Federal Land Patents:
The Bureau of Land Managment's website of General Land Office Records offers researchers a source of information on the initial transfer of land titles from the Federal government to individuals. In addition to verifying title transfer, this information will allow the researcher to associate an individual (Patentee, Assignee, Warrantee, Widow, or Heir) with a specific location (Legal Land Description) and time (Issue Date).
Information on how the Rectangular Survey System works can be found here.
The earliest verified record I have for George Daniels is his Land Patent dated 2 Dec 1850 for 40 acres in Clay County, Illinois.
AliquotParts: SWSE
Sec./Block: 35/
Township: 4-N
Range: 7-E
Fract.Section: No
Meridian: 3rd PM
State: Illinois
Counties: Clay
SurveyNr.
There are a few things that make this record valuable as far as genealogical research. First of all it puts George Daniels in Clay County at a specific time. Secondly, looking closely at where the land acutally is and then looking at the neighbors you find that his neighbor is Levi Daniel, father to George's wife. There is also a neighbor by the name of Whitely, the unverified maiden name of Levi's wife, Louisa. An interesting example of geoproximity and familial relationships in small areas. More research in the actual land records might prove to turn up more details.
A question though, where did George probably in his early 20's get the money to buy the land?
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