How to Find a Land Patent Using a Plat Map | Roam Your Roots

Have you ever been given a hint on Ancestry for a 'county land ownership map'? These are known as plats - and don't ignore them! They can provide vital clues; most importantly, a plat can provide another way to find your ancestor's original land patent.
Previously: How to Find a Land Patent: • How to Find a Land Pat...
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[@LavenderLori406]

Thank you for your step by step. This is so helpful

[@UniQu3Ly_QU33Ni3]

How do I find the parcel number using the land patent? I can’t seem to figure out where the land is & who owns it now.

[@kathrynralli4557]

Thank you.

[@mrsjohnson211]

How did you come across the map without the map?

[@Azteca_X]

Very helpful. Thank you

[@drivinglikejehu]

Hello. Will this process apply to property in Tennessee. I was told by our tax assessor's that everything East of the Mississippi is mapped out differently than those in the West.

[@RoamYourRoots]

Hello! That is true - land in the west was typically given away via the Homestead Act or other acts associated with military service, which are what these land patents are from. Land in the east is "older" (typically bought in the 18th century or before) so those properties will not have the same records associated with them.

[@brickdorsi]

I own a small lot of land that the town will not “ let me build” on, will this allow me to ?

[@RoamYourRoots]

No, this tutorial is for genealogical research purposes only.

[@starflower4544]

I tried searching like you did but don't get the same blanks to fill in...not a member of Ancestry ...do I need to be?

[@RoamYourRoots]

While I got these maps on Ancestry, you don't need to be a member to find similar maps. Depending on what state you are searching in, you might be able to find them on the Library of Congress website or on oldmapsonline.org. And the search function on the Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records website is unrelated to Ancestry - it's free to search.

[@brianohamill7236]

What if the land is from one of the original 13 colonies, and there is no section, township and range description?

[@RoamYourRoots]

That's a great question! This video only explains how to find land patents given by the Bureau of Land Management, not colonial patents awarded by the King (I assume that is what you are referring to?) Those early patents/land grants would be likely be recorded at the county level. Feel free to email me at [e-mail] if you want to go over some details, and I will do my best to help!