Pennsylvania Land and Property: Difference between revisions

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*[http://www.phmc.pa.gov/Archives/Research-Online/Pages/Land-Records-Indices.aspx Pennsylvania Archive Land Indexes and Records]. Requires registration

*[http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/default.aspx Bureau of Land Management(BLM), General Land Office (GLO) Records], index

*[http://ancestortracks.com 19th Century Landowner Maps]

In Pennsylvania the initial distribution of land to individuals was a complex process which resulted in an amazing volume of records. An indispensable guide to understanding the process and records is Donna Bingham Munger, ''Pennsylvania Land Records: A History and Guide for Research ''(Wilmington, Delaware: Scholarly Resources, 1991), {{FHL|364977|item}} book 974.8 R2m. [http://www.worldcat.org/title/pennsylvania-land-records-a-history-and-guide-for-research/oclc/22707760&referer=brief_results Other libraries with this book].  

{{Adoption PARoots}}This work divides Pennsylvania land settlement into five periods: <br><br>  

*1905-1990

In the period before the grant to William Penn, Sweden, The Netherlands, and England established settlements along the Delaware River in what is now Chester County, Pennsylvania, and the state of Delaware (called the three lower counties).  

Some records for this time period are in ''Pennsylvania Archives, series 2''. vol. 5 and vol. 7 pp. 485-873. {{FHL|485590|item}} book 974.8 A39p ser. 2 v. 5; also film 823995 item 1. [http://www.worldcat.org/title/pennsylvania-archives-second-series/oclc/2905093&referer=brief_results Other libraries with this book].  

In 1681, William Penn received a charter from King Charles II declaring him absolute owner of the land that is now Pennsylvania. As such, he had the authority to dispose of the land with little restriction. He recognized the claims to the land held by the Native Americans and maintained a policy of purchasing land from them before selling land for settlement. This same policy was mostly adhered to by his heirs. William Penn also purchased the area that is now Delaware, and he and his sons distributed land in Delaware during their entire proprietary period.  

The state land office was established in 1682 by William Penn. Original deeds and patents were recorded by this office. (See Land Office Records below.)  

With the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, Pennsylvania&nbsp;became owner of all unsold land in the state. It was unprepared for this, so it continued the proprietary land distribution practices for many years afterwards.  

To the state came the responsibility for solving boundary issues with other states (see [[Pennsylvania Historical Geography|Pennsylvania Historical Geography]]), purchasing the remaining Indian lands in the state, awarding land for military service, disposing of unsold land, and assisting in settling disputes over incomplete titles.  

The proprietors and the Commonwealth in most cases provided individuals first, or original, title to land in Pennsylvania through a five-step process:  

Subsequent transactions involving the property were conducted usually, but not always, on a county basis.  

The state land office was established in 1682 by William Penn. Original deeds and patents were recorded by this office.  

The State Archives sells warrantee township maps. These show the original land grants within present-day township boundaries. The maps include the names of the original warrantee and patentee, the number of acres, and the dates of warrant, survey, and patent.

If one of your ancestors could have received a warrant to have land surveyed between 1682 and 1898, but you don't know in what county, see Pennsylvania Archives, 3d series. Volumes 1-4 and 24-26 include land records. The surname indexes are in volumes 27-30 {{FHL|481905|item|disp=FHL films 824436-38}}.  

For help with&nbsp;more complicted searches, see Donna Munger's book, ''Pennsylvania Land Records. A History and Guide for Research.'' {{FHL|364977|item|disp=FHL book 974.8 R2m}} and [http://www.worldcat.org/title/pennsylvania-land-records-a-history-and-guide-for-research/oclc/22707760&referer=brief_results Other libraries with this book].  

After the title to a piece of land was obtained from the land office, most subsequent transactions, including sheriff sales and mortgages, were recorded by the recorder of deeds in each county courthouse. You can obtain copies of these records by contacting the recorder of deeds.  

The library does not currently have land records for Blair, Carbon, Centre, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Monroe, Pike, Snyder, and Union counties.<br><!--{12088011991600} --><!--{12088011991601} -->  

[http://ancestortracks.com/ '''Ancestor Tracks''']&nbsp;is a web site "dedicated to publishing maps and land ownership information allowing genealogy researchers to more precisely pinpoint the locations where our ancestors lived."&nbsp; They have posted free, downloadable 19th-century landowner maps for approximately 85% of the land mass of Pennsylvania which are exceedingly helpful when used in conjunction with census records and published county history texts.&nbsp;See their site for information about additional Pennsylvania products they have for sale.  

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