FamilySearch Wiki

Wisconsin Land and Property: Difference between revisions

Page Talk

Wisconsin Land and Property (view source)

Revision as of 17:41, 19 June 2023

280 bytes removed ,  19 June 2023
no edit summary
VisualWikitext
m (Text replacement - "[fF]amily([\s_])[hH]istory[\s_]([cC])enters" to "FamilySearch$1$2enters")
No edit summary
Line 12: Line 12:


|}
|}
==Online Resources==


== Wisconsin Land Records ==


=== Introduction  ===
Wisconsin is a public domain ("Federal-Land") state, where unclaimed federal land was surveyed, then granted or sold by the government through federal land offices. The first document recording a sale of a piece of land from the government was called a land patent and the first owner of the land was called a patentee. Later, when the land was sold or mortgaged by private owners, the document was called a deed. The first federal and state transactions were recorded and the paperwork kept at the federal and state level, while all future transactions were recorded at the office of the county register of deeds. Family History researchers usually use land records from county offices, however, records from federal and state offices may also have genealogical value. For detailed descriptions of land record types see [[United States Land and Property|United States Land and Property]].  
 
Wisconsin is a public domain ("Federal-Land") state, where unclaimed federal land was surveyed, then granted or sold by the government through federal land offices. The first document recording a sale of a piece of land from the government was called a land patent and the first owner of the land was called a patentee. Later, when the land was sold or mortgaged by private owners, the document was called a deed. The first federal and state transactions were recorded and the paperwork kept at the federal and state level, while all future transactions were recorded at the office of the county register of deeds. Family History researchers usually use land records from county offices, however, records from federal and state offices may also have genealogical value. For detailed descriptions of land record types see [[United States Land and Property|United States Land and Property]].  


If you are new to land research, you may wish to read the Beginner’s corner and other articles included on the [[United States Land and Property|United States Land and Property]] page.  
If you are new to land research, you may wish to read the Beginner’s corner and other articles included on the [[United States Land and Property|United States Land and Property]] page.  
Line 28: Line 28:
[[Illinois History#Kaskaskia_and_Cahokia_Records|Kaskaskia and Cahokiawere]] important early Indian and French settlements. Their records include the Cahokia books which is included in the [[Illinois Land and Property#Raymond_H._Hammes_Collection|Raymond H. Hammes collection maintained]] at the [http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/home.html Illinois State archives]. This collection is valuable in that it contains early land and historical records from Kaskaskia in Randolph county, Illinois and settlements along the Mississippi River, including the Cahokia settlement in St. Clair county, which at the time covered a large portion of present-day Illinois as well as Prairie du Chien which was and is in present-day Crawford county, Wisconsin.  
[[Illinois History#Kaskaskia_and_Cahokia_Records|Kaskaskia and Cahokiawere]] important early Indian and French settlements. Their records include the Cahokia books which is included in the [[Illinois Land and Property#Raymond_H._Hammes_Collection|Raymond H. Hammes collection maintained]] at the [http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/home.html Illinois State archives]. This collection is valuable in that it contains early land and historical records from Kaskaskia in Randolph county, Illinois and settlements along the Mississippi River, including the Cahokia settlement in St. Clair county, which at the time covered a large portion of present-day Illinois as well as Prairie du Chien which was and is in present-day Crawford county, Wisconsin.  


==== Resources  ====
== Resources  ==


:*The early land office records are at:<br>Commissioner of Public Lands<br>127 West Washington Avenue<br>Madison, WI 53703.
:*The early land office records are at:<br>Commissioner of Public Lands<br>127 West Washington Avenue<br>Madison, WI 53703.
Line 42: Line 42:
:*Wisconsin, State Historical Society. ''Wisconsin Domesday book, town studies.'' [Madison:State Historical Society of Wisconsin], c1924-(Minasha, Wisconsin:George Santa Pub. Co.) {{FSC|80231|item}}, book 977.5 E3w. Includes index.
:*Wisconsin, State Historical Society. ''Wisconsin Domesday book, town studies.'' [Madison:State Historical Society of Wisconsin], c1924-(Minasha, Wisconsin:George Santa Pub. Co.) {{FSC|80231|item}}, book 977.5 E3w. Includes index.


=== Government Land Transfers  ===
== Government Land Transfers  ==


When the area that is now [[Wisconsin Genealogy|Wisconsin]] became part of the [[United States Genealogy|United States]], a few prior land claims by early pioneers were settled in the courts, though most of the land was unclaimed. This unclaimed land became the public domain, was '''surveyed''', and then sold through land offices, with the first land office established at Mineral point in 1834. Since Wisconsin was a [[Government Land Grants|federal land state]], the land was divided into townships (36 square miles), and sections (one square mile within the township). The paperwork involved with these 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]].  
When the area that is now [[Wisconsin Genealogy|Wisconsin]] became part of the [[United States Genealogy|United States]], a few prior land claims by early pioneers were settled in the courts, though most of the land was unclaimed. This unclaimed land became the public domain, was '''surveyed''', and then sold through land offices, with the first land office established at Mineral point in 1834. Since Wisconsin was a [[Government Land Grants|federal land state]], the land was divided into townships (36 square miles), and sections (one square mile within the township). The paperwork involved with these 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]].  


==== Indexes  ====
=== Indexes  ===


*The Bureau of Land Management and General Land Office (BLM-GLO) has an on line [http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx Land Patent Search] which is an index to millions of ancestors named in federal land patents and warrants from 1788 to the 1960’s located at the National Archives. This is the best place to begin when searching for a land patent because of the ease of navigation when searching for an ancestor. This internet website also provides many images of patents.
*The Bureau of Land Management and General Land Office (BLM-GLO) has an on line [http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx Land Patent Search] which is an index to millions of ancestors named in federal land patents and warrants from 1788 to the 1960’s located at the National Archives. This is the best place to begin when searching for a land patent because of the ease of navigation when searching for an ancestor. This internet website also provides many images of patents.
Line 52: Line 52:
*United States. Bureau of Land Management. ''Card Files''. Washington, D.C.: Bureau of Land Management, 19—. On 160 FS Library films beginning with film 1501522,{{FSC|511740|item}}. Each card contains the following information: Certificate number District Land Office Kind of entry (cash, credit, warrant, etc.) Name of patentee and county of origin Land description Number of acres Date of patent Volume and page where document can be located . Because these index cards are arranged by township and range within each state, the researcher will need to already have an approximate legal description in order to access these cards.
*United States. Bureau of Land Management. ''Card Files''. Washington, D.C.: Bureau of Land Management, 19—. On 160 FS Library films beginning with film 1501522,{{FSC|511740|item}}. Each card contains the following information: Certificate number District Land Office Kind of entry (cash, credit, warrant, etc.) Name of patentee and county of origin Land description Number of acres Date of patent Volume and page where document can be located . Because these index cards are arranged by township and range within each state, the researcher will need to already have an approximate legal description in order to access these cards.


==== Surveys  ====
=== Surveys  ===


Wisconsin uses the rectangular land survey system of section, township, and range.Townships are six-mile square blocks of land, divided into 36 one-mile squares called sections. Townships are numbered north and south, starting from the center line, and ranges are numbered east and west starting from the principal meridian.  
Wisconsin uses the rectangular land survey system of section, township, and range.Townships are six-mile square blocks of land, divided into 36 one-mile squares called sections. Townships are numbered north and south, starting from the center line, and ranges are numbered east and west starting from the principal meridian.  
Line 64: Line 64:
*United States. Department of the Interior. Bureau of Land Management. ''Wisconsin, 1820–1908 Cash and Homestead Entries, Cadastral Survey Plats.'' Version 7.3. Springfield, Virginia: BLM Eastern States, 1994. {{FSC|774878|item}}, CD-ROM no. 38 supp. Not available at FamilySearch Centers. These records are patents issued by the federal government. Researchers can search for information about land titles through any one of six categories: land description, patentee name, patent authority, land office, certificate number, or county.
*United States. Department of the Interior. Bureau of Land Management. ''Wisconsin, 1820–1908 Cash and Homestead Entries, Cadastral Survey Plats.'' Version 7.3. Springfield, Virginia: BLM Eastern States, 1994. {{FSC|774878|item}}, CD-ROM no. 38 supp. Not available at FamilySearch Centers. These records are patents issued by the federal government. Researchers can search for information about land titles through any one of six categories: land description, patentee name, patent authority, land office, certificate number, or county.


==== Tract and Plat Books  ====
=== Tract and Plat 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.  
Line 78: Line 78:
:[name of county], Wisconsin – Land and Property
:[name of county], Wisconsin – Land and Property


==== Patents  ====
=== 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.  
Line 86: Line 86:
:*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  ====
=== 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. &nbsp;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. &nbsp;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:  
Line 100: Line 100:
:*Certificate number or patent number
:*Certificate number or patent number


=== Individual Land Transfers&nbsp;  ===
== Individual Land Transfers ==
[[File:WI farm.JPG|thumb|right|<center>Wisconsin Farm<center>]]
[[File:WI farm.JPG|thumb|right|<center>Wisconsin Farm<center>]]
After land was transferred to private ownership, all subsequent transactions, including deeds and mortgages, were recorded by the register of deeds and are generally kept at the county courthouse. These records usually date back to the time of the county's organization and frequently have grantor (seller) and grantee (buyer) indexes. Many of the county indexes and deeds are on microfilm at the FamilySearch Library. For example, the library has copies of Milwaukee County mortgage records and indexes (1836-1916) on 103 microfilms and Dane County deeds (1883-1886) and indexes (1835-1915) on 87 films.  
After land was transferred to private ownership, all subsequent transactions, including deeds and mortgages, were recorded by the register of deeds and are generally kept at the county courthouse. These records usually date back to the time of the county's organization and frequently have grantor (seller) and grantee (buyer) indexes. Many of the county indexes and deeds are on microfilm at the FamilySearch Library. For example, the library has copies of Milwaukee County mortgage records and indexes (1836-1916) on 103 microfilms and Dane County deeds (1883-1886) and indexes (1835-1915) on 87 films.  
Line 116: Line 116:
{{Wisconsin|Wisconsin}} {{U.S. Land and Property}}  
{{Wisconsin|Wisconsin}} {{U.S. Land and Property}}  


<br>
[[Category:Wisconsin, United States]][[Category:Land and Property]]
 
'''A wiki article describing an online collection is found at:'''
 
[[Wisconsin, Outagamie County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|Wisconsin, Outagamie County Records&nbsp;(FamilySearch Historical Records)]]  
 
[[Wisconsin, Outagamie County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|Land]]
 
[[Category:Wisconsin, United States]]
Retrieved from "https://integration-ru.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/5372424"