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Pennsylvania Land and Property: Difference between revisions
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==Pennsylvania Land Records== | ==Pennsylvania Land Records== | ||
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), {{FSC|364977|item}} | 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), {{FSC|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> | {{Adoption PARoots}}This work divides Pennsylvania land settlement into five periods: <br><br> | ||
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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). | 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). | ||
Land and other records for this area may be in the archives of these countries (Sweden, The Netherlands, and England) | Land and other records for this area may be in the archives of these countries (Sweden, The Netherlands, and England) and in New York (see [[New York Land and Property|New York Land and Property]]). Delaware had its own colonial government after 1701 and became a state in 1776. | ||
Some records for this time period are in ''Pennsylvania Archives, series 2''. vol. 5 and vol. 7 pp. 485-873. {{FSC|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]. | Some records for this time period are in ''Pennsylvania Archives, series 2''. vol. 5 and vol. 7 pp. 485-873. {{FSC|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]. | ||
===1682 to 1776 - | ===1682 to 1776 - Proprietorship of William Penn and his Heirs === | ||
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. | 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. | ||
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===1776 to 1990 - The Commonwealth=== | ===1776 to 1990 - The Commonwealth=== | ||
With the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, Pennsylvania | With the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, Pennsylvania 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. | 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. | ||
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For additional assistance in identifying the county, search Allen Weinberg and Thomas E. Slattery, ''Warrants and Surveys of the Province of Pennsylvania Including the Three Lower Counties, 1759 ''(1965, Reprint, Knightstown, Indiana: Bookmark, 1975. {{FSC|249920|item|disp=FS Library book 974.8 R2w}} and {{FSC|249920|item|disp=FS Library films 982105 item 7 and 1036747 item 2}}. This source indexes warrants by county. Most warrants listed were issued for the period 1682-1759. This book also indexes Pennsylvania, Provincial Assembly, ''Warrants and Surveys of the Province of Pennsylvania, 1682-1759: Transcribed from the Records of the Surveyor General's and Proprietaries Secretary's Offices by John Hughes, Recorder of Warrants and Surveys under the Act of Assembly July 7, 1759'', Original manuscripts, 9 vols. (Philadelphia, PA: Department of Records, 1957), {{FSC|341183|item|disp=FS Library films 981096-97}}. These films are difficult to read. | For additional assistance in identifying the county, search Allen Weinberg and Thomas E. Slattery, ''Warrants and Surveys of the Province of Pennsylvania Including the Three Lower Counties, 1759 ''(1965, Reprint, Knightstown, Indiana: Bookmark, 1975. {{FSC|249920|item|disp=FS Library book 974.8 R2w}} and {{FSC|249920|item|disp=FS Library films 982105 item 7 and 1036747 item 2}}. This source indexes warrants by county. Most warrants listed were issued for the period 1682-1759. This book also indexes Pennsylvania, Provincial Assembly, ''Warrants and Surveys of the Province of Pennsylvania, 1682-1759: Transcribed from the Records of the Surveyor General's and Proprietaries Secretary's Offices by John Hughes, Recorder of Warrants and Surveys under the Act of Assembly July 7, 1759'', Original manuscripts, 9 vols. (Philadelphia, PA: Department of Records, 1957), {{FSC|341183|item|disp=FS Library films 981096-97}}. These films are difficult to read. | ||
The [https://www.phmc.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission] has several indexes and other | The [https://www.phmc.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission] has several indexes and other land records online of the land records at the Pennsylvania State Archives, including Warrant Registers, Copied Survey Books, Patent Indexes, Patent Tract Name Index, etc. Instructions for using the indexes and records are included as well as where to write to copies of original records. | ||
The [http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/rg17.htm#RentRolls records of the Land Office] are at the Pennsylvania State Archives. The site includes a history | The [http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/rg17.htm#RentRolls records of the Land Office] are at the Pennsylvania State Archives. The site includes a history of the Land Office and descriptions of the records available at the State Archives. | ||
For help with | For help with more complicted searches, see Donna Munger's book, ''Pennsylvania Land Records. A History and Guide for Research.'' {{FSC|364977|item|disp=FS Library 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]. | ||
===County Records=== | ===County Records=== | ||
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===Land Ownership Maps=== | ===Land Ownership Maps=== | ||
[http://ancestortracks.com/ '''Ancestor Tracks'''] | [http://ancestortracks.com/ '''Ancestor Tracks'''] 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." 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. See their site for information about additional Pennsylvania products they have for sale. | ||