Do you include land records in your genealogy toolbox? For me, they have proven to be very helpful when it comes to separating men of the same name.
Since many of my ancestors were early settlers in public domain states, I often check the Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records site.
The ‘Land Patents’ page is my normal destination. Most of the time, I search these patents for a surname in a specific county. Thus, I would change the state to Indiana, enter the county of Warren and the surname of Crawford to search for entries for my 3rd great grandfather, Nelson Crawford.
That search turns up entries for several Crawfords, three of which are for Nelson G. Crawford.
In December 1830, certificate #11.152 indicates that full payment had been received from Nelson G. Crawford for 80 acres in section 8 of township 21 north of range 8 west.
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Certificate
No. 11.152The United States of America
To All to whom these presents shall come, Greeting:
Whereas, Nelson G. Crawford of warren County Indiana
has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States, a certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Crawfordsville
whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said Nelson G. Crawford
according to the provisions of the act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled “An act making further provision for the sale of the Public Lands,” for
the west half of the north west quarter of section eight in Township twenty one north of Range Eight West in the district of lands subject to sale at Crawfordsville Indiana containing eighty acres
according to the official plat of the survey of the said Lands, returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General, which said tract has been purchased by the said Nelson G. Crawford
Now Know Ye, that the United States of America, in consideration of the premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress, in such case made and provided, have given and granted, and by these presents, do give and grant, unto the said Nelson G. Crawford and to his heirs, the said tract above described: To Have and to Hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities and appurtenances, of whatsoever nature thereunto belonging, unto the said Nelson G. Crawford and to his heirs and assigns forever.
In testimony whereof, I, Andrew Jackson President of the United States of America, have caused these Letters to be made Patent, and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand, at the city of Washington, the second day of December in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty and of the Independence of the United States the fifty fifth.
By the President, Andrew Jackson
Elijah Hayward, Commissioner of the General Land Office
Then in 1837, another patent is issued for the sale of forty acres in section 35 of township 22 north of range 9 west.
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Certificate no. 26708
The United States of America
To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting:Whereas, Nelson G Crawford of Warren county Indiana
has deposited in the General land Office of the United States, a certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Crawfordsville
whereby it appears that full payment has been made by said Nelson G. Crawford,
according to the provisions of the act of Congress of the 24th of April 1820, entitled “An act making further provision for the sale of the Public Lands,” for
the South East quarter of North East quarter of Section Thirty five, in township Twenty two North of range Nine West in the district of lands subject to sale at Crawfordsville Indiana containing forty acres
according to the official plat of the survey of the said Lands, returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General, which said tract has been purchased by the said Nelson G. Crawford
Now Know Ye, that the United States of America, in consideration of the premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress in such case made and provided, have given and granted, and by these presents do give and grant, unto the said Nelson G. Crawford and to his heirs, the said tract above described:
To have and to hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging unto the said Nelson G. Crawford and to his heirs and assigns forever.
In testimony whereof, I Martin Van Buren
President of the United States of America, have caused these Letters to be made patent, and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the urethritis day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven and of the Independence of the United States the sixty first.
By the president: Martin Van Buren
Saml K King acting recorder of the General Land Office ad interim
By A. Van Buren Sec’y
Then in 1851, there is a patent for Nelson G. Crawford who was an assignee of William Quackenbush, late a private in Captain Gallahens Company First Regiment New York Volunteer, for 160 acres in section 19 in township 23 north of range 9 west.
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The United States of America,
To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting:
Know Ye, that in pursuance of the Act of Congress, entitled “An act to raise for a limited time as additional military force, and for other purposes,” approved February 11th, 1847,William Quackenbush, late a private in Captain Gallahens Company First Regiment New York Volunteer
having deposited in the General Land Office & Warrant in his favor numbered 36845
There is Therefore Granted by the United States unto
Nelson G. Crawford assignee of said William Quackenbush, and to his heirs, the South East quarter of Section Nineteen in Township, Twenty three North of Range Nine West, in the District of Lands subject to sale at Crawfordsville Indiana containing one hundred and sixty acres.according to the official plat of the survey of the said Land returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General, which said tract has been located in satisfaction of the above mentioned Warrant, in pursuance of the Act of Congress above mentioned, approved February 11th, 1847. To have and to hold the said quarter section of land, with the appurtenances thereof, unto the said
Nelson G. Crawford and to his
heirs and assigns forever.
In testimony whereof, I Millard Fillmore, President of the United States of America, have caused these Letters to be made Patent, and the Seal of th General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my had, at the City of Washington, the first day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one and of the Independence of the United States the seventy -fifth
by the President: Millard Fillmore
by Alex McCormick assist Sec’y
E S Terry, Recorder of the General Land Office
A search of the First Landowners Project for the surname ‘Crawford’ in Warren County, Indiana shows two of Nelson Crawford’s land entries (townships 22 and 23 of range 9 W) along with 2 clusters of Crawford entries in township 21 of ranges 8 and 9 west.
Zooming in on the map reveals that the original Nelson G. Crawford patent was for land adjoining a James Crawford.
While it would be easy to assume that the James Crawford owning land adjacent to Nelson G Crawford was his father, James Crawford (1772-1854), that is not the case. Instead, Nelson’s neighbor is the same James Crawford who owned land adjacent to Nelson’s father. My previous post, James Crawford Land in Warren County, Indiana, explains how this land belonged to James Crawford (1770-1833).
Thanks to the patents available on the BLM site along with the maps on the First Landowners Project, I can show that my ancestor, Nelson G. Crawford’s first land entry was dated in December 1830 AND was next to his Preble County, Ohio neighbor, James Crawford.