Related Resources • Wills & Probate • Census Records • Census Substitutes

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Land records can be some of the most useful records in genealogy research, but are often overlooked by novice researchers. Deeds and other land records can be used to distinguish men of the same name by locating each on a particular piece of property. They can often provide evidence of family relationships, names of neighbors, given name of the spouse, approximate dates of death and many other useful clues.

But how do you know if land records are something you should be searching for? Many different types of documents may indicate whether your ancestor was a property holder. In many countries, census records are a good place to start. In the earlier U.S. federal censuses (1850 - 1870) there is a column indicating the value of a person's real estate. Later census records (1900- 1930) include a column indicating whether people owned or rented their residences.

Other types of records which may provide clues to land ownership include probate records, tax lists, town histories and even area maps showing landowners.
 

More About Using Land Records in Genealogy Research

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