For early settlers, which MAY include surveyors, of Mississippi Territory [a huge territory soon after the Louisiana Purchase], one of the books to explore is one compiled many years ago, but now in reprint, by Walter Lowrie. I forget what his official title was, but I believe he was in charge of the predecessor of the Bureau of Land Management. The title is long of his book on Mississippi land claims. To find the exact title. Do this: go to the Family History Library catalog (_www.familysearch.org_ (http://www.familysearch.org) -- the catalog link is on the far right side of the screen) and do an author search. Type in Lowrie and then Walter. There are several of his reprinted books at the FHL, but, they say they have not been filmed. However, not long ago I viewed a reprint by Southern Historical Press, formerly of Easley South Carolina, but I believe they have a new address. SH Press must have a website, as they publish many books of interest to genealogists and local historians. If you are near a large library, particularly a genealogically oriented library, look for an index [stress, INDEX--not records] to some of the land claims made to Congress after the Louisana Purchase became effective. Some of the landowners had owned land under British and Spanish claims and had to petition Congress to recognize their claims. This index was compiled years ago [but reprints are quite expensive] by Phillip McMullen. It is called Grassroots of America. It indexes the land claims volumes [not the whole series] published in American State Papers, the Gales and Seaton edition. (There were two editions, so you must specify the Gales and Seaton edition.) If you are near a well-stocked University library, you may be able to find the many volumes of American State papers, OR, more probably, the microfilms of same. You may even stumble on the index Grassroots of America, which is quite helpful, as it is an index of surnames, and gives the volume or volumes in which the surnames appear. The Family History Library in Salt Lake City has films of American State Papers and perhaps they still have the volumes. (Their collections of American history books are amazing.) Get your librarian to help you. Some well-trained librarians are amazing in what they can find for you!!! And, if there is a community college in your neighborhood, prowl their shelves. See whether you can obtain a library card--for a fee. E.W.Wallace who found a family of seven Scott sons from SC in Grassroots of America and subsequently in American State Papers ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Hi, Here is a couple links for the American State papers... there are 38 volumes.... You can also do a google.com search for more links. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwsp.html http://www.davidson.edu/administrative/library/GovDoc/gov-american_state_papers.htm Judy At 11:40 AM 9/30/2007, you wrote: > No genealogical joy matches seeking and finding that which was thought not to exist.