Mary Alice has written to the Madison Co., KY rootsweb the following: From: "M. A. Farrell" <mafarr28@peoplepc.com> Subject: Re: [MADKY] (VA Land Records in KY) The land records in Kentucky until 1792 (statehood) were Virginia Records. LDS Library has 11 survey books on film of all these "Virginia Surveys in the District of Kentucky". The margin notes on these old survey books give the date land grant was issued and grant number. I use these constantly, it seems. These survey books, and an index, are on 6 reels of 35 mm film. My LDS Center is now closed for the holidays, but will be glad to furnish those film numbers; they are on www.familysearch.org "Library", Search Library Catelog, then click on "place" search and fill in as explained in previous post. There is also an extract of the "Land Commissioners' Book", listing all names and places when these "entries" were first made; this extract is in an issue of Kentucky Historical Society Register, also on microfilm, one reel. Many public libraries have books written about the same Land Commissioners' Books. Not all land entries and surveys made it to "grant" status; entries were not all surveyed; many entries were "assigned" (sold) to others before surveyed and granted. One man's "entry" might bear another's survey and grant, or any combination of the three. It took an entry, survey AND GRANT to get a patent on the land. Very confusing to the original settlers, many of whom never received title to their land. Mary Alice My response: Thanks for posting the information about the LDS [Family History Library] films for Virginia Surveys in the District of Kentucky Having heard a lecture some years ago at the Kentucky Historical Society [an Elderhostel] about the plan to digitize some of the Kentucky Land Grants and place them on the internet, I accessed the website of the Kentucky Land Office, Frankfort KY. There is an explanation of nearly every facet of the surveying and granting of land in Kentucky. But there are few images to search. The digitizing is probably a very costly project. Some Virginia warrants/certificates have been digitized. This is, I believe, the URL [but if it doesn't work, chop off some of the phrases toward the end and try again] By the way, rootsweb puts punctucation at the beginning and end of URLs in the messages. Remove the punctuation before pasting this in your search blank. _http://apps.sos.ky.gov/land/nonmilitary/LandOfficeVTW/Default.aspx_ (http://apps.sos.ky.gov/land/nonmilitary/LandOfficeVTW/Default.aspx) I found my Christopher Harris, who died in Madison Co., was listed twice. I could see the faded certificate [the handwritten ink is the faded part]. I see that the title is *non-military*. One of the certificates is dated 1779, which was during the American Revolution. Interestingly enough, as I read a good deal [need to do more research] of the deeds of Madison Co., KY., concerning Christopher Harris, it seems his heirs discovered some of this *long-lost* land after Christopher had died in 1794. A purchaser approached them, probably having done a title search, and the heirs sold the land to him [or several buyers.] The land was in Bourbon Co. at the time of the planned purchase. Commissioners deeds in Madison Co., KY are very enlightening in helping one determine who is who--a widowed daughter, for example, a grandchild or two, etc. How intertwined some of these early families of Madison Co. were. That's why my friend called my research *demographics* when I told him I was collecting families all along one watercourse in colonial North Carolina. There is a published book, some years ago, by the Kentucky Historical Society, a limited edition, which is cited below the following paragraph: By 1786, Christopher Harris was beginning to make his move to Kentucky. His previous residences had been Hanover Co., Louisa Co. [where his father Robert Harris was surveyor], and Albemarle Co. A land grant in Kentucky for Christopher Harris has been recorded as follows: Original survey no: 8551 Name: Christopher Harris Acreage: 1,200 County: Fayette Watercourse: Hinkston Fk., Licking Survey Date: 1-20-1786 Original Bk & Page: 10-412 Grantee: Same & heirs Grant Date: 1-25-1792 Original Bk & Page: 14-385-386 (Joan E. Brookes-Smith, MASTER INDEX VIRGINIA SURVEYS AND GRANTS 1774-1791 [Frankfort, KY: Kentucky Historical Society, 1976], p. 84) (Note: In 1786, one Francis Eppes Harris was granted land on the same watercourse, same county. Whether there is a relationship is unknown. None has been discovered. Incidentally, this 1,200 land grant was seemingly discovered by others in Bourbon Co. after Christopher's death. Refer to Madison Co. KY deed executed by some of Christopher's "second family" to McMillen and Gillespie(?).) Jefferson Land Entries show on 17 May 1780, Christopher Harris entered 1200 A on Licking [River], North Fork, Bk. A-66 (It is unclear whether this is Christopher Harris the father or his son, Christopher Harris. If correct, this date precedes the 1786 survey date mentioned above. ) E.W.Wallace descendant of one of the 19 children of Christopher Harris **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

Most interesting discussion; For years I worked with what I thought was a good map of Madison co. Ky and maps from several others area of VA and N.C. but I recently got on line a download of an excellent map. Silver Creek on My little one showed only a short run, now I find it running all over the county and it makes the deeds make a lot more sense. The Commissioner's/ Conveyances are most interesting. Be certain to record all columns and pay close attention to the etal, hrs.(and others/Heirs) and other shorthand. Bud. I gain so much each time you post. Bud.