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What is significant about these records?
Where can we access the microfilm of the original Certificates of Settlement and authorizations for Preemption Warrants?
What is the content of these records?
The database and patent file indicate my ancestor received a 1000 acre tract under a Preemption Warrant. Why wasn’t the total acreage 1400 acres?
What series of land patents were authorized by Certificates of Settlement and Preemption Warrants?
Do we have to go to Virginia to see the patents authorized prior to June 1792?
Are there plans to put the patent files online?
How do researchers use this database?
Who received the first Preemption Warrant?
Can we also search for buffalo, cane, salt works, mills, or salt licks?
The patent file shows a Warrant with embossed seal. Is that the applicant’s Preemption Warrant?
Are there separate documents for the Certificates of Settlement as there are separate documents for Preemption Warrants?
How many Certificates of Settlement and Authorizations for Preemption Warrants are included on the Library of Virginia microfilm?
Can you provide a statistical analysis of the counties identified in the Certificates of Settlement & Preemption Warrants?
Who received the authorization for Preemption Warrant #2738?
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What is significant about these records?
In 1999 two Kentucky researchers visiting the Library of Virginia inquired of the availability of Kentucky records. The researchers were permitted to access folders of documents labeled “Preemption Warrants”. The researchers, familiar with the land patenting process in Kentucky, recognized the records as being the original certificates of settlement and authorizations for preemption Warrants approved by the Land Commissioners appointed under the Land Law of 1779. The Office of the Kentucky Secretary of State was informed of the researchers’ discovery and contracted with the Library of Virginia for microfilming services.
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Where can we access the microfilm of the original Certificates of Settlement and authorizations for Preemption Warrants?
The Office of the Kentucky Secretary of State has placed copies of the microfilm in the following agencies: the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Land Office, the Kentucky History Center Library, the Department for Libraries & Archives Research Library (all in Frankfort); the Filson Club and the Sons of the American Revolution Library, both in Louisville; and the Library of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia.
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What is the content of these records?
The certificates recite: the district in which the commissioners are meeting; the location of the meeting; the date the commissioners approve the authorizations; the type of authorizations being granted, i.e. 400 acre Certificates of Settlement, 1000 acre Preemption Warrants or 400 acre Preemption Warrants; the name of the applicant; the location of the tract; and the time period in which the settlement was made. Some certificates name the improvement as a cabin or a hut. In the event the rightful applicant is deceased, the certificates may relate the nature of the death and the names of heirs. The certificates are signed by the Land Commissioners and certified by the Clerk of the Commission.
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The database and patent file indicate my ancestor received a 1000 acre tract under a Preemption Warrant. Why wasn’t the total acreage 1400 acres?
Our research indicates some applicants would include their improvement inside their 1000 acre Preemption tract. It is possible the surrounding land was already taken by Certificates of Settlement or the applicant was comfortable paying taxes on 1000 acres instead of 1400 acres.
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What series of land patents were authorized by Certificates of Settlement and Preemption Warrants?
The Virginia and Old Kentucky Patent Series.
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Do we have to go to Virginia to see the patents authorized prior to June 1792?
No. The original documents were sent to Kentucky shortly after Kentucky became the 15th state. The records are housed in the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Land Office, Capitol Building, Frankfort. All records have been cleaned, deacidified, laminated (Barrow system or Mylar Encapsulation), microfilmed and indexed.
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Are there plans to put the patent files online?
Yes. The land patents in Kentucky granted by Virginia governors are now being color scanned to further enhance document preservation. If your search of the “Certificates of Settlement and Preemption Warrants” database displays a Virginia patent in the Authorized field, that record may include a hyperlink to the patent file. Patents are downloaded to the database on a daily basis.
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How do researchers use this database?
Key in a name, location, or preemption warrant number if known. If the search is productive, you will see a reference to a preemption warrant in the upper-right corner. Use the preemption warrant to access one of six rolls of microfilm at the research facilities mentioned above. If patents are listed in the “Authorized” field, open any hyperlinks that may exist or contact the Kentucky History Center Library or the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Land Office for information on ordering copies of the listed patents. If it appears the tract was located in Lincoln County, when it was one-third of the state, we also encourage researchers to access the “Lincoln Entries” database on this website.
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Who received the first Preemption Warrant?
The authorization for Preemption Warrant #1 was issued to Daniel Hawkins on October 14, 1779, by the Land Commissioners for the Kentucky District at a meeting at St. Asaph’s (now Stanford). Because Hawkins had made a settlement in the district of Kentucky in 1775 on both sides of Paint Lick Creek “about 7 miles from the mouth and about two miles from a Salt Lick”, he was entitled to 400 acres under a Certificate of Settlement and 1000 acres adjoining the Settlement under a Preemption Warrant.
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Can we also search for buffalo, cane, salt works, mills, or salt licks?
Yes, although more information will be added as the indices are refined.
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The patent file shows a Warrant with embossed seal. Is that the applicant’s Preemption Warrant?
Yes. That is the Warrant purchased by the applicant and given to the Surveyor when the Entry was filed. The Warrant and the Survey were then submitted to the Land Office for the issuance of the Governor’s Grant finalizing the patent. If the Survey in the patent file indicates the Preemption Warrant was not located, we suggest researchers access the Library of Virginia microfilm. Several applicants’ Warrants are included in those files.
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Are there separate documents for the Certificates of Settlement as there are separate documents for Preemption Warrants?
No. The slips of paper signed by the Land Commissioners serve as the authorizations for the Certificate of Settlement tracts. No other Warrants (for the applicants) were generated by the Virginia Land Office.
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How many Certificates of Settlement and Authorizations for Preemption Warrants are included on the Library of Virginia microfilm?
There are 2738 files spanning October 14, 1779 to May 10, 1785.
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Can you provide a statistical analysis of the counties identified in the Certificates of Settlement & Preemption Warrants?
According to our database, Certificates of Settlement & authorizations for Preemption Warrants were granted to the following counties now in Virginia or West Virginia: 687 Monongalia, 214 Yohogania, 136 Washington , 109 Ohio, 100 Montgomery, 46 Greenbrier, 9 Botetourt, 4 Augusta and 2 Yohogania & Ohio for a total of 1307. At this time there appear to be 47 files that did not identify a county location, however additional research is planned to verify that number. The remaining 1384 Certificates of Settlement and Authorizations for Preemption Warrants give locations within the Kentucky District.
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Who received the authorization for Preemption Warrant #2738, the last Preemption Warrant identified by the Library of Virginia microfilm?
According to the certificate approved by the Fayette County Commissioners on May 10, 1785, John Stuart, heir-at-law, of Henry Stuart was entitled to the 400 acre Certificate of Settlement because “Henry raised a crop of corn in Fayette County in 1776 then enlisted as a solider in the 13th Virginia Regimental Establishment and he continued in the same until his death”. The certificate did not indicate Stuart applied for the 1000 acre Preemption tract.