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The collection of land records from Kentucky, from 1774 to 1924, is an invaluable asset for genealogical research. These records are crucial in establishing the presence of an individual in a particular location at a specific time, especially for those tracing ancestors who lived before the Civil War, when most free adult white men were landowners.
“The Kentucky Land Grants: A Systematic Index to All of the Land Grants Recorded in the State Land Office at Frankfort, Kentucky, 1782–1924” is often the initial resource used by individuals researching their Kentucky lineage. This comprehensive two-volume set contains abstracts of around 150,000 land grants. The grants are organized alphabetically by type and provide essential information such as the grantee’s full name, acreage, survey date, county name, nearby watercourse, and references to the original document’s volume and page.
“Early Kentucky Landholders, 1787-1811” is a volume that details 17,000 landholders in Lincoln County, Kentucky, from 1787 to 1811. These individuals are noted in the annual tax lists not only as land claimants but also may not have been actual occupants of the land. The book provides details, including the tax list date, tax book number, original entry page number, acreage, nearest watercourse, and prior assignee’s name.
“A Calendar of the Warrants for Land in Kentucky, Granted for Service in the French and Indian War” offers a complete list of land surveys conducted in Kentucky (then part of the Virginia Colony) for men who served in the French and Indian War. Each entry includes the soldier’s name, rank, acreage, survey date, and notes from the surveyor detailing the land’s location and subsequent assignees, if known.
“Old Kentucky Entries and Deeds: A Complete Index to All of the Earliest Land Entries, Military Warrants, Deeds and Wills of the Commonwealth of Kentucky” provides a detailed index of over 45,000 entries, primarily from Fayette, Lincoln, and Jefferson counties. It covers land entries, military warrants (1782–1793), Court of Appeals deeds for grantees and grantors (1783–1846), wills (1769–1850), and attorneys (1781–1853). For each grantee listed, it reveals the number of acres granted, dates, locations, and references to the pages in the original records stored in the Land Office at Frankfort, Kentucky.
These resources collectively offer a rich and detailed view of land ownership and transactions in Kentucky during this period, making them indispensable for anyone delving into the history of Kentucky landholders and their genealogical connections.