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[[{{Adam-ondi-Ahman}}]] | [[{{Adam-ondi-Ahman}}]] | ||
=== Claims to French and Spanish Grants === | === Introduction === | ||
The availability of land encouraged westward expansion. Land ownership was generally recorded in an area as soon as settlers began to arrive. Land records are primarily used to learn where an individual lived and when he lived there. They often reveal other family information, such as the name of a spouse, heir, other relatives, or neighbors. You may learn where a person lived previously, his occupation, if he had served in the military, if he was a naturalized citizen, and other clues. Sale of the land may show when he left and where he was moving. | |||
was a public-domain state where unclaimed land was surveyed, then granted or sold by the government through federal and state land offices. The first sale of a piece of land from the government was called a land patent and the first owner of the land was called a patentee. Later, when the land was sold or mortgaged by private owners, the document was called a deed. The first federal and state transactions were recorded and the paperwork kept at the federal and state level, while all future transactions were recorded at the office of the county register of deeds. Family History researchers usually use land records from county offices, however, records from federal and state offices may also have genealogical value. For detailed descriptions of land record types see [[United States Land and Property|United States Land and Property]]. | |||
If you are new to land research, you may wish to read the Beginner’s corner and other articles included on the [[United States Land and Property|United States Land and Property]] page. | |||
=== Early Settlers including Claims to French and Spanish Grants === | |||
In the early 1800s many land claims were filed as [[Missouri]] residents tried to document claims to lands previously granted by the French and Spanish. In 1805, the U.S. Congress established a Board of Commissioners to confirm earlier grants. | In the early 1800s many land claims were filed as [[Missouri]] residents tried to document claims to lands previously granted by the French and Spanish. In 1805, the U.S. Congress established a Board of Commissioners to confirm earlier grants. | ||
Some of these records have been published in sources such as the American State Papers. | Some of these records have been published in sources such as the American State Papers. This along with other resources for early settlers are listed below: | ||
*United States Congress ''American State Papers: Documents, Legislative and Executive of the Congress of the United States'' La Crosse, Wisconsin: Brookhaven Press, 1959. 38 vols. On 29 films beginning with {{FHL|1631827}}; classes 8 and 9 are also on films {{FHL|899878}}–85. Volumes for classes 8 and 9 deal with public lands and claims for 1789 to 1837 and may name siblings or heirs of original claimants. Classes 8 and 9 have been republished in: | |||
:*United States Congress. ''American State Papers, Class 8: Public Lands''; Class 9: Claims: Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States. {{FHL|973 R2ag}}1994). The American state papers include many of the private land claims for the early time period prior to statehood | |||
:*McMullin, Phillip W. and United States Congress ''Grassroots of America: a computerized index to the American state papers: land grants and claims (1789-1837) with other aids to research (Government document serial set numbers 28 through 36)'' Greenville, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1994, c1990. {{FHL|973 R2ag}}index 1990. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/369896 World Cat] | |||
:*Lowrie, Walter ''Early settlers of Missouri as taken from land claims in the Missouri Territory.'' Easley, South Carolina : Southern Historical Press, 1986. Reprint of part of the original American State Papers, volume 2 published Washington: Printed by Duff Green, 1834. The facsimile title page is erroneously for volume 1, not correctly for volume 2 (June 12, 1809 - February 14, 1815). Includes index. {{FHL|977.8 R2e}} | |||
*''First Settlers of the Missouri Territory''. Two Volumes. Nacogdoches, Texas: Ericson Books, 1983. {{FHL|977.8 R2f}}. | |||
*''Land claims in Louisiana and Missouri 1795-1806 : House of Representatives report number 273, 15th Congress - 1st session.'' Book:{{FHL|973 R2LL}} and Film:{{FHL|2401879}}item 3 | |||
*''Land claims in Missouri and Arkansas : records from 10th Congress, second session, House of Representative Document Number 534'' Document dates run ca. 1800-1825. The records from the 10th congress may be involved but other congresses are probably also included. Includes new index. {{FHL|973 R2Lc}} | |||
'' | *Louisiana Territory Recorder of Land Titles. ''Record books, 1795-1808; index to French and Spanish land grants, 1795-1812'' Jefferson City, Missouri : State of Missouri, 1970. {{FHL|984777}} | ||
*United States General Land Office ''Indemnity swamp land documents, 1800's'' Jefferson City, Missouri: State of Missouri, 1969. Microfilm of original records in Jefferson City. {{FHL|984899}} Original selections, new selections, and sales, 1800's {{FHL|984820}} | |||
Land claims have been explained and documented in: | Land claims have been explained and documented in: | ||
"Private Land Claims in Missouri", in State Historical Society of Missouri; ''Missouri Historical Review''. Columbia, Missouri: The Society; Vol. 50, p. 132-44. | *"Private Land Claims in Missouri", in State Historical Society of Missouri; ''Missouri Historical Review''. Columbia, Missouri: The Society; Vol. 50, p. 132-44. {{FHL|977.8 B2mr}}. | ||
''Missouri Land Claims''. New Orleans, Louisiana: Polyanthos, 1976. | ''Missouri Land Claims''. New Orleans, Louisiana: Polyanthos, 1976. Book:{{FHL|977.8 R2m}}] and film: {{FHL|1036517}}item 2. This volume is a reprint of the 1835 Congressional Report, and has land claims for 1796-1835 | ||
=== Federal Land Grants === | === Federal Land Grants === | ||
After the United States obtained possession of the area that became Missouri, land was surveyed and distributed through eight federal land offices, the earliest of which opened in 1818. | After the United States obtained possession of the area that became Missouri, land was surveyed and distributed through eight federal land offices, the earliest of which opened in 1818. | ||
This distribution occurred as the '''surveyed''' land was divided into townships (36 square miles), range and section (one square mile within the township)and then sold through land offices. Iowa land office records began in 1838, when Iowa became a territory and land offices were established. Iowa is termed a [[Government Land Grants|Federal land state]](public domain), and the government granted land through [[Grants_from_the_Federal_Government_(Public_Domain)|cash sales (entries)]], [[Homestead_Records|homesteads]], [[United_States._United-States_-_Land_and_Property-_Military_bounty_land|military bound land warrants]] as well as granting other claims such as [[Mining_Claims|mining]] and [[Timberland|timberland ]]claims. Federal land purchases are contained in a case file held at the National Archives. In order to obtain the '''case file''', a legal description of the land is needed which may be found in a deed, plat map, '''tract book''', or '''patent books'''. To learn how to obtain this land description, see the wiki article under United States Land and Property - Federal Land - [[Grants from the Federal Government (Public Domain)#Obtaining_a_Legal_Description_of_the_Land|Obtaining a Legal Description of the Land]]. | |||
This process has been explained in Gary W. Beahan, ''Missouri's Public Domain: United States Land Sales, 1818-1922'' (Jefferson City, Missouri: Records Management and Archives Services, 1980; Family History Library book {{FHL|977.8 R22ip}}. | |||
Records of the local land offices are in the Missouri State Archives. Tract books, plat maps, and land patents are in: | Records of the local land offices are in the Missouri State Archives. Tract books, plat maps, and land patents are in: | ||