Genealogy Forum NEWS
February, 1999
Kentucky Land Grants
Part III
Submitted by VKeith3711@AOL.com
Much of the information in this segment describing the work of the Land Office is probably outdated, since the article was printed in 1990. For example, there may well be master patent maps for all the counties available by now. However, I am including it (including the phone #) in the interest of completeness. The staff there is very congenial, & will help you all they can.
Vietta
Key Points to Remember in Land Patenting
The only Military Warrants recognized in the Kentucky Land Grant system were for service in the French & Indian War and the Revolutionary War (by Virginia soldiers). No Military Warrants were used in Kentucky land patents for service in the War of 1812 or later wars.
Follow the patent through step-by-step. Study the Warrant first, Entry if available, Survey Description & Plat, and then the Grant. This will help place the order of the transaction, particularly when numerous assignments have been made.
Microfilm of the original documents is available on a limited basis. Some libraries restrict their holdings to copies of the Land Office Survey & Grant books; although these are extremely helpful in platting country patents, for example, warrants and miscellaneous papers, such as caveats and wills, are not included in those books. The Kentucky Historical Society and the Secretary of State's Land Office are the only Frankfort agencies housing complete documentation for the Kentucky Land Grant records.
There is no "master patent map" available. Due to a shortage of Land Office staff, as well as the lack of a state surveying team, no patent map was made as patents were issued. There are, however, several historians on the county level who have accepted the challenge of mapping early land patents within their county or particular area. IT CAN BE DONE! (What is the status of your county? Have early patents been researched and platted?)
Remember, Warrants & Surveys could be traded, sold, or reassigned anytime during the patenting process. Study both sides of each document to trace the order of assignments.
Last, but definitely not least, all original records of Kentucky Land Grants are housed in the Office of Secretary of State in Frankfort. You are invited to inspect the documents anytime during regular working hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:00AM to 4:30PM. Due to the direct involvement of each Secretary of State since the 1960s, we are happy to report the documents are being preserved in bound volumes and microfilmed according to archival standards by the staff of the Kentucky Historical Society Micrographics Division. The Land Office will also be happy to work with researchers by phone if they have questions regarding the patenting system or need to order copies. Familiarize yourself with the Kentucky Land Grants. They may be just what you are needing to answer those land acquisitions questions. We are ready to assist you in any way we can.
For further information, contact the Land Office, Secretary of State, Capitol Building, Frankfort, KY 40601-3493; (502)564-3490.
For Further Reading
Editorial Staff. Kentucky Genealogical Societies. Resource Center, Genealogy Forum. undated.
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