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West Virginia Land and Property (view source)
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In 1744 Virginia encouraged the settlement of western Virginia by offering land speculators 1,000 acres for each family they brought to settle the frontier. These speculators organized land companies, such as the Greenbriar Company and the Loyal Land Company of Virginia. These companies surveyed the land and sold the surveys to individuals who obtained title by patent from the Secretary of the Colony or, after 1779, from the Virginia Land Office. By 1754 over 2 1/2 million acres had been granted to land companies. | In 1744 Virginia encouraged the settlement of western Virginia by offering land speculators 1,000 acres for each family they brought to settle the frontier. These speculators organized land companies, such as the Greenbriar Company and the Loyal Land Company of Virginia. These companies surveyed the land and sold the surveys to individuals who obtained title by patent from the Secretary of the Colony or, after 1779, from the Virginia Land Office. By 1754 over 2 1/2 million acres had been granted to land companies. | ||
The first warrants for military bounty land in present-day West Virginia were issued in 1782 through the Virginia Land Office. Many soldiers sold their warrants to speculators who resold th[[Image: | The first warrants for military bounty land in present-day West Virginia were issued in 1782 through the Virginia Land Office. Many soldiers sold their warrants to speculators who resold th[[Image:Kanawha west virginia.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]e land to others (see [[West Virginia Military Records|West Virginia Military Records]]). | ||
After West Virginia became a state, the state government took possession of all unowned land and continued issuing grants. The original state land grants, sales, and surveys for West Virginia are located at: | After West Virginia became a state, the state government took possession of all unowned land and continued issuing grants. The original state land grants, sales, and surveys for West Virginia are located at: | ||
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Office of the State Auditor<br>Capitol Building<br>County Collections Division<br>Building-1 Room W-212<br>Charleston, WV 25305<br>Telephone: 304-558-2251<br>Fax: 304-558-5200 | Office of the State Auditor<br>Capitol Building<br>County Collections Division<br>Building-1 Room W-212<br>Charleston, WV 25305<br>Telephone: 304-558-2251<br>Fax: 304-558-5200 | ||
The [http://www.wvculture.org/HiStory/archivesindex.aspx Archives and History Library] has copies of these records. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of these records, including: | The [http://www.wvculture.org/HiStory/archivesindex.aspx West Virginia Archives and History Library] has copies of these records. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of these records, including: | ||
*Land grants arranged by counties, 1748-1912 (on 56 Family History Library films beginning with | *Land grants arranged by counties, 1748-1912 (on 56 Family History Library films beginning with film 521685, {{FHL|334356|item}}. | ||
*Land sales, 1860-75 | *Land sales, 1860-75 {{FHL|61196|item}}, films 558437-39. | ||
*Plats and surveys, 1863-89 | *Plats and surveys, 1863-89 {{FHL|58999|item}}, film 462959]) | ||
The office of the state auditor published an index of all identifiable grantees from 1748 to the 1900s in: | The office of the state auditor published an index of all identifiable grantees from 1748 to the 1900s in: | ||
Sims, Edgar Barr. ''Sims Index to Land Grants in West Virginia.'' Charleston, West Virginia: E.B. Sims, 1952. | Sims, Edgar Barr. ''Sims Index to Land Grants in West Virginia.'' Charleston, West Virginia: E.B. Sims, 1952. {{FHL|109038|item}}, book 975.4 R21w; film 1036828 items 3-4. The grantees are listed alphabetically within the county that issued the grant. The actual grants are on microfilm (see above). This book is online at a subscription website: | ||
[http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=BookList&dbid=25647&offerid=0:7858:0 http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=BookList&dbid=25647&offerid=0%3a7858%3a0] | [http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=BookList&dbid=25647&offerid=0:7858:0 http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=BookList&dbid=25647&offerid=0%3a7858%3a0] | ||
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Information on boundary disputes and county formation data (including maps) is in: | Information on boundary disputes and county formation data (including maps) is in: | ||
Sims, Edgar Barr. ''Making a State: Formation of West Virginia.'' Charleston, West Virginia: E.B. Sims, 1956. | Sims, Edgar Barr. ''Making a State: Formation of West Virginia.'' Charleston, West Virginia: E.B. Sims, 1956. {{FHL|49225|item}}, book Q 975.4 R2s. This includes a supplement to the Sims Index (see above). | ||
'''Transfers of Land between Individuals''' | '''Transfers of Land between Individuals''' | ||