Category: Land

State Land vs. Public Land States Free Download

The types and locations of your ancestors’ land records depend on whether he lived in a state-land state or a public-land state. Before state-land states became US territories, entities such as Colonial governments controlled, surveyed and distributed their land. Early property-transaction records are usually in those states’ archives. The US government owned the land in […]

Free Deed Index (by Grantor) Form Download

Transcribe basic information from town or county deed indexes (by the name of the person selling property). Receive your copy of the Deed Index (Grantor) form by clicking one of the buttons below. Get the Deed Index (Grantors) form in PDF format: Get the Deed Index (Grantors) form in Word format: By entering your email, […]

5 Types of Ancestors’ Land Records You Should Look For

Looking for clues about your ancestors' relationships and migration patterns? Discover your ancestry and find family history with these five type of genealogy land records.

Historical Research Maps: Plat Maps Premium

Gaze into your ancestor's past with plat maps, which show the divisions of land in your ancestor's neighborhood.

Finding My Ancestor’s Old Property Deed: Tips You Can Use

When last I blogged about my Seeger family, I had uncovered their previously unknown migration (a short one, just a few doors down the street) and added finding the associated deed record to my genealogy to-do list. Deeds are both rewarding and difficult to find. They're rarely online. Counties keep...

Now What? Ohio Revolutionary War Land grants Premium

Q. My ancestor received land in Ohio for his Revolutionary War service. Why can’t I find any trace of it on the General Land Offi ce Records site?

Free 10 Essential Genealogy Research Forms

How to Use Land Records for Genealogy Research Premium

Land records are among the most underutilized resources for genealogy. Discover the different types and information you can learn from each.

Unpuzzling Your Ancestors’ County Boundary Changes

Figuring out your US ancestors' county boundaries can be like doing a puzzle with pieces that keep changing size and shape. If one of your ancestral families settled early in what's now Morrow county in central Ohio, for example, they conceivably could've resided in—count 'em up—seven different counties without...

Document Detective: Land Patents Premium

The Bureau of Land Management’s General Office has digitized more than 5 million land patents and made them searchable. This edition of Document Detective will help you survey the land of patents for your genealogical benefit.