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Almost always include:
Names and dates
Location/description of the property owned
May also include:
Names of relatives - e.g., spouse or parent from whom the land was inherited
Direct proof of heirship
Maiden name of woman
Details of military service
Correspondence between your ancestor and the government
Cost of the purchase
Details about transfers of ownership
Signature
Occupation
Marital status
Citizenship
Map
Neighbors
Residence
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Through a visit to the courthouse
Compiled sources:
check with the county courthouses as found in RootsWeb's U.S. Town/ County Database:
resources.rootsweb.com/
cgi-bin/townco.cgi
or local genealogical and historical societies as found in the Ancestors Resource Guide
Online compiled sources such as the FHL Catalog:
www.familysearch.org/
Search/searchcatalog.asp
Online land records
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To find property owned by an ancestor
To track an ancestor's moves/migration over time
For proof of heirship
To find marital status
To find wife's maiden name
To find relationship clues
To learn of military service
To find your ancestor's signature
To trace the history of a piece of land or building
To learn the cost of property as an indicator of economic status |
