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Land Entry Case Files: Difference between revisions
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|+ '''Steps to obtaining a case file''' | |+ '''Steps to obtaining a case file''' | ||
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| bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="left" valign="bottom" | '''1.''' Find the legal land description of the property:<br> | | bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="left" valign="bottom" | '''Step 1.''' Find the legal land description of the property:<br> | ||
:'''A.''' in an index under an ancestor's name, or <br> | :'''A.''' in an index under an ancestor's name, or <br> | ||
:'''B.''' by searching appropriate tract books page-by-page for an ancestor's name.<br> | :'''B.''' by searching appropriate tract books page-by-page for an ancestor's name.<br> | ||
'''2.''' Submit NATF-84 (a land entry case file request form), and $50 to the National Archives. | '''Step 2.''' Submit NATF-84 (a land entry case file request form), and $50 to the National Archives. | ||
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<br> '''1A. Find the land description.''' The best strategy is to first find an ancestor's land description. | <br> '''Step 1A. Find the land description.''' The best strategy is to first find an ancestor's land description. | ||
:'''Sources which show the land description:''' | :'''Sources which show the land description:''' | ||
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:*'''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.''' | ||
'''1B. Search tract books page-by-page.''' Alternatively, '''''IF ''''' you cannot find elsewhere the section, township number, and range number, you could search page-by-page through the tract books for the county where an ancestor lived until you find his or her name. | '''Step 1B. Search tract books page-by-page.''' Alternatively, '''''IF ''''' you cannot find elsewhere the section, township number, and range number, you could search page-by-page through the tract books for the county where an ancestor lived until you find his or her name. | ||
The following sources can help narrow the number of tract books to search: | The following sources can help narrow the number of tract books to search: | ||
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:*'''''Land offices'''''. Tract books for some states, such as Alabama and Ohio are organized by land office. Others are organized for the whole state. "Appendix B" in ''Land and Property Research in the United States '' shows the varying land office boundaries in each state over many years.<ref>Hone, 269-497.</ref> | :*'''''Land offices'''''. Tract books for some states, such as Alabama and Ohio are organized by land office. Others are organized for the whole state. "Appendix B" in ''Land and Property Research in the United States '' shows the varying land office boundaries in each state over many years.<ref>Hone, 269-497.</ref> | ||
'''2. Submit NATF-84''' (a land entry case file request form), and $50 to the National Archives. | '''Step 2. Submit NATF-84''' (a land entry case file request form), and $50 to the National Archives. | ||
To obtain a land entry case file you will need information about the ancestor's state, county, land office, and land description listing the section, township number, and range number. The form also requests the patent number, but if that is lacking, you can substitute copies of the tract book entry. | To obtain a land entry case file you will need information about the ancestor's state, county, land office, and land description listing the section, township number, and range number. The form also requests the patent number, but if that is lacking, you can substitute copies of the tract book entry. | ||