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United States Land Terms and Definitions: Difference between revisions

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'''Base line '''An imaginary line running east and west; a baseline intersects with a meridian  
'''Base line '''An imaginary line running east and west; a baseline intersects with a meridian  


'''Bounds'''  Used in land measurement, this term refers to the naming of physical features.  
'''Bounds''' Used in land measurement, this term refers to the naming of physical features.  


'''Bounty land warrant'''  A title to a specified amount of land which was issued by the United States War Department upon presentation of evidence that the applicant had served in the Continental Line during the American Revolution.  
'''Bounty land warrant''' A title to a specified amount of land which was issued by the United States War Department upon presentation of evidence that the applicant had served in the Continental Line during the American Revolution.  


'''Cadastral maps'''  County atlases which give the names of landowners in the county and the acreage they own.  
'''Cadastral maps''' County atlases which give the names of landowners in the county and the acreage they own.  


'''Cash entry files'''  A file containing the paperwork for cash land sales, kept at the National Archives 
'''Cash entry files''' A file containing the paperwork for cash land sales, kept at the National Archives


'''Chain'''  66 feet or 4 rods or 100 [http://www.gloverfamily.com/docs/landmeasurements.htm/ links]
'''Chain''' 66 feet or 4 rods or 100 [http://www.gloverfamily.com/docs/landmeasurements.htm/ links]


'''Deed'''  The written legal document transferring ownership of property  
'''Deed''' The written legal document transferring ownership of property  


'''Direct index:''' Index of those selling the land.  Same as grantor index.  
'''Direct index:''' Index of those selling the land. Same as grantor index.  


'''Dower right'''  The widow's portion of an estate for use during her lifetime  
'''Dower right''' The widow's portion of an estate for use during her lifetime  


'''Escheat'''  Land ownership that reverted to the government by default  
'''Escheat''' Land ownership that reverted to the government by default  


'''Federal land/Public domain states  '''Thirty states whose land was initially controlled and dispersed by the federal government: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.  
'''Federal land/Public domain states '''Thirty states whose land was initially controlled and dispersed by the federal government: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.  


'''Forward''' '''index:''' Index of those selling the land.  Same as grantor index  
'''Forward''' '''index:''' Index of those selling the land. Same as grantor index  


'''Freehold'''  Land that can be used only during the person's lifetime 
'''Freehold''' Land that can be used only during the person's lifetime


'''Grant'''  To sell, convey, or donate  
'''Grant''' To sell, convey, or donate  


'''Grantor'''  The seller  
'''Grantor''' The seller  


'''Grantee'''  The buyer  
'''Grantee''' The buyer  


'''Headright''' During the colonization of the eastern United States, one was granted a "headright" of land for importing himself or another into the colonies. Headrights, usually 50 acres, could be bought or sold. Abuses of headrights occurred.  
'''Headright''' During the colonization of the eastern United States, one was granted a "headright" of land for importing himself or another into the colonies. Headrights, usually 50 acres, could be bought or sold. Abuses of headrights occurred.  


'''Homestead'''  A tract of land obtained from the government by a settler under a [[Homestead Records|homestead law]].  
'''Homestead''' A tract of land obtained from the government by a settler under a [[Homestead Records|homestead law]].  


'''Indirect index:''' Index of those buying the land.  Same as grantee index.  
'''Indirect index:''' Index of those buying the land. Same as grantee index.  


'''Land entry case file'''  A file containing the paperwork related to a parcel of land and kept by the General Land Office on each applicant  
'''Land entry case file''' A file containing the paperwork related to a parcel of land and kept by the General Land Office on each applicant  


'''Land grant'''  A grant of land which was for military duty or by a special act of Congress.  
'''Land grant''' A grant of land which was for military duty or by a special act of Congress.  


'''Lapsed land'''  Land that had not been seated within the specified time period reverted to the government.  
'''Lapsed land''' Land that had not been seated within the specified time period reverted to the government.  


'''Lease and release'''  Common method of selling land in the Colonial period. The deed was made for the consideration price of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peppercorn_%28legal%29 ''one peppercorn''] or something similar. The next day another deed was made out naming the full selling price. This is not a deed of gift.  
'''Lease and release''' Common method of selling land in the Colonial period. The deed was made for the consideration price of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peppercorn_%28legal%29 ''one peppercorn''] or something similar. The next day another deed was made out naming the full selling price. This is not a deed of gift.  


'''[http://www.gloverfamily.com/docs/landmeasurements.htm/ Link]''' 7.92 inches  
'''[http://www.gloverfamily.com/docs/landmeasurements.htm/ Link]''' 7.92 inches  


'''Meander lines'''  A term used in surveying to denote imaginary lines drawn on land which borders waterways in order to determine how much land is involved.  
'''Meander lines''' A term used in surveying to denote imaginary lines drawn on land which borders waterways in order to determine how much land is involved.  


'''Meridian  '''An imaginary line running north and south; a meridian intersects with a base line  
'''Meridian '''An imaginary line running north and south; a meridian intersects with a base line  


'''Messuage'''  Refers to a dwelling and other buildings  
'''Messuage''' Refers to a dwelling and other buildings  


'''Metes'''  This term is used in land measurement and refers to the direction and distance of a line.  
'''Metes''' This term is used in land measurement and refers to the direction and distance of a line.  


'''Metes and bounds'''  A combination of terms describing land measurement and features, mostly used in state land states 
'''Metes and bounds''' A combination of terms describing land measurement and features, mostly used in state land states


'''Moiety'''  An equal part  
'''Moiety''' An equal part  


'''Mortgage ''' Money borrowed from another using property as collateral  
'''Mortgage ''' Money borrowed from another using property as collateral  


'''Patent  '''The legal document showing the initial transfer of land from the government  
'''Patent '''The legal document showing the initial transfer of land from the government  


'''Perch/[http://www.gloverfamily.com/docs/landmeasurements.htm/ Pole]/Rod''' 16 1/2 feet or 1/4 chain or 25 links or 198 inches  
'''Perch/[http://www.gloverfamily.com/docs/landmeasurements.htm/ Pole]/Rod''' 16 1/2 feet or 1/4 chain or 25 links or 198 inches  


'''Plat  '''1) A small parcel of land, 2) a map or drawing of a land parcel  
'''Plat '''1) A small parcel of land, 2) a map or drawing of a land parcel  


'''Preemption  '''A filing for the first rights of purchase for a parcel of land  
'''Preemption '''A filing for the first rights of purchase for a parcel of land  


'''Range''' Townships in a line running from north to south.  
'''Range''' Townships in a line running from north to south.  
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'''Rectangular Survey '''Measurement of land based on township and range descriptions, used in public domain states  
'''Rectangular Survey '''Measurement of land based on township and range descriptions, used in public domain states  


'''Reverse index:''' An index of those buying land.  Same as grantee index.  
'''Reverse index:''' An index of those buying land. Same as grantee index.  


'''Seating land'''  This term meant that the patentee planned to make certain improvements to the property within a given period of time.  
'''Seating land''' This term meant that the patentee planned to make certain improvements to the property within a given period of time.  


'''Section'''  A measurement of land which consists of one square mile or six hundred and forty acres  
'''Section''' A measurement of land which consists of one square mile or six hundred and forty acres  


'''State-land states'''&nbsp; States which controlled and dispersed land owned by the state: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New&nbsp;Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,&nbsp;<br>Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.  
'''State-land states''' States which controlled and dispersed land owned by the state: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, <br>Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.  


'''Township''' 1) A measurement of land six miles by six miles, 2) Townships are measured in a north/south from a base line. 3) a governmental unit responsible for an area of approximately thirty-six square miles.  
'''Township''' 1) A measurement of land six miles by six miles, 2) Townships are measured in a north/south from a base line. 3) a governmental unit responsible for an area of approximately thirty-six square miles.  


'''Tract'''&nbsp; 1)&nbsp;A parcel of land, 2)&nbsp;a portion of a meridian section about twenty four miles square, containing sixteen townships<br><br>  
'''Tract''' 1) A parcel of land, 2) a portion of a meridian section about twenty four miles square, containing sixteen townships<br><br>  


[[Image:Congressional Township Rectangular Survey Grid.png|649px|Congressional Township Rectangular Survey Grid.png]]
[[Image:Congressional Township Rectangular Survey Grid.png|649px|Congressional Township Rectangular Survey Grid.png]]
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*Evans, Barbara Jean. ''A to Zax: A Comprehensive Dictionary for Genealogists and Historians, ''3rd ed. Alexandria, Virginia: Hearthside Press, 1995.  
*Evans, Barbara Jean. ''A to Zax: A Comprehensive Dictionary for Genealogists and Historians, ''3rd ed. Alexandria, Virginia: Hearthside Press, 1995.  
*Hatcher, Patricia Law. ''Locating Your Roots: Discover Your Ancestors Using Land Records. ''Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 2003.''&nbsp;''  
*Hatcher, Patricia Law. ''Locating Your Roots: Discover Your Ancestors Using Land Records. ''Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 2003.'' ''  
*Hone, E. Wade. ''Land &amp; Property Research in the United States. ''Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry Incorporated, 1997.
*Hone, E. Wade. ''Land &amp; Property Research in the United States. ''Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry Incorporated, 1997.