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*''Illinois and Wabash land company minutes, 1778-1812'' Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1948. {{FSC|195782|item}}, film 20445 item 5. | *''Illinois and Wabash land company minutes, 1778-1812'' Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1948. {{FSC|195782|item}}, film 20445 item 5. | ||
== Government Land Transfers == | |||
As the United States acquired land, unsettled land became part of the public domain and was sold by the federal government. The public domain land was '''surveyed''', divided into townships (36 square miles), range and section (one square mile within the township)and then sold through land offices. The first General Land Office to serve Indiana opened in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1800. The first office within the state of Indiana was established at Vincennes, Indiana and the first sales took place in 1807. (See the Lux and Waters volumes above for published records of these two offices.) | As the United States acquired land, unsettled land became part of the public domain and was sold by the federal government. The public domain land was '''surveyed''', divided into townships (36 square miles), range and section (one square mile within the township)and then sold through land offices. The first General Land Office to serve Indiana opened in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1800. The first office within the state of Indiana was established at Vincennes, Indiana and the first sales took place in 1807. (See the Lux and Waters volumes above for published records of these two offices.) | ||
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As a [[Government Land Grants|Federal land state]] (public domain), 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]]. | As a [[Government Land Grants|Federal land state]] (public domain), 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]]. | ||
=== General Resources and Indexes === | |||
*"On December 11, 1816 the U.S. Congress granted statehood to Indiana pursuant to the fulfilment of five provisions. One of the provisions granted four sections of land (2560 acres) for the establishment of a state capital with the condition that the location be decided prior to the public sale of federal lands surrounding the new capital. These four sections donated by the federal government to the new state became known as the Indianapolis Donation." - Indiana State Archives ''[http://www.in.gov/icpr/2617.htm An Introduction to the Indianapolis Donation]''. The state archives has a [http://www.in.gov/icpr/2614.htm searchable database] on line. | *"On December 11, 1816 the U.S. Congress granted statehood to Indiana pursuant to the fulfilment of five provisions. One of the provisions granted four sections of land (2560 acres) for the establishment of a state capital with the condition that the location be decided prior to the public sale of federal lands surrounding the new capital. These four sections donated by the federal government to the new state became known as the Indianapolis Donation." - Indiana State Archives ''[http://www.in.gov/icpr/2617.htm An Introduction to the Indianapolis Donation]''. The state archives has a [http://www.in.gov/icpr/2614.htm searchable database] on line. | ||
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*The [http://www.in.gov/serv/icpr_homestead Hoosier Homestead Award] is a program which recognizes farms that have been owned by the same family for over one hundred years. The program began in 1976 and the archives has an on line searchable database of the applicants, where the homestead is located and more. | *The [http://www.in.gov/serv/icpr_homestead Hoosier Homestead Award] is a program which recognizes farms that have been owned by the same family for over one hundred years. The program began in 1976 and the archives has an on line searchable database of the applicants, where the homestead is located and more. | ||
=== Survey === | |||
Indiana uses the rectangular land survey system of section, township, and range.The townships were six-mile square blocks of land, divided into 36 one-mile squares called sections. The township was numbered north and south, starting from the center line, and the range was numbered east and west starting from the center line. | Indiana uses the rectangular land survey system of section, township, and range.The townships were six-mile square blocks of land, divided into 36 one-mile squares called sections. The township was numbered north and south, starting from the center line, and the range was numbered east and west starting from the center line. | ||
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<br> | <br> | ||
=== Tract Books === | |||
Tract books may also serve as indexes to the case files. They are arranged geographically by township and range, so you have to have some idea of the legal description of the land where your ancestor lived to be able to use them. Some legal land descriptions are included in county records. | Tract books may also serve as indexes to the case files. They are arranged geographically by township and range, so you have to have some idea of the legal description of the land where your ancestor lived to be able to use them. Some legal land descriptions are included in county records. | ||
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*Indiana State Archives [http://www.in.gov/icpr/2585.htm Tippecanoe battle ground plat map.] | *Indiana State Archives [http://www.in.gov/icpr/2585.htm Tippecanoe battle ground plat map.] | ||
=== Patents === | |||
When federal land was finally transferred to private individuals, it was said to be patented. | When federal land was finally transferred to private individuals, it was said to be patented. | ||
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:*Bureau of Land Management Eastern States Office<br>7450 Boston Boulevard<br>Springfield, VA 22153<br>Telephone: 703-440-1523<br>Fax: 703-440-1599 | :*Bureau of Land Management Eastern States Office<br>7450 Boston Boulevard<br>Springfield, VA 22153<br>Telephone: 703-440-1523<br>Fax: 703-440-1599 | ||
=== Land Entry Case Files === | |||
Also known as Land Entry Files or Patent Files, the case file is the accumulation of paperwork gathered during the land transactions which occurred when the land is transferred from the U.S. Government to private ownership and are kept at the National Archives in Washington D.C. These documents are the most helpful records for researchers because some files contain valuable information and may include personal or family information, such as military discharge papers, proof of citizenship, former residences, birthplaces and more. While not all files have pertinent information for the researcher, they are often worth obtaining. For further information regarding case files and how to order them, you will want to read the article [[Grants from the Federal Government (Public Domain)#Locating_the_Land_and_it.27s_Associated_Records|''Locating the Land and it's Associated Records'']] at the United States Land and Property wiki page. The physical address of where the records are kept at the National Archives is as follows: | Also known as Land Entry Files or Patent Files, the case file is the accumulation of paperwork gathered during the land transactions which occurred when the land is transferred from the U.S. Government to private ownership and are kept at the National Archives in Washington D.C. These documents are the most helpful records for researchers because some files contain valuable information and may include personal or family information, such as military discharge papers, proof of citizenship, former residences, birthplaces and more. While not all files have pertinent information for the researcher, they are often worth obtaining. For further information regarding case files and how to order them, you will want to read the article [[Grants from the Federal Government (Public Domain)#Locating_the_Land_and_it.27s_Associated_Records|''Locating the Land and it's Associated Records'']] at the United States Land and Property wiki page. The physical address of where the records are kept at the National Archives is as follows: | ||
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