We've gone through the first 3 steps in patenting land. Today, we'll look at the next step in the process. Step #4 - the Grant. This is also known as the patent deed or just patent. The issuance of the Governor's Grant finalizes the land patenting process. Easily recognized by the Governor's name in the heading, this document states the name of the land recipient as well as the other assignees involved in the patent. Also included is the date of the survey, the type of warrant issued, the metes and bounds description, the date of grant issuance and the Governor's signature. The original record (grant) is mailed to the land recipient and a copy is entered in the Land Office Grant Book. Sales of the property later then become a county responsibility and are known as "deeds." Deeds are not registered in Frankfort; therefore it is incumbent on each County Clerk, as well as county historical agencies, to ensure all records of land transactions within their area are secured and property preserved. NOTE by Sandi: These deeds are recorded in the various County Clerk's offices. There are index books, one listing the deed sales by grantor (seller) and another index for the grantee (buyer). These indexes are in alphabetical order and give a very brief description of the transaction, the parties involved, the date and a reference to the deed book in which a copy of the deed is recorded and the page number. One then goes to that deed book and page number and will find a copy of the original deed entered by the County Clerk. Now - lets go to how these land grants are filed in Frankfort: Time periods and possible land location play an important role in determining which group or groups of land grants need to be researched. For example, if the historian feels the grant was issued before June 1792, the first series of study would be the Virginia Land Grant Series. No, that does not require a trip to Richmond, Virginia; records of all Virginia-issued land grants are in Frankfort at the Land Office. The Virginia Series: This includes Warrants, Surveys and Grants completed before 1792. There are some instances where the researchers will have to obtain copies of the Warrant and Survey from the Virginia Series, then copy the Grant from the Old Kentucky Series. Approximately 10,000 patents are filed with this grouping, some of which were authorized by military warrants. Although the researcher can find the grant book reference in Jillson's index to Kentucky Land Grants, the patent number of this series will have to be researched using the Master Index to Virginia Surveys and Grants prepared by the Kentucky Historical Society. The Old Kentucky Series: There are over 7600 patents filed in this series, some of which were classified as "military." In the Old Kentucky grouping, the Grant was issued after June 1792. The researcher can find the grant book reference in Jillson's Index to Kentucky Land Grants, then obtain the patent number, in most cases, by checking the left margin of the grant. If the number is not entered, study the Index for Old Kentucky Surveys and Grants, also published by the Kentucky Historical Society. Note:Thorough researchers will check the latter publication even if the patent number is on the grant; the Historical Society books are indexed by Survey name with a cross-index for Grant name. This gives a second source of names to research and provides "insurance" in the event the name is listed incorrectly in Jillson's book. Next week we'll look at the South of the Green River Series of Grants. Sandi Colonel Sandi Gorin President, South Central KY Historical & Genealogical Society Sandi's website: http://www.gensoup.org/gorin/index.html Sandi's puzzlers: http://www.gensoup.org/gorinpuzzles/index.php --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com