73,385
edits
Tract Books: Difference between revisions
t
(t) |
(t) |
||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
{{TOC right}}Tract books were originally maintained by the '''federal''' government for each parcel of land obtained from the federal government. These ledgers were used to record entries, leases, withdrawals and other actions affecting the disposition of lands in the public domain. This information allowed federal land officials to determine the status of lands and minerals.<br><br> | {{TOC right}}Tract books were originally maintained by the '''federal''' government for each parcel of land obtained from the federal government. These ledgers were used to record entries, leases, withdrawals and other actions affecting the disposition of lands in the public domain. This information allowed federal land officials to determine the status of lands and minerals.<br><br> | ||
Likewise, most '''state''' and '''county''' governments have thier own tract books which may be partial copies federal tract books. States and counties usually keep parallel tract books for each parcel of real property in their jurisdiction in order to track ownership and status of real estate | Likewise, most '''state''' and '''county''' governments have thier own tract books which may be partial copies federal tract books. States and counties usually keep parallel tract books for each parcel of real property in their jurisdiction in order to track ownership and status of real estate AFTER it left federal control. | ||
In most cases the federal tract books are more comprehensive and complete than state or county tract books for the same area. | In most cases the federal tract books are more comprehensive and complete than state or county tract books for the same area. | ||
=== Federal tract books === | === Federal tract books === | ||
There are 3,907 United States '''federal''' tract books containing the official record of each parcel of public land until it was transferred from federal to private ownership in 28 of the [[United States Land and Property#United_States|30 federal land states]] between the years 1820 and 1908. The federal tract books for Alaska and Missouri are lost.<ref name="Hone">E. Wade Hone, ''Land and Property Research in the United States'' (Salt Lake City, Utah : Ancestry Pub., c1997), 113. {{WorldCat|483096407|item|disp=At various repositories (WorldCat)}}; {{FHL|766994|item|disp=FHL Book 973 R27h}}.</ref> | |||
'''Why they were created.''' These '''''federal ''''' tract books show the federal government transactions and status of each parcel of [[Rectangular surveys|surveyed]] public land. These books indicate who obtained the land, and include a physical description of the property and where the land is located. The type of transaction is also recorded such as cash entry, credit entry, homesteads, patents (deeds), timberland rights, or mineral rights granted by the federal government, and other conveyances of title such as Indian allotments, internal improvement grants (to states), [[US Military Bounty Land Warrants|military bounty land warrants]], land grants from previous foreign governments, [[Grants to Land Companies and Railroads|railroad grants]], school grants, and swamp grants.<ref name="Hone" /> | |||
'''Why genealogists use them.''' Federal tract books show details about when and where an ancestor first obtained land from the federal government. Tract books provide information to help find further federal (case files) and local land ownership records which sometimes hold clues about an ancestor's residence and family members. Also, after finding where an ancestor lived, a researcher can search for a variety of non-land records of the ancestor in that area. Tract books also can be used to find information about neighbors—people who sometimes turn out to be relatives. Tract books even show when an ancestor applied for federal land but failed to obtain it. | |||
The [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives in Washington, DC]] has over 10 million land entry case files of individuals trying to obtain a private claim to some of the public land in [[United States Land and Property#United_States|30 federal land states]] from 1820-1908. In almost all these cases the land was surveyed and described as part of the '''Public Lands Survey System''', which divided the land into '''Congressional townships''' on a '''township and range''' grid based on '''[[Rectangular surveys|rectangular surveys]]'''. | The [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives in Washington, DC]] has over 10 million land entry case files of individuals trying to obtain a private claim to some of the public land in [[United States Land and Property#United_States|30 federal land states]] from 1820-1908. In almost all these cases the land was surveyed and described as part of the '''Public Lands Survey System''', which divided the land into '''Congressional townships''' on a '''township and range''' grid based on '''[[Rectangular surveys|rectangular surveys]]'''. | ||