JoEllen, I forgot to add: One can do a free search at the Bureau of Land Management site: http://www.glorecords.blm.gov Look for "Search Land Patents" (usually original owner of land from the various Alabama Land office-example:Cahaba, St. Stephens, Huntsville) type in state: Alabama then name(s). You can just do a surname search too. Have fun. Liz in Houston