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The state land office was established in 1682 by William Penn. Original deeds and patents were recorded by this office. | The state land office was established in 1682 by William Penn. Original deeds and patents were recorded by this office. | ||
The state land office is now called the Bureau of Land Records. Extensive files of the bureau's records have been transferred to the State Archives. Many records have been scanned and are now searchable on the [https://www.phmc.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx Pennsylvania Historial and Museum Commission website]. The | The state land office is now called the Bureau of Land Records. Extensive files of the bureau's records have been transferred to the State Archives. Many records have been scanned and are now searchable on the [https://www.phmc.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx Pennsylvania Historial and Museum Commission website]. The FamilySearch Library has copies of many of these records (on over 1,000 microfilms), including: | ||
*Pennsylvania. Board of Property. ''Board of Property Papers, 1682-1850.'' {{FSC|8571|item|disp=FS Library film 988274 (first of 19 films)}}. These loose papers involving land disputes are mostly in chronological order. They can contain valuable genealogical and historical information. There is no index to these records, but some of the documents have been extracted in ''Pennsylvania Archives'', series 3, vols. 1. (1681-1739, 1765-1791) and 2 (1792-1795). (see [[Pennsylvania Genealogy|Pennsylvania Genealogy]]). {{FSC|481905|item|disp=FS Library book 974.8 A39p ser. 3, vols. 1-2}} and {{FSC|481905|item|disp=FS Library film 824426 items 1-2}}. There are documents on the films that are not in the books and visa-versa, so both books and films should be used together. The indexes in the books may be used to access the records on the films with a little bit of searching. For example, finding a name in the book index may lead to records in the films covering the same time period. The books contain mistakes. | *Pennsylvania. Board of Property. ''Board of Property Papers, 1682-1850.'' {{FSC|8571|item|disp=FS Library film 988274 (first of 19 films)}}. These loose papers involving land disputes are mostly in chronological order. They can contain valuable genealogical and historical information. There is no index to these records, but some of the documents have been extracted in ''Pennsylvania Archives'', series 3, vols. 1. (1681-1739, 1765-1791) and 2 (1792-1795). (see [[Pennsylvania Genealogy|Pennsylvania Genealogy]]). {{FSC|481905|item|disp=FS Library book 974.8 A39p ser. 3, vols. 1-2}} and {{FSC|481905|item|disp=FS Library film 824426 items 1-2}}. There are documents on the films that are not in the books and visa-versa, so both books and films should be used together. The indexes in the books may be used to access the records on the films with a little bit of searching. For example, finding a name in the book index may lead to records in the films covering the same time period. The books contain mistakes. | ||
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*Pennsylvania, Land Office, ''Proof of Settlement Records, 1797-1869'' are helpful records for the northwestern area of the state. {{FSC|10771|item|disp=FS Library film 986619 (first of 15 films)}}. As the title explains, individuals submitted proof of their settlement on a parcel of land. These records may tell when the owner settled the land and describe the improvements made. | *Pennsylvania, Land Office, ''Proof of Settlement Records, 1797-1869'' are helpful records for the northwestern area of the state. {{FSC|10771|item|disp=FS Library film 986619 (first of 15 films)}}. As the title explains, individuals submitted proof of their settlement on a parcel of land. These records may tell when the owner settled the land and describe the improvements made. | ||
[[File:Holland Land Co holdings in NY & PA.png|right|400px]]'''Land Companies'''. The Holland Land Company and the Pennsylvania Population Company acquired large tracts of land for speculation purposes in the Last Purchase area in northwestern Pennsylvania, obtained by treaty in 1784. Many of the names in their records are fictitious. They sold their land between 1801 and 1840. The | [[File:Holland Land Co holdings in NY & PA.png|right|400px]]'''Land Companies'''. The Holland Land Company and the Pennsylvania Population Company acquired large tracts of land for speculation purposes in the Last Purchase area in northwestern Pennsylvania, obtained by treaty in 1784. Many of the names in their records are fictitious. They sold their land between 1801 and 1840. The FamilySearch Library has copies of some records of these companies, including certificates and miscellaneous papers. The [[SUNY Fredonia Reed Library]] (Fredonia, NY), the [[Cornell University Library]] (Ithaca, NY), and the [[Stadsarchief Amsterdam]] (Netherlands) have additional HLC papers. | ||
'''Military Bounty Lands'''. The state awarded some lands for military service. Certificates of depreciation were issued to Revolutionary soldiers to supplement the money they had received, which had depreciated in value. These certificates were sold or redeemed for land in the Last Purchase treaty area in western Pennsylvania, obtained in 1784. See: <br> | '''Military Bounty Lands'''. The state awarded some lands for military service. Certificates of depreciation were issued to Revolutionary soldiers to supplement the money they had received, which had depreciated in value. These certificates were sold or redeemed for land in the Last Purchase treaty area in western Pennsylvania, obtained in 1784. See: <br> | ||
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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. | 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 | The FamilySearch Library has microfilms of county land records, such as deeds and mortgages, for most counties. For example, from the recorder of deeds in Philadelphia County the library has ''Philadelphia County (Pennsylvania), Recorder of Deeds, Deeds, 1683-1886; Index to Deeds, 1683-1916 ''{{FSC|227024|item|disp=FS Library film 1318501 (first of 1385 films)}}. To understand the Philadelphia County land index, go to Section B. Grantor/Grantee Indices, [http://www.phila.gov/phils/docs/inventor/deeds.htm Architectural Research Resources at the Philadelphia City Archives & The Department of Records]. | ||
Deeds and other land records for most Pennsylvania counties are on film and can be found in the FamilySearch Catalog by doing a [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog Place Search] under: | Deeds and other land records for most Pennsylvania counties are on film and can be found in the FamilySearch Catalog by doing a [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog Place Search] under: | ||
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