In genealogy research, it’s easy to focus on census records and vital records (birth, marriage, and death). These documents are often the go-to sources for tracing your family’s history. But land records can be an important part of that history, too.
In this blog post, you’ll discover why land records are so important and how to find them on the free website, FamilySearch.
Using land records in your genealogy research may be a great next step when you’re ready to move beyond census and vital records. But they can be a bit intimidating at first. Let’s break down why you should use them and how to find them, easily.
Reasons Why Owning Land Was Important To Our Ancestors
Security: Land ownership provided financial stability. It was a way for our ancestors to make money and take care of their families. They could grow food, raise animals, or sell the land if they needed cash. For many, land was the primary source of livelihood and wealth.
Social Status: Owning land boosted a person’s importance in the community. Landowners were generally regarded with more respect and had a voice in local government, such as being able to vote.
Inheritance: Land was something that could be passed down through generations It was one way to pass along a legacy.
Self-Sufficiency: For many, owning land meant independence. They could grow their own food, raise livestock, and be less reliant on others.
New Opportunities: Owning land represented a chance to build a better life. It gave people the opportunity to start fresh, establish a home, and contribute to the growth of a new community. Land ownership meant they could create something lasting and be part of something bigger.
Now that you know some reasons why land was so important to our ancestors, it’s time to put them to use in your own genealogy research.
Reasons To Use Land Records
- Trace Ancestors’ Movements: Land records can help track where your ancestors lived and moved over time.
- Prove Family Relationships: Deeds and other land documents often gave connections between family members.
- Fill In Gaps: Land records can provide information during periods of time where other records are missing.
- Understand Ancestors’ Wealth: Land records let you see how well your ancestor was doing financially.
Finding Clues Your Ancestor Owned Land
There are many records that may offer clues that your ancestor owned land. Here are some places to look:
Census Records: U.S. census records from 1850 to 1870, included a section on value of real estate. The Census Bureau stopped asking that question with the 1880 census.
Here’s a snippet from the 1850 census that shows Lemuel Cobb was 80 years old, a farmer, and owned $5,000 worth of real estate in Cumberland County, Maine. That would be worth over $200,000 today.
Wills and Probate Records: If your ancestor left a will, it might mention land they owned and how it was to be distributed among the heirs. Probate records can also include the distribution of land.
Tax Records: Local tax records often list property owners and the value of their land. These records can provide clues about where your ancestor owned land and how much it was worth.
Maps: Some historical maps show property boundaries and landowners’ names. These maps are often available at local archives or online through genealogy websites. Ancestry has a wonderful collection of landowner maps. You can find it here.
Land Patents: If your ancestor was a homesteader or received land from the government, you might find their name in land patent records. These documents show the original transfer of land from the government to individuals. The Bureau of Land Management website is a wonderful resource for this type of record.
Newspapers: Local newspapers might include land sales, estate sales, or public notices about land auctions, which can mention your ancestor.
Family Papers and Bibles: Sometimes, personal documents like family papers or Bibles include details about land ownership. Since landowners kept a copy of their deed it might be included as a family heirloom.
Military Records: Veterans were often awarded land as a bounty for their service. Check military records, especially for Revolutionary War and War of 1812 veterans, for land warrants or grants.
Local Histories: County or town histories often include information about early settlers and their land holdings, providing clues about your ancestor’s property.
Basic Land Terms
If you’re going to start working with land records in your genealogy research, you’ll need to know some basic terms:
Grantee: The person who receives the land. Think of them as the “new owner” who gets the land from someone else.
Grantor: The person who is selling the land. They are the “old owner” who transfers the land to someone else.
Deed: The official document that shows who owns the land and who sold it to them.
Parcel: A specific piece of land that is described in the deed.
Legal Description: A detailed description of where a piece of land is located, using landmarks or measurements.
Survey: A detailed map or drawing that shows the exact boundaries and size of a piece of land. It helps you see the exact shape of the land.
Finding Our Ancestors In Land Records
My go-to website for starting my search in land records is FamilySearch. Once you sign in click on the Search tab then find Catalog.
In the place field that automatically pops up, put in your location from largest to smallest, such as state, county, town. If you’re searching outside of the U.S. start with the country name.
Hint: If you only want to see what’s available online, make sure to choose the online availability below the place name.
Click on the link you want…in this case United States, Pennsylvania, Bucks and find the section on land records.
You will need to know the year(s) your ancestor owned land. For this example we are looking for Bucks County, PA deeds in the mid 1850s, so I choose
Hint: Right click on the collection you want so it opens in another tab. This will save you time later.
At this point, you may be overwhelmed by the choices you have, but life will be easier if you start looking in an index. Was your ancestor buying land (grantee index) or selling land (grantor index).
In another genealogy research project, I found a will of David Kruson and it mentioned the selling of his land. I want to find that land. So I go to the grantor index for the letter “K” and click the camera icon on the right.
Since every state or county indexes their records differently, I can’t go over every way to search in this blog post. With that said, I can tell you to always look at the first images in the collection to see how it’s arranged. Once you know that, you’ll be able to narrow your search and find your document.
In this collection the documents are arranged by surname (in this case, K) and then by the first letters of the given name. I’m looking for David Kruson, so this is the part of the collection I need to look in:
I continue working my way through the images and I find:
Since I know David died, I’m looking for his estate records. They are found in book 126, page 599.
When I go back to the large list of land records available in Bucks County and scroll down I find the book I’m looking for:
Click on the camera icon to open the collection. Again, I look at the beginning images to see how this is arranged. Since there are two volumes of deeds, I need to find the beginning of volume 126, the book I want. I find that at image #333.
Hint: When you have multiple volumes in the same image collection, click on the minus sign in the upper lefthand corner to make the images smaller. This makes scrolling easier.
I make my way to page 599 and find what I want:
This document gave me valuable information for my genealogy research, including his date of death: “David K Kruson having died on the ninth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty five.”
If I didn’t have that before, this is an amazing find!
Using AI To Help Find Land Records
FamilySearch has a wonderful new feature that allows you find your ancestors’ names in wills, probate, and land records. It’s part of their Full-Text Search. The process we just went through only allows you to search when you know the name(s) of the person(s) buying and selling land. What about neighbors, witnesses, etc.? Where can we find their names in these documents? The Full-Text Search is the answer and I explain how to do it in this blog post.
Finally
As you can see your genealogy research isn’t complete without looking in land records. They provide unique information that other records don’t, helping you trace your ancestors, prove family relationships, and fill in gaps in your timeline. Don’t overlook the power of land records in telling your ancestors’ stories.
Genealogy tip: When your genealogy research progresses to using land records, you might need a little help. Try looking in the FamilySearch Wiki for your locality. Also, books like Land & Property Research In The United States by E. Wade Hone can help getting you started.
I absolutely love working in land records. If you need help or want me to do research for you, click below to get started.
