indexed:
All Maryland land was first owned by the Calvert family proprietors who obtained it from the Crown. From 1633 to 1683 they issued headrights, or land grants, in return for immigrants transporting themselves and others to Maryland. In 1680 the headright system under Charles Calvert, the third Lord Baltimore, and the Land Office was created. The names of individuals receiving land through the headright system and later through cash sales have been published. The [[Maryland State Archives]] has digitized books by Skordas and Gibb, and [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=49058 Ancestry] ($) has digitized Coldham's five volume set:  


Meyer, Mary K. ''Westward of Fort Cumberland Military Lots Set Off for Maryland's Revolutionary Soldiers: With an Appended List of Revolutionary Soldiers Granted Pensions by the State of Maryland''. Finksburg, Maryland: Pipe Creek Publication, Inc., 1993. (FHL book 975.2 M2me).
*Skordas, Gust. ''Early Settlers of Maryland: An Index to Names of Immigrants Compiled from Records of Land Patents, 1633-1680''. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1968. {{FSC|82176|item|disp=FS Library Book 975.2 W2s}}. This source lists the settler's name, immigration date, and the source of the information.
**Online index search at [https://earlysettlers.msa.maryland.gov/ The New Early Settlers of Maryland] at [[Maryland State Archives]].
*Gibb, Carson. ''A Supplement to "The Early Settlers of Maryland" comprising 8,680 entries Correcting Omissions and Errors in Gust Skordas, The Early Settlers of Maryland.'' Annapolis, Md.: Maryland State Archives, 1997. {{FSC|691316|item|disp=FS Library Book 975.2 W2s supp.}}.
**Online index search at [https://earlysettlers.msa.maryland.gov/ The New Early Settlers of Maryland] at [[Maryland State Archives]].  
*Coldham, Peter Wilson. ''Settlers of Maryland. [1679 1783'']. 5 vols. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1995-1996. {{FSC|496310|item|disp=FS Library Book 975.2 R28c}}; digital version at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=49058 Ancestry] ($). This series is a continuation of the work started by Gust Skordas. It may include county, name of tract, acreage, date, and references. In the late 1600s, the headright system was replaced by cash sales of proprietary lands. The series covers 1679 to 1783.


Scharf, John T. ''History of Western Maryland: Being a History of Frederick, Montgomery, Carroll, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties from the Earliest Period to the Present Day . . . 1882''. Reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Regional Publishing Company, 1968. (FHL book 975.2 H2s 1968; fiche 6046813; 1882 ed. on FHL films 962679-80.) This work is partially indexed by the following two works:
The 1759 Maryland land tax return reveals the proportions of land, county-by-county, owned by Catholics in contrast to land owned by Protestants. The highest percentages of Catholic landholdings were in [[Charles County, Maryland Genealogy|Charles]], [[Prince George's County, Maryland Genealogy|Prince George's]], and [[St. Mary's County, Maryland Genealogy|St. Mary's]] counties. The lowest percentages of Catholic landholdings were in [[Calvert County, Maryland Genealogy|Calvert]], [[Cecil County, Maryland Genealogy|Cecil]], [[Somerset County, Maryland Genealogy|Somerset]], [[Talbot County, Maryland Genealogy|Talbot]], and [[Worcester County, Maryland Genealogy|Worcester]] counties. Most land in those counties was owned by Protestants.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=-nLPAAAAMAAJ "An Account of the Number of Acres of Land in each County, in the Province of Maryland; distinguishing what Number of Acres are held by Protestants, and what Number of Acres are held by Papists, in each County, as it was returned by the Several Collectors of the Land Tax on Sept. 29, 1759,"] ''The Gentleman's Magazine,'' Vol. 35 (1765):15.</ref>


Long, Helen R. ''Index for the Frederick County Section of Scharf's History of Western Maryland''. Wichita, Kansas: ADR, Inc., 1986. (FHL book 975.2 H2s v. 1).
=== Military Land  ===


''Index for the Washington County Section of Scharf's History of Western Maryland''. Manhattan, Kansas: Helen R. Long, 1984. (FHL book 975.2 H2s v. 2; fiche 6087697).
During the Revolutionary War, Maryland offered land grant lots as a bounty to entice recruits to fill Maryland's enlistment quotas. These lots, located "Westward of Fort Cumberland" in present day Allegany and Garrett counties, are described in indexed land records and maps available at the Maryland State Archives. Those men receiving this land are mentioned in two publications, both of which are indexed:  


=== Land Office Records ===
*Meyer, Mary K. ''Westward of Fort Cumberland Military Lots Set Off for Maryland's Revolutionary Soldiers: With an Appended List of Revolutionary Soldiers Granted Pensions by the State of Maryland''. Finksburg, Md.: Pipe Creek Publication, Inc., 1993. {{FSC|710878|item|disp=FS Library Book 975.2 M2me}}.


[http://www.msa.md.gov/ The Maryland State Archives] has the original land office records, dating from 1634 to the present, and other early records that were once filed in each county. The land office records include land patents, surveys, grants, warrants, and proprietary rent rolls and debt books. A list of the records is in the inventory compiled by Morris Radoff, mentioned in the "[[Maryland Archives and Libraries|Archives and Libraries]]" section of this outline. The Maryland State Archives also has a card index arranged by grantee, by later owners, and by county and tract name.
*Scharf, John T. ''History of Western Maryland: Being a History of Frederick, Montgomery, Carroll, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties from the Earliest Period to the Present Day . . . ''Philadelphia, Pa.: L.H. Everts, 1882. Digital versions: [http://archive.org/details/historyofwestern02scha Vol. 2]; [http://archive.org/details/historyofwestern21scha Vol. 2, pt. 1]; {{FSC|223910|item|disp=FS Library Films 962679-80}}; 1968 reprint:{{FSC|231288|item|disp=FS Library Book 975.2 H2s 1968, fiche 6046813}}.


A guide to help you locate and use the early land records is:
Long prepared an index:  


Hartsook, Elizabeth, and Gust Skordas. ''Land Office and Prerogative Court Records of Colonial Maryland''. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1968. (FHL book 975.2 B4ma No. 4 1968).
*Long, Helen R. ''Index to Scharf’s History of Western Maryland: Volumes I and II''. Westminster, Md.: Clearfield Co. &amp; Family Lines Publications, 1995. {{FSC|231288|item|disp=FS Library Book 975.2 H2s index}}. This indexes John T. Scharf's book above.


The Maryland Historical Society has rent receipts, quitrent rolls (1633 to 1765), and debt books (1750) purchased from the Calvert family. The Family History Library has a microfilm copy of these records (FHL films 1685853-860).
=== Land Office Records  ===


=== County Land Records ===
The [[Maryland State Archives|Maryland State Archives]] has the original land office records, dating from 1634 to the present, and other early records that were once filed in each county. The land office records include land patents, surveys, grants, warrants, and proprietary rent rolls and debt books. A list of the land office records is in the inventory compiled by Morris Radoff, mentioned in [[Maryland Archives and Libraries]]. The Maryland State Archives also has a card index arranged by grantee, by later owners, and by county and tract name, see: [http://mdlandrec.net/ MDLandRec.net]. These records have also been microfilmed by FamilySearch (1636-1852): {{FSC|296677|item|disp=FS Library Films 13063-13141}}.


After land was transferred to private ownership, deeds and mortgages were filed with the county clerk. Baltimore City, Maryland deeds since 1851 have been filed with the clerk of the Baltimore City Supreme Court. Many deeds and mortgages were also recorded with the Provincial Court and General Courts from 1637 to 1805. The Maryland State Archives has the original county land records and microfilm copies of many of these records to the present. These can be borrowed through interlibrary loan (see Papenfuse's inventory in the "[[Maryland Archives and Libraries|Archives and Libraries]]" section of this outline). You can also obtain copies by writing to the county clerk at the county courthouse. The Family History Library has many of these records on microfilm.
A guide is available to help you locate and use early Maryland land records:


=== Records at the Family History Library ===
*Hartsook, Elizabeth, and Gust Skordas. ''Land Office and Prerogative Court Records of Colonial Maryland''. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1968. FS Library book 975.2 B4ma No. 4 1968,{{FSC|300463|item}}, also FS Library microfiche 6117897, {{FSC|146058|item}}.


The Family History Library has copies of most of the pre-1850 patents, warrants, and deeds. From the Maryland State Archives, for example, the library has 266 microfilms of Baltimore City deeds for the years 1653 to 1849 (FHL films 013323-588). The library also has the following statewide collections from the Maryland State Archives:
The [http://www.mdhs.org/ Maryland Historical Society] has rent receipts, quitrent rolls (1633 to 1765), and debt books (1750) purchased from the Calvert family. The [https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/ FamilySearch Library] has a microfilm copy of these records: {{FSC|501065|item|disp=FS Library Films 1685853-860}}.


''Patents Series: Of the Maryland Land Office. Land patents, certificates, and warrants, 1636 to 1852.'' (FHL films 013063-141.) See also the Calvert Papers, mentioned in the "[[Maryland Genealogy|Genealogy]]" section of this outline. (FHL films 1685853-4)
*''Provincial Court Judgments, 1679 to 1778.'' {{FSC|271666|item|disp=FS Library Films 12941-12968}}.


''Provincial court judgments, 1679 to 1778.'' (FHL films 012941-68)
=== County Land Records  ===


The Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog lists more of these records under:
After land was transferred to private ownership, deeds and mortgages were filed with the county clerk. See [http://mdlandrec.net/ MDLandRec.net] for digital scans of Maryland county deed indexes and deed books. Many deeds and mortgages were also recorded with the Provincial Court and General Courts from 1637 to 1805.


MARYLAND - LAND AND PROPERTY
The [[Maryland State Archives]] has the original county land records and microfilm copies of many of these records to the present.


MARYLAND, [COUNTY] - LAND AND PROPERTY
You can also obtain copies by writing to the county clerk at the appropriate county courthouse. See [http://publicrecords.onlinesearches.com/Maryland-Land-Records-and-Deeds.htm Maryland Land Records and Deeds Directory] for the addresses, phone numbers, etc. of the Recorder of Deeds for each county and the city of Baltimore.
 
Baltimore City, Maryland deeds since 1851 have been filed with the clerk of the Baltimore City Supreme Court.
 
FamilySearch has microfilmed many of these records.
 
*[https://mdlandrec.net/main/ Maryland Land Records] The Maryland Judiciary, the 24 elected Court Clerks of Maryland and the Maryland State Archives have joined in partnership to provide up to date access to all verified land record instruments in Maryland. This service is currently being provided at no charge to individuals who apply for a user name and password.
 
=== National Register of Historic Places  ===
 
*[http://www.mdihp.net/ Inventory of Historic Properties ]- access full nomination files of places listed in Maryland on the National Register of Historic Places. Files include the name of site, location, approximate date, public or private ownership, if occupied, if open to the public, description of physical appearance and condition, and photographs.  Site maintained by the Maryland State Archives.
 
== References  ==
 
<references />
 
{{Maryland|Maryland}} {{U.S. Land and Property}}
 
 
[[Category:Maryland, United States]][[Category:Land and Property]]

Latest revision as of 20:47, 6 June 2024

Maryland Wiki Topics
Maryland flag.png
Beginning Research
Record Types
Maryland Background
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources
Maryland Land

Online Resources

Maryland Land Records

Early Maryland land records are available at the Maryland State Archives with copies and indexes to many of them available in other libraries and archives. A joint Government service of the Maryland Judiciary and the Maryland State Archives provides a digital image retrieval system (MDLandRec.net - requires free registration) to Maryland land records. This includes digital scans of Maryland county deed indexes and deed books, an index to land patents (land transferred from the government to individuals), and digital scans of survey certificates. This site allows you to conduct the majority of your Maryland deed research online.

Proprietary Land

All Maryland land was first owned by the Calvert family proprietors who obtained it from the Crown. From 1633 to 1683 they issued headrights, or land grants, in return for immigrants transporting themselves and others to Maryland. In 1680 the headright system under Charles Calvert, the third Lord Baltimore, and the Land Office was created. The names of individuals receiving land through the headright system and later through cash sales have been published. The Maryland State Archives has digitized books by Skordas and Gibb, and Ancestry ($) has digitized Coldham's five volume set:

  • Skordas, Gust. Early Settlers of Maryland: An Index to Names of Immigrants Compiled from Records of Land Patents, 1633-1680. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1968. FS Library Book 975.2 W2s. This source lists the settler's name, immigration date, and the source of the information.
  • Gibb, Carson. A Supplement to "The Early Settlers of Maryland" comprising 8,680 entries Correcting Omissions and Errors in Gust Skordas, The Early Settlers of Maryland. Annapolis, Md.: Maryland State Archives, 1997. FS Library Book 975.2 W2s supp..
  • Coldham, Peter Wilson. Settlers of Maryland. [1679 1783]. 5 vols. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1995-1996. FS Library Book 975.2 R28c; digital version at Ancestry ($). This series is a continuation of the work started by Gust Skordas. It may include county, name of tract, acreage, date, and references. In the late 1600s, the headright system was replaced by cash sales of proprietary lands. The series covers 1679 to 1783.

The 1759 Maryland land tax return reveals the proportions of land, county-by-county, owned by Catholics in contrast to land owned by Protestants. The highest percentages of Catholic landholdings were in Charles, Prince George's, and St. Mary's counties. The lowest percentages of Catholic landholdings were in Calvert, Cecil, Somerset, Talbot, and Worcester counties. Most land in those counties was owned by Protestants.[1]

Military Land

During the Revolutionary War, Maryland offered land grant lots as a bounty to entice recruits to fill Maryland's enlistment quotas. These lots, located "Westward of Fort Cumberland" in present day Allegany and Garrett counties, are described in indexed land records and maps available at the Maryland State Archives. Those men receiving this land are mentioned in two publications, both of which are indexed:

  • Meyer, Mary K. Westward of Fort Cumberland Military Lots Set Off for Maryland's Revolutionary Soldiers: With an Appended List of Revolutionary Soldiers Granted Pensions by the State of Maryland. Finksburg, Md.: Pipe Creek Publication, Inc., 1993. FS Library Book 975.2 M2me.

Long prepared an index:

  • Long, Helen R. Index to Scharf’s History of Western Maryland: Volumes I and II. Westminster, Md.: Clearfield Co. & Family Lines Publications, 1995. FS Library Book 975.2 H2s index. This indexes John T. Scharf's book above.

Land Office Records

The Maryland State Archives has the original land office records, dating from 1634 to the present, and other early records that were once filed in each county. The land office records include land patents, surveys, grants, warrants, and proprietary rent rolls and debt books. A list of the land office records is in the inventory compiled by Morris Radoff, mentioned in Maryland Archives and Libraries. The Maryland State Archives also has a card index arranged by grantee, by later owners, and by county and tract name, see: MDLandRec.net. These records have also been microfilmed by FamilySearch (1636-1852): FS Library Films 13063-13141.

A guide is available to help you locate and use early Maryland land records:

  • Hartsook, Elizabeth, and Gust Skordas. Land Office and Prerogative Court Records of Colonial Maryland. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1968. FS Library book 975.2 B4ma No. 4 1968,FS Library Collection, also FS Library microfiche 6117897, FS Library Collection.

The Maryland Historical Society has rent receipts, quitrent rolls (1633 to 1765), and debt books (1750) purchased from the Calvert family. The FamilySearch Library has a microfilm copy of these records: FS Library Films 1685853-860.

County Land Records

After land was transferred to private ownership, deeds and mortgages were filed with the county clerk. See MDLandRec.net for digital scans of Maryland county deed indexes and deed books. Many deeds and mortgages were also recorded with the Provincial Court and General Courts from 1637 to 1805.

The Maryland State Archives has the original county land records and microfilm copies of many of these records to the present.

You can also obtain copies by writing to the county clerk at the appropriate county courthouse. See Maryland Land Records and Deeds Directory for the addresses, phone numbers, etc. of the Recorder of Deeds for each county and the city of Baltimore.

Baltimore City, Maryland deeds since 1851 have been filed with the clerk of the Baltimore City Supreme Court.

FamilySearch has microfilmed many of these records.

  • Maryland Land Records The Maryland Judiciary, the 24 elected Court Clerks of Maryland and the Maryland State Archives have joined in partnership to provide up to date access to all verified land record instruments in Maryland. This service is currently being provided at no charge to individuals who apply for a user name and password.

National Register of Historic Places

  • Inventory of Historic Properties - access full nomination files of places listed in Maryland on the National Register of Historic Places. Files include the name of site, location, approximate date, public or private ownership, if occupied, if open to the public, description of physical appearance and condition, and photographs. Site maintained by the Maryland State Archives.

References