This document outlines several key land records and resources for researching family history related to land: 1) Census records can provide information on where a family lived. 2) Deeds contain details about land transactions like names and prices. 3) The Homestead Act of 1862 gave settlers ownership of land after living on it for 5 years. 4) Wills often mention the distribution of a deceased person's land among heirs. 5) The Bureau of Land Management website provides access to records of land grants and warrants from the U.S. government.

1. Land

2. Searching Family Though Land Records

3. • 1. Census Records

5. • 1. Census Records
• 2. Deeds

6. Using Deeds to Track Land
• The name of the Grantor - the person selling the property (marital
status should also be listed)
• The name of the Grantee - the person buying the property (marital
status should also be listed)
• Amount paid for the property
• Legal Description

9. • 1. Census Records
• 2. Deeds
• 3. Homestead Act of 1862

10. • Homestead Act opened up settlement in the western United States, allowing any
American, including freed slaves, to put in a claim for up to 160 free acres of federal
land. By the end of the Civil War, 15,000 homestead claims had been established, and
more followed in the postwar years. Eventually, 1.6 million individual claims would
be approved; nearly ten percent of all government held property.
• The Homestead Act (May 20, 1862) set in motion a program of public land grants to
small farmers. Before the Civil War, the southern states had regularly voted against
homestead legislation because they correctly foresaw that the law would hasten the
settlement of western territory, ultimately adding to the number and political
influence of the Free states. This opposition to the homestead bill, as well as to other
internal improvements that could hasten western settlement. A homestead bill
passed the House in 1858 but was defeated by one vote in the Senate; the next year,
a similar bill passed both houses but was vetoed by President James Buchanan. In
1860, the Republican platform advocating homestead legislation.

11. • After the southern states had seceded, homestead legislation was
high on the Republican agenda. The Homestead Act of 1862 provided
that any adult citizen (or person intending to become a citizen) who
headed a family could qualify for a grant of 160 acres of public land
by paying a small registration fee and living on the land continuously
for five years. If the settler was willing to pay $1.25 an acre, he could
obtain the land after only six months’ residence.
• The Homestead Act remained in effect for more than 100 years. The
final claim, for 80 acres in southeastern Alaska, was approved in 1988

13. • 1. Census Records
• 2. Deeds
• 3. Homestead Act of 1862
• 4. Wills

14. LAST WILL & TESTAMENT, JOSEPH FORTUNE being sick and weak, but being of sound mind and
memory.
To my loving wife MARY FORTUNE during her widowhood or life, an equal part of my estate with my
children, to wit: ELIZABETH and SARAH. But as my wife is with child, should the child survive to
receive an equal part with the rest.
It is my desire that as long as my wife remains a widow to keep the estate in her possession.
The 250 acres in the state of South Carolina that I purchased of LEONARD NOBLES and adjoining that
of JAMES HARGROVE, should my executors think it best, sell this and purchase other land for the
benefit of the estate. But if my wife think proper, she may go and live upon said land.
A stud horse called "Whynot" now in the possession of SPENCER REYNOLDS but half mine, should
remain with REYNOLDS until a sale can be made but if REYNOLDS should want to purchase same, to
pay my estate and deduct the expense for upkeep.
Appoint loving wife and SPENCER REYNOLDS executors.
JOSEPH (X) FORTUNE
Wit: George Reynolds, Richard Reynolds, Phebe [X] Farrer, Will. Tunstall
Jacob Reiger and David Harris security.

15. • 1. Census Records
• 2. Deeds
• 3. Homestead Act of 1862
• 4. Wills
• 5. Bureau of Land Management
• https://www.glorecords.blm.gov/default.aspx

16. • 1. Census Records
• 2. Deeds
• 3. Homestead Act of 1862
• 4. Wills
• 5. Bureau of Land Management
• https://www.glorecords.blm.gov/default.aspx
• Land Grants
• Land Warrants