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==== Why they were created ==== | ==== Why they were created ==== | ||
These '''''federal ''''' tract books show the federal government transactions and status of each parcel of [[Rectangular surveys|surveyed]] public land. These books indicate who obtained the land, and include a physical description of the property and where the land is located. The type of transaction is also recorded such as cash entry, credit entry, [[Homestead Records|homesteads]], patents (deeds), timberland rights, or mineral rights granted by the federal government, and other conveyances of title such as Indian allotments, internal improvement grants (to states), [[US Military Bounty Land Warrants|military bounty land warrants]], land grants from previous foreign governments, [[Grants to Land Companies and Railroads|railroad grants]], school grants, and swamp grants.<ref name="Hone" /> | These '''''federal ''''' tract books show the federal government transactions and status of each parcel of [[Rectangular surveys|surveyed]] public land. These books indicate who obtained the land, and include a physical description of the property and where the land is located. The type of transaction is also recorded such as cash entry, credit entry, [[Homestead Records|homesteads]], patents (deeds), [[Timberland|timberland rights]], or [[Mining Claims|mineral rights]] granted by the federal government, and other conveyances of title such as Indian allotments, internal improvement grants (to states), [[US Military Bounty Land Warrants|military bounty land warrants]], land grants from previous foreign governments, [[Grants to Land Companies and Railroads|railroad grants]], school grants, and swamp grants.<ref name="Hone" /> | ||
==== Why genealogists use them ==== | ==== Why genealogists use them ==== | ||
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*Name of purchaser | *Name of purchaser | ||
*Description of the land (numbered section, township and range) | *Description of the land (numbered section, township and range) | ||
*Date of transaction (cash, credit, [[Homestead Records|homestead]], bounty land, etc.) | *Date of transaction (cash, credit, [[Homestead Records|homestead]], [[US Military Bounty Land Warrants|bounty land]], etc.) | ||
*By whom patented | *By whom patented | ||
*Date of patent | *Date of patent | ||
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The availability of inexpensive land was one of the primary attractions for immigrants to America. As high as 80 percent of the population have owned property at some point in their life. However, only a small part of population obtained that land '''directly''' from the federal government. Therefore, only a small percentage of the land-owning population would be listed in federal tract books. Nevertheless, the remaining landowners would definitely be mentioned in county land and property records such as [[United States. United-States - Land and Property- Deeds|deeds]]. | The availability of inexpensive land was one of the primary attractions for immigrants to America. As high as 80 percent of the population have owned property at some point in their life. However, only a small part of population obtained that land '''directly''' from the federal government. Therefore, only a small percentage of the land-owning population would be listed in federal tract books. Nevertheless, the remaining landowners would definitely be mentioned in county land and property records such as [[United States. United-States - Land and Property- Deeds|deeds]]. | ||
'''Regional differences.''' Because of [[Homestead Records|homestead laws]], a higher percentage of the land owning population in the Great Plains states after 1862 are likely to be in tract books than in other western states. On the other hand, it is likely mining and mineral rights claims in tract books would be more common in the Mountain West states. | '''Regional differences.''' Because of [[Homestead Records|homestead laws]], a higher percentage of the land owning population in the Great Plains states after 1862 are likely to be in tract books than in other western states. On the other hand, it is likely [[Mining Claims|mining and mineral rights claims]] in tract books would be more common in the Mountain West states. | ||
'''References to 2 million unindexed case files.''' There are over ten million land entry case files (applications) in the National Archives most of which would have a corresponding entry in a tract book. About eight million land patents have been indexed in the BLM [[Land Patent Search]] for successfully completed federal land applications. This suggests about two million applications were left unfinished or were rejected—the best remaining access point to such unpatented case files is through page-by-page tract book searches. | '''References to 2 million unindexed case files.''' There are over ten million land entry case files (applications) in the National Archives most of which would have a corresponding entry in a tract book. About eight million land patents have been indexed in the BLM [[Land Patent Search]] for successfully completed federal land applications. This suggests about two million applications were left unfinished or were rejected—the best remaining access point to such unpatented case files is through page-by-page tract book searches. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
=== Arrangement === | === Arrangement === | ||
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:*'''Land patent.''' If your family still has the patent (original title) for a piece of property, that patent will show the land description. | :*'''Land patent.''' If your family still has the patent (original title) for a piece of property, that patent will show the land description. | ||
:*'''[http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/ BLM land patent search].''' The online index to eight million land patents 1820-1908 and military bounty land shows each entry's land description. However, this index does '''not''' include the two million case files which were never finished, forfeited, relinquished, or cancelled. | :*'''[http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/ BLM land patent search].''' The online index to eight million land patents 1820-1908 and [[US Military Bounty Land Warrants|military bounty land]] shows each entry's land description. However, this index does '''not''' include the two million case files which were never finished, forfeited, relinquished, or cancelled. | ||
:*'''Seven states index.''' The ''seven states index '' at the [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives in Washington, DC]], also gives each entry's land description. The index covers Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada and Utah for pre-1908 case files both patented and unpatented.<ref>Hawkins, 3-4.</ref> | :*'''Seven states index.''' The ''seven states index '' at the [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives in Washington, DC]], also gives each entry's land description. The index covers Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada and Utah for pre-1908 case files both patented and unpatented.<ref>Hawkins, 3-4.</ref> | ||
:*'''Use search engines like Google to identify state land record indexes that could reveal land descriptions.''' | :*'''Use search engines like Google to identify state land record indexes that could reveal land descriptions.''' | ||
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*[[United States, Bureau of Land Management Tract Books Coverage Table (FamilySearch Historical Records)|Tract Books Coverage Table]] lists the state, volume, land office, township numbers and range numbers in each federal tract book 1820-1908. | *[[United States, Bureau of Land Management Tract Books Coverage Table (FamilySearch Historical Records)|Tract Books Coverage Table]] lists the state, volume, land office, township numbers and range numbers in each federal tract book 1820-1908. | ||
*[[Grants from the Federal Government (Public Domain)]] explains public lands, how individuals claimed some of it, and the paperwork created during the process. | *[[Grants from the Federal Government (Public Domain)]] explains public lands, how individuals claimed some of it, and the paperwork created during the process. | ||
*BLM [[Land Patent Search]] discusses the index to eight million patented (finished) land applications, and military bounty land papers. Each entry in this index includes the land description useful for finding an ancestor in a tract book. | *BLM [[Land Patent Search]] discusses the index to eight million patented (finished) land applications, and [[US Military Bounty Land Warrants|military bounty land]] papers. Each entry in this index includes the land description useful for finding an ancestor in a tract book. | ||
*[[Land entry case files]] describes the 10 million files in the National Archives created to document individual claims to federal land using cash entry, credit entry, homestead, military bounty land, private land claims, mineral or timberland rights. A case file exists for each tract book entry. | *[[Land entry case files]] describes the 10 million files in the National Archives created to document individual claims to federal land using cash entry, credit entry, [[Homestead Records|homestead]], [[US Military Bounty Land Warrants|military bounty land]], [[United States. United-States - Land and Property- Private land claims|private land claims]], [[Mining Claims|mineral]] or [[Timberland|timberland rights]]. A [[Land entry case files|case file]] exists for each tract book entry. | ||
*[[Rectangular surveys]] includes a section about [[Rectangular surveys#Tract_books|tract books]]. This article shows how principal meridians, baselines, townships, ranges, sections, and aliquots are used for land descriptions found in tract books and other property records. | *[[Rectangular surveys]] includes a section about [[Rectangular surveys#Tract_books|tract books]]. This article shows how principal meridians, baselines, townships, ranges, sections, and aliquots are used for land descriptions found in tract books and other property records. | ||
*[[United States Land and Property]] page is a general discussion of land record research for genealogists. It serves as a table of contents to related Wiki pages about American land records including tract books, related land entry case files, and the BLM land patent search. | *[[United States Land and Property]] page is a general discussion of land record research for genealogists. It serves as a table of contents to related Wiki pages about American land records including tract books, related land entry case files, and the BLM land patent search. | ||
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{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
{{U.S. Land and Property}} | {{U.S. Land and Property}} {{-}} | ||
[[Category:United_States_Land_and_Property]] | [[Category:United_States_Land_and_Property]] | ||