Names are not always complete in documents, especially when the individuals are not the primary people referenced in a document. The Library of Virginia allows searches for all names referenced in land patents on their site, but the only names that get an entry in “Subject-Personal” are those who are listed with a first and a last name in the patent. So if you are browsing this index by “Subject-Personal,” remember that it only includes references to people who have a complete name in the record.

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References to your ancestor may easily not mention his (or her) first name. A mention of my aunt and uncle in a 1912 newspaper only referred to them as “Mr. and Mrs. Rampley.” In fact, over half the references to this couple in that newspaper referred to them as only “Rampley,” “Mr. Rampley,” or “Mrs. Rampley,”–without a first name.

Keep in mind that your ancestor may have only been listed with a last name in the newspaper.

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Today’s search tip is about the extra “L” and how it impacted my search results at FamilySearch. This was originally posted to the Rootdig.com blog but really applies to search techniques as well.

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Some readers may be aware that Mocavo.com has recently announced free access to the United States census search and images.

These links will take users directly to the specific census search page:

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The Daughters of the American Revolution has put an index to over 40,000 bible records on their website. This is an index only. Copies must be requested from the DAR.

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The Illinois State Archives has a set of digital copies of federal township plats–no owners are listed. This will show the original surveys that were made when the land was still largely in the federal domain.

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It’s been a while since we mentioned Elephind here, so we’re doing so again. Searchers can search over 140 million items from the “world’s historical newspaper archives” for free. 

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Do you know the difference between the warrantee and the patentee when searching the Bureau of Land Management website? The patentee generally was the person who settled the land and acquired title to it. The warrantee was the person to whom a “coupon” or warrant was issued. This warrant was good for a specific acreage of land in thee federal territories.

Some warrant holders sold them to other individuals who actually acquired went to the federal domain, struck out a claim and received title to federal property.

Always search for warrantees in all states. If your ancestor assigned his warrant to someone else, that patent location may have nothing to do with your ancestor at all.

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