EARLY MICHIGAN LAND RECORDS
 

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 the 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). I have arranged the land purchase by date, not location.

     Finding a land record purchased by your ancestor does not specifically mean that they actually lived on that section of land. A lot of land purchases were done for the sole purpose of profit, by reselling the land at a later date for a higher price (and sometimes) lower price then what was paid at the time of purchase.

     In the below records you may find more then one name associated with the land purchase. It is my understanding that these purchases were recorded together as being on the same date in the same township and range. This maybe an indication of some sort of family connection or it may not be. Keep this in mind when viewing the records. Also look at the Land Division description for each individual person who purchased land in that section.