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{{TOC right}}The [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives]] preserves over ten million land entry '''case files''' which document each transfer of federally controlled public land parcel to private ownership. | {{TOC right}}The [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives]] preserves over ten million land entry '''case files''' which document each transfer of federally controlled public land parcel to private ownership. | ||
These files indicate who applied for the land, if a patent (original title) was issued, and include a physical description of the property and where the land was located. The type of transaction is also shown such as cash entry, credit entry, [[Homestead Records|homesteads]], patents (deeds), [[Timberland|timberland rights]], or [[Mining Claims|mineral rights]], [[US Military Bounty Land Warrants|military bounty land]], [[United States. United-States - Land and Property- Private land claims|private land claims]] (from previous foreign governments), [[Grants to Land Companies and Railroads|railroad grants]], school grants, and swamp grants.<ref name="Hone">E. Wade Hone, ''Land and Property Research in the United States'' (Salt Lake City, Utah : Ancestry Pub., c1997), | These files indicate who applied for the land, if a patent (original title) was issued, and include a physical description of the property and where the land was located. The type of transaction is also shown such as cash entry, credit entry, [[Homestead Records|homesteads]], patents (deeds), [[Timberland|timberland rights]], or [[Mining Claims|mineral rights]], [[US Military Bounty Land Warrants|military bounty land]], [[United States. United-States - Land and Property- Private land claims|private land claims]] (from previous foreign governments), [[Grants to Land Companies and Railroads|railroad grants]], school grants, and swamp grants.<ref name="Hone">E. Wade Hone, ''Land and Property Research in the United States'' (Salt Lake City, Utah : Ancestry Pub., c1997), 115-56. {{WorldCat|483096407|item|disp=At various repositories (WorldCat)}}; {{FHL|766994|item|disp=FHL Book 973 R27h}}.</ref><br><br> | ||
Case files cover the time of the American Revolution (1776) to the mid-1900s, but mostly apply from 1820 to 1908. The vast majority of case files pertain to land in [[United States Land and Property#United_States|30 federal land states]]. | Case files cover the time of the American Revolution (1776) to the mid-1900s, but mostly apply from 1820 to 1908. The vast majority of case files pertain to land in [[United States Land and Property#United_States|30 federal land states]]. | ||
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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 '' land transfer records that state or infer a parent-child relationship between the people involved. | 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 === | ||
Land entry case files are from the [[United States Land and Property#United_States|30 federal land states]]. These are states west of the Ohio-Mississippi River, and Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. Case files pertain to the transfer of federal public land to non-federal (private or state) ownership . | Land entry case files are from the [[United States Land and Property#United_States|30 federal land states]]. These are states west of the Ohio-Mississippi River, and Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. Case files pertain to the transfer of federal public land to non-federal (private or state) ownership . | ||
The subsequent disposal of that formerly-federal property should be recorded in local '''county''' deeds, mortgages, property tax records, and plat maps. | The subsequent disposal of that formerly-federal property should be recorded in local '''county''' deeds, mortgages, property tax records, and plat maps. | ||
=== Contents of case files === | === Contents of case files === | ||
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:*'''''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> | :*'''''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> | ||
'''Variation over time.''' Case file contents varied over time. Case files before 1840 usually listed only the entryman, location, acreage, price, date, and place of the land entry. After 1840 case files often contain the entryman's age, place of birth, citizenship, military service, literacy, economic status, and similar information about family members.<ref>Hawkins, 1-2.</ref> | '''Variation over time.''' Case file contents varied over time. Case files before 1840 usually listed only the entryman, location, acreage, price, date, and place of the land entry. After 1840 case files often contain the entryman's age, place of birth, citizenship, military service, literacy, economic status, and similar information about family members.<ref>Hawkins, 1-2.</ref> | ||
'''Land descriptions.''' Case file land descriptions use the terminology of the [[Rectangular surveys|rectangular survey]] system, including sections, townships, and ranges. | '''Land descriptions.''' Case file land descriptions use the terminology of the [[Rectangular surveys|rectangular survey]] system, including sections, townships, and ranges. | ||
'''Tract book entries.''' In addition to the case file, a related entry would always be made in the appropriate [[Tract books|tract book]]. Tract books are arranged by state, land office, township number, range number, and section number. | '''Tract book entries.''' In addition to the case file, a related entry would always be made in the appropriate [[Tract books|tract book]]. Tract books are arranged by state, land office, township number, range number, and section number. | ||
=== How to obtain a case file === | === How to obtain a case file === | ||