Katie Merkley

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Katie Rebecca Garner was introduced to genealogy through volunteering with FamilySearch. She has an Associates of Applied Science in Family History Research from BYU-Idaho, specializing in U.S. research. She is currently pursuing an AG specializing in U.S. Mid-Atlantic. Katie writes articles for blogs, magazines, and wikis. She is working on her first novel, a genealogy ghost story.

Aerial view of a rural area with scattered buildings surrounded by dense green trees and fields, with a winding road visible in the lower right corner.

Finding Bounty Land Records to Research Your Ancestors

Katie Merkley July 15, 2025 No Comments

The early U.S. government used bounty land as an incentive and a reward for military service. Because applicants had to prove their qualifications, the process of obtaining bounty land left a paper trail, which is valuable to genealogists today.