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Where is "West of Tennessee River" in Kentucky? Located between the Tennessee River & the Mississippi River in far western Kentucky, the region is known as the Jackson Purchase. Counties within the Jackson Purchase are: Hickman, Calloway, Graves, McCracken, Marshall, Ballard, Fulton, and Carlisle. (See the county formation table for county establishment dates and county seat information.)
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Are the WTR Military Patents the only Revolutionary War patents in Kentucky?
No, there are other Revolutionary War patents filed with the Virginia & Old Kentucky Patent Series. The Secretary of State's Revolutionary War Database identifies veterans, assignees, military warrant numbers and patents authorized by military warrants. The patents are identified by series and patent number. Examples are: VA 2380 (Virginia Patent #2380), OK 4267 (Old Kentucky Patent #4267), and WTRM 121 (West of Tennessee River Military Patent #121). Military patents under the Virginia & Old Kentucky Patent Series are located inside the Military District established by the Virginia Land Law of 1779. See the map of the Virginia Military District (in Kentucky) located South of Green River. Military patents under the West of Tennessee River Military Series are located in the Jackson Purchase.
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Can I access the Virginia & Old Kentucky Revolutionary War Patent Databases on the WTR Military Patents database?
No. A separate index for each series is being constructed. As soon as the databases are completed, they will be added to the Secretary of State's Land Office Searchable Database site. In the meantime, copies of the Virginia & Old Kentucky Military Patents can be ordered from the Land Office by using the online order form. The documents are also available from the Kentucky History Center & the Kentucky Department for Libraries & Archives, both in Frankfort.
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Have the West of Tennesse River Military Patents appeared in published indices of Kentucky Land Patents?
The Kentucky Historical Society indexed the West of Tennessee River Military Patents as the original documents were being microfilmed & laminated, however the Society did not publish their finished index. A typed manuscript of the Society's data is available at the Kentucky History Center Library and a limited number of research facilities. Unless the Grant finalizing the West of Tennessee River patent was issued under the Virginia or Old Kentucky Series of patents rather than the West of Tennessee River Military Series, the information on the WTRM series will not appear in Jillson's Kentucky Land Grant volumes. (Note: Basically, the WTRM database is introducing new material on Revolutionary War Warrants to the research public.)
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My ancestor is not listed on the Revolutionary War Warrants Database nor is he mentioned in the West of Tennessee River Military Patents Database. Does that mean he did not patent land in Kentucky? The West of Tennessee River Military Patents Database includes information for 242 patents in one area of Kentucky. There are over 100,000 land patents in the entire Commonwealth ranging in date from the Virginia Land Law of 1779 to the year 2000, when the most recent patent was issued. Very few Kentucky land patents were authorized by military warrants. We suggest researchers study all patent series (Virginia, Old Kentucky, South of Green River, Tellico, Kentucky Land Warrants, South of Walker's Line, West of Tennessee River Non-Military, Warrants for Headrights, and County Court Orders) to determine if ancestors acquired land under the patent process. Jillson's publications "The Kentucky Land Grants"-in one or two-volume format-indexes all patent recipients by Grant name. The Kentucky Historical Society has published two volumes, "The Master Index of Virginia Surveys & Grants" and "The Old Kentucky Patents". The Historical Society publications are indexed by Survey name with a cross-index for Grant name. (This gives researchers an added set of names to study.) The Historical Society has typed manuscripts for other patent series; those manuscripts are available at the Kentucky History Center Library. The Kentucky Secretary of State's Office is in the processing of indexing patent series and adding additional information not featured in Jillson's or Historical Society publications. Please watch the Secretary of State's website for new Land Office databases. We are also scanning actual documents for internet access.
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Please explain the patent process as it relates to the West of Tennessee River Military Patents.
The process is the same as for other patent series: (1) The veteran or his heirs received a Warrant (or Warrants) for services in the Revolutionary War--some veterans preferred four 1,000 acre warrants rather than one 4,000 acre warrant, for example. This made assignments easier. (2) Under the authorization of the Warrant or Warrants, the veteran, his heirs or assignees filed an Entry with the Surveyor of the Military District. The Entry reserved the land for patenting until the field survey could be made-usually after fees were paid or it was established the land was eligible for patenting. If there were other claims on the land being reserved, the Entry could be withdrawn or amended. (3) The next step is the field survey made by the Principal Surveyor of the Military District or his deputy in the presence of the surveying team consisting of two chainmen, a marker to blaze the trees used as corners, and a housekeeper, sometimes called a pilot or director. (4) After the field survey was completed, the Warrant, Survey, and any supporting papers-such as a Will stating the Heirs' right to the land being patented--were sent to Frankfort for the issuance of the Governor's Grant finalizing the patenting process. No one had clear title to any land being patented until the Governor's Grant was issued.
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What records should be researched after the grant is issued and the patent process is complete? Subsequent conveyances of land patents are recorded on the county level with the county clerk. Those conveyances are filed as "Deeds" or they may be included in "Wills". County records were not collaterally recorded in Frankfort, therefore the Land Office does not have Wills, Deeds, Marriages, etc. They must be researched at the county clerk's office or at the Department for Libraries & Archives, Coffee Tree Road, Frankfort, Kentucky. If there has been a courthouse disaster, such as a flood or a fire, the records may have been destroyed. It is also possible the land was conveyed by a Deed or a Will that was never recorded by the county clerk; frequently landowners would "sign over" their land claims by making notations on the back of a Grant or a Deed. And, since Grants for patents stated the land appropriation was valid for "Heirs and Assigns"-meaning the land was not subject to reversion to the Commonwealth when a patent recipient died-the land automatically descended to heirs if no Will had been written. However, county tax lists through the mid-1830's will identify land ownership and who obtained the original land patent, if known. (Note: See the article on "Researching Tax Lists" in the Land Office Journal.) Some Kentucky land conveyances are recorded with the Court of Appeals. Michael & Bettie A. Cook have published a comprehensive four-volume set of Abstracts of Court of Appeals records. Microfilm of actual Court of Appeals records is available from the Kentucky History Center and the Department for Libraries & Archives.
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Could Revolutionary War veterans who served out of states other than Virginia use their Military Warrants in either Kentucky Military District, i.e. South of Green River or West of Tennessee River? No. Each colony paid soldiers for their military service with land in their respective western frontier. (As Kentucky is the daughter of Virginia, the Virginia General Assembly established a Military District for Virginia Revolutionary War veterans in the southwestern portion of Kentucky. After separating from Virginia in 1792, Kentucky stopped honoring Virginia Revolutionary War Warrants, therefore, many Virginia veterans, or their assignees, had to use another Virginia Military District located in southern Ohio. Revolutionary War veterans from states other Virginia could: 1. patent land in Kentucky under other warrants; 2. purchase and inherit land in Kentucky; and (3) cash their pension checks in Kentucky.
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Most of the patents on the WTRM Database have scanned images, but there are some patents that do not. Why?
All efforts were made to include as many scanned images as possible on this website. Although some images were lost in the software conversion for the internet, the scanned images remain intact in our computer files. Missing images will be added to the internet as soon as the conversion problems can be resolved. In the meantime, if the documents you need for your personal research are missing, or if the scanned images are difficult to read, you can order copies from the Land Office by using the online order form. Microfilm of Kentucky land patents, including the West of Tennessee River Military Patents, may be researched at the Kentucky History Center & the Kentucky Department for Libraries & Archives, both in Frankfort.
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Did a veteran receive a specific tract of land when his Military Warrant was issued?
No. Military Warrants, frequently called "bounty land warrants" were payment for services rendered-similar to a check. Warrants did not specify a particular land location although it was understood the veteran, his assignee, or heirs had to confine land locations to the Military District. Virginia Military Warrants were used in the Military District located South of Green River, and, after 1820, in the Jackson Purchase-if the Entry reserving the land for patenting was made prior to May 1, 1792. Military Warrants were also similar to checks because they could be assigned, or endorsed, to other individuals. It is estimated nearly 75% of all veterans sold, traded or reassigned their military warrants. In many instances, land speculators, or land agents working for land speculators, purchased military warrants then combined the allotments to patent large tracts of land inside the Military District. The practice of paying soldiers with land ended shortly before the Civil War when Congress passed the Homestead Act.
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Were any of the WTR Military patents issued for service in the War of 1812 or later wars?
No. The only military warrants honored in Kentucky were for service in the French & Indian War under the King's Proclamation of 1763 and for service by Virginians in the Revolutionary War. War of 1812 veterans and veterans of later wars, such as the Mexican War, could not use their federally-issued bounty land warrants in Kentucky. The land warrants had to be used by veterans, assignees or heirs in public domain states, such as Illinois, Missouri or Indiana. Kentucky is a state-land-state not counted in the federal public domain jurisdiction.
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What effect did the Earthquake of 1811 have on land title in the Jackson Purchase?
The New Madrid Earthquakes that began December 16, 1811, and continued for at least a year thereafter, caused severe damage to homes & other structures in Henderson & Mortons Gap in western Kentucky. Recent geological investigations indicate that landslides occurred in the Hickman area. (ref: "Kentucky Encyclopedia" edited by Kleber) There would have been no effect on land ownership in the Jackson Purchase as that area was not available for land appropriation (by the Commonwealth of Kentucky) until the 1818 Treaty with the Chickasaw Indian Nation.
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Please explain the patent process as it relates to the West of Tennessee River NON-MILITARY Patents.
In 1820, the Kentucky General Assembly ordered the Jackson Purchase be mapped according to the public land system, i.e. Ranges, Townships and Sections. After Revolutionary War veterans had completed their land claims, the remainder of the West of Tennessee River was sold by the quarter-section at public auction or in direct sales by the Land Office in that region. Receipts for land purchase were sent to Frankfort where the Governor's Grant was issued finalizing the West of Tennessee River Non-Military Patents. Those Receipts, many of which include original signatures on assignments, and copies of Grants are available from the Secretary of State's Land Office, Capitol Building, Frankfort, Kentucky. (The "official" Grant was sent to the landowner.) This is the only series where tract location can actually be determined by plotting Range, Township, Section, and Quarter-section on the Loughridge Map.
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What is an "assignee"?
The law permitted persons to sell or trade their Warrants and/or Surveys. On the back of the Warrant or Survey, the researcher may find: "I, John Doe, do hereby assign my right to this Warrant to Jim Roberts for value received." In this instance, Jim Roberts is an assignee. If Jim Roberts assigns his warrant to Sally Jones, and there were no further assignments recorded on the back of the Warrant, the Survey would read: "Surveyed for Sally Jones, assignee of Jim Roberts, assignee of John Doe." The researcher would then check the back of the original Survey to see if Sally sold or traded the land to another individual. If not, the Grant would issue in her name. The person's name on the front of the Revolutionary War Warrant is the person who served in the Revolutionary War. Other individuals involved in assignments were not required to be Revolutionary War veterans to use a Revolutionary War Warrant. It is strongly recommended that researchers study all original patent documents-Warrants, Entries, Surveys and Grants-in order to understand the assignment process and check original signatures against other signatures in family files. (Note: Don't settle for the Land Office Survey Books or Microfilm.) Again, this reminder, Warrants were the same as checks for services rendered. They could be endorsed and used by other individuals. An assignee is an endorsee.
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What type of surveying method was used to map the West of Tennessee River Military Patents?
The Military Patents were mapped by the metes and bounds system. "Metes" refers to distance, and in most cases, arc & compass bearing, such as "North 45 degrees, East 65 poles (in distance). "Bounds" refers to corners, such as "a white oak tree". A pole or rod equals 16.5 feet. The "Marker" on the surveying team identified the corners of the survey.
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Is there a patent map that depicts the location of these patents?
Unfortunately there is no "official" map that depicts tract location for Kentucky land patents. It appears the Kentucky General Assembly required such a map be kept by the Principal Surveyor of the West of Tennessee River Military District, but, to date, no such map has been found in the files of the Kentucky Land Office. Researchers must determine tract location by plotting survey calls in the land patent or by running a "chain of title" forward through county deeds.
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How do I determine in what county the land is located?
Most surveys name the closest watercourse. We have incorporated a Watercourse/Location finder (Gazetteer) on our West of Tennessee River Military Patents Database. You may find the same watercourse running through multiple counties; you will need to research Deeds and Wills for all counties listed in order to find the exact location of the tract. Also, as we are indexing other series of land patents in addition to the West of Tennessee River Military Patents, our Gazetteer includes counties other than those in the Jackson Purchase. West of Tennessee River Military Patents are confined to the Jackson Purchase region; disregard any watercourse name duplicated in any county outside the Jackson Purchase. (See maps of Jackson Purchase counties on this database-and remember to research county formation dates.) Additional watercourses and locations will be identified and added to our Gazetteer as indexing continues.
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The scanned images of warrants appearing in these patent files do not look like the warrants appearing on the Kentucky Secretary of State's Revolutionary War Warrants Database. Why?
The Revolutionary War Warrants Database features Warrants recorded in the Warrants Register-much like a receipt book. There are four individual warrant "forms" printed on each page of the Warrants Register. Each completed warrant form was scanned for the Revolutionary War Warrants Database. Veterans received the "official" warrant bearing the seal of the Virginia Land Office. If the veteran or his heir(s) sold or traded the warrant before the "official" warrant was issued, the assignment will appear in the Warrants Register and on our Revolutionary War Warrants Database. If the assignments were made after the "official" warrant was issued, the assignments will appear on the back of the veteran's warrant, filed with the survey and other patent documents. "Official" Warrants should always be researched-even if the veteran did not take title to the land. By matching signatures on assignments, researchers can match other signatures in their family files and determine if the veteran was an actual ancestor.
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Could women patent land?
The Kentucky General Assembly did not limit the patent process by race or gender for the West of Tennessee River Military Series. (See the exact wording of the Acts of the General Assembly establishing this patent series included on the West of Tennessee River Military Patents database. Also, see WTRM Patent # 7 granting title to the Legal Representatives of Richard Anderson. Notice several patent recipients were women.)
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Where are the original records for the West of Tennessee River Military Patents?
The original Warrants, Entries and Surveys for the West of Tennessee River Military Patent Series are housed in the Secretary of State's Land Office, Capitol Building, Frankfort, Kentucky. Copies of Grants are recorded in the Land Office Grant Books. The "official" Grant bearing the Governor's signature and Seal of the Commonwealth was issued to the veteran, his heirs or assigns.
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Where was "Fort Jefferson"?
Fort Jefferson, was constructed in 1780 under the supervision of Gen. George Rogers Clark. The Fort was situated in the valley of Mayfield Creek, near its confluence with the Mississippi River, five miles below the mouth of the Ohio River, in present-day Ballard County, Kentucky. The fort was about 100 ft. square and had two bastions in the northeast & southwest corners. The fort served as the major supply link with New Orleans for Clark's Illinois battalion during 1780. (ref: article by Dr. Kenneth C. Carstens in the"Kentucky Encyclopedia". Contact Dr. Carstens at Murray State University for additional information on Fort Jefferson.)
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Where was "Iron Banks"?
In 1820 the Kentucky General Assembly approved legislation establishing the town of Iron Banks in the Jackson Purchase. The land was appropriated to the Iron Banks Trustees under West of Tennessee River Patent #001, included on this database.
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Where was Clark's Grant? Was it part of the Jackson Purchase?
Veterans of General George Rogers Clark's Northwestern Campaign received bounty land warrants to be used inside "Clark's Grant", a tract of 150,000 acres in Indiana, opposite the Falls. Contact the Indiana Historical Society in Indianapolis for information on veterans, assignees, and land locations. (Note: Warrants for Clark's Grant patents were assignable; if the veteran did not choose to relocate to Indiana, he or his heirs could sell his bounty land warrant.)
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Who was William Croghan?
William Croghan, pioneer surveyor and settler, was born in Ireland in 1752. Croghan joined the 8th Virginia Regiment in 1775 and served in the military throughout the Revolutionary War. In April 1776 Croghan was promoted to captain and by December of the same year became a major. On February 9, 1784, Croghan and George Rogers Clark were commissioned by Virginia as principal surveyors of the public lands in Kentucky set aside for veterans of the Virginia militia (state troops). Croghan married Lucy Clark, sister to George Rogers Clark, on July 14, 1789.He opened a land office in Louisville on April 26, 1791, and after statehood became a surveyor for the commonwealth. He built a country residence, Locust Grove, on property in eastern Jefferson County. Croghan died in 1822 and was buried at Locust Grove in the family plot. The family's remains were reinterred at Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, in 1903. (ref: "Kentucky Encyclopedia", edited by Kleber) In 1820 Croghan was named Principal Surveyor of the newly-acquired West of Tennessee River Military District. Croghan's responsibility was to examine the field surveys made by his deputies. (See the Acts of the Kentucky General Assembly regarding the Principal Surveyor for the West of Tennessee River Military District included on this database.)
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Who was William Henderson?
The Henderson line along the Kentucky-Tennessee border was the baseline on which William T. Henderson began a survey in 1821. It ran from the Tennessee River to the Green Timber arm of the Reelfoot, to the Mississippi River at New Madrid Bend. The purpose of Henderson's survey was to establish a boundary from which townships, sections, and ranges could get be homesteaded in the 4600 square-mile Jackson Purchase, obtained by treaty from the Chickasaw Indians in 1818. (ref: Article written by Dr. Thomas D. Clark, "Kentucky Encyclopedia", edited by Kleber) Note: Henderson's Field Notes for mapping the Jackson Purchase by public land system guidelines are available on microfilm at the Kentucky History Center.