Donation Land Claims (for Keith)

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Strictly Surveying

Last Post by richard-germiller 14 years ago

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tyler-parsons

(@tyler-parsons)

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Non-aliquot Donation Land Claims in Oregon, Washington, and Florida were surveyed, numbered (37+) and named on the DLC plats. That makes it easy to search the patent in the local Clerk's office and then follow the chain of title forward - sometimes the only cost-effective way to trace the complete title.

The remaining lands were disposed of too, but tracing the title through the grantor/grantee indexes is not as easy since you have no idea of the patentee's name unless you have access to the GLO/BLM records. The Master Title Plat and Historical Index give a hint of what happened - but no names. I've come across little discussion or instruction on how to use these to trace what lands were also DLCs but not numbered and the patent information.

I have to admit I had recently had some help on this from Royce Hill in the Oregon State Office of the BLM, but I'm not sure it is common knowledge.

So Keith, how about telling us private surveyors about the MTP, HI, and how to get the information on the patentee. On-line resources will be very helpful.

Posted : September 10, 2012 8:57 am

Keith

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Tyler,

Thanks for the post and should be an interesting topic, even though I don't think I can give you much help. I would have to believe that there is a lot of expertise on the Donation Land Claims in the Oregon State Office of BLM.

I do not know the history of the DLC and Al White's book or the BLM case book may have something on them? As to where these are available to the public, I don't know.

Regarding this: "So Keith, how about telling us private surveyors about the MTP, HI, and how to get the information on the patentee. On-line resources will be very helpful."; I do have experience with the Master Title Plat (MTP) and the Historical Index (HI).

The BLM started a Records Improvement Project (RIP) back in the late 50's and early 60's and I started with BLM in '61 in RIP. Prior to this, the Land Office copy of the township survey plat, had all the patent information drawn on the actual plat and the information on the patent or other land transaction was in other records in the Land Office.

The RIP created the MTP which had all the land transactions drawn on a new township form and had the patent number typed on that plat. The HI is a separate document that lists all the transactions in the township but does not have copies of the patents.

The BLM Eastern States Office has all the patent information and all other copies of documents pertaining to each township. http://www.blm.gov/es/st/en.html

These documents are critical to any land surveyor that is working in the PLSS and should be a welcome help in researching any land transactions from the GLO/BLM.

Keith

Posted : September 10, 2012 9:39 am