Land Sale Records

This pamphlet is the first in a series designed to assist the genealogical researcher using the most pertinent of related federal, state, and local governmental records in the possession of the Illinois State Archives and its Illinois Regional Archives Depositories (IRAD). The topic of this pamphlet is the sale and transfer of land.

Hammes Collection, 1678–1814

Historical Background
The sale of Illinois land began in the late 17th century, nearly one hundred years before the establishment of the United States. While under the control of three separate and distinct governmental authorities: France (1678–1763), England (1763–1778), and the state of Virginia (1778–1784), individuals residing in what was to become the state of Illinois received and conveyed title to lands there. Throughout these periods respective government agents registered land transactions. After the United States established its control over Illinois in 1784, the federal government eventually began a review process to determine the legitimacy of preexisting land claims. When examinations were completed in 1814, federal authorities had confirmed title to less than half of the claims presented to them.

Record Contents
The Raymond H. Hammes Collection at the State Archives chronicles Illinois land transfers over 1678–1814. The collection consists of 157 microfilm reels and includes selected governmental records and private papers. Federal records consist of documents and volumes of the U.S. General Land Office. Records of Madison, Randolph and St. Clair counties primarily include deeds, mortgages, and probate and county court papers. The collection’s private manuscripts are from French settlements in Kaskaskia and Cahokia and with them are included available translations.

In 12 years of independent research Raymond Hammes abstracted these records and recorded more than 10,000 ancient land grants, transfers, and other contract transactions. Together, they make up an unpublished 20-volume set. The first two microfilm reels of the Hammes Collection contain the 20 volumes of abstracts along with a cumulative index. These abstracts usually detail the names and relationships of sellers and purchasers, a description and location of the real estate and/or personal property in question, the selling price, and sale and filing dates. Often provided are the names and relationships of prior owners, ancestors, and neighbors. The collection’s remaining 155 microfilm reels contain copies of the original records from which the abstracts and the cumulative index were prepared.

Finding Your Ancestor
Researching On Your Own
The collection includes a comprehensive alphabetical surname index of the principal individuals involved in land transfers as well as cited individuals who were neighbors or witnesses to transactions. Occasional contract transactions other than land transfers also are provided. Entries refer to the unpublished 20 volumes of abstracts. Original transaction recordings can in turn be traced back from the abstracts.

Mail, Telephone and Internet Requests
The researcher must furnish an individual’s complete name to allow for an effective search. The Archives will provide, if located, an uncertified and unofficial photocopy of the abstract. As a result of limitations on staff research time, the Archives can research no more than two names per inquiry. Send inquires to: Illinois State Archives, Reference Unit, Norton Building, Springfield, Illinois 62756. Telephone: (217) 782-3553. Fax: (217) 524-3930. Submit a Request Via the Internet.
 

Public Domain Land Sale Listing, 1814–1876

Historical Background
The United States government started selling off the vast amount of public land remaining in Illinois beginning in 1814. Ten U.S. General Land Offices located across the state conducted 538,750 sales up to 1876 when the last remaining Illinois federal land office was closed. The large bulk of sales had taken place by the mid–1850’s.

State and county governments as well as the Illinois Central Railroad conducted a portion of the sales as a result of federal grants made to them. The state sold school, saline, seminary, canal, and internal improvement lands. After 1850 some counties sold undesirable swamp and overflowed lands. The Illinois Central financed its construction by selling those railroad lands allotted to it by the U.S. government. Federal authorities turned over Illinois U.S. Land Office records of original sales to the state in 1879.

Record Contents
Today, these records of Illinois land sales are located at the State Archives. There archivists with the assistance of a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities have indexed the first purchasers of the Illinois public domain. The resulting massive file of 538,750 entries has been generated on 144 microfiche. Each entry gives the name, sex, county or state residence of purchasers; sale type; legal description of the land; the number of acres; price per acre; and total cost of the purchase. If the buyer’s residence was another state, one should consult the original record because a county residence may be listed as well. If "warrant" appears under the column "total price," additional information is also available in the original record. For 1817–1819 warrants, the register includes warrant number and military corps or regiment in which the veteran served. For 1847–1877 warrants, the register provides warrant certificate number and date, and the name of the original recipient of the warrant, possibly someone other than the purchaser. The Archives cannot provide copies of land patent documents. To obtain copies of such documents please contact the Bureau of Land Management (Eastern States Office), 7450 Boston Boulevard, Springfield, Virginia 22153.

Finding Your Ancestor
Researching On Your Own
The microfiche index to Illinois public domain land sales can be consulted by two different arrangements: 1) alphabetical by purchasers’ surnames in a single sequence for the entire state and 2) alphabetical by county and within counties alphabetical by purchasers’ surnames.

The public domain land tract sales database may also be searched via the Internet. Click here to search the public domain land tract sales database.

Mail, Telephone And Fax Requests
For a name search please provide the Archives with the purchaser’s name as well as, if possible, the name of the county where the land was located. If found, the Archives will provide an uncertified and unofficial copy of the individual’s entry from the microfiche index. As a result of limitations on staff research time, the Archives can research no more than two names per inquiry.

If the purchaser used a warrant or resided in another state, the researcher may wish to request a copy of the original register as it may provide additional information. To receive copies of a record from the Field General Land Office registers:

• Provide the complete information for the land transaction that is found in the Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales database entry.
   
• Enclose the appropriate fee or provide credit card information. Illinois law requires the Illinois State Archives to charge $2.00 per page for photocopies of original land records. Non-Illinois residents will receive up to 2 photocopies of land records as part of the $10 out-of-state research fee.
  
  The Illinois State Archives no longer bills for photocopies. Orders for photocopies of entries from the Field General Land Office registers must be pre-paid. Please make checks or money orders payable to: Illinois Secretary of State. The Archives also accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover/Novus credit cards by mail, telephone or fax in payment for photocopies of entries from the Field General Land Office registers.

Illinois State Archives Fee Schedule

• Mail, telephone or fax your request to: Illinois State Archives, Reference Unit, Margaret Cross Norton Building, Capitol Complex, Springfield, IL 62756.
  Telephone: (217) 782-3553. Fax: (217) 524-3930.

County Deed Records, 1768–1978

Historical Background
The Illinois General Assembly established the office of county recorder in 1819. The original legislation required recorders to record and file all real estate deeds submitted to them. Although each county maintained records of real estate transactions, state legislation periodically shifted this responsibility between the circuit clerk, county clerk and recorder. Currently, the office of recorder exists in all counties with populations of 60,000 or more. The county clerk serves as ex officio recorder for counties with lesser populations.

Record Contents
Deed records generally show names of the grantee and grantor, legal description of the property, date and type of instrument, amount of consideration, and the date filed.

Deed Records in IRAD
The Illinois Regional Archives Depositories have Deed Records for many Illinois counties. Click here to search a database of Local Governmental Records in the IRAD System for Deed Record holdings. Type the search term DEED in the title field to return all deed records in the IRAD holdings.

If the genealogist is interested in a comprehensive listing of all county recorders’ records maintained in the IRAD system, the published guide A Summary Guide to Local Governmental Records in the Illinois Regional Archives, 2nd Edition (Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1999) can be consulted. Copies are available for use at the State Archives and at each of the seven regional depositories. This guide sells for $6.00 and may be purchased from: Illinois State Archives, Publications Unit, Norton Building, Springfield, IL 62756. Please make checks payable to: Secretary of State. This comprehensive listing, including any records received after the release of the 1999 publication, also is available for consultation online.

The most current listing of records, including recent accessions, for a particular county in the regional system’s possession can be obtained free of charge from the Illinois State Archives, IRAD Unit, Norton Building, Springfield, IL 62756.

Illinois State Archives: In addition to the county deed records held by the regional depositories, some deed records are also available on microfilm at the Archives Building in Springfield. In-person users are invited to consult an in-house listing of these holdings.

Finding Your Ancestor
Researching On Your Own
Deed Records usually are indexed by names of both grantee (purchaser) and grantor (seller) and may be found within the Deed Records themselves or as separate volumes. Indexes contained within the Deed Records themselves pertain only to entries within those record volumes. When separate Deed Record Indexes are available, they should be consulted to find volume and page numbers of the desired entries within the entire series of Deed Records. For in-person searches of Deed Records and Indexes stored at one of the regional depositories, the researcher must visit the appropriate depository.

To use the Deed Records available at the Illinois State Archives, please ask reference staff for the listing of county records available on microfilm at the State Archives Building.

Deed records not located at one of the IRAD centers or at the State Archives generally are still maintained at the respective courthouses in the counties where they originated. In these instances the appropriate recorder’s office should be contacted.

Mail, Telephone And Internet Requests
The Illinois Regional Archives Depository System welcomes mail and telephone inquiries. Click here for the addresses and phone numbers of the regional depositories. It also includes a map which shows the counties covered by each depository. In requesting a search of a particular county’s Deed Record, contact the appropriate regional depository. Provide the names of the grantee or grantor and the county where the property is situated as well as the approximate date of the land transaction. (Indexes are not available for some IRAD Deed Records, making searches very difficult without a precise deed date.) A photocopy of the deed requested will be provided by the appropriate regional depository if it can be located.

State Archives reference staff does not search its holdings of county deed records on microfilm. These must be consulted in-person at the State Archives.

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