The Land Records site at http://www.glorecords.blm.gov has finally added more states and their land patent records to the site. You can search for a surname in any state or do a more detailed search if you have the information. Understand that these are records of land purchased directly from the federal government, not routine land transfers. In the past I searched for Downings in Pike County, OH, with success and yesterday I searched for Downings in Logan County, IL -- Illinois being one of the new states to be added. It's a great tool. There is information from many eastern states now. Eventually they plan to have information from all the states. Cheryl Rothwell clrothwell@mindspring.com Logan County, ILGenWeb, coordinator http://www.rootsweb.com/~illogan/loindex.htm Logan County mailing list> LOGAN-L-request@rootsweb.com Downing mailing list> DOWNING-L-request@rootsweb.com Downing query board> http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/FamilyAssoc/Downing Lucas query board> http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/FamilyAssoc/Lucas