Individual

Land entry petitions or applications were made to the Colonial Governor for land in Canada by many New Englanders during the Colonial period when they wanted to start a new town. They would indicate their name, their ages, and where they were then living. They would try to convince the powers that be that they were men to be trusted, and that they would accomplish a good job. These types of records are often found in manuscript collections, state, or national archives.

There were colonial land transfers in the south, as well as with the ruling body in the town if in New England. Some specific references are provided in the bibliography at the end of chapters 11 and 12 to obtain a more thorough understanding of those land records which are of most interest. I would also suggest that the student study the chapters on land records in the newest edition of The Researchers Guide to American Genealogy by Val Greenwood, and E. Wade Hone’s 1997 edition of Land and Property Research In The United States.

A good land record abstract will include all names, dates, water courses, neighbors, witnesses, residences, occupations if noted in the original, monetary sum exchanged, grant or property number if any, property descriptions, number of acres, signer or signers, witness or witnesses, date of recording, and other pertinent background information, if any.

Likewise, land records, just as other forms of documentation, should receive a proper citation, should be placed in chronological order in your documentary notes, and should begin with an event type.

Sample citation heading:

1775 LAND: VA, Lunenburg County, Land Record Book 1, page 254, FHL film #25343:

[Abstract the land record here.]