Thanks Donna, sounds like just what I need!
Peggy
----- Original Message -----
From: <Gra8teach(a)aol.com>
To: <CHAPIN-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2003 5:19 PM
Subject: [CHAPIN] How to search land records from list MOM
I went in search of the Homestead Records to see what is available.
Each
State
has their own rules about access to information re deeds but like military
service
for the ancestors, the National Archives has the old homestead records for
the public domain lands.
In the text below, it states that family information, military services
and
other
stuff in contained in the homestead papers.
Sandy
****************
President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act on May 20, 1862. The
act
provided settlers with 160 acres of surveyed public land after
payment of
a
filing fee and five years of continuous residence. Designed to spur
Western
migration, the Homestead Act culminated a twenty-year battle to
distribute
public lands to citizens willing to farm. Concerned free land would lower
property values and reduce the cheap labor supply, Northern businessmen
opposed the movement. Unlikely allies, Southerners feared homesteaders
would add their voices to the call for abolition of slavery. With
Southerners out of the picture in 1862, the legislation finally passed.
The Homestead States
Much of the United States was once "public domain" land owned by the
federal government and transferred to individuals under laws enacted by
Congress. North Dakota and South Dakota are among the 30 states that were
formed from the "public domain."
The other 28 states are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California,
Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana,
Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming
Land Records and Maps
Land records include information that can locate an individual in a
specific place at a specific time. There are many different types of land
records depending on how and where land was acquired.
Deeds are the most common type of land record. They have been issued in
all
periods of American history. Deeds may include information on family
relationships, dower rights, and slave ownership.
Millions of land grants and patents were issued by the federal government
and by the original thirteen colonies and several states. Records of land
grants include application files and the patents themselves. Homestead
files contain much family information and may also include naturalization
papers. Before July 4, 1836, the president of the United States signed
land
patents. After July 4, 1836 the president was authorized by Congress
to
appoint a secretary to sign the president's name on patents.
Bounty lands were offered to veterans in lieu of pay for services.
Although
many soldiers claimed their land they often sold it and never settled
on
it.
Applications for federal land grants and patents, including bounty
land
patents and homestead records, are available from the National Archives.
Request form NATF 84 for a search in land records
==== CHAPIN Mailing List ====
Welcome to the Chapin list
Post to Chapin message board
==============================
To join
Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records,
go to: