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It will be easier to find and understand the land records of ancestors if you learn something about the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Land_Survey_System Public Lands Survey System] and its records. In the United States, depending on the state, one of two main survey systems have been used to determine the borders of property:<br><br> | It will be easier to find and understand the land records of ancestors if you learn something about the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Land_Survey_System Public Lands Survey System] and its records. In the United States, depending on the state, one of two main survey systems have been used to determine the borders of property:<br><br> | ||
{{Block indent|*the older '''[[Metes and Bounds|metes and bounds]]''' primarily used in [[State Land|state land states]] }} | |||
{{Block indent|*the newer '''rectangular surveys''' (also known as ''Congressional township rectangular surveys'') primarily used in [[Grants from the Federal Government (Public Domain)|federal land states]]}} | |||
The ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Ordinance_of_1785 Land Ordinance of 1785] '' established the Public Land Survey System. Land was systematically surveyed into square "Congressional" townships, six miles (9.656 km) on a side. Each of these townships were sub-divided into thirty-six sections of one square mile (2.59 km²) or 640 acres. These sections could then be further subdivided for re-sale by settlers and land speculators.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Ordinance_of_1785 Land Ordinance of 1785] in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'' (accessed 25 November 2014).</ref> | The ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Ordinance_of_1785 Land Ordinance of 1785] '' established the Public Land Survey System. Land was systematically surveyed into square "Congressional" townships, six miles (9.656 km) on a side. Each of these townships were sub-divided into thirty-six sections of one square mile (2.59 km²) or 640 acres. These sections could then be further subdivided for re-sale by settlers and land speculators.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Ordinance_of_1785 Land Ordinance of 1785] in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'' (accessed 25 November 2014).</ref> | ||
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'''Arrangement.''' The National Archives keeps land entry files arranged by:<ref>Hawkins, 2-3.</ref> | '''Arrangement.''' The National Archives keeps land entry files arranged by:<ref>Hawkins, 2-3.</ref> | ||
{{Block indent|*'''''military bounty land warrants ''''' by year of the act authorizing them }} | |||
{{Block indent|*'''''pre-1908 land entry files ''''' by state, land office, type of entry (credit, cash, homestead, timber, or mineral), and final certificate number }} | |||
{{Block indent|*'''''post-1908 land entry files ''''' by serial patent number}} | |||
==== Indexes ==== | ==== Indexes ==== | ||
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'''Access.''' Original tract books, Internet digital versions, and microfilms exist: | '''Access.''' Original tract books, Internet digital versions, and microfilms exist: | ||
{{Block indent|1=*'''''Originals.''''' The National Archives in Washington, DC has the original tract books for 16 western states. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Eastern State Office, 7450 Boston Blvd, Springfield, VA 22153 has custody of the tract books for the 12 eastern federal land states (AL, AR, FL, IL, IN, IA, LA, MI, MN, MS, OH, and WI).<ref name="Haw5" /> The tract books for Alaska and Missouri are lost.<ref name="Hone" /> |2=1}} | |||
{{Block indent|*'''''Internet.''''' Digital copies of each federal-land-state's tract books (''except '' '''''Alaska ''''' and '''''Missouri''''') are available in FamilySearch Historical Records online at [http://familysearch.org/search/collection/2074276 United States Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1820-1908] }} | |||
{{Block indent|*'''''Microfilms''''' of tract books are also on 1,265 films for each federal-land state (''except '' '''''Alaska''''' and '''''Missouri''''') at the National Archives in Washington, and the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. }} | |||
{{Block indent|1=*United States Bureau of Land Management, ''Tract Books'' (Washington, District of Columbia : Records Improvement, Bureau of Land Management, 1957). {{WorldCat|866217989|item|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}} {{FSC|607931|item|disp=1,265 FS Library Films starting with 1445277}}.|2=2}} | |||
'''Content.''' Tract books show the type of land entry, its legal description (numbered section, township and range), acreage, price, entryman's name, application date, and (if applicable) patenting date and numbers.<ref name="Haw5" /> | '''Content.''' Tract books show the type of land entry, its legal description (numbered section, township and range), acreage, price, entryman's name, application date, and (if applicable) patenting date and numbers.<ref name="Haw5" /> | ||
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*'''''Coverage table'''''. Use the description of the townships and ranges covered in each tract book as described in the [[United States, Bureau of Land Management Tract Books Coverage Table - FamilySearch Historical Records|'''Tract Books Coverage Table''']] to narrow down the volumes you will need to view to find an ancestor's land entry. ''For example:''<br> | *'''''Coverage table'''''. Use the description of the townships and ranges covered in each tract book as described in the [[United States, Bureau of Land Management Tract Books Coverage Table - FamilySearch Historical Records|'''Tract Books Coverage Table''']] to narrow down the volumes you will need to view to find an ancestor's land entry. ''For example:''<br> | ||
{{Block indent|[[Image:Tract books coverage table example.png|center|Tract books coverage table example.png]]|5}} | |||
*'''''Index'''''. Or, if you have access to the National Archives in Washington, DC, use the '''''Index to Tract Books, RG 49, MLR# UD2321''''',<ref>Index to Tract Books, RG 49, MLR# UD2321, maps arranged by state. Copies of these maps are available for consultation in room G28 of the National Archives Building, Washington, DC, as cited in Hawkins, page 6.</ref> to each state's tract books which allows researchers to identify the tract book number that covers the area in which they are interested.<ref>Hawkins, 4.</ref> | *'''''Index'''''. Or, if you have access to the National Archives in Washington, DC, use the '''''Index to Tract Books, RG 49, MLR# UD2321''''',<ref>Index to Tract Books, RG 49, MLR# UD2321, maps arranged by state. Copies of these maps are available for consultation in room G28 of the National Archives Building, Washington, DC, as cited in Hawkins, page 6.</ref> to each state's tract books which allows researchers to identify the tract book number that covers the area in which they are interested.<ref>Hawkins, 4.</ref> | ||
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Each land entry in a tract book was recorded across two pages.<ref>Hawkins, 6.</ref> Each page set covers part or all of one township; tract books rarely have two different townships listed on the same page. The townships usually only change one range number or one township number at a time after several pages within a tract book volume listing several townships. | Each land entry in a tract book was recorded across two pages.<ref>Hawkins, 6.</ref> Each page set covers part or all of one township; tract books rarely have two different townships listed on the same page. The townships usually only change one range number or one township number at a time after several pages within a tract book volume listing several townships. | ||
{{Block indent|*''If you'' '''''know''''' ''the land description'', locate land entry in the appropriate tract book under the appropriate numbered section, township, and range listed on the left side of each page in the volume. }} | |||
{{Block indent|*''If you'' '''''do NOT know''''' ''the land description'', search each appropriate tract book line-by-line and page-by-page for the name of an ancestor.}} | |||
'''When you find an ancestor's entry.''' Once you find the record of the land entry, be sure to | '''When you find an ancestor's entry.''' Once you find the record of the land entry, be sure to | ||
{{Block indent|*'''''photocopy <u>both</u> tract book pages ''''' of the entry }} | |||
{{Block indent|*write down the '''''exact title, volume number, and page number ''''' (source information) of the tract book volume in which the ancestor's entry was found}} | |||
This information is important to helping the National Archives retrieve the land entry case file for you. | This information is important to helping the National Archives retrieve the land entry case file for you. | ||
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