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Land ownership records provide some of the most continuous documentation of an ancestor’s presence in a community. Two key types of land records are deeds and land patents. Understanding their differences helps researchers interpret property ownership and settlement patterns.
Deeds
A deed records the transfer of property ownership between individuals.
- Grantor conveys property to grantee
- Often lists residence of both parties
- Includes property description and boundaries
- Recorded in county deed books
Land Patents
A land patent is the original grant of land from a government to a private individual.
- Issued by federal or state government
- Common in public land states
- Often associated with homestead claims
- Recorded in federal land offices
Information Found in Deeds
Deeds often contain valuable genealogical clues.
- Names of husband and wife
- Residence of grantor and grantee
- Purchase price or consideration
- Neighboring landowners
Property Descriptions
Land records describe property boundaries using formal survey methods.
- Metes and bounds descriptions
- Township and range surveys
- Lot and block references in towns
- Natural landmarks used as boundary markers
Research Considerations
- Property transactions may occur multiple times within a family
- Deeds can establish migration patterns
- Witnesses may be relatives or neighbors
- Land records often survive courthouse fires
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