Ohio Land and Property: Difference between revisions

Land in Ohio was transferred to private ownership by state and federal land grants. This was the first public domain land ever made available for private ownership. The rectangular land survey system (section, township, and range), established by the Land Ordinance of 1785, was first applied to federal land grants in Ohio.  

Prior to the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, the colonies of Connecticut, Virginia, New York, and Massachusetts all had claim on land that is now part of Ohio. Only Virginia and Connecticut continued to claim specific areas of Ohio land after 1787.  

'''The Ohio Company First Purchase'''. This land was sold by the Continental Congress to an association of former officers and soldiers of the Revolutionary War from Massachusetts and nearby areas. The Ohio Company Second Purchase, made in 1792, was acquired by redeeming military bounty land warrants obtained by the association. Original records of the Ohio Company of Associates are in the custody of Marietta College, Dawes Memorial Library, Marietta, Ohio.  

'''The Donation Tract'''. One hundred-acre parcels were offered to legal-age males who would occupy the land immediately, thus becoming a buffer between the Indians and those settling on the Ohio Company Purchases. Deeds were issued by the Ohio Company of Associates until 1818, when the Marietta Land Office obtained jurisdiction of unclaimed lands.  

'''Symmes Purchase or Miami Purchase'''. Purchased partly with military bounty land warrants, the survey for this land was done privately and does not conform to the United States rectangular survey system. Symmes and many of the first settlers in this area came from New Jersey or had ties to New Jersey.  

'''The United States Military District'''. Ohio land was granted to soldiers from any state who served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. The tracts were 4,000 acres each, yet military bounty land warrants allowed between 100 acres for a soldier and 1,100 acres for a major general. Since few people could buy the remaining thousands of acres, some pooled warrants and subdivided their tract among themselves. Others sold their warrants to land speculators.  

'''Moravian Indian Grants'''. The United Brethren Church was issued the grant as trustee for Indian converts who sustained great losses in 1782.  

'''French Grants'''. Lands were granted to 101 Frenchmen who bought land by the Scioto Company, which had no land to sell legally.  

'''Refugee Tract'''. Lands were granted to refugees from Canada who came to the Colonies before 4 July 1776 and who aided the cause of the Colonies during the Revolutionary War.  

'''Congress Lands'''. Tracts of 320 acres were purchased by individuals. Because buyers paid 25 percent in cash and had four years to pay the balance, the property was exempt from taxes for the first five years after being purchased.