Many Americans obtained federal land, either through military warrants, homesteading, outright purchase, or several less-popular options.
Federal land patents can be searched at the Bureau of Land Management website. The records documenting the acquisition are at the National Archives. The amount of genealogical detail in those records can vary, but cash land sales generally yield little in the way of additional information. 
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7 Responses
In the deed records, I found where my ancestor sold land in NE Louisiana, but could not find where or when he purchased it. Many years later, while doing a broad search at the BLM website on the area in question, I discovered that he had received this land for service in the Mexican war. Other men in the same area of Louisiana received land, too. I have not been able to find any service records online, however.
The service records are not online, nor are the warrant applications. The National Archives does have those.
Thanks for the info.
[…] Tip of the Day with Michael John Neill asks “Did Your Ancestor Get Federal Land?” “Many Americans obtained federal land, either through military warrants, homesteading, […]
Just wanted you to know that I shared your great article in my “Friday finds” segment today http://martinroe.com/…/06/16/friday-finds-week-24-2017/
I am trying to find my great grandfather Charles Calvin Jordan .my grandmothers dad.my dads grandfather.born in 1844 died in 1908 born in Arkansas or Tennessee.
Grandmothers name was delilah Ann Jordan.she was born in 1863 in Arkansas.