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=== Value of case files === | === Value of case files === | ||
Case files show details about when and where an ancestor applied for land from the '''federal''' government. Case files sometimes include information about family members, neighbors, military service, or citizenship naturalization records. Knowing the location of an ancestor's new property provides clues to help search for the records of the disposal of that property, or nearby properties. You can also search for a variety of non-land records of the ancestor in that area. Case files, and the associated tract books can be used to find information about neighbors—people who sometimes turn out to be relatives. When few other clues exist, a case file can lead to ''subsequent | Case files show details about when and where an ancestor applied for land from the '''federal''' government. Case files sometimes include information about family members, neighbors, military service, or citizenship naturalization records. Knowing the location of an ancestor's new property provides clues to help search for the records of the disposal of that property, or nearby properties. You can also search for a variety of non-land records of the ancestor in that area. Case files, and the associated tract books can be used to find information about neighbors—people who sometimes turn out to be relatives. When few other clues exist, a case file can lead to ''subsequent '' land transfer records that state or infer a parent-child relationship between the people involved. | ||
=== Jurisdictions === | === Jurisdictions === | ||
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Case files can include a variety of record types. Military bounty land case files will have different kinds of records than homesteads, cash entries, mining, or timberland cases. ''For example'', | Case files can include a variety of record types. Military bounty land case files will have different kinds of records than homesteads, cash entries, mining, or timberland cases. ''For example'', | ||
:*'''''Military bounty land | :*'''''Military bounty land ''''' case files can include warrants, treasury certificates, exchange certificates, and applications.<ref>E. Wade Hone, ''Land and Property Research in the United States'' (Salt Lake City, Utah : Ancestry Pub., c1997), 115-26. {{WorldCat|483096407|item|disp=At various repositories (WorldCat)}}; {{FSC|766994|item|disp=FS Library Book 973 R27h}}.</ref> | ||
:*'''''Cash entry | :*'''''Cash entry ''''' may include an application, receipt, warrant for survey, survey, testimonies, affidavits, newspaper notifications, naturalization papers, final certificate, and patent.<ref>Hone, 111-13, and 127-18.</ref><br><br> | ||
'''Variation over time.''' Case file contents varied over time.<br> | '''Variation over time.''' Case file contents varied over time.<br> | ||
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:*'''Land patent.''' If your family still has the patent (original title) for a piece of property, that patent will show the land description. | :*'''Land patent.''' If your family still has the patent (original title) for a piece of property, that patent will show the land description. | ||
:*'''[https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx?searchTabIndex=0&searchByTypeIndex=0 BLM land patent search].''' The online index to eight million land patents 1820-1908 and [[US Military Bounty Land Warrants|military bounty land]] shows each entry's land description. However, this index does '''not''' include the two million [[Land_entry_case_files|case files]] which were never finished, forfeited, relinquished, or cancelled. | :*'''[https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx?searchTabIndex=0&searchByTypeIndex=0 BLM land patent search].''' The online index to eight million land patents 1820-1908 and [[US Military Bounty Land Warrants|military bounty land]] shows each entry's land description. However, this index does '''not''' include the two million [[Land_entry_case_files|case files]] which were never finished, forfeited, relinquished, or cancelled. | ||
:*'''Seven states index.''' The ''seven states index | :*'''Seven states index.''' The ''seven states index '' at the [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives in Washington, DC]], also gives each entry's land description. The index covers Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada and Utah for pre-1908 [[Land_entry_case_files|case files]] both patented and unpatented.<ref>Hawkins, 3-4.</ref> | ||
:*'''Use search engines like''' '''''Google | :*'''Use search engines like''' '''''Google ''''' to identify state land record indexes that could reveal land descriptions. Selected states may have indexed their own land records. ''For example'', see the [https://history.nebraska.gov/collections/nebraska-homestead-land-records Nebraska 1860-1954 Tract Books Index]. | ||
'''Step 1B. Search tract books page-by-page.''' Alternatively, '''''IF | '''Step 1B. Search tract books page-by-page.''' Alternatively, '''''IF ''''' you cannot find elsewhere the section, township number, and range number, you could search page-by-page through the tract books for the county where an ancestor lived until you find his or her name. | ||
:'''1Bi.''' The following sources can help narrow the number of tract books to search: | :'''1Bi.''' The following sources can help narrow the number of tract books to search: | ||
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:*'''''FS Catalog description.''''' For a detailed list of this collection's '''contents by film number''', see the FamilySearch Catalog entry: | :*'''''FS Catalog description.''''' For a detailed list of this collection's '''contents by film number''', see the FamilySearch Catalog entry: | ||
::United States, Bureau of Land Management, ''{{FSC|607931|item|disp=Tract Books}}'' (Washington, D.C. | ::United States, Bureau of Land Management, ''{{FSC|607931|item|disp=Tract Books}}'' (Washington, D.C. : Records Improvement, Bureau of Land Management, 1957). {{WorldCat|866217989|item|disp=At various repositories (WorldCat)}}; {{FSC|607931|item|disp=On 1,265 FS Library Films starting with 1445277}}.<br><br> | ||
:*'''''Index'''''. Or, if you have access to the National Archives in Washington, DC, use the '''''Index to Tract Books, RG 49, MLR# UD2321''''',<ref>Index to Tract Books, RG 49, MLR# UD2321, maps arranged by state. Copies of these maps are available for consultation in room G28 of the National Archives Building, Washington, DC, as cited in Hawkins, page 6.</ref> to each state's tract books which allows researchers to identify the tract book number that covers the area in which they are interested.<ref>Hawkins, 4.</ref> | :*'''''Index'''''. Or, if you have access to the National Archives in Washington, DC, use the '''''Index to Tract Books, RG 49, MLR# UD2321''''',<ref>Index to Tract Books, RG 49, MLR# UD2321, maps arranged by state. Copies of these maps are available for consultation in room G28 of the National Archives Building, Washington, DC, as cited in Hawkins, page 6.</ref> to each state's tract books which allows researchers to identify the tract book number that covers the area in which they are interested.<ref>Hawkins, 4.</ref> | ||
:*'''''Townships and ranges in each county'''''. In addition, "Appendix A" in ''{{WorldCat|36074524|item|disp=Land and Property Research in the United States}} | :*'''''Townships and ranges in each county'''''. In addition, "Appendix A" in ''{{WorldCat|36074524|item|disp=Land and Property Research in the United States}} '' lists each present-day federal land state and county together with its farthest north-, east-, south-, and west- township and range for that county, and the meridian(s) that applies.<ref>Hone, 213-67.</ref> This information can help you narrow down the number of tract books you will need to search. | ||
:*'''''Land offices'''''. Tract books for some states, such as Alabama and Ohio are organized by land office. Others are organized for the whole state. "Appendix B" in ''Land and Property Research in the United States | :*'''''Land offices'''''. Tract books for some states, such as Alabama and Ohio are organized by land office. Others are organized for the whole state. "Appendix B" in ''Land and Property Research in the United States '' shows the varying land office boundaries in each state over many years.<ref>Hone, 269-497.</ref> | ||
:'''1Bii. Browse the tract books''' looking for an ancestor's name. To browse the online tract books 1820-1980, [http://familysearch.org/search/image/index#uri=https://familysearch.org/recapi/sord/collection/2074276/waypoints click here]. | :'''1Bii. Browse the tract books''' looking for an ancestor's name. To browse the online tract books 1820-1980, [http://familysearch.org/search/image/index#uri=https://familysearch.org/recapi/sord/collection/2074276/waypoints click here]. | ||
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| valign="baseline" bgcolor="#66ffff" | <center>'''Can't find your ancestor?'''</center> | | valign="baseline" bgcolor="#66ffff" | <center>'''Can't find your ancestor?'''</center> | ||
*Re-try the ''[[Land Patent Search|BLM Land Patent Search]] | *Re-try the ''[[Land Patent Search|BLM Land Patent Search]] '' using [[Guessing a Name Variation|variant spellings]] of the ancestor's name. | ||
*Check for an index among the tract book volumes. Sometimes a separate index volume exists for all the tract books from the same land office. | *Check for an index among the tract book volumes. Sometimes a separate index volume exists for all the tract books from the same land office. | ||
*Hunt for the land records of relatives. Sometimes one ancestor would obtain land through the name of a relative, or even a neighbor. | *Hunt for the land records of relatives. Sometimes one ancestor would obtain land through the name of a relative, or even a neighbor. | ||
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'''Step 2. Submit a filled-out [http://www.archives.gov/forms/pdf/natf-84.pdf NATF-84]''' (a pdf land entry case file request form), and $50 to the National Archives. Instructions are on the form. | '''Step 2. Submit a filled-out [http://www.archives.gov/forms/pdf/natf-84.pdf NATF-84]''' (a pdf land entry case file request form), and $50 to the National Archives. Instructions are on the form. | ||
:To obtain a land entry case file you will need information about the ancestor's state, county, land office, and land description listing the section, township number, and range number. The form also requests the patent number, but if that '''''is lacking''''', you can '''''substitute | :To obtain a land entry case file you will need information about the ancestor's state, county, land office, and land description listing the section, township number, and range number. The form also requests the patent number, but if that '''''is lacking''''', you can '''''substitute ''''' photocopies of the tract book entry, and the exact citation for the tract book and page number of the entry. | ||
=== Use the case file data === | === Use the case file data === | ||
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:*'''Tract books.''' Every case file has a corresponding [[Tract books|tract book]] entry. If you have not already found the tract book entry, do so now. Look for relatives and neighbors in nearby tract book entries. | :*'''Tract books.''' Every case file has a corresponding [[Tract books|tract book]] entry. If you have not already found the tract book entry, do so now. Look for relatives and neighbors in nearby tract book entries. | ||
:*'''Other related files.''' Case files are usually only part of the iceberg. Patents, warrants, surveys, and newspaper notifications are among the kinds of records that '''''may | :*'''Other related files.''' Case files are usually only part of the iceberg. Patents, warrants, surveys, and newspaper notifications are among the kinds of records that '''''may ''''' be found outside of case files. Look for extra land records at the federal, state, or county levels. | ||
:*'''Disposal of the property.''' Find out how your ancestor disposed of the property as a way of finding clues about possible relatives. For example, your ancestor may have sold or given land to his or her heirs before death, or the heirs may have sold the land after the individual died. For daughters, the names of their husbands are often provided. For sons, the given names of their wives may be included. Heirs may have sold their interest in the land to another heir even though the record may not indicate this. | :*'''Disposal of the property.''' Find out how your ancestor disposed of the property as a way of finding clues about possible relatives. For example, your ancestor may have sold or given land to his or her heirs before death, or the heirs may have sold the land after the individual died. For daughters, the names of their husbands are often provided. For sons, the given names of their wives may be included. Heirs may have sold their interest in the land to another heir even though the record may not indicate this. | ||
:*'''Nearby property transactions.''' Look for your ancestor acquiring, or disposing of nearby property. Also, look to see if the ancestor disposed of property at a previous residence before moving to this property. | :*'''Nearby property transactions.''' Look for your ancestor acquiring, or disposing of nearby property. Also, look to see if the ancestor disposed of property at a previous residence before moving to this property. | ||
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*Kenneth Hawkins, ''Research in the Land Entry Files of the General Land Office: Record Group 49'', Reference Information Paper, 114 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 2007), 9. [http://www.archives.gov/publications/ref-info-papers/rip114.pdf Internet version (pdf)] {{WorldCat|146498814|item|disp=At various repositories (WorldCat)}} {{FSC|1440124|item|disp=FS Library Ref Book 973 J53hrL}} | *Kenneth Hawkins, ''Research in the Land Entry Files of the General Land Office: Record Group 49'', Reference Information Paper, 114 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 2007), 9. [http://www.archives.gov/publications/ref-info-papers/rip114.pdf Internet version (pdf)] {{WorldCat|146498814|item|disp=At various repositories (WorldCat)}} {{FSC|1440124|item|disp=FS Library Ref Book 973 J53hrL}} | ||
*E. Wade Hone, ''Land and Property Research in the United States'' (Salt Lake City, Utah | *E. Wade Hone, ''Land and Property Research in the United States'' (Salt Lake City, Utah : Ancestry Pub., c1997), chapters 8 and 9. {{WorldCat|483096407|item|disp=At various repositories (WorldCat)}}; {{FSC|766994|item|disp=FS Library Book 973 R27h}}. | ||
=== References === | === References === | ||
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