This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: MARGARETLSMITH Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.alabama.counties.tallapoosa/4193.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Ross, the land transactions shown on the BLM site (http://www.glorecords.blm.gov) are purchases from the Federal Government. Each purchase listed for him is for 1/4 of a quarter section. If you go to the site you can not only see what parcels he bought, but print out a digital copy of the actual certificate. This is a wonderful site - you can search by location as well as by name, so you can see who purchased adjoining parcels, for instance. It only covers "Federal land states", where the government sold land, so won't work for the original 13 colonies or for Kentucky or Tennessee, all of which used the "metes and bounds" system for specifying land. The parcel purchased in 1851 was in Township 22N, Range 22E, the SW quarter of the SW quarter (i.e., the SW sixteenth) of Section 13. I would imagine that if Jane died without a will, her property would have passed on to her children, share and share alike. The land might have been sold and the proceeds divided, or each may have taken some part of the land. That information should be in the Probate Court office, too, I would guess, since they would have Intestate records for those who died leaving property but no will. If you can't find anyone to check this before then, I'll be going to south Alabama to visit a sister next week, and could try to get to Tallapoosa County (I'll be in Chambers County). There is some research I need to do there anyway, though I'm not sure I'll be able to take the time. I'll get back to you if I do. Margaret Smith Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.