List members, I recently asked for help understanding the process of land acquisition. I didn't know the difference in a patent, warrant, or grant. Fran Powell sent an answer that was quite helpful. Then a few days ago someone on another list shared a website that is helpful not only for that but also to understand the meaning of other words we encounter in genealogy. You will want to check it out: http://www.sos.ky.gov/Land/landofficeglossary.asp Although this is a KY website, I believe the same process was used in NC. It seems there were four steps necessary to acquiring uninhabited land, and there were at least three separate documents. I thought this might be helpful to you as well. Patent - (noun or verb) The method by which government disposes of unappropriated land. 1.. Warrant - first step in land patenting, this document authorizes the survey. May be combined with other warrants to increase acreage. 2.. Entry - second step in land patenting. Filing in county surveyor's entry book that reserves land until the field survey is made. 3.. Survey - (noun) third step in land patenting. Consists of a plat drawing, metes & bounds description & identification of survey team. 4.. Grant - fourth step in land patenting. Document issued by the governor conveying title to previously unappropriated land. As I understand it, a landowner should not sell the property unless the entire process has been followed and all fees have been paid. However, it appears that not all the documents have been kept in the various places they were supposed to be filed. I have found some with a grant but no record of warrant or survey, and I have found some with a warrant but no record of a grant. The process was different in Virginia. There Patents were issued in accordance with the "headrights" system. Under this system, every person who paid his own way to Virginia would be assigned 50 acres of land, and if he paid for the transportation of others, he recieved an additional 50 acres for each. There were also conditions about retaining posession. I hope this helps someone else as you search for the documents you need. Lura