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The first land offices concerned with land now within the State of Illinois were created at Kaskaskia and Vincennes (Indiana) by an act of Congress of March 26, 1804. The two districts were formed from land that had been ceded to the United States by various Indian treaties including, for
Kaskaskia, a substantial part of the southern and western portions of the current State of Illinois and, for Vincennes, a relatively small area just inside the current eastern boundary of Illinois in addition to a large area now within Indiana.
Before land sales could begin at either office prior claims to land within the districts had to be settled. The Receivers and Registers at the two new offices were designated as Boards of Commissioners to aid in reviewing and determining the validity of such claims. Claims arose both from grants made by the French and British governments when in control of the areas (ancient grants) and from subsequent grants allowed by Congress. These later grants consisted of donations made to heads of families residing in the area in 1783, tracts allotted to men enrolled in the militia on August 1, 1790, and preemption rights extended to those who had settled and made improvements on tracts.
One year before the Board at Kaskaskia submitted its final report an act of Congress of April 25, 1812 created the General Land Office within the Treasury Department. Instead of reporting directly to the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury the district offices then came under the control of the Commissioner of the General Land Office. Land district offices eventually were established at
Kaskaskia, Shawneetown, Edwardsville, Vandalia, Palestine, Springfield, Quincy, Danville, Chicago, and Dixon.
From the beginning the sale of public land had been conducted under a credit system which allowed the purchase of tracts through a series of installment payments. Three offices in Illinois operated under this system, those at
Kaskaskia, Shawneetown, and Edwardsville. Under an act of Congress of March 26, 1804 tracts could be sold at no less than two dollars per acre in minimum lots of 160 acres. All tracts initially were offered at a public auction and, if left unsold after a specified period, then were subject to private entry.
A successful bidder at a public auction went first to the Receiver, paid an initial deposit of one-twentieth of the total purchase price, and received duplicate Receiver's receipts. He then presented one of the receipts to the Register as proof of payment and obtained a first certificate of purchase. The first installment of one-quarter of the purchase price generally would fall due within forty to ninety days and the total purchase price normally would be paid by the end of four years. However, a number of extensions of credit were granted by various acts of Congress for 1812-1820 for the relief of purchasers unable to meet the installment deadlines.
After the final installment was paid, along with any accrued interest, the final certificate was issued by the Register. A notice of its issuance would be forwarded to the General Land Office in Washington where a patent eventually would be prepared, assuming the purchaser's accounts were found to be correct. The Register at the appropriate land office would be sent all patents issued to purchasers in his district and then was responsible for their delivery.
The credit system proved to be unmanageable. Many purchasers extended themselves beyond their ability to pay and the land offices had difficulty in making collections. By an act of Congress of April 24, 1820 the credit system was abolished and a new cash system established. After July 1, 1820 purchasers were required to pay the full price for their land at the time of sale. The same legislation also reduced the minimum purchase to eighty acres and the minimum price per acre to $1.25.
Although the new cash system eliminated many problems for new purchases, there still remained an enormous outstanding debt from unpaid installments for purchases made under the old credit system. The relief act passed by Congress and approved on March 2, 1821 made a major stride toward clearing these accounts. A purchaser could relinquish a tract that only partially had been paid for and apply those partial payments toward the outstanding balance on a non-relinquished tract. Further credit on unpaid balances also could be granted, allowing purchasers up to eight years to pay the remaining sum. In addition a discount of 37 1/2 percent was allowed if the total balance was paid before September 30, 1821. The original act provided that application for relief in any of these forms had to be submitted by September 30, 1821. Subsequent acts approved April 20, 1822 and March 3, 1823 extended this deadline by two years.
An act of Congress of May 23, 1828 allowed Registers to issue certificates for forfeited land payments, called forfeited land stock, that could be applied toward any future land purchases. Several other acts passed over 1824-1832 further assisted purchasers in meeting debts contracted under the credit system.
The standard accounting method prescribed by the General Land Office and used in all district offices from the beginning was the double-entry journal and ledger system. The Receiver and Register each kept a set of journals and ledgers as a check on one another's accuracy. Thus these records of the Receivers and Registers essentially are identical. After the institution of the cash system the Receivers and Registers at the three Illinois offices which had sold land before July 1, 1820 (i.e.,
Kaskaskia, Shawneetown, and Edwardsville) were required to keep two sets of journals and ledgers, one set for the accounts opened under the credit system and another set for the new cash accounts. The Receivers and Registers also began issuing a new series of receipts and certificates under the cash system. Consequently various other registers and abstracts had to be kept in two sets to accommodate both systems.
The credit system accounts were closed in the
Kaskaskia, Shawneetown, and Edwardsville Land Offices by the end of 1831. The use of journals and ledgers for cash accounts continued, however, until 1834. They were replaced on September 1, 1834 by the quarterly account system which was instituted by order of the Commissioner of the General Land Office. The quarterly accounts were prepared by the Receiver and forwarded to Washington. This reporting system stands as the primary record of each land office's transactions after 1834.
Congress enacted a substantial amount of public land legislation that affected the operations of the ten district offices in Illinois. Some acts, such as those granting preemption rights and military bounty land, extended advantages to certain types or classes of individuals in obtaining land. Other acts benefited the State of Illinois in various ways, as in aiding the establishment of education systems and in financing various public works. A complete study of all such legislation is not possible here, but an overview is necessary to place the records generated by and for the district land offices in context.
While some preemption rights earlier had been extended exclusively to settlers in Illinois, the first general preemption legislation was approved by Congress on May 29, 1830. Under its terms settlers on public land who had cultivated the land in 1829 could purchase up to 160 acres at the minimum price of $1.25 per acre. If two or more settlers claimed a single quarter section, each would be allowed half of the claimed quarter and an additional half-quarter, called a "float" elsewhere in the district. Congress allowed General Land Office officials to determine the basis upon which proof of settlement or improvement would be made and accepted. Affidavits were required from all claimants stating their evidence in support of their claims. It then was essentially left to the Registers and Receivers in the individual land offices to pass judgment on the merits of each claim.
Under an act of Congress of April 5, 1832 the minimum number of acres a purchaser could buy was reduced to forty. To prevent speculation it was specified that the purchaser had to intend to use the land for cultivation and affidavits swearing to this intent were required. With the minimum purchase reduced to forty acres very practical problems arose for officials in the district land offices because their tract books were set up to handle half-quarter sections. The new availability of quarter-quarter sections meant that two tracts had be entered on a single line. A General Land Office circular dated May 8, 1832 stated that when such interlining was impossible entries for quarter-quarter sections could be made in a separate volume.
The 1832 act also allowed for further preemption privileges, both on half-quarter and quarter-quarter sections, provided the entry was made within six months of the passage of the legislation. The act did not, however, specify on which date the settlers had to have occupied the land in order to qualify. Another general preemption act was approved on June 19, 1834 for settlers occupying and cultivating tracts in 1833. The policy of allowing "floats" was revived from the 1830 act and again affidavits and depositions were required from the claimants. Settlers were allowed two years to file their claims.
An act of Congress of September 4, 1841 had far-reaching effects both for preemption claimants and for the State of Illinois. Settlers were allowed preemption rights on up to 160 acres provided they had filed statements with the appropriate land office within three months of their settlements. The same act provided for the granting of 500,000 acres of land to each of several states, including Illinois, to be used to finance internal improvements. State agents were appointed in Illinois to select tracts and to report the selections to the appropriate land offices so that they could be removed from sale.
By an Act of Congress approved July 4, 1836 the General Land Office was reorganized and placed directly under the control of the President. At the same time the Office also assumed jurisdiction over the U.S. Surveyor General. Another reorganization occurred thirteen years later under an act approved March 3, 1849 which created the Department of the Interior and placed the General Land Office under it.
The first of a series of acts stimulated by the war with Mexico and granting land as bounty for military service was approved February 11, 1847. This first act granted military bounty land warrants for 160 acres and was restricted to noncommissioned officers and privates who had served at least one year in the Mexican War. Later acts of Congress, approved September 28, 1850, March 22, 1852, and March 3, 1855, extended their provisions to allow grants to any veteran or his heirs who had served a minimum of fourteen days in any war since 1790. The warrants were made assignable as well.
The federal Graduation Act, approved August 3, 1854 reduced the price on land which had been available for sale for ten years or more. The set prices were based on how many years the tract had remained unsold, ranging from one dollar per acre for ten years to twelve and one-half cents per acre for those tracts unsold after thirty years. The act did not apply to railroad or other internal improvement grants nor to mineral lands; and preemption was extended to all graduated tracts.
In addition to the act of 1841 granting land for internal improvements, the federal government made several other grants of land to the State of Illinois for various uses. The 1804 act which had created the land offices at Kaskaskia and Vincennes also allowed for a grant to the residents of the Kaskaskia district of thirty-six sections which would be used to finance a seminary of higher learning. It also provided that section sixteen in each township would be reserved for the support of common schools. The State of Illinois inherited the rights to these grants when it was admitted to the Union in 1818; but the sale of seminary and school lands was not authorized until 1829.
In 1850 the federal government also donated swamp and overflowed lands in Illinois to the state for the purpose of drainage and reclamation. The determination of which lands fell under the provisions of the act was complicated and the land district officers served as mediators in disputed claims.
Under an act of Congress approved June 12, 1840 land offices could be discontinued when less than 100,000 acres remained unsold in their districts. Based on reports submitted by the Receivers and Registers the General Land Office closed nine of the offices in Illinois during 1855 and 1856, transferring the responsibility for the remaining public land in each to the Springfield Land District Office.
The Springfield Office continued selling land until it was abolished by an act of Congress of July 31, 1876. The Secretary of the Interior was authorized to negotiate with state authorities for receipt of land office records no longer needed by the federal government. In 1879 the General Assembly approved acceptance of the records and designated the Auditor of Public Accounts as their custodian (L. 1879, p. 238).
The Illinois State Archives has captured original land sales from the public domain in an automated database. More than 550,000 such sales of the 54,740 square miles of public lands in Illinois have been encoded. Access can be made by a variety of means with the most common one being the name of the purchaser.
Kaskaskia Land District Office
The Kaskaskia Land District Office was created by an act of Congress of March 26, 1804. The Register and Receiver at Kaskaskia were designated as a Board of Commissioners to receive and examine claims to lands within the district. These claims were based on grants made by the French or British governments while the land was under their control or by acts of Congress allowing grants of land to heads of families, men who had served in the militia, and persons who had settled and made improvements on tracts.
The board was to submit its opinion on each claim to Congress for final approval or disapproval. Both the claims which previously had been confirmed by the Governors of the Northwest and Indiana Territories and all newly submitted claims were reviewed and acted on by the board. The first board operated from 1804 until it submitted its report in 1809. A second reorganized board continued its work from 1809 to 1813.
After all claims were settled and sufficient surveys had been completed the Kaskaskia Land District Office began selling land on August 10, 1814. Earlier in 1812 the original Kaskaskia District had been reduced in size when the new Shawneetown District had assumed control over all land east of the third principal meridian. It was again reduced when the Edwardsville District was created in 1816 and took control of all land north of the baseline for the third principal meridian.
The Kaskaskia Land District Office was discontinued by an act of Congress of February 25, 1856 and the responsibility for selling all remaining public land in the district was transferred to the Springfield Land District Office.
952.001
RECEIVER'S AND REGISTER'S CORRESPONDENCE. Ca. May 1804-October 1875. 14 vols. and 3.25 cu. ft. Partial index, April 1814-August 1833.
Correspondence was primarily with the Commissioner of the General Land Office, Surveyor General, Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, U.S. Treasurer, and private individuals. Before 1814 correspondence principally concerns functions of Receiver and Register acting as the Board of Commissioners at Kaskaskia in settling land claims. After 1814, when the sale of public land began, correspondence principally concerns submission and correction of Receiver's and Register's accounts; receipts of patents, final certificates, and U.S. Treasury drafts; preemption claims; military land warrants; granting of further credit to land purchasers; and general transactions of the land office. After February 25, 1856 correspondence concerns land within the Kaskaskia District which was received and filed by the Springfield Land District Office.
952.002
RECEIVER'S AND REGISTER'S FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR KEEPING BOOKS. Ca. 1805. 1 vol. No index.
Samples of various types of forms and account books and instructions for completing them were sent to the Register and Receiver at
Kaskaskia. Forms and instructions are included for the following: journal, ledger, receipts issued by the Receiver, Receiver's register of receipts issued, applications for purchase of public land, certificates granted by the Register, Register's register of certificates granted, and Register's register of applications made for purchase of public land.
952.003
RECEIVER'S AND REGISTER'S CIRCULARS RECEIVED FROM GENERAL LAND OFFICE. August 1, 1820-May 12, 1851. 1 vol. No index.
Incomplete set of circulars sent to Register and Receiver by General Land Office concern school lands, military bounty land scrip, preemption claims, and graduation of the price of public land.
952.004
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TRANSCRIPTS OF DOCUMENTS COLLECTED. Compiled August 29, 1804-June 10, 1814. 5 vols. Index.
Transcriptions were of various types of documents collected by the board to facilitate its work regarding the settlement of claims. Documents dating from 1722 include deeds; indentures; powers of attorney; wills; conveyances and assignments of militia, improvement, and head rights; lists of claims; and orders of surveys made by the Governors. Fifth volume consists solely of English translations of French documents recorded in the other four volumes.
952.005
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS CLAIMS CONFIRMED BY THE GOVERNORS. Compiled ca. 1804. 1 partial vol. Index, 1 partial vol.
List of ancient grants, head grants, improvement claims, and militia claims confirmed by the Governors of the Northwest and Indiana Territories are arranged numerically by claim number. Entries for each claim include claim number, name of claimant and/or assignee, description of tract (i.e., names of owners/claimants of adjoining property, proximity of rivers and other natural boundaries), and if claimant was not the original owner the name of the person from whom he purchased tract.
952.006
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ORDERS OF SURVEYS. Transcribed June 19, 1805. 1 partial vol. Index, 1 partial vol.
Orders of surveys made by the Governor of the Indiana Territory was transcribed in 1805. For each tract/claim ordered surveyed, information includes name of claimant and description of tract (i.e., number of
arpents, proximity to rivers, names of claimants/owners of adjoining property).
952.007
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DONATION LISTS FOR HEAD GRANTS AND MILITIA CLAIMS. September 21, 1805. 1 partial vol. No index.
List is of names of persons eligible for head or militia grants approved by the territorial Governor in 1797 and certified by the territorial Secretary on September 21, 1805. Included are names of heads of families at Cahokia, Prairie du
Rocher, and Kaskaskia in 1783 and men enrolled in the militias of St. Clair County, Prairie du
Rocher, and Kaskaskia on August 1, 1790.
952.008
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGISTER OF PERSONS WHO RECEIVED RESIDUE LAND FROM HEAD AND MILITIA GRANTS. No date. 1 partial vol. No index.
List of persons receiving residue land from head and militia grants includes receipt number, name of original claimant, Register's certificate number, number of acres in claim, name of person from whom residue land received, number of acres received, number of acres due, name of person who received residue land, and receipt number for residue land.
952.009
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DEPOSITIONS REGARDING CLAIMS. July 30-August 15, 1807; November 1-December 30, 1809; September 2-December 23, 1812. 2 partial vols. Partial index, September 2-December 23, 1812.
Record is of testimony heard before the Board of Commissioners supporting or disputing rights to claims. Each deposition usually includes claim number; type of claim (usually improvement or head grant); names of deponent and claimant; date of deposition; and deponent's knowledge of claimant's family situation, living conditions, and improvements made (i.e., whether claimant married, types of buildings constructed on land, date claimant settled on land, whether claimant deceased).
952.010
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS CLAIMS FOR WHICH CERTIFICATES OF CONFIRMATION GRANTED. 1814-1817. 2 partial vols. No index.
Lists are of various types of confirmed located claims (i.e., militia, ancient, improvement) for which certificates of confirmation were issued. Entries for each certificate granted include claim number, names of original and present claimants, number of acres, name of person to whom confirmed, number and date of confirmation certificate, and name of person to whom certificate granted.
952.011
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RECEIPTS FOR CERTIFICATES OF CONFIRMATION OF CONFIRMED UNLOCATED CLAIMS. July 18, 1816-May 10, 1817. 1 partial vol. No index.
Copies are of receipts which were issued as confirmation certificates of confirmed unlocated claims. Entries for each receipt include certificate number and date, name of original claimant, claim number, signature of person receiving certificate, and occasionally types of claims (i.e., militia, head grant, improvement).
952.012
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TRACTS LOCATED BY ASSIGNEES. May 31, 1802-June 26, 1804. 1 partial vol. No index.
Volume contains statements that individuals were locating tracts as assignees of the original claimants. Locations were made under instructions from the Governor of the Northwest Territory. Each statement includes names of original claimant and assignee, date of statement, number of acres located, and a description of the tract (e.g., existing timber, sites suitable for water mills, adjoining creeks and rivers).
952.013
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS LIST OF CLAIMS LYING WITHIN THE COMMON FIELD, COMMONS, AND VILLAGE OF
KASKASKIA. Compiled ca. 1809. 1 partial vol. No index.
List includes names of original and present claimants, description of tract (i.e., number of arpents and/or boundaries as formed by rivers, common fence, or adjoining property), and claim number.
952.014
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HISTORIES OF VARIOUS SETTLEMENTS. Ca. 1809. 1 partial vol. No index.
Histories trace the settlement of claims for Cahokia, Prairie du Pont, Fort
Chartres, St. Philips, and Grand Prairie citing pertinent federal legislation. The histories include discussions of surveys conducted and boundaries established for villages and common fields. Also included are depositions given in support of claims made in these settlements.
952.015
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS CLAIMS NOT SUBMITTED WITHIN TIME LIMIT. Compiled November 29, 1815. 1 partial vol. No index.
List is of claims which were not submitted within time limit but were approved by the Board of Commissioners and submitted to Congress for consideration with the recommendation that they be confirmed. For each claim entries include claim number, names of original and present claimants, type of claim (i.e., militia, improvement, head grant), number of acres claimed, names of witnesses, and abstracts of depositions given by witnesses in support of claim.
952.016
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS CLAIMS SUSPENDED FOR LACK OF RECORD OF ASSIGNMENT. Compiled ca. 1812. 1 partial vol. No index.
List is of suspended claims apparently sent by the General Land Office to the Register at Kaskaskia requesting further information or certification of claim before giving approval. Entries for each claim include claim number, legal description of tract, and reason for suspension (i.e., usually lack of assignment from original claimant to present claimant).
952.017
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ANCIENT FRENCH AND BRITISH CLAIMS CONFIRMED BY THE GOVERNORS. Compiled ca. 1804-1809. 2 partial vols. No index.
Lists are of ancient grants confirmed by the Governors of the Northwest and Indiana Territories. Entries are arranged alphabetically by names of original claimants and include claim number, names of original and present claimants, type of claim (i.e., French, British), quantity confirmed as measured in acres or
arpents, description of tract (i.e., names of owners/claimants of adjoining property, proximity of rivers or other natural boundaries), and remarks (e.g., affirmed by board, patented).
952.018
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ANCIENT FRENCH AND BRITISH GRANTS AFFIRMED BY THE BOARD. Compiled December 31, 1809. 1 partial vol. No index.
List of ancient grants affirmed by the board is arranged alphabetically by name of original claimant. Entries for each claim include claim number, names of original and present claimants, type of grant (i.e., French, British), quantity affirmed as measured in acres or
arpents, and a description of the tract (i.e., names of owners/claimants of adjoining property, proximity of rivers or other natural boundaries).
952.019
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RECORD OF ANCIENT GRANTS REJECTED. Compiled ca. 1809. 1 partial vol. No index.
Lists of ancient grants rejected by the board are arranged alphabetically by name of original claimant. Entries for each claim include claim number, names of original and present claimants, type of claim (i.e., French, British, Indian), quantity claimed as measured in acres or
arpents, description of tract (i.e., names of owners/claimants of adjoining property, proximity of rivers or other natural boundaries), and reason for rejection (i.e., confirmed or patented to another individual, no proof, doubtful deed, claim granted without authority).
952.020
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DONATIONS GRANTED TO HEADS OF FAMILIES BY THE GOVERNORS. Compiled ca. 1804-1809. 1 partial vol. No index.
List is of head grants made by the Governors of the Northwest and Indiana Territories. Entries for each grant include claim number, names of original and present claimants, name of Governor by whom granted (i.e., Harrison, St. Clair), number of acres granted, and observations (i.e., to be, not to be confirmed).
952.021
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HEAD GRANTS AFFIRMED. Compiled December 31, 1809. Fair copy: 1 partial vol. Rough copy: 1 vol. No index.
List of donations made to heads of families and affirmed by the Board of Commissioners is arranged alphabetically by name of original claimant. Entries for each claim include claim number, names of original and present claimants, and the number of acres granted (i.e., usually 400).
952.022
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HEAD GRANTS REJECTED. Compiled ca. 1804-1809. 1 partial vol. No index.
List of donations granted to heads of families and rejected by the Board of Commissioners is arranged alphabetically by name of original claimant. Entries for each claim include claim number, names of original and present claimants, number of acres claimed, and reason for rejection (i.e., perjury, insufficient proof, confirmed to another individual, forgery, no deed).
952.023
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HEAD GRANTS FOR WHICH CERTIFICATES OF CONFIRMATION ISSUED. July 1814-October 1814. 1 partial vol. No index.
List of donations granted to heads of families for which certificates of confirmation were issued is arranged alphabetically by name of original claimant. Entries for each claim include claim number, names of original and present claimants, number of acres granted (i.e., 300, 400), name of person to whom confirmed, number and date of certificate of confirmation, and name of person to whom certificate granted.
952.024
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS IMPROVEMENT CLAIMS SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNORS. Compiled ca. 1804-1809. 1 partial vol. No index.
List of improvement claims submitted to the Governors of the Northwest and Indiana Territories is arranged alphabetically by name of original claimant. Entries for each claim include claim number, names of original and present claimants, quantity of claim as measured in acres or
arpents, and observations (i.e., to be, not to be confirmed).
952.025
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS IMPROVEMENT CLAIMS CONFIRMED BY THE GOVERNORS. Compiled ca. 1804-1809. 1 partial vol. No index.
List of improvement claims confirmed by the Governors of the Northwest and Indiana Territories is arranged alphabetically by name of original claimant. Entries for each claim include claim number, names of original and present claimants, quantity confirmed as measured in acres or
arpents, description of tract (i.e., owners/claimants or adjoining property, proximity of rivers or other natural boundaries), and remarks (i.e., confirmed, not confirmed).
952.026
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS IMPROVEMENT CLAIMS AFFIRMED. Compiled December 31, 1809. Fair copy: 1 partial vol. Rough copy: 1 partial vol. No index.
Lists of improvement claims affirmed by the Board of Commissioners are arranged alphabetically by name of original claimant. Entries for each claim include claim number, names of original and present claimants, quantity as measured in numbers of acres or
arpents, description of claim (i.e., names of owners/claimants of adjoining property, proximity of rivers or other natural boundaries), and remarks (i.e., affirmed, affirmed as a floating right).
952.027
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS IMPROVEMENT CLAIMS REJECTED. Compiled ca. 1804-1809. 1 partial vol. No index.
List of improvement claims rejected by the Board of Commissioners is arranged alphabetically by name of original claimant. Entries for each claim include claim number, names of original and present claimants, number of acres claimed, and reason for rejection (i.e., forgery, perjury, insufficient proof, confirmed to another individual). Occasionally included is a description of claim (i.e., names of owners/claimants of adjoining property, proximity of rivers and other natural boundaries).
952.028
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS CONFIRMED UNLOCATED IMPROVEMENT CLAIMS FOR WHICH CERTIFICATES OF CONFIRMATION ISSUED. July 1814-April 1815. 1 partial vol. No index.
List is of confirmed unlocated improvement claims confirmed by the Governors of the Northwest and Indiana Territories for which certificates of confirmation were issued. Entries for each claim include claim number, name of person to whom claim confirmed by Governor, name of person by whom claim under Governor confirmed, quantity claimed as measured in acres or
arpents, date and number of confirmation certificate, and name of person to whom certificate granted.
952.029
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MILITIA CLAIMS CONFIRMED BY THE GOVERNORS. Compiled ca. 1804-1809. 1 partial vol. No index.
List of militia claims confirmed by the Governors of the Northwest and Indiana Territories is arranged alphabetically by name of original claimant. Entries for each claim include claim number and names of original and present claimants. Occasionally included are a description of the tract and an indication that claim was patented.
952.030
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MILITIA CLAIMS AFFIRMED. Compiled December 31, 1809. Fair copy: 1 partial vol. Rough copy: 1 partial vol. No index.
Lists of militia claims affirmed by the Board of Commissioners are arranged alphabetically by name of original claimant. Entries for each claim include claim number, names of original and present claimants, number of acres affirmed, and occasionally a survey description.
952.031
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MILITIA CLAIMS REJECTED. Compiled ca. 1804-1809. 1 partial vol. No index.
List of militia claims rejected by the Board of Commissioners is arranged alphabetically by name of original claimant. Entries for each claim include claim number, names of original and present claimants, and reason for rejection (i.e., no proof, confirmed to another individual, deed forged, relinquished or abandoned claim).
952.032
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MILITIA CLAIMS SUBMITTED. Compiled ca. 1809-1813. 1 partial vol. No index.
List of militia claims submitted to the second Board of Commissioners is arranged alphabetically by name of original claimant. Entries for each claim include claim number, names of original and present claimants, name of Governor by whom confirmed (i.e., Harrison, St. Clair), number of acres confirmed, and observations (i.e., confirmed by former board, not claimed, no such man on militia list).
952.033
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MILITIA CLAIMS FOR WHICH CERTIFICATES OF CONFIRMATION ISSUED. July-October 1814. 1 partial vol. No index.
Lists of militia claims affirmed by the second Board of Commissioners for which certificates of confirmation were issued are arranged alphabetically by name of original claimant. Entries for each claim include claim number, names of original and present claimants, number of acres, name of person to whom confirmed, date and number of certificate of confirmation, and name of person to whom certificate granted.
952.034
RECEIVER'S JOURNAL (CREDIT SYSTEM). August 10, 1814-July 4, 1831. 4 vols. No index.
Chronological listing is chiefly of funds received by the Receiver. Entries include name and residence of payer and date, amount, and cause of receipt (i.e., initial payment toward purchase of tract, payment of subsequent installments and interest, preemption claim). Entries for land payments include legal description of tract, number of acres, price per acre, and total purchase price. Also included are quarterly summary totals of receipts analyzed by specie, military warrants, U.S. Treasury notes, and forfeited land stock.
Entries posted to RECEIVER'S GENERAL AND INDIVIDUAL LEDGER (CREDIT SYSTEM), RS 952.035.
952.035
RECEIVER'S GENERAL AND INDIVIDUAL LEDGER (CREDIT SYSTEM). August 10, 1814-ca. September 1831. 6 vols. Index.
Entries consist of balanced accounts with individual land purchasers (opened August 10, 1814-July 4, 1831 under the credit system of land purchase) as well as balanced accounts arranged under the following headings: cash and evidence of confirmed claims (later cash and stock account), sales of public lands, account of discounts, account of forfeitures, commission account, interest account, account of deposits, and debit to the U.S. Entries variously include date and amount of disbursement or receipt, name of payee or payer, and cause for disbursement (e.g., salaries, commissions, printing, advertising, stationery) or receipt (i.e., initial payment toward purchase of land, subsequent payments of installments and interest). After July 1, 1820 with the cessation of the credit system individual accounts were opened only for those individuals who had assumed responsibility from original purchasers for unpaid balances on tracts.
Entries posted from RECEIVER'S JOURNAL (CREDIT SYSTEM), RS 952.034.
952.036
RECEIVER'S JOURNAL (CASH SYSTEM). July 4, 1820-September 30, 1834. 1 vol. No index.
Chronological listing is of funds received by the Receiver, primarily for the sale of land, beginning with the institution of the cash system of land purchase. Land sale entries include date of purchase, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract, and total purchase price. Also included are quarterly summary totals of receipts.
Entries posted to RECEIVER'S LEDGERS (CASH SYSTEM), RS 952.037.
952.037
RECEIVER'S LEDGER (CASH SYSTEM). July 4, 1820-September 30, 1834. 1 vol. No index.
Entries consist of balanced accounts arranged under the following headings: cash and stock account, sales of public lands, incidental expenses, debit to the U. S., and commission account. Entries variously include date and amount of disbursement or receipt, name of payee or payer, and cause for disbursement (i.e., salaries, commissions, printing, advertising, deposits with U.S. Treasury, stationery) or receipt for purchase of land.
Entries posted from RECEIVER'S JOURNAL (CASH SYSTEM), RS 952.036.
952.038
RECEIVER'S QUARTERLY ACCOUNTS. October 1, 1834-December 31, 1855. 3 vols. No index.
Chronological accounts of disbursements and receipts were totaled quarterly for return to the U.S. Treasury. Entries for disbursements include date and cause (e.g., compensation for depositing funds with U.S. Treasury, salaries, commissions, freight, stationery, printing, travel expenses). Entries for receipts usually were made for land purchases and include date of purchase, Receiver's receipt number, name of purchaser, legal description of tract, number of acres, price per acre, amount received in military land scrip and warrants, and total amount of purchase price.
952.039
RECEIVER'S MONTHLY ACCOUNTS. September 1, 1845-November 30, 1855. 1 partial vol. No index.
Summary accounts of disbursements and receipts were totaled monthly. Entries include date of return and amount and cause of disbursement (e.g., deposits with assistant U.S. Treasurer at St. Louis, payments of U.S. Treasury drafts) or receipt for sale of public land.
952.040
RECEIVER'S WEEKLY ACCOUNTS. July 8, 1837-August 31, 1845. 1 partial vol. No index.
Summary accounts of disbursements and receipts were totaled weekly. Entries include date of return and amount and cause of disbursement (e.g., deposits with assistant U.S. Treasurer at St. Louis, payments of U.S. Treasury drafts) or receipt for sale of public land. In early portion of record causes for disbursements occasionally include salaries, commissions, printing, and stationery.
952.041
RECEIVER'S QUARTERLY ACCOUNTS ACTING AS DISBURSING AGENT UNDER ACT OF MARCH 3, 1849. September 15, 1849-September 30, 1855. 1 vol. No index.
Chronological accounts of disbursements and receipts were totaled quarterly for return to the U.S. Treasury. Entries include date, amount, and cause for disbursement (e.g., compensation for depositing funds with U.S. Treasury, salaries, commissions, stationery, freight) or receipt (e.g., U.S. Treasurer's draft in Receiver's favor, fees received by Register and Receiver from land warrant locations, payments received for specie boxes).
952.042
RECEIVER'S MONTHLY ACCOUNTS OF PAYMENTS RECEIVED FROM LAND PURCHASERS. August 10, 1814-September 30, 1819. 1 vol. No index.
Entries for each payment received by Receiver include date and number of Receiver's receipt, name and residence of purchaser, amount received in cash, amount received in evidence of confirmed claims (i.e., expressed in acres), legal description of tract purchased, and number of acres.
952.043
RECEIVER'S REGISTER OF RECEIPTS (CREDIT SYSTEM). August 10, 1814-June 30, 1829. 1 partial vol. No index.
Chronological list is of receipts issued by the Receiver for land sale payments received (e.g., initial payments, installments, interest). Entries include date and number of receipt, name and residence of purchaser, and amount received. Legal description of tract is not included.
For copies of receipts see RS 952.044.
952.044
RECEIVER'S COPIES OF RECEIPTS ISSUED TO LAND PURCHASERS (CREDIT SYSTEM). September 13, 1814-July 4, 1831. 4 vols. No index.
Copies are of receipts issued for payments made on land purchases. Each receipt includes date and number of receipt, name and residence of purchaser, amount and cause of payment (i.e., initial deposit, installment payments), legal description of tract purchased, number of acres, price per acre, and amount of discount allowed.
Receipts listed in RS 952.043.
952.045
RECEIVER'S REGISTER OF RECEIPTS (CASH SYSTEM). July 4, 1820-November 20, 1855. 2 vols. and 0.25 cu. ft. No index.
Chronological list is of receipts issued by the Receiver for land sale payments received. Entries include date and number of receipt, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract purchased, number of acres, price per acre, and total amount of purchase price.
For receipts see RS 952.046.
952.046
RECEIVER'S RECEIPTS ISSUED TO LAND PURCHASERS (CASH SYSTEM). July 6, 1820-January 9, 1854. 0.5 cu. ft. No index.
Entries on each receipt include date and number of receipt, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract, number of acres, price per acre, and total purchase price. Occasionally when part of total purchase price was paid by method other than cash, that method is described (e.g., military bounty land warrant, forfeited land stock).
Receipts listed in RS 952.045.
952.047
RECEIVER'S MONTHLY ACCOUNT OF PAYMENTS RECEIVED FOR LAND PURCHASED PRIOR TO JULY 1, 1820. July 1, 1820-October 1, 1825; March 18, 1830. 1 vol. and 1 partial vol. No index.
Lists are of additional payments received for land purchased under the credit system. Entries for each payment include date of original purchase, name and residence of purchaser, total amount received, amount of interest paid and discount allowed, date and number of receipt, legal description of tract, class number assigned to tract, and percentage of total paid. Also includes record of one tract sold March 18, 1830 at public auction which shows name and residence of highest bidder, date and number of Receiver's receipt, legal description of tract, number of acres, total amount due including interest and cost of sale, amount of interest accrued, total number of bids by the purchaser, and total amount of bid by the purchaser.
952.048
RECEIVER'S REGISTER OF FORFEITED LAND STOCK AND MILITARY BOUNTY LAND SCRIP RECEIVED. January 5, 1831-June 30, 1846; November 13, 1848. 1 vol. No index.
Monthly list is of forfeited land stock and military scrip received in payment for land. Entries for each include date application for purchase made, name of person surrendering stock or scrip, certificate number and cash value of stock or scrip, legal description of tract to which applied, and Receiver's receipt number.
952.049
REGISTER'S JOURNAL (CREDIT SYSTEM). August 10, 1814-September 30, 1831. 4 vols. No index.
Chronological listing is chiefly of funds received by the Receiver. Entries include name and residence of payer and date, amount, and cause of receipt (e.g., initial payment toward purchase of tract, payment of subsequent installments and interest, preemption claim). Entries for land payments include legal description of tract, number of acres, price per acre, and total purchase price. Also included are quarterly summary totals of receipts analyzed by specie, military warrants, U.S. Treasury notes, and forfeited land stock.
Entries posted to REGISTER'S GENERAL AND INDIVIDUAL LEDGER (CREDIT SYSTEM), RS 952.050.
952.050
REGISTER'S GENERAL AND INDIVIDUAL LEDGER (CREDIT SYSTEM). August 10, 1814-ca. September 1831. 5 vols. Partial index for accounts opened after January 2, 1815.
Entries consist of balanced accounts with individual land purchasers as well as balanced accounts arranged under the following headings: cash and evidence of confirmed claims (later cash account), sales of public lands, interest account, account of discounts, debit to the U.S., and forfeited land redeemed (1831 only). Entries variously include date and amount of disbursement or receipt, name of payee or payer, and cause for disbursement (e.g., salaries, commissions, printing, advertising, stationery) or receipt (i.e., initial payment toward purchase of land, subsequent payments of installments and interest). After July 1, 1820 with the cessation of the credit system individual accounts were opened only for those individuals who had assumed responsibility from original purchasers for unpaid balances on tracts.
Entries posted from REGISTER'S JOURNAL (CREDIT SYSTEM), RS 952.049.
952.051
REGISTER'S JOURNAL (CASH SYSTEM). July 4, 1820-September 30, 1834. 1 vol. No index.
Chronological listing is of funds received by the Receiver beginning with the institution of the cash system of land purchase. Entries include date of purchase, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract, and total purchase price. Also included are quarterly summary totals of receipts.
Entries posted to REGISTER'S LEDGER (CASH SYSTEM), RS 952.052.
952.052
REGISTER'S LEDGER (CASH SYSTEM). July 4, 1820-August 28, 1834. Fair copy: 1 vol. Rough copy: 1 partial vol. No index.
Entries consist of balanced accounts arranged under the following headings: cash and stock account, sales of public lands, and debit to the U.S. Entries variously include date and amount of disbursement or receipt, name of payee or payer, and cause for disbursement (i.e., quarterly returns to the U.S. Treasury) or receipt (i.e., land purchases).
Entries posted from REGISTER'S JOURNAL (CASH SYSTEM), RS 952.051.
952.053
REGISTER'S CERTIFICATES ISSUED TO LAND PURCHASERS (CREDIT SYSTEM). August 11, 1814-June 30, 1820. 1.25 cu. ft. No index.
Certificates were issued by Register to land purchasers for payments of initial and subsequent installments. Entries for each certificate include date and number of certificate, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract, number of acres, price per acre, total purchase price, amount of payment received, remaining balance due, dates on which remaining installments are to be paid, and amount due each installment.
952.054
REGISTER'S REGISTER OF FINAL CERTIFICATES SENT TO GENERAL LAND OFFICE. May 1817-September 1825. 1 vol. No index.
List of final certificates includes name of purchaser, date certificate sent to General Land Office, and number of certificate. List frequently includes patent number, name of individual to whom patent delivered (i.e., patentee or patentee's representative or assignee), and date delivered (i.e., August 1824-June 1837).
952.055
REGISTER'S STUBS FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED TO LAND PURCHASERS (CASH SYSTEM). July 5, 1820-February 23, 1847. 0.5 cu. ft. No index.
Stubs were of certificates issued by the Register. Entries on each stub include certificate date and number, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract, and number of acres.
952.056
REGISTER'S SALES BOOK. July 4, 1820-August 2, 1833. 1 vol. No index.
Printed forms recording the sale of tracts of land for $1.25 per acre include the following information: name of purchaser, legal description of tract sold, number of acres, total purchase price, and Receiver's receipt number.
952.057
REGISTER'S ABSTRACT OF APPLICATIONS TO PURCHASE LAND AND LAND FORFEITED FOR NONPAYMENT. August 10, 1814-June 30, 1820. 1 vol. and 1 partial vol. No index.
Record consists of monthly abstract of applications made to purchase land and an account of payments made for land purchases. Entries for each application include date of application and/or purchase, name and residence of purchaser, amount of purchase price, date and number of receipt, legal description of tract, number of acres, and price per acre. Also included each month are lists of tracts which have been forfeited to the U.S. for nonpayment of first installment showing date of forfeiture, name and residence of purchaser who forfeited, legal description of tract, number of acres, price per acre, and amount of purchase price.
952.058
REGISTER'S RECORD OF APPLICATIONS TO PURCHASE LAND AND PAYMENTS OF SUBSEQUENT INSTALLMENTS. January 3, 1818-March 18, 1830. 2 vols. No index.
Fair copies of applications made for the purchase of land include date of application, name and address of applicant, legal description of tract, number of acres, amount of deposit made, and number of Receiver's receipt issued for deposit. Dated notes later written next to application and all entries made after July 1, 1820 concern tracts forfeited for nonpayment or payments of subsequent installments and show date, amount of installment, and Receiver's receipt number.
952.059
REGISTER'S MONTHLY ACCOUNTS OF PAYMENTS MADE BY INDIVIDUALS FOR LAND PURCHASES. August 10, 1814-March 25, 1817. 1 partial vol. No index.
Monthly accounts are of payments for land purchases made either in specie or in evidence of confirmed unlocated claims. Entries for each tract purchased include date of entry, name and residence of purchaser, cash value of evidence or confirmed unlocated claims surrendered, amount of specie paid, amount of discount allowed, date and number of receipt, legal description of tract, and number of acres.
952.060
REGISTER'S ABSTRACT OF REPAYMENTS MADE TO LAND PURCHASERS ON ACCOUNT OF OVERCHARGES. July 6, 1816-August 7, 1820. 2 partial vols. No index.
Repayments made to land purchasers upon receipt of plats from Surveyor General show that estimated number of acres on which purchase price had been based exceeded actual number of acres in tract. Entries for each repayment include date and number of receipt, name and residence of person to whom repayment made, legal description of tract, estimated number of acres upon which original purchase price was calculated, actual number of acres as shown on Surveyor General's plats, amount repaid in claims as expressed in acres, amount repaid in cash, number of claim and name of original claimant, and number of Register's certificate.
952.061
REGISTER'S PATENTS RECEIVED AND DELIVERED. Ca. 1814-1847. 1 vol. No index.
Record lists various land patents received at Kaskaskia from the General Land Office and/or delivered to the patentee. Entries for each patent usually include patent number and name of patentee and occasionally include date patent issued, date delivered, and signature of person to whom delivered.
952.062
DECLARATIONS REQUESTING FURTHER CREDIT. September 3-September 25, 1821. 0.25 cu. ft. No index.
Declarations were filed under an act of Congress of March 2, 1821 by individuals asking for an extension on their installment payments. Entries for each certificate include date and number of certificate, name of purchaser, date of purchase, and legal description of tracts on which further credit is desired.
Declarations recorded in RS 952.063.
952.063
ABSTRACT OF FURTHER CREDIT. August 8-September 30, 1821; July 19-September 30, 1822. 1 vol. Index, 1 partial vol.
Abstract is of land for which purchasers entered a declaration requesting further credit under the acts of Congress of March 2, 1821 and April 20, 1822. Entries for each tract include General Land Office folio number, date of purchase, date first certificate surrendered and number of certificate, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract, price per acre, number of acres, amount owed by purchaser, amount paid by or credited to purchaser, balance due, class number assigned land, amount of first installment and date on which first installment falls due, date and number of declaration, date and number of certificate of further credit, and name and residence of individual in whose favor certificate was issued.
For declarations requesting further credit see RS 952.062. For stubs of certificates granting further credit see RS 952.064.
952.064
STUBS FOR CERTIFICATES OF FURTHER CREDIT. August 8, 1821-September 30, 1822. 0.25 cu. ft. No index.
Certificates extending further credit were issued by the land office to land purchasers. Entries for each certificate include certificate number and date, name of purchaser, date of initial payment, legal description of tract, number of acres, price per acre, total purchase price, amount already paid on land and percentage this represents of total purchase price, date and number of certificate issued for initial payment, date and number of declaration requesting further credit, balance of purchase price due, dates remaining installments are to be paid, and amount due each installment.
Certificates of further credit are recorded in RS 952.063.
952.065
ABSTRACT OF LAND FOR WHICH NO DECLARATION REQUESTING FURTHER CREDIT WAS FILED. Compiled ca. September 1821. 1 vol. No index.
Abstract is of land which, because no declaration was made under an act of Congress of March 2, 1821, was subject to either payment in full by September 30, 1821 or forfeiture. Entries for each individual purchaser include date of purchase, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract, amount owed by the purchaser, amount paid by or credited to purchaser, and balance due. For tracts subsequently forfeited, entries include number of acres forfeited, amount of purchase price owed, amount of purchase price paid, and unpaid balance due the federal government. Occasional remarks concern further disposition of case (e.g., credits allowed on land because purchaser was charged for more acres than actually existed, later declaration for further credit filed, tract paid for in full).
952.066
ABSTRACT OF RELINQUISHMENTS. August 8-September 29, 1821; July 31, 1822-September 30, 1823. 1 vol. Copy: 1 vol. No index.
List is of land relinquished under an act of Congress of March 2, 1821. For each relinquished tract entries include Receiver's office folio number, number of remaining tracts held by the
relinquisher, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract relinquished, amount owed by purchaser, amount paid by or credited to purchaser, legal description of whole or partial tract relinquished, number of acres and purchase value of relinquished tract, legal description of tract not relinquished for which purchase price has been completely paid, number of acres and total purchase price of tract not relinquished, application of any excess amount paid on relinquished tract, payments completed by cash at a discount of 37 1/2 percent at time of relinquishment, land not relinquished for which further credit has been given, name and residence of purchaser or legal representative, and Register's certificate number.
For relinquishment certificates see RS 952.067.
952.067
CERTIFICATES OF RELINQUISHMENT. August 24, 1821-July 3, 1829. 0.75 cu. ft. No index.
Certificates filed under an act of Congress of March 2, 1821 state that a purchaser has filed a relinquishment on specified tracts and that any payments made on those relinquished tracts should be applied toward the purchase of another tract or tracts. Entries on each certificate include name of purchaser, date and number of certificate, legal description and date of purchase of tracts being relinquished, and legal description of tracts not relinquished to which credit is applied.
Abstracts of certificates of relinquishment are recorded in RS 952.066.
952.068
ABSTRACTS OF CERTIFICATES OF FORFEITED LAND STOCK ISSUED. September 1, 1828-February 29, 1852. 1 vol. No index.
Monthly lists are of certificates of forfeited land stock issued pursuant to various acts of Congress. Entries for each certificate include name of original purchaser, name of forfeiter, legal description of tract, cash value of land forfeited, date of forfeiture, and number and date of certificate issued.
952.069
REGISTER OF APPLICATIONS AND PERMISSIONS TO REMAIN ON TRACTS AS TENANTS AT WILL. October 26, 1814-May 1, 1815; July 5, 1816-August 2, 1822. 1 vol. Partial index.
Register summarizes applications received from individuals desiring to remain on tracts of land as tenants at will under acts of Congress of March 3, 1807 and March 25, 1816. Entries for each application generally include date and number of application; name and, after 1818, residence of applicant; and legal description of tract. Application numbers are entered on appropriate tract in township plats contained in front of volume. Also included are several depositions and proofs of settlement taken in support of applications.
952.070
APPLICATIONS FOR PURCHASE OF QUARTER-QUARTER SECTIONS. July 8, 1835-July 31, 1838. 0.25 cu. ft. No index.
Applications made under an act of Congress of April 5, 1832 state that land applied for is for applicant's personal benefit, that it is not being held for another individual, that it is intended for cultivation, and that applicant has not applied for any other public land. Each application includes date and number of application, name and residence of applicant, legal description of tract, number of acres, and price per acre.
952.071
REGISTER OF PREEMPTION DECLARATION STATEMENTS FILED UNDER ACT OF SEPTEMBER 4, 1841. October 7, 1841-January 17, 1852. 1 vol. No index.
List is of statements declaring rights to preemption claims filed under an act of Congress of September 4, 1841. Entries for each statement include date and number of claim, name of claimant, legal description of tract claimed, and number of acres. After October 1, 1850 list also includes the date claimant settled on tract.
952.072
MONTHLY ABSTRACTS OF LAND LOCATED ON MILITARY LAND WARRANT CERTIFICATES. November 29, 1847-November 20, 1855. 1 vol. No index.
Monthly lists are of tracts entered pursuant to acts of Congress of February 11, 1847; September 28, 1850; and March 22, 1852 granting military bounty land. Entries include Register's and Receiver's numbers, number and date of warrant, number of acres, name of warrantee, legal description of tract entered, date located, name of person by whom located, occasional notes concerning withdrawn or suspended warrants, date and name of person to whom patent delivered, and date certificate issued.
952.073
LIST OF MILITARY LAND WARRANTS ON WHICH PATENTS ISSUED. October 6, 1817-June 16, 1819. 2 vols. No index.
Chronological list is of located military land warrants on which patents were issued under the acts of Congress passed on and since May 6, 1812. Entries for each tract include date located, warrant number, name of warrantee, name and number of warrantee's corps or regiment, and legal description of quarter section located.
952.074
CLASSIFICATION OF FRACTIONAL QUARTER SECTIONS. Ca. 1816. 1 vol. No index.
List is of fractional quarter sections. Because the acreage in each usually was low, two or more fractional quarter sections often were grouped together by the Register and Receiver and assigned a single classification number. All tracts in that classification then were sold together. Entries include legal description of each individual tract, number of acres in tract, classification number, and total number of acres of all tracts in classification. Occasionally included are name of purchaser and date of purchase.
952.075
ABSTRACT OF LAND SOLD. September 1, 1836-December 31, 1840; January 19, 1848-May 14, 1853. 1 vol. and 1 partial vol. No index.
Lists of land sold include for each sale, date of sale, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract, and number of acres. After January 19, 1848 abstract also includes Receiver's receipt number and total purchase price.
952.076
TRACT BOOKS OF LAND SOLD WITHIN KASKASKIA DISTRICT. Ca. July 1827-May 1873. 3 vols. and 1 partial vol. No index.
Land sales were entered in the tract books by legal description, presumably to ensure that a tract was not sold more than once. Entries for each tract sold include legal description of tract, name and residence of purchaser, date sold, and number of acres. Occasionally included are Receiver's receipt number and date patent issued and/or canceled. After February 25, 1856 tracts within the Kaskaskia District were sold at the Springfield Land District Office.
952.077
TRACT BOOK OF RELINQUISHED AND REVERTED LAND. Ca. May 1826-November 1854. 1 partial vol. No index.
List is of tracts which were relinquished by the original purchaser or otherwise reverted to the federal government and were sold again. Entries for each tract include legal description of tract, name and residence of purchaser, date of sale, and number of acres.
952.078
TRACT BOOK OF ODD SECTIONS GRANTED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF CHICAGO AND MOBILE RAILROAD. July 5, 1852-ca. April 1856. Fair copy: 1 vol. Rough copy: 1 partial vol. No index.
List is of odd sections within Kaskaskia District granted by an act of Congress of September 20, 1850 to the State of Illinois for construction of a railroad from Chicago to Mobile, Alabama, later named the Illinois Central Railroad. Occasionally entries are made which indicate a section was sold and they include name and residence of purchaser and date of purchase.
952.079
PAPERS RELATING TO LAND IN KASKASKIA DISTRICT. Ca. 1783-1963. 11 cu. ft. No index.
Papers cover a wide range of activities primarily conducted by the Kaskaskia Land Office. Prior to 1814 documents relate to functions of Board of Commissioners in settling land claims and include lists of claims submitted on account of head, militia, improvement, and ancient French and British grants which were confirmed or rejected by the Governors of the Northwest or Indiana Territories or the Board of Commissioners; depositions and affidavits submitted in support of or opposition to claims; subpoenas; powers of attorney; copies of wills, deeds, conveyances, indenture agreements, certificates of naturalization, and certificates of heirship; contracts and correspondence with surveyors of private claims; plats and field notes of claims; and correspondence with the Governor of the Indiana Territory, Congress, and the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury. Some of these papers are in French.
After 1814 documents primarily concern the sale of public land in the district and include Register's certificates; Receiver's receipts; preemption claims; military land warrants; land patents; lists of land sold at public auction; U.S. Treasury receipts; permissions to remain on tracts as tenants at will; lists of forfeited land stock; abstracts of land selected as school and swamp lands; applications for purchase of land; certificates of relinquishment, excess charges, and further credit; and correspondence with Commissioner of the General Land Office, Surveyor General, U.S. Treasurer, Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, Auditor of Public Accounts, and private individuals.
When the Kaskaskia Office closed in February 1856 its files were transferred to the Springfield Land District Office. There the Springfield officials placed additional material in the Kaskaskia files relating to further sales of public land in the Kaskaskia District.
In 1879 the Auditor of Public Accounts was given custody of all the files that had been maintained at the Springfield Land District Office. He then proceeded to interfile his own records, dating ca. 1829-1956, with those of the appropriate district. In the Kaskaskia files the Auditor's records include lists of tracts selected as school lands; accounts of land sold for nonpayment of taxes; patents for saline lands; tax lists for various counties; land patents issued by the U.S. to the State of Illinois for state lands (e.g., school, saline, swamp); correspondence with the Kaskaskia Land District Office, Illinois Governor, and private individuals; and copies of land patents issued by the General Land Office in Washington, D.C.
Shawneetown Land District Office
The Shawneetown Land District Office was created by an act of Congress of February 21, 1812. Part of the land in the new district had formerly been attached to the Kaskaskia Land District. A small portion of the Vincennes (Indiana) District also was added to Shawneetown after the boundaries of the State of Illinois were established.
The first sale of public land occurred in Shawneetown on July 18, 1814 after sufficient surveys had been completed. In 1820 the land north of the baseline for the second and third principal meridians became part of the two new land offices established at Palestine and Vandalia.
The Shawneetown Land Office was discontinued on May 2, 1856 and the responsibility for selling all remaining public land in the district was transferred to the Springfield Land District Office.
952.080
RECEIVER'S AND REGISTER'S CORRESPONDENCE. Ca. 1812-1876. 10 vols. and 3 cu. ft. No index.
Correspondence with the Commissioner of the General Land Office, the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, and U.S. Treasurer primarily concerns military bounty land, preemption claims, delivery of land patents, receipt of accounts of Register and Receiver, corrections in land purchase entries, repayment of purchase money, selections of land for Illinois Central Railroad, and general transactions of the land office. Also included are instructions sent shortly after the opening of the Shawneetown Land District Office which illustrate proper forms for journal, ledger, Receiver's receipts, register of receipts, and Register's certificates. After May 2, 1856 correspondence concerns land in the Shawneetown District that was received and filed by the Springfield Land District Office.
952.081
RECEIVER'S JOURNAL (CREDIT SYSTEM). July 18, 1814-September 1, 1831. Fair copy: 5 vols. Rough copy: 2 vols. No index.
Chronological listing chiefly is of funds received by the Receiver. Entries include name and residence of payer and date, amount, and cause of receipt (e.g., primarily initial payment toward purchase of tract, payment of subsequent installments and interest, preemption claim). Entries for land payments include legal description of tract or Shawneetown lot number, number of acres, price per acre, and total purchase price. Also included are quarterly summary totals of receipts analyzed by specie, military warrants, U.S. Treasury notes, and forfeited land stock.
Entries posted to Receiver's ledgers (credit system), RS 952.082, RS 952.083, and RS 952.084.
952.082
RECEIVER'S GENERAL LEDGER (CREDIT SYSTEM). July 18, 1814-September 1, 1831. 3 vols. No index.
Ledger consists of balanced accounts arranged under the following headings: sales of public lands and Shawneetown lots, cash account, account of deposits, account of discounts, commission accounts, debit to the U.S. (quarterly), account of forfeitures, interest account, account of excess forfeited, and account of U.S. Treasury notes. Entries variously include date and amount of disbursement or receipt, name of payee or payer, and causes for disbursement (e.g., salaries, commissions, printing, advertising, stationery) or receipt (e.g., for initial payment toward purchase of land, subsequent payments of installments and interest).
Entries posted from RECEIVER'S JOURNAL (CREDIT SYSTEM), RS 952.081.
952.083
RECEIVER'S INDIVIDUAL LEDGER (CREDIT SYSTEM). July 23, 1814-ca. July 1820. 3 vols. Index.
Ledger consists of balanced accounts with individual land purchasers under the credit system of land purchase (i.e., July 23, 1814-March 5, 1819). Each account lists name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract, dates and causes of payments, and credits allowed. Payments consisted of initial payments toward purchase of land, payments of subsequent installments or interest, and preemption claims.
Entries posted from RECEIVER'S JOURNAL (CREDIT SYSTEM), RS 952.081. See also RS 952.084. For accounts opened March 6, 1819-June 19, 1820 see REGISTER'S INDIVIDUAL LEDGER (CREDIT SYSTEM), RS 952.097.
952.084
RECEIVER'S INDIVIDUAL LEDGER FOR SHAWNEETOWN LOTS (CREDIT SYSTEM). October 4, 1814-ca. July 1829. 1 vol. Index.
Ledger consists of balanced accounts with individual purchasers of Shawneetown lots which were opened October 4, 1814-June 6, 1817 under the credit system of land purchase. Each account lists name and residence of purchaser, lot number, dates and causes of payments, and credits allowed. Causes for payments primarily consisted of initial payments toward purchase of lots and subsequent payments of installments and interest.
Entries posted from RECEIVER'S JOURNAL (CREDIT SYSTEM), RS 952.081. See also RS 952.083.
952.085
RECEIVER'S JOURNAL (CASH SYSTEM). July 3, 1820-September 30, 1834. 1 vol. No index.
Chronological listing is of funds received by the Receiver for the sale of land under the cash system of land purchase. Land sale entries include date of purchase, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract or Shawneetown lot number, and total purchase price. Also included are quarterly summary totals of receipts.
Entries posted to RECEIVER'S LEDGER (CASH SYSTEM), RS 952.086.
952.086
RECEIVER'S LEDGER (CASH SYSTEM). July 3, 1820-September 30, 1834. 1 vol. No index.
Ledger consists of balanced accounts arranged under the following headings: cash and stock account, sales of public lands, incidental expenses, commission account, and debit to the U.S. Entries variously include date and amount of disbursement or receipt, name of payee or payer, and causes for disbursement (e.g., salaries, commissions, printing, advertising, stationery) or receipt (i.e., purchase of land, including legal description of tract or Shawneetown lot number).
Entries posted from RECEIVER'S JOURNAL (CASH SYSTEM), RS 952.085.
952.087
RECEIVER'S QUARTERLY ACCOUNTS. October 1, 1834-June 30, 1849. 3 vols. No index.
Chronological accounts of disbursements and receipts were totaled quarterly for return to the U.S. Treasury. Entries for disbursements include date and cause (e.g., salaries, commissions, printing, travel, furniture, advertising). Entries for receipts usually were made for land purchases and include date of purchase, Receiver's receipt number, name of purchaser, legal description of tract, number of acres, price per acre, amounts received in military scrip and warrants, and total amount of purchase price.
952.088
RECEIVER'S WEEKLY ACCOUNTS. October 10, 1846-June 9, 1849. 1 vol. No index.
Brief summary accounts of disbursements and receipts were totaled weekly. Entries include date summary made, amount, and causes of disbursement (e.g., stationery, payments on military land warrants and drafts) or receipt (i.e., total amount received for land sold during the week).
952.089
RECEIVER'S QUARTERLY ACCOUNTS ACTING AS DISBURSING AGENT UNDER ACT OF MARCH 3, 1849. September 15, 1849-July 19, 1855. 1 vol. No index.
Chronological accounts of disbursements and receipts were totaled quarterly for return to the U.S. Treasury. Entries include date, amount, and causes for disbursement (e.g., compensation for depositing funds with U.S. Treasury, salaries, commissions, stationery, freight) or receipt (e.g., U.S. Treasurer's draft in Receiver's favor, fees received by Register and Receiver from land warrant locations, payments received for specie boxes).
952.090
RECEIVER'S REGISTER OF RECEIPTS (CREDIT SYSTEM). July 18, 1814-January 7, 1831. Fair copy: 2 vols. Rough copy: 1 vol. and 1 partial vol. No index.
Chronological list is of receipts issued by the Receiver for land sale payments (e.g., initial payments, installments, interest). Entries include date and number of receipt, name and residence of purchaser, amount of payment received, legal description of tract or Shawneetown lot number purchased, and number of acres.
952.091
RECEIVER'S REGISTER OF RECEIPTS (CASH SYSTEM). July 3, 1820-November 17, 1855. Fair copy: 3 vols. Rough copy: 1 partial vol. No index.
Chronological list is of receipts issued by the Receiver for land sale payments. Entries include date and number of receipt, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract purchased, number of acres, price per acre, amount received in military land scrip or forfeited land stock, and total amount of purchase price.
For receipts see RS 952.092.
952.092
RECEIVER'S RECEIPTS ISSUED TO LAND PURCHASERS (CASH SYSTEM). July 3, 1820-June 27, 1854. 4 cu. ft. No index.
Receipts issued by the Receiver include date and number of receipt, name and occasionally residence of purchaser, legal description of tract, number of acres, price per acre, and total purchase price.
Receipts listed in RS 952.091.
952.093
RECEIVER'S REGISTER OF CANCELED U.S. TREASURY NOTES. July 3, 1838-May 10, 1843. 1 vol. No index.
Entries for each canceled treasury note include serial number and denomination of note, date of issue, rate of interest, amount of interest accumulated, total value based on interest plus principal, date note received by Receiver, name of person from whom received, and name of person by whom canceled.
952.094
RECEIVER'S REGISTER OF FORFEITED LAND STOCK AND MILITARY BOUNTY LAND SCRIP RECEIVED. April 6, 1831-October 26, 1846. 1 partial vol. No index.
Monthly lists are of forfeited land stock and military scrip received in payment for land. Entries for each include date of application, name of person surrendering stock or scrip, certificate number and cash value of stock or scrip, legal description of tract to which applied, and Receiver's receipt number.
952.095
REGISTER'S JOURNAL (CREDIT SYSTEM). July 18, 1814-February 25, 1819; August 24, 1821-September 1, 1831. Fair copy: 5 vols. and 1 partial vol. Rough copy: 1 vol. and 1 partial vol. No index.
Chronological listing is of funds received by the Receiver. Entries include name and residence of payer and date, amount, and cause of receipt (i.e., initial payment toward purchase of tract, payment of subsequent installments and interest, preemption claim). Entries for land payments include legal description of tract or Shawneetown lot number, number of acres, price per acre, and total purchase price. Also included are quarterly summary totals of receipts analyzed by specie, military warrants, U.S. treasury notes, and forfeited land stock.
Entries posted to Register's ledgers (credit system), RS. 952.096, RS 952.097, and RS 952.098. For funds received February 26, 1819-August 23, 1821 see RECEIVER'S JOURNAL (CREDIT SYSTEM), RS 952.081.
952.096
REGISTER'S GENERAL LEDGER (CREDIT SYSTEM). July 18, 1814-September 1, 1831. 2 vols. No index.
Entries consist of balanced accounts arranged under the following headings: sales of public lands and Shawneetown lots, account of interest, account of discounts, account of excess forfeited, forfeited land redeemed, and debit to the U.S. Entries variously include date and amount of disbursement or receipt, name of payee or payer, and causes for disbursement (e.g., salaries, commissions, printing, advertising, stationery) or receipt (i.e., initial payment toward purchase of land, subsequent payments of installments and interest).
Entries posted from REGISTER'S JOURNAL (CREDIT SYSTEM), RS 952.095.
952.097
REGISTER'S INDIVIDUAL LEDGER (CREDIT SYSTEM). July 18, 1814-January 7, 1831. 4 vols. Index for accounts opened July 23, 1814-March 5, 1819.
Entries consist of balanced accounts with individual land purchasers opened July 18, 1814-June 19, 1820 under the credit system of land purchase. Each account lists name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract purchased, dates and causes of payments, and credits allowed. Causes for payments primarily consisted of initial payments toward purchase of tract, payments of subsequent installments and interest, and preemption claims.
Entries posted from REGISTER'S JOURNAL, RS 952.095. See also RS 952.098.
952.098
REGISTER'S INDIVIDUAL LEDGER FOR SHAWNEETOWN LOTS (CREDIT SYSTEM). October 3, 1814-ca. October 1829. 1 vol. Index.
Entries consist of balanced accounts with individual purchasers of Shawneetown lots which were opened October 3, 1814-July 1, 1820 under the credit system of land purchase. Each account lists name and residence of purchaser, lot number, dates and causes of payments, and credits allowed. Causes for payments primarily consisted of initial payments toward purchase of lot, payments of subsequent installments and interest, and preemption claims.
Entries posted from REGISTER'S JOURNAL (CREDIT SYSTEM), RS 952.095. See also RS 952.097.
952.099
REGISTER'S JOURNAL (CASH SYSTEM). July 3, 1820-July 3, 1834. 1 vol. No index.
Chronological listing is of funds received by the Receiver primarily for the sale of land under the institution of the cash system of land purchase. Land sale entries include date of purchase, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract or Shawneetown lot number, and total purchase price. Also included are quarterly summary totals of receipts.
Entries posted to REGISTER'S LEDGER (CASH SYSTEM), RS 952.100.
952.100
REGISTER'S LEDGER (CASH SYSTEM). July 3, 1820-July 3, 1834. 1 vol. No index.
Entries consist of balanced accounts arranged under the following headings: cash account, sales of public lands, and debit to the U.S. Entries variously include date and amount of disbursement or receipt, name of payee or payer, and cause for disbursement (e.g., salaries, commissions, printing, advertising, stationery) or receipt (i.e., purchase of land, including legal description of tract or Shawneetown lot number.)
Entries posted from REGISTER'S JOURNAL (CASH SYSTEM), RS 952.099.
952.101
REGISTER'S SALES BOOK. July 3, 1820-June 18, 1835. 1 vol. No index.
Printed forms recording the sale of tracts of land for $1.25 per acre include the following information: name of purchaser, legal description of tract sold, number of acres, total purchase price, and Receiver's receipt number.
952.102
REGISTER'S CERTIFICATES ISSUED TO LAND PURCHASERS (CREDIT SYSTEM). July 18, 1814-September 1820. 2 cu. ft. No index.
Certificates were issued by the Register to land purchasers for payments of initial and subsequent installments. Entries for each certificate include date and number of certificate, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract, number of acres, price per acre, total purchase price, amount of payment received, remaining balance due, dates on which remaining installments are to be paid, and amount due each installment.
952.103
REGISTER'S STUBS FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED TO LAND PURCHASERS (CASH SYSTEM). July 3, 1820-August 13, 1838. 0.75 cu. ft. No index.
Stubs were of certificates issued by Register. Entries on each stub include certificate number and date of issue, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract, and number of acres.
952.104
REGISTER'S RECORD OF APPLICATIONS TO PURCHASE LAND AND PAYMENTS OF SUBSEQUENT INSTALLMENTS. July 18, 1814-July 8, 1819. 2 vols. Index.
Fair copies of applications made for the purchase of land include date of application, name and residence of applicant, legal description of tract, number of acres, amount of deposit made, and the number of Receiver's receipt issued for deposit. Occasional dated notes later written next to application indicate if purchase forfeited for nonpayment, if application withdrawn, or if payment of subsequent installments confirmed (i.e., date and amount of installment, Receiver's receipt number).
For original applications see RS 952.106.
952.105
REGISTER'S RECORD OF APPLICATIONS TO PURCHASE SHAWNEETOWN LOTS AND PAYMENTS OF SUBSEQUENT INSTALLMENTS. October 3, 1814-August 30, 1831. 1 vol. Index.
Fair copies of applications made for the purchase of lots include date of application, name and residence of applicant, Shawneetown lot number, number of acres, amount of deposit made, and the number of the Receiver's receipt issued for deposit. Occasional dated notes later written next to application indicate if purchase forfeited for nonpayment, if application withdrawn, or if payment of subsequent installments confirmed (i.e., date and amount of installment, Receiver's receipt number).
For original applications see RS 952.107.
952.106
REGISTER'S RECORD OF APPLICATIONS TO PURCHASE LAND. November 7, 1814-April 7, 1819. 1 vol. and 1 partial vol. No index.
Signed applications were made to the Register by persons desiring to purchase land. Entries include date application made, legal description of land applied for, and signature of applicant. After June 1818 applications also include number of acres and amount paid.
Applications recorded in RS 952.104.
952.107
REGISTER'S RECORD OF APPLICATIONS TO PURCHASE SHAWNEETOWN LOTS. December 10, 1814-March 27, 1819. 1 partial vol. No index.
Signed applications were made to the Register by persons desiring to purchase Shawneetown lots. Entries include date application made, number of Shawneetown lot applied for, and signature of applicant.
Applications recorded in RS 952.105.
952.108
REGISTER'S RECORD OF APPLICATIONS TO REMAIN ON TRACTS OF LAND AS TENANTS AT WILL. July 1-July 30, 1816. 1 vol. No index.
Printed applications filed under an act of Congress of March 25, 1816 contain the following data: date of application, name of applicant, legal description of tract, number of acres, name and date of settlement of former or original occupant of tract, date of settlement of applicant, and signature of applicant.
952.109
REGISTER'S RECEIPTS FOR PATENTS ON LAND OR SHAWNEETOWN LOTS. August 19, 1815-April 3, 1819. 1 vol. No index.
Receipts are individual acknowledgments by patentees that patents on tracts or Shawneetown lots have been received. Entries on each receipt include date of receipt, name of Register, legal description of tract or number of lot patented, and signature of patentee.
952.110
ABSTRACT OF LAND FULLY PAID FOR IN CASH. Ca. June 1821. 0.25 cu. ft. No index.
List is of tracts for which total purchase price had been paid and for which the purchasers therefore had no need for further credit under an act of Congress of March 2, 1821. Entries for each tract include date of purchase, number of first Register's certificate and date surrendered, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract, number of acres, price per acre, statement of account as shown in ledger, total purchase price, date and number of final certificate, and name and residence of person to whom final certificate issued.
952.111
ABSTRACT OF TRACTS ELIGIBLE FOR FURTHER CREDIT. Ca. June 1821. 0.25 cu. ft. No index.
List is of tracts for which payments were not completed and were therefore eligible for further credit under an act of Congress of March 2, 1821. Entries for each tract include date of purchase, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract, number of acres, price per acre, and a statement of account as shown in ledger.
952.112
DECLARATIONS REQUESTING FURTHER CREDIT. July 27, 1821-September 30, 1822. 1 cu. ft. No index.
Declarations were filed under an act of Congress of March 2, 1821 by individuals asking for extensions on their installment payments. Entries for each certificate include date and number of certificate, name of purchaser, and date of purchase and legal description of tracts on which further credit was desired.
Declarations recorded in RS 952.113.
952.113
ABSTRACT OF FURTHER CREDIT. July 4, 1821-July 4, 1827. 0.5 cu. ft. No index.
List is of tracts for which purchasers filed declarations requesting further credit under an act of Congress of March 2, 1821. Entries for each tract include date of purchase, date first certificate was surrendered and number of certificate, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract, price per acre, number of acres, amount owed by purchaser (i.e., total purchase price plus amount of interest accrued by September 30, 1821), amount paid by or credited to purchaser (i.e., amount of cash paid, discount allowed, interest paid) and balance due, and date and number of declaration requesting further credit.
For declarations requesting further credit see RS 952.112. For certificates granting further credit see RS 952.114.
952.114
CERTIFICATES OF FURTHER CREDIT. Ca. July 1821-September 1821. 2 cu. ft. No index.
Certificates extending further credit were issued by the land office to land purchasers. Entries for each certificate include certificate number and date, name of purchaser, date of initial payment, legal description of tract ,number of acres, price per acre, total purchase price, amount already paid on land and percentage this represents of total purchase price, date and number of certificate issued for initial payment, date and number of declaration requesting further credit, balance of purchase price due, dates remaining installments are to be paid, and amount due each installment.
Certificates recorded in RS 952.113.
952.115
ABSTRACT OF RELINQUISHMENTS. May 12, 1821-July 30, 1827. 1.5 cu. ft. No index.
Lists are of land relinquished under an act of Congress of March 2, 1821. For each relinquished tract entries include Receiver's office folio number, number of remaining tracts held by the relinquisher, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract relinquished, amount owed by purchaser (i.e., total amount of purchase price and amount of interest accrued), amount paid by or credited to purchaser (i.e., cash paid, discount allowed, interest paid), legal description of whole or partial tract relinquished, number of acres and purchase value of relinquished tract, legal description of tract not relinquished for which purchase price has been completely paid, number of acres and total purchase price of tract not relinquished, application of any excess amount paid on relinquished tract, payments completed by cash at a discount of 37 1/2 percent at time of relinquishment, land not relinquished for which further credit has been given, Register's certificate number, and the name and residence of purchaser, assignee, or legal representative.
For relinquishment certificates see RS 952.116.
952.116
CERTIFICATES OF RELINQUISHMENT. May 12, 1821-July 3, 1829. 1 cu. ft. No index.
Certificates filed at land office state that purchaser had filed a relinquishment on specified tracts and that any payments made on those relinquished tracts should be applied toward the purchase of another tract or tracts. Entries on each certificate include name of purchaser, date and number of certificate, legal description and date of purchase of tracts being relinquished, and legal description of tracts not relinquished to which credit is applied. Occasional entries include cash due for tracts not relinquished, discount for land relinquished, and cash due after relinquishment.
Certificates listed in RS 952.115.
952.117
NAMES OF RELINQUISHERS. Ca. 1821-1827. 2 cu. ft. No index.
Alphabetical file includes name of person making relinquishment and number of relinquishment.
952.118
MONTHLY RETURNS OF LAND PAID FOR BY MONIES CREDITED AND TRANSFERRED FROM RELINQUISHED LAND OR BY CASH AT A DISCOUNT OF 37 1/2 PERCENT. July 16, 1824-July 4, 1829. 0.5 cu. ft. No index.
Monthly returns are of land payments made under acts of Congress of May 18, 1824 and March 21, 1828. Entries for each payment include number of certificate of further credit surrendered, number and date of final Register's certificate issued, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract on which payment has been completed, number of acres, price per acre, total amount of purchase price, amount previously paid exclusive of interest but including discounts allowed, amount of interest previously paid, amount of discount previously allowed, total amount due and paid, amount paid by transfer from relinquished tract, amount of cash paid to complete balance after deducting 37 1/2 percent, and number of the Receiver's receipt.
952.119
ABSTRACT OF CERTIFICATES OF FORFEITED LAND STOCK ISSUED. September 28, 1828-February 9, 1854. 1 vol. No index.
Record is of certificates issued for forfeited land under an act of Congress of May 23, 1828. Entries for each certificate include number and date of certificate and for each forfeiture name of original purchaser, legal description of tract, date of forfeiture, name of forfeiter, and cash value of certificate issued.
952.120
LIST OF FORFEITED AND RELINQUISHED LAND SUBJECT TO SALE. Ca. 1846. 1 partial vol. No index.
List is of land that had been forfeited or relinquished by original purchasers and therefore was subject to resale. Entries include date of original entry, name of original purchaser, legal description of land, and date forfeited or relinquished.
952.121
DEPOSITIONS REGARDING PREEMPTION CLAIMS UNDER ACTS OF MARCH 31, 1830 AND FEBRUARY 25, 1831. August 1830-September 1831. 0.1 cu. ft. No index.
Depositions were taken from individuals in support of preemption claims under acts of Congress of March 31, 1830 and February 25, 1831. Depositions include date of deposition, name of claimant, legal description of tract claimed, types of improvements made on tract (e.g., extent of cultivation, buildings), and date claimant settled on tract.
952.122
PREEMPTION DECLARATION STATEMENTS. Ca. September 1841-October 1854. 0.5 cu. ft. No index.
Statements declaring rights to preemption filed with the land office include name of declarer, legal description of tract claimed, date of declarer's first settlement on tract, date declaration statement filed, and date of act of Congress under which claim was filed. Occasionally statements also include residence of declarer and location of land district office through which tract originally was offered for sale.
952.123
MONTHLY ABSTRACTS OF LAND LOCATED ON MILITARY LAND WARRANT CERTIFICATES. August 14, 1847-November 17, 1855. Fair copy: 2 vols. Rough copy: 1 vol. No index.
Monthly lists are of tracts entered pursuant to acts of Congress of February 11, 1847 and September 28, 1850 granting military bounty land. For each tract entries include Register's and Receiver's numbers, number and date of warrant, number of acres, name of warrantee, legal description of tract entered, date located, name of person by whom located, and occasional notes of withdrawn or suspended warrants.
952.124
CERTIFICATES OF LOCATIONS OF MILITARY LAND WARRANTS. March 1, 1849-December 27, 1852. 0.1 cu. ft. No index.
Certificates were issued by the Register stating that a military land warrant had been located under acts of Congress of February 11, 1847 or September 28, 1850. Entries for each certificate include date and number of certificate, number of military land warrant, names of warrantee and person locating warrant, legal description of tract located, number of acres, and date of act under which issued.
952.125
DISPUTED SWAMP LAND SELECTIONS. October 1852. 0.1 cu. ft. No index.
Statements filed by persons wishing to purchase land declared as swamp land state that specified tracts are fit for cultivation and will not be injured by water overflow. Each statement includes date of statement, legal description of tract, and name and residence of person filing statement.
952.126
ABSTRACT OF LAND SOLD UNDER GRADUATION ACT OF 1854. September 18-28, 1854. 1 vol. No index.
Chronological list is of tracts sold under an act of the U.S. Congress of August 3, 1854. Entries for each sale include date of sale, number of Receiver's receipt and certificate issued, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract sold, number of acres, price per acre, and total purchase price.
952.127
POWERS OF ATTORNEY. Ca. December 1818-September 1830. 0.5 cu. ft. No index.
Powers of attorney were filed with the land office on behalf of purchasers of land. Information contained in each variously includes name and residence of individual granting power of attorney, name and residence of person to whom power of attorney granted, actions that the power of attorney authorizes (i.e., signing, filing, or receiving forfeited land stock, preemption declarations, certificates of further credit, certificates of relinquishment, sales or leases of land), date power granted, legal description of tract where relevant, and notarization by a justice of the peace or notary public.
952.128
ENUMERATION OF LAND CONTAINED IN SHAWNEETOWN DISTRICT. July 1, 1814. 1 vol. No index.
List was prepared from plats contained in the Surveyor General's office prior to opening of district office for land sales. Arranged by township the exact number of acres contained in each section is enumerated. Also included is an undated recapitulation, by range, of the total number of acres sold and unsold and the total number of acres of the following types of land: school, saline, lead, private grants, and government.
952.129
CLASSIFICATION OF LAND. 1820. 2 vols. No index.
List is of land, arranged by legal description, apparently compiled to show land tracts available for sale. For land purchased over 1814-1818 list also includes name of purchaser and date of purchase.
952.130
ABSTRACT OF LAND REMAINING UNSOLD AT SHAWNEETOWN ON NOVEMBER 17, 1855. 1855-1858. 1 vol. No index.
Abstract compiled when Shawneetown Land District Office was closed and jurisdiction over land remaining unsold was being transferred to the Springfield Land District Office. Entries consist of legal descriptions of tracts and number of acres in each tract. The tracts were crossed off as they were entered at Springfield and occasionally contain the date of entry.
952.131
ABSTRACT OF LAND SOLD. August 1, 1831-March 31, 1845; September 1854. 2 vols., 1 partial vol., and 0.25 cu. ft. No index.
Chronological lists are of land sold. Entries for each sale include date of sale, name and residence of purchaser, legal description of tract, and number of acres.
952.132
SURVEY BEARING MARKS AND LAND DESCRIPTIONS. Ca. 1814. 1 vol. No index.
Lists in widely varying formats and degrees of comprehensiveness appear to have been abstracted from FEDERAL LAND SURVEYOR'S FIELD NOTES, RS 953.005. Entries are arranged by legal description and survey bearing marks and variously include such data as species and diameter of trees, species of undergrowth, and description of land (e.g., flat, prairie, timber, rolling, dry, rocky, wet, overflowed, bottom, brush).
952.133
ABSTRACT FROM SURVEYOR'S FIELD NOTES OF LAND CONTAINED IN SHAWNEETOWN DISTRICT. 1850. 1 vol. No index.
Abstracts were made by the Surveyor General's office from FEDERAL LAND SURVEYOR'S FIELD NOTES, RS 953.005, for use in the Shawneetown Land District Office. The method of marking each corner of an exterior section or quarter section or an interior section or quarter section is specified. The method most frequently used was either a post in mound or a witness tree showing species, diameter, directional bearing, and distance from actual corner. When bodies of water are found in townships, abstract also includes plats of those townships.
952.134
TRACT BOOKS OF LAND SOLD WITHIN SHAWNEETOWN DISTRICT. Ca. August 1820-January 1866. 4 vols. No index.
Land sales were entered in the tract books by legal description, presumably to ensure that any given tract was not sold more than once. Entries for each tract sold include legal description of tract, name of purchaser, date sold, and number of acres. Occasionally included are Receiver's receipt number, date patent issued or canceled, price per acre, total purchase price, and residence of purchaser. Tracts declared as swamp lands are noted with the date of the act of Congress under which they were so declared. After May 2, 1856 tracts within the Shawneetown District were sold at the Springfield Land District Office.
952.135
PAPERS RELATING TO LAND IN SHAWNEETOWN DISTRICT. Ca. 1812-1961. 2.75 cu. ft. No index.
Papers cover a wide range of activities primarily conducted by the Shawneetown Land District Office. Documents include final certificates of purchase, affidavits and depositions regarding preemption and other land claims, military bounty land warrants, land patents, applications for purchase of land, U.S. treasury receipts, land indenture agreements, surveys and field notes, powers of attorney, communications regarding the return of Shawneetown lots entered, correspondence with Surveyor General and private individuals, and circulars sent by the General Land Office.
When the Shawneetown Office closed in May 1856 its files were transferred to the Springfield Land District Office. There the Springfield officials placed additional material in the Shawneetown files which related to further sales of public land in the Shawneetown District.
In 1879 the Auditor of Public Accounts was given custody of all the files that had been maintained at the Springfield Land District Office. He then proceeded to interfile his own records, dating ca. 1829-1961, with those of the appropriate district. In the Shawneetown District files the Auditor's records include list of taxable land sold by Trustees of the Illinois and Michigan Canal (1859-1862), abstracts of land sold by Shawneetown Office and sent to Auditor for tax purposes, corrections of errors in the abstract, land patents issued to the State of Illinois by the federal government, and copies of land patents issued by the General Land Office in Washington, D.C.
Edwardsville Land District Office
The Edwardsville Land District Office was created by an act of Congress of April 29, 1816. It originally was assigned all land north of the baseline for the third principal meridian which had formerly been part of the Kaskaskia District. In 1822 the newly created land office at Springfield assumed jurisdiction over all land north of the line separating townships thirteen and fourteen north of the baseline. By an act of Congress of March 2, 1833 additional land was transferred from Edwardsville to the Quincy and Vandalia Districts.
The Edwardsville Land District Office was discontinued on August 8, 1855 and responsibility for selling all remaining public land in the district was transferred to the Springfield Land District Office.
952.136
RECEIVER'S AND REGISTER'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE. May 11, 1816-January 19, 1876. 1 cu. ft. No index.
Primarily incoming correspondence from the Commissioner of the General Land Office concerns receipts and issuances of patents, preemption claims, receipt of Receiver's and Register's accounts, lead mines, relinquished and forfeited tracts, military bounty land warrants, and general operations of the district office. After August 8, 1855 correspondence concerns land formerly within the Edwardsville District but received and filed by the Springfield Land District Office.
952.137
RECEIVER'S CORRESPONDENCE. May 11, 1816-November 5, 1835; May 5, 1838-July 27, 1855. 2 vols. and 1 partial vol. No index.
Correspondence with Commissioner of the General Land Office, Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, and U.S. Treasurer primarily concerns transmittal of weekly, monthly, and quarterly accounts; corrections of errors in accounts; receipt of military land scrip and U.S. Treasury drafts; and general transactions of the land office. Incoming correspondence dates only from May 11, 1816 through November 5, 1835. Also included is an inventory taken in 1855 of office material that was to be sent to the Springfield Land District Office.
For additional correspondence with the General Land Office see RS 952.136.
952.138
RECEIVER'S JOURNAL (CREDIT SYSTEM). October 28, 1816-February 16, 1821; July 9, 1821-September 30, 1831. 5 vols. No index.
Chronological listing is of funds received by the Receiver. Entries include name and residence of payer and date, amount, and cause of receipt (i.e., primarily initial payment toward purchase of tract, payment of subsequent installments and interest, preemption claim). Entries for land payments include legal description of tract, number of acres, price per acre, and total purchase price. Also included are quarterly summary totals of receipts analyzed by specie, military warrants, U.S. Treasury notes, and forfeited land stock.
Entries posted to RECEIVER'S GENERAL LEDGERS (CREDIT SYSTEM), RS 952.139 and RECEIVER'S INDIVIDUAL LEDGER (CREDIT SYSTEM), RS 952.140. For record of accounts, February 17, 1821-July 8, 1821, see REGISTER'S JOURNAL (CREDIT SYSTEM), RS 952.151.
952.139
RECEIVER'S GENERAL LEDGER (CREDIT SYSTEM). October 28, 1816-September 30, 1831. 2 vols. No index.
Ledger consists of balanced accounts arranged under the following headings: cash and stock account, account of deposits, sales of public lands, account of discounts, account of forfeitures, commission account, debit to the U.S. (quarterly), interest account, and forfeited lands redeemed. Entries variously include date and amount of disbursement or receipt, name of payee or payer, and cause for disbursement (e.g., salaries, commissions, printing, advertising, stationery) or receipt (i.e., usually for initial payments toward purchase of tract or payments of installments and | 
