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Every state has, or had, large quantities of "surplus" public lands that it uses to generate revenue. Most states also had some provisions for giving land away to induce settlement or to reward veterans. |
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For example, Georgia had a lottery system for giving away land. Each lottery entrant had to meet certain requirements, like being a resident of the state for a year, a certain age, an orphan, a widow, or a veteran. The entrants also had to pay a nominal fee. The "fortunate drawers" were awarded the rights to a tract of land, which they could either settle themselves or sell. |
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You can use land grant records to learn where an ancestor lived when he acquired the land. If the ancesstor was granted land in another county, follow the trail of records to the new county. |
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Many land grant records have been abstracted. Most land grant records have been indexed, and the indexes and land grants have been microfilmed. Published abstracts and the microfilmed records and indexes can be found at the LDS Family History Library and Family History Centers, and in the collections of private, public, university, and state libraries. Original land grant records are maintained in the state land office or archives. |
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