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''[[United States Genealogy|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United States Land and Property|U.S. Land and Property]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Virginia Genealogy|Virginia]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] '''Land and Property''' {{VA-sidebar}} | |||
[[Image:384px-Land grant Hugh Mercer's Heirs Thomas Jefferson 1780.jpg|thumb|right|200px]] | [[Image:384px-Land grant Hugh Mercer's Heirs Thomas Jefferson 1780.jpg|thumb|right|200px]] | ||
== Colonial and State Land Grants == | |||
Virginia has been a state-land state in which property has been distributed by the colony or state rather than the federal government. Various methods of distributing land have been used. | Virginia has been a state-land state in which property has been distributed by the colony or state rather than the federal government. Various methods of distributing land have been used. | ||
The Virginia Company of London, incorporated in 1606, granted land patents to settlers until 1623. These early patents have been lost or destroyed; however, much information on the persons (and their descendants) who received these patents is found in the John F. Dorman's | The Virginia Company of London, incorporated in 1606, granted land patents to settlers until 1623. These early patents have been lost or destroyed; however, much information on the persons (and their descendants) who received these patents is found in the John F. Dorman's source listed in the [[Virginia Compiled Genealogies|Virginia Genealogy]] and [[Virginia Public Records|Virginia Public Records]] sections. | ||
In 1623 the Virginia Land Company was dissolved, and the crown then distributed land through the office of the secretary of the colony. Land grants from this office were given in two ways—to those who brought persons to Virginia (headright grants) or to persons who paid money into the treasury (purchases). | In 1623 the Virginia Land Company was dissolved, and the crown then distributed land through the office of the secretary of the colony. Land grants from this office were given in two ways—to those who brought persons to Virginia (headright grants) or to persons who paid money into the treasury (purchases). | ||
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=== Land Grant Process === | |||
'''Obtaining a Patent.''' A settler petitioned a clerk of the county for a patent. The clerk made out a warrant certificate that was sent to the secretary of the colony where it was recorded, and a second certificate was made authorizing a survey. The surveyor sent his survey plat to the office of the surveyor-general which was established in 1623. The survey plat was returned to the secretary of the colony, and the original or a copy was kept by the surveyor-general's office. The secretary then made out the patent from the survey plat. The patent was approved by the council and governor. | '''Obtaining a Patent.''' A settler petitioned a clerk of the county for a patent. The clerk made out a warrant certificate that was sent to the secretary of the colony where it was recorded, and a second certificate was made authorizing a survey. The surveyor sent his survey plat to the office of the surveyor-general which was established in 1623. The survey plat was returned to the secretary of the colony, and the original or a copy was kept by the surveyor-general's office. The secretary then made out the patent from the survey plat. The patent was approved by the council and governor. | ||
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The individual who received a patent could sell it to someone else. In this case, the name of the second buyer was often written on the back of the patent and was recorded by the secretary of the colony's office or, after 1623, in the county court records. | The individual who received a patent could sell it to someone else. In this case, the name of the second buyer was often written on the back of the patent and was recorded by the secretary of the colony's office or, after 1623, in the county court records. | ||
=== Records === | |||
'''Finding the Records'''. Lists of headright grants and the names of persons brought to Virginia from 1623 to 1732 were recorded in the county court records and in the secretary of the colony's records. The [[Library of Virginia]] has these records as well as other grant records and various card indexes. The [[Family History Library]] has microfilm copies of: | '''Finding the Records'''. Lists of headright grants and the names of persons brought to Virginia from 1623 to 1732 were recorded in the county court records and in the secretary of the colony's records. The [[Library of Virginia]] has these records as well as other grant records and various card indexes. The [[Family History Library]] has microfilm copies of: | ||
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*Register, Military Warrants numbers 1321-1553, 4057-5478; and preemption warrants 1783-1787. {{FHL|583030|item|disp=FHL Film 29653 item 3}}. | *Register, Military Warrants numbers 1321-1553, 4057-5478; and preemption warrants 1783-1787. {{FHL|583030|item|disp=FHL Film 29653 item 3}}. | ||
=== Abstracts === | |||
Headright grants and land patents to 1800 have been indexed and published in: | Headright grants and land patents to 1800 have been indexed and published in: | ||
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*''Virginia Land Records: From the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the William and Mary College Quarterly, and Tyler's Quarterly''. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1982. {{FHL|209566|item|disp=FHL Book 975.5 R2v}}. See [[Virginia Genealogy]] and [[Virginia Periodicals]] for information about these periodicals. | *''Virginia Land Records: From the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the William and Mary College Quarterly, and Tyler's Quarterly''. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1982. {{FHL|209566|item|disp=FHL Book 975.5 R2v}}. See [[Virginia Genealogy]] and [[Virginia Periodicals]] for information about these periodicals. | ||
=== Land Taxes === | |||
A useful guide to Virginia landowners in the early nineteenth-century, based on tax records, is:<br> | A useful guide to Virginia landowners in the early nineteenth-century, based on tax records, is:<br> | ||
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The [[Virginia Taxation]] article provides further information about quitrent and other records that help identify Virginia landowners. | The [[Virginia Taxation]] article provides further information about quitrent and other records that help identify Virginia landowners. | ||
=== History === | |||
For a history of early land companies and policies, see: | For a history of early land companies and policies, see: | ||
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*Robinson, W. Stitt. ''Mother Earth—Land Grants in Virginia, 1607-1699''. Williamsburg: 350th Anniversary Celebration Corp., 1957. {{FHL|64845|item|disp=FHL Book 975.5 A1 no. 81}}. | *Robinson, W. Stitt. ''Mother Earth—Land Grants in Virginia, 1607-1699''. Williamsburg: 350th Anniversary Celebration Corp., 1957. {{FHL|64845|item|disp=FHL Book 975.5 A1 no. 81}}. | ||
== Transfers of Land between Individuals == | |||
Land transactions after the original patent was issued have been recorded in county deed books. Many independent cities in Virginia also kept their own records. The original deed books are kept in courthouses. You can obtain copies by contacting the appropriate clerk's office—usually the clerk of the circuit court. | Land transactions after the original patent was issued have been recorded in county deed books. Many independent cities in Virginia also kept their own records. The original deed books are kept in courthouses. You can obtain copies by contacting the appropriate clerk's office—usually the clerk of the circuit court. | ||