| This course has been designed to accomplish several objectives. We will provide a brief overview of the history and types of land documents in the United States, and we will begin with considering Colonial Records (English, French, Mexican, Spanish). We will examine land grants, and the interesting history of homestead records and the development bounty lands will be discussed. Deeds and maps, naturally an important part of any search into land records, will also be examined.
We will conclude by providing a lengthy overview of the availability of statewide and Internet land record sources and resources; where they are located and how you can contact the appropriate repository.
One students experience:
To hear a student discussion regarding their experience with this course, please click here. (This is a large file and may take a minute or two to download.)
Course Content
Module 1
Overview of History & Record Types
Reading Up on Land Records & American History
Internet Guides to Land Records
Printed Historical Sources
General Printed Guides
Articles
Guides for Selected Localities
Why Should You Be Using Land Records?
Some Initial Questions
Strategies for Using Land Records
Searching the Neighborhood
Land From Governments
Sorting Through Common Surnames
Place Names (Tracts of Land & Communities)
Land Records Definitions
Accessing Land Records
State Archives Websites
Module 2
Colonial Records
British (English) Colonial Land Records
Virginia
Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants/Northern Neck Grants and Surveys
Massachusetts
Plymouth Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
Private Land Claims
Online Resources for U.S. Private Claims
Spanish Possessions in North America
Florida
French Colonial Possessions
Recommended Reading & Resources
Module 3
Land Grants
An Overview of the Land Grant Process
Application
Warrant
Survey
Patent
State Land States versus Federal Land States
Grants of State Lands
Grants in the Federal Land States
Bureau of Land Management Indexes
How to Obtain Photocopies of US Federal Grant Case Files
Determining a Legal Description of Land
Tract Books & Plat Maps
Module 4
Homestead Records & Bounty Land Grants
Homesteads
Pre-emption Act of 1841
Homestead Act
Steps in the Homestead Process
Homestead Case Files (Land Entry Papers)
Examples of Homestead Documents
Bounty Land Grants
Revolutionary War
Federal Bounty Land Grants
State Bounty Land Grants
War of 1812
Other Bounty Land Warrants
Recommended Reading & Resources
Module 5
Deeds & Maps
Individual Land Sales
Deed Indexes
Types of Deeds
Accessing Deeds & Deed Indexes
What to Look for in Deeds
Maps
US Geological Survey
Module 6
Important Statewide & Internet Land Record Sources
Introduction
Selected Sources for the Various States
Alabama
Arkansas
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Missouri
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
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