US Land Patents
                       by Donovan Yingst
                        Tue Nov 20 1990
                 -------------------------------
   Copies of Federal land patents (title) are available from Bureau
of Land Management State Offices for Federal Public Domain lands in
all states except the Original Thirteen, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas
and Hawaii.  The BLM, as successor to the General Land Office,
issues patents for all Federal Public Domain lands, and maintains
patent records from the beginning of public land disposal by the
United States.
   The BLM offices may be able to run searches for patents by name.
 A search by name only, however, may be inconclusive for common
names--Jones, Smith, etc.--without additional identifying
information.  
   It is best to present all the known title information including
the Patentee's full name; Patent or Certificate No.; State; Patent
Date, and Public Survey Legal Description, i.e. Township, Range,
Section, Subdivision, and Principal Meridian, if known.  Legal
descriptions may also appear as Special Surveys, such as a
Homestead Survey (HES), a Mineral Survey  (MS), Townsite, etc.  A
patent may be located with only the legal description or the
certificate/patent number.
   The charge for patent copies may vary from state to state, so it
wise to enquire before placing an order.  
   Recorded copies of Federal Land Patents may also be found at the
County Recorder's office.  This, however, may not be true for many
early patents.  I was able to obtain copies of 6 Missouri patents
(1838-1870) at the Crawford Co., MO recorder's office.
   You may also obtain copies of original survey plats at the same
BLM offices.  Copies of case file papers for lands patented before
1965 may be obtained by writing to:  General Branch, Civil Archives
Division, National Archives & Records Administration (NNFG),
Washington D.C. 20409, Ph. 301-763-7410.
  If you happen to live in one of the western states, you should be
able to find the address of the appropriate BLM State Office in a
phone book, or inquire at a local District Office for help.  If
not, write to the Bureau of Land Management, U. S. Dept. of
Interior, 18th. and C Streets, N. W., Washington D. C., 20240, Ph.
202-343-9435 for the address of the state office that has the
records you need.
   If you have problems or need help, contact me on this echo, or
write to me.
Mail address:  Donovan Yingst, 12014 Ginger Creek Drive, Boise,
               ID, 83704, Ph. 208-322-0463. 
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