Quote Originally Posted by Chex View Post
Federal Land Patents offer researchers a source of information on the initial transfer of land titles from the Federal government to individuals. In addition to verifying title transfer, this information will allow the researcher to associate an individual (Patentee, Assignee, Warrantee, Widow, or Heir) with a specific location (Legal Land Description) and time (Issue Date). We have a variety of Land Patents on our site, including Cash Entry, Homestead and Military Warrant patents. Survey plats are part of the official record of a cadastral survey.

Search

Surveying is the art and science of measuring the land to locate the limits of an owner's interest thereon. A cadastral survey is a survey which creates, marks, defines, retraces or re-establishes the boundaries and subdivisions of Federal Lands of the United States. The survey plat is the graphic drawing of the boundaries involved with a particular survey project, and contains the official acreage to be used in the legal description. http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/default.aspx


What happened when the chain of land (160 acres) per owner died; who then claimed the land? Heir a person legally entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death: who then picked up this allodial title?

Search
Remember land patents were issued by foreign European governments as well. This applies more to the 13 original colonies than the states that came out of public domain lands. Although, I'm certain there are still some foreign patents associated with some of the public domain lands.

Treaties (including treaties with Indians) as well as land statutes active at the time of the issuance of the patent will have bearing upon them as well.