Land
Land
Finding Bounty Land Records to Research Your Ancestors
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.
Read More
A Genealogist’s Guide to Homesteading Records and Research Premium
This article explains what homesteading entails and how genealogists can find and use homesteading records in their own research.
Read More
State Land vs. Public Land States Free Download
Whether your ancestors lived in a state-land or public-land state affects the land records you'll look for. Learn which states fall into which category.
Read More
Free Deed Index (by Grantor) Form Download
Transcribe basic information from town or county deed indexes (by the name of the person selling property).
Read More
5 Types of Ancestors’ Land Records You Should Look For
Looking for clues about your ancestors' relationships and migration patterns? Discover your ancestry and find family history with these five type of genealogy land records.
Read More
A Plat Maps Guide: How to Trace Land, Your Ancestors and Historical Communities
Gaze into your ancestor's past with plat maps, which show the divisions of land in your ancestor's neighborhood.
Read MoreSign up for the Family Tree Newsletter
Plus, you'll receive our 10 Essential Genealogy Research Forms PDF as a special thank you!
Get Your Free Genealogy Forms
"*" indicates required fields
Case Study: Using Old Maps and City Directories to Research House History Premium
See how our genealogy expert used old maps and city directories to trace the history of a 19th-century home; even though the street name, address, and city and county had all changed over time.
Read More
Finding My Ancestor’s Old Property Deed: Tips You Can Use
Your ancestors' old property deeds can reveal valuable information about them and where they lived. Here's a guide on how to find and study these deeds.
Read More
How to Use Land Records for Genealogy Research Premium
Land records are among the most underutilized resources for genealogy. Discover the different types and information you can learn from each.
Read More
Unpuzzling Your Ancestors’ County Boundary Changes
Figuring out your US ancestors' county boundaries can be like doing a puzzle with pieces that keep changing size and shape. If one of your ancestral families settled early in what's now Morrow county in central Ohio, for example, they conceivably could've resided in—count 'em up—seven different counties without...
Read More