When using the Bureau of Land Management’s website to search for and locate land patents, always look at the actual patent. Depending upon the situation, it may tell you:
- the unit the veteran served in if the patent (first deed) was issued based upon a military warrant
- if the land claim was actually a pre-emption claim instead of a cash sale–pre-emption claims are better records
- if the heirs were involved–those are generally more detailed files as well
- where the patentee was living at the time–that can help in distinguishing between individuals of the same name